# Decembrants **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 1, 2012, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decembrants/642652 "2012-12-01T05:34:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 32
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2012, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decembrants/642652/621 "2012-12-29T01:30:38Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > I’ve added a ‘not helpful’ to her review. I have also done that. ---
**Author:** ![flatlined](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb9ed0/32.png) [@flatlined](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flatlined)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2012, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decembrants/642652/622 "2012-12-29T01:37:30Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Nope - chocolate has theobromine in it, not caffeine. 🙂 > > Bad kitty! I did not know that, so I looked it up. Ignorance fought, thank you! > [@Morgyn](#): > > [This worked](http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2751025) with training my Shiva to stay off things like counters, tables, and mantlepieces. If you aim it right, it might work with preventing the clawing of the furniture, too. I’ve heard good things about those. I guess the main reason I’m so upset with him is that he never did stuff like that before moving here. I moved Lucky once before and he was fine. Lucky has been to the vet, had blood work done and the vet thinks that Lucky is fine physically. I expected the cats to be upset over the move, but this is seriously over the top. I’m serious, Steve the feral is a better house pet than Lucky right now. I seriously want to grab Lucky by the scruff of the neck, hold him face level with me and slap him a couple of times while yelling “WAKE THE FUCK UP YOU IDIOT CAT! YOU’VE BEEN HOMELESS IN THE PAST AND IT DIDN’T WORK OUT VERY WELL, DID IT?!?! YOU CAN BE HOMELESS AGAIN, YOU KNOW!!!”. However, because I don’t hold cats by the scruff, slap them or scream empty threats, I have contented myself by getting some pretty cool water guns and arming all the humans in the house at all times. Butthead cat. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2012, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decembrants/642652/623 "2012-12-29T01:53:27Z")
> [@flatlined](#): > > I did not know that, so I looked it up. Ignorance fought, thank you!\ You’re welcome! I developed an intolerance to caffeine some years ago, but I could still eat chocolate by the pound, so I had to look that up, too - the chemicals must be just enough different that my body responds differently to each one. ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2012, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decembrants/642652/624 "2012-12-29T01:59:20Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > I have also done that. I also marked the review as “not helpful.” Goodness - was that a review or a freaking essay? ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2012, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decembrants/642652/625 "2012-12-29T02:29:45Z")
I’m looking for a mall/theatre combo so I don’t have to go out multiple times to: spend Xmass loot, and see “Lincoln”. As I have nothing better going on in my life, pretty weak, I know. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2012, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decembrants/642652/626 "2012-12-29T02:53:29Z")
Our daughter is visiting over the holidays. This is good. Since she moved from DC to New Mexico, her driving time has gone from about 28 hours to about 10 hours. Also good. But she decided that she needed to bring her cats with her. Mind you, we already have four cats in residence, and they don’t all get along. Chaos wants to play with Sapphire, who wants Chaos to just drop dead, and Sapphire rather likes Shadow, who gets along with al the other cats, but he used to sit on Charlie when Charlie was much smaller, etc. So, add in two more cats, and there’s definitely too many cats in this house. She needs to find a new pet sitter. And I’ve been sick as a dog for a few days. Sick as in parked on the toilet with a bucket in front of me. I’ve been living on Sprite and water. I was so woozy that I couldn’t remember my email password. I seem to be getting better, at last, but I’m tired of this shit. ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2012, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decembrants/642652/627 "2012-12-29T03:15:36Z")
I hope you get better soon, **Lynn**. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2012, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decembrants/642652/628 "2012-12-29T03:20:44Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > I’ve added a ‘not helpful’ to her review. Thanks for the idea. I did likewise (only skimmed the rambly rant, since I do have better uses for my time and mental capacity). ---
**Author:** ![SerafinaPekala](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecae2f/32.png) [@SerafinaPekala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SerafinaPekala)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2012, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decembrants/642652/629 "2012-12-29T04:46:34Z")
Sorry Lynn, hope you get to feeling better! My Decembrant is this: Why do ppl scrape and scratch their teeth together when eating? Its like nails on chalkboard to me. I can tune out the slurping, sucking, smacking, smooshing, and pieces-of-food-stuck-to-lips-and-face stuff, but the teeth-scraping makes me leave the room pronto. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2012, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decembrants/642652/630 "2012-12-29T05:00:46Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > I’ve added a ‘not helpful’ to her review. > [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > I have also done that. > [@EmilyG](#): > > I also marked the review as “not helpful.” > > Goodness - was that a review or a freaking essay? Thank you. The woman’s name is Cynthia Parker and it turns out she’s just as dumb as you think she is: > [@](#): > > [http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/2011/may/01/parker050111/](http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/2011/may/01/parker050111/) > > Most cases of autism in the United States today are caused by vaccines, especially those for hepatitis B, MMR and DTaP. At one time it might have been said by some that those harmed were collateral damage necessary so that the majority might be protected from vaccine-preventable diseases. But now, with the inflation of the schedule of recommended vaccinations and the consequent explosion of cases of autism, asthma, childhood diabetes, ADHD and life-threatening allergies, most people who look at the question would conclude vaccines are hurting more than helping. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2012, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decembrants/642652/631 "2012-12-29T05:09:48Z")
