Maybe it takes being in chronic pain to bring out the sting in his post? I’ve noticed on days when I’m feeling crappy with bronchitis, or sinus headache or aches from my rheumatism that things which I’d normally be “thick skinned” about just don’t sit well with me, and I grouch and grump about them. Maybe it’s just that he was making light of something that has so profoundly affected more than one poster’s life? He didn’t mean it to be taken that way, and he has apologized for it, but I can understand why they might feel the way they did too. I’d say this issue is resolved, the person has apologized, and I think those who were stung are mollified. (At least it seems so to me.) I’d also say that it was done in a fairly civil manner too.
No, I don’t think people should go on high alert and not post anything that might remotely be offensive for fear of stinging another Doper. I think that we should move on from here, and if something similar happens in the future, I hope it can be resolved as peacefully. These things happen, no one is perfect. One of the people who was stung spoke up, an apology was made, and peace has been made if I am not much mistaken.
Excalibre take a look at the links I posted, it’s genetic, a form of arthritis, and not pleasant at all.
Absolute, I appreciate your clarification and apology. Forgiven and forgotten.
Zabali_Clawbane, I believe that, at least regarding my pissiness, you are correct. My pain levels during the times of reading and posting to this topic in particular definitley colored my reactions. My pain level has been quite high lately, which causes me to get precious little rest, and I become snarky.
I do appreciate the others who have volunteered their experiences and afflictions, it’s not easy to expose one’s medical information to complete strangers. Also for those who were interested enough to question and become informed, kudos!
Absolute, thank you for clarifying your post and apologizing. I also apologize for the train wreck this has become. Thanks also to everyone who at least defended my right to have issues with this, especially Kaiwik.
Definitely a dinosaur. Looks just like this, only smaller. It climbs on your back, hits your spine with its tail, and then eats whatever you drop. Only known cure: asteroids.
From my Underwriting days, I do remember that AS was easily memorable, since the name was unlike most others.
I also remember that it was listed as a straight “decline” for all victims seeking individual insurance, due to the severity and general costliness of treatment. Bad disease, period.
Not the funniest name (to my mind), though. I preferred:
This information is available in some of the links above, but here’s my attempt at an executive summary. I’ve been reading about this in the past few weeks since Elenfair was diagnosed with it and ranted in a pit thread.
(write write write, delete delete delete) Instead I’ll just cut and paste some of the pertinent information from mayoclinic.com, and underlining the most inflammatory (heh) parts:
There is no cure, only treatment to slow the progress of the disease. It’s best to catch it quickly as it cannot be reversed. Treatment includes physiotherapy, NSAIDs to reduce inflammation, corticosteroidal injections (just like the pro football players!), and the really cool tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blockers like Enbrel and Remicade, which are genetically-engineered TNF receptors that bind to TNF and prevent it from binding to your body’s cells and causing inflammation.
As Cemetery Savior said, treatment is pricey, and as a result of this diagnosis, we’re paying much, much more attention to the fine print of our health insurance coverage.
I should point out that “My disease has a silly name” can, indeed, be a big problem and one that I’ve seen mentioned from time to time.
When Alzheimer’s disease was less well-known than it is now, for example, this was apparently a trauma for some people when they had to name what was wrong with their loved ones (it’s mentioned in the book The 36-Hour Day).
There has been so many posts chastizing the OP that I felt the need to say that I too found ** absolute ** post offensive (and I didn’t even know this disease existed)
Honestly, who would tell a stranger “your disease has such a funny name! LOL”? I’m surprised that so many posters found the pitting wasn’t justified.
That’s not exactly what he did. He responded to a post (not made by Cheez_Whia, incidentally) that simply listed a number of debilitating diseases that are not immediately obvious to the casual observer. There was no indication that the poster suffered any of them personally or knew anyone who did, although I suppose it can be infered through the fact that the poster even knew the name of such a relatively obscure condition. Still, it’s not as if he posted that in response to an emotionally-laden description of the disease’s effects. The name was mentioned almost off-handedly, and he said it sounded funny. BFD.
Just speaking for myself, it’s because I don’t see anything that could be conceivably offensive in what he wrote. I’m not saying she’s wrong to feel offended, exactly. I just can’t see any possible reason for her feeling that way.
Well, it’s different for her. Her husband has the disease. She has to deal with watching a loved one suffer from it every day. I’ll cut her some slack on the sensitivity.
I read the whole thread linked in the OP, and I don’t see where Absolute’s comment could be taken as offensive except by someone who was looking to be offended.
Remind me to stay out of any threads in which you participate, Cheez_Whia. I often try to be funny, and I’d hate to run afoul of your newly formed SDMB posse, who roams the board enforcing your “Rules”. Perhaps you should email a mod and let them know about the new additions to the Registration Agreement?
I forgot to add that if anyone has ever stolen a bike from “you or yours”, I apologize for my sig. Please don’t send your fearsome Matriarchy Drones after me!
Did you read all of this thread as well? There is at least one other whose life is affected by that disease, who was stung by the post. Read all of this thread too.
