# "Can you turn that razor-sharp insight onto yourself, Doctor House?" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 8, 2009, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-turn-that-razor-sharp-insight-onto-yourself-doctor-house/492442 "2009-04-08T22:26:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2009, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-turn-that-razor-sharp-insight-onto-yourself-doctor-house/492442/21 "2009-04-09T17:23:29Z")
> [@Fish](#): > > I was told that the passive voice was not permitted. A grammar teacher tried to tell me that once… his liver was eaten with a side of fava beans and a nice Chianti. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2009, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-turn-that-razor-sharp-insight-onto-yourself-doctor-house/492442/22 "2009-04-09T17:44:09Z")
> [@](#): > > I didn’t say that Lecter asked the question. I said he was asked that question. You’re familiar with the passive voice? Sorry – my eye somehow missed the “was” in that sentence. ---
**Author:** ![RiverRunner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/977dab/32.png) [@RiverRunner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RiverRunner)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2009, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-turn-that-razor-sharp-insight-onto-yourself-doctor-house/492442/23 "2009-04-09T17:45:29Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Oops, sorry, that was my diagnosis 20 years ago. 😉 And I can’t tell you how grateful I am that you survived it. And that concludes my moment of seriousness for the day. > [@Wendell\_Wagner](#): > > He has lupus. That made me literally laugh out loud. If only there existed an abbreviation for that. > [@TruCelt](#): > > Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) That was going to be my suggestion. > [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > A grammar teacher tried to tell me that once… his liver was eaten with a side of fava beans and a nice Chianti. This is the best thread of the day, no doubt about it. RR ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2009, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-turn-that-razor-sharp-insight-onto-yourself-doctor-house/492442/24 "2009-04-09T17:51:48Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Not only that, but he’s a Army brat - the kind whose family dragged him to a new country every four months. Marine aviation brat, please. ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2009, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-turn-that-razor-sharp-insight-onto-yourself-doctor-house/492442/25 "2009-04-09T20:06:05Z")
> [@Beware\_of\_Doug](#): > > Marine aviation brat, please. “Army brat” is sort of a general term for this kind of thing. Yeah, I don’t think he has any completely clinically-diagnosable mental problems, but he clearly has huge emotional problems going on. These are not exactly treatable in the same way, however; it’s not a medical issue, but a personal one. ---
**Author:** ![chorpler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chorpler/32/2888_2.png) [@chorpler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chorpler)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2009, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-turn-that-razor-sharp-insight-onto-yourself-doctor-house/492442/26 "2009-04-09T20:10:36Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > It’s really difficult to make any psychiatric diagnoses until the mood-altering drugs are out of the system for at least 6 months. Active addiction mimics many psychiatric disorders. On the other hand, when he was on more powerful painkillers a few episodes ago, he became a much nicer, seemingly-saner person. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2009, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-turn-that-razor-sharp-insight-onto-yourself-doctor-house/492442/27 "2009-04-09T20:13:12Z")
> [@chorpler](#): > > On the other hand, when he was on more powerful painkillers a few episodes ago, he became a much nicer, seemingly-saner person. True. I think they’re moving away from the House-as-addict idea, and have been for quite some time. Not that they’re downplaying his addiction as such, but that they’re not blaming his churlishness on his Vicodin. It’s pretty clear that, if he could be pain-free AND brilliant without using drugs, he’d dump the Vicodin. His main thing is that he’s always–ALWAYS --in pain. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2009, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-turn-that-razor-sharp-insight-onto-yourself-doctor-house/492442/28 "2009-04-09T20:14:16Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Don’t bother me with facts. Facts and House are often two separate items. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2009, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-turn-that-razor-sharp-insight-onto-yourself-doctor-house/492442/29 "2009-04-09T20:16:35Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Facts and House are often two separate items. Surely you’re not comparing ME to House. I’m not as handsome, but way eviller. ---
**Author:** ![Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2009, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-turn-that-razor-sharp-insight-onto-yourself-doctor-house/492442/30 "2009-04-09T20:19:08Z")
> [@RiverRunner](#): > > That made me literally laugh out loud. If only there existed an abbreviation for that. I suggest LOL. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2009, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-turn-that-razor-sharp-insight-onto-yourself-doctor-house/492442/31 "2009-04-09T21:21:51Z")