One of life’s eternal questions - why do slow people resent fast walkers? Example: I’m walking down a narrow corridor at work, and the person dawdling along in front of me grudgingly gives me room to pass, while brightly observing “You’re a man on a mission!” To which I responded “And you’re a woman with an ass the size of Saskatchewan.” Well no, I was just tempted to say that. Sometimes my self-control amazes even me. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2012, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decembrants/642652/632 "2012-12-29T06:09:10Z")
> [@LavenderBlue](#): > > I swear to god some people should not be allowed near the internet. The latest review of my book on vaccines is from a moron. Every single sentence is one either a love letter to vaccine preventable diseases or dimwitted illustration of their failure to understand science. Stupid, birdbrained, dimitted, arrogant dumb fuck. I hope he realizes that I’m donating any money I make from the book’s profits to a group that funds the MMR vaccine for really poor kids. > > [shoddy propaganda](http://www.amazon.com/review/R2BHEYJNOPD5AZ/ref=cm_cr_pr_perm?ie=UTF8&ASIN=144221578X&linkCode=&nodeID=&tag=) You were able to read it? What a wall of text! And what little I read was… eye-wrenching… Thank amazon for the “not helpful” button! ---
**Author:** ![Indyellen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/indyellen/32/4176_2.png) [@Indyellen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indyellen)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2012, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decembrants/642652/633 "2012-12-29T06:19:15Z")
Since it hasn’t come up yet, and we only have a couple more days, my suggestion for the title of the January thread is _Auld Lang Rants_. ---
**Author:** ![slalexan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@slalexan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slalexan)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2012, 9:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decembrants/642652/634 "2012-12-29T09:37:53Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > I’ve added a ‘not helpful’ to her review. It seems like there should be some stronger language than just “not helpful.” I’ve done the same. I pit depression once again. I was diagnosed with dysthemia in October of 2010 after suffering for a long time. I was put on antidepressants, prozac and finally wellbutrin as well, which I took until about June of 2012, with a short break in May and June of 2011. They seemed to help take the edge off and I felt better, normal even. I couldn’t afford a therapist after I left college in 2011 but I kept going on my own. When I left my first job in June of 2012 to start a new job, I went off my antidepressants again because I was moving and I didn’t have a doctor to prescribe them to me. I am sure my old doctor would have helped me out but I also wanted to see if I was better. I wanted to see if I could handle life without it and I did alright for a couple months, I think. Unfortunately, I wasn’t better. I was back to feeling worthless or not feeling anything at all more days than not. So I found a primary care doctor and got a physical with the hopes of her just giving me the same thing as before and maybe I would feel normal again. Nope. After lecturing me about my weight, my vitamin D deficiency, and my slightly borderline liver enzyme and making me take a pregnancy test, she gave me a new drug for my depression. I think she was hoping that after I felt better, I would go ahead and take the medicine she wanted me to take for weight loss. Well, Effexor, you suck. It seemed my suicidal thoughts got worse. You made me weepy and mood swingy and angry. You gave me nightmares and stupid vivid dreams that made it hard to sleep. After a talk with my health coach (a thankfully free service provided by my health insurance) and after I talked with my doctor, I left you behind. And now I feel better. Does this mean my depression is gone or just that I feel better than the mess I was before? My health coach mentioned that increased agitation with antidepressants sometimes happens in people who have mood disorders. Two of my aunts on my mom’s side have Bipolar Disorder. Bipolar runs in families. I don’t want bipolar. I don’t want depression. I want to be normal, dammit. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2012, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decembrants/642652/635 "2012-12-29T12:55:44Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > You were able to read it? What a wall of text! And what little I read was… eye-wrenching… > > Thank amazon for the “not helpful” button! I read it. Pity that stupidity is painful to onlookers, and not usually to the stupid one. There are sometimes comments on separate reviews (check for a “Comments” link at the bottom), and if you like/dislike the comment itself, you can click yes/no for the “does this add to the conversation?” question. Some of the aggressively stupid reviews out there have great rebuttals that I like to acknowledge. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2012, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decembrants/642652/636 "2012-12-29T13:31:24Z")
I have heartburn ☹ ---
**Author:** ![SerafinaPekala](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecae2f/32.png) [@SerafinaPekala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SerafinaPekala)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2012, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decembrants/642652/637 "2012-12-29T14:59:54Z")
slalexan, have you tried Ativan? I was on it once for nausea/intractable vomiting for a week and man did it make me feel good! Not something to abuse tho… potential for habituation is high and Drs dont like to hand it out for long without a firm diagnosis. I couldnt milk the n/v THAT long … Sure put a brightness in an otherwise mundane day … ---
**Author:** ![Chef\_Troy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85f322/32.png) [@Chef\_Troy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chef_Troy)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2012, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decembrants/642652/638 "2012-12-29T18:04:55Z")
> [@Indyellen](#): > > Since it hasn’t come up yet, and we only have a couple more days, my suggestion for the title of the January thread is _Auld Lang Rants_. Or maybe _Aw, Dang! Syne: January Minirants_. ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2012, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decembrants/642652/639 "2012-12-29T19:30:03Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#): > > I have heartburn ☹ But have you farted recently? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2012, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decembrants/642652/640 "2012-12-29T22:53:13Z")
> [@Chef\_Troy](#): > > Or maybe _Aw, Dang! Syne: January Minirants_. Seconded! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decembrants/642652.md?page=31) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decembrants/642652.md?page=33)