# Fat patient in the blood lab center **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 8, 2009, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-patient-in-the-blood-lab-center/513059 "2009-10-08T15:58:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 16
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2009, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-patient-in-the-blood-lab-center/513059/301 "2009-10-14T23:43:51Z")
> [@Michael\_Ellis](#): > > Am I supposed to mistake this for an actual answer to my question? No wonder the Law Library hates you. A library hates me? Really? If you’re right, that’s kinda cool, a building that hates. I had no idea that buildings could feel anything at all, much less something so pointed and particular, requiring enough fundamental intelligence to be able to differentiate between me and anyone else. So how do you know the library hates me? Do you have some kind of architectural-psychic connection? Or does it talk to you? ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-patient-in-the-blood-lab-center/513059/302 "2009-10-15T00:47:19Z")
**Shot From Guns** (oops, sorry 'bout that!) > [@Stan\_Shmenge](#): > > Tell that to someone with cancer, shithead. Alcoholism is a behavior. It may be a difficult behavior to change, but so is the habit of cracking one’s knuckles. The