> [@Beware\_of\_Doug](#): > > He has R. Lee Ermey for an old man. So are he and Janitor brothers? ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2009, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-turn-that-razor-sharp-insight-onto-yourself-doctor-house/492442/32 "2009-04-09T21:24:14Z")
> [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](#): > > So are he and Janitor brothers? It’s not common knowledge, and I’ll have to wipe your memories after you read this post, but the characters on _House_ and _Scrubs_ are actually alternate-reality versions of one another, like Regular Marvel & Ultimate Marvel. Which character is whose counterpart is often surpristing. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2009, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-turn-that-razor-sharp-insight-onto-yourself-doctor-house/492442/33 "2009-04-09T22:03:00Z")
> [@chorpler](#): > > On the other hand, when he was on more powerful painkillers a few episodes ago, he became a much nicer, seemingly-saner person. That’s a pretty typical response for an opiate addict. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2009, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-turn-that-razor-sharp-insight-onto-yourself-doctor-house/492442/34 "2009-04-09T22:13:15Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > That’s a pretty typical response for an opiate addict. What about his stated and demonstrated willingness to forgo Vicodin (which makes him high but is obviously not completely effective in managing his pain) for methodone (which, as I understand it, doesn’t make him high, but which seemed to manage his pain much better)? Or do you think the fact that he didn’t ultimately go through with it (though the reasons he started were quite different) was due to his needing the high? I’m not arguing, just asking. ---
**Author:** ![chorpler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chorpler/32/2888_2.png) [@chorpler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chorpler)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2009, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-turn-that-razor-sharp-insight-onto-yourself-doctor-house/492442/35 "2009-04-09T23:00:48Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > What about his stated and demonstrated willingness to forgo Vicodin (which makes him high but is obviously not completely effective in managing his pain) for methodone (which, as I understand it, doesn’t make him high, but which seemed to manage his pain much better)? Or do you think the fact that he didn’t ultimately go through with it (though the reasons he started were quite different) was due to his needing the high? > > I’m not arguing, just asking. And his demonstrated willingness to forego opiates completely when his pain is gone. I think it’s pretty clearly demonstrated that House is not really an addict despite what he calls himself and what others call him. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2009, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-turn-that-razor-sharp-insight-onto-yourself-doctor-house/492442/36 "2009-04-09T23:25:12Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > What about his stated and demonstrated willingness to forgo Vicodin (which makes him high but is obviously not completely effective in managing his pain) for methodone (which, as I understand it, doesn’t make him high, but which seemed to manage his pain much better)? Or do you think the fact that he didn’t ultimately go through with it (though the reasons he started were quite different) was due to his needing the high? > > I’m not arguing, just asking. Methadone is a potent opiate, with a ‘high’ associated with it. It’s just not as high a high as most opiate addicts get from morphine, oxycodone, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2009, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-turn-that-razor-sharp-insight-onto-yourself-doctor-house/492442/37 "2009-04-09T23:26:25Z")
> [@chorpler](#): > > And his demonstrated willingness to forego opiates completely when his pain is gone. I think it’s pretty clearly demonstrated that House is not really an addict despite what he calls himself and what others call him. Not all addicts use constantly. Many go through periods of abstinence. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2009, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-turn-that-razor-sharp-insight-onto-yourself-doctor-house/492442/38 "2009-04-09T23:57:21Z")
Is it possible he is addicted to a substance he \*actually \*needs? My diagnosis: He’s an addict and an asshole. Pay your bill to the secretary. I’ll see you in a week again. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2009, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-turn-that-razor-sharp-insight-onto-yourself-doctor-house/492442/39 "2009-04-10T18:32:46Z")
> [@Mighty\_Girl](#): > > Is it possible he is addicted to a substance he \*actually \*needs? Sure. I’ve got Sickle Cell patients who abuse oxycodone horribly, in between crises. But when a Sickle crisis hits, they truly have a medical need for it. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2009, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-turn-that-razor-sharp-insight-onto-yourself-doctor-house/492442/40 "2009-04-13T01:43:21Z")
**Skald the Rhymer** said: > [@](#): > > It’s pretty clear that, if he could be pain-free AND brilliant without using drugs, he’d dump the Vicodin. Which was an inaccurate conclusion in my mind. His problem with the methodone wasn’t that it made him less brilliant. He confused not being an ass to running an unnecessary test to make the parents happy because it was easier than telling them no. All he needs is a slight attitude adjustment that he can not be mean and still say no to parents being wrong. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-turn-that-razor-sharp-insight-onto-yourself-doctor-house/492442.md?page=1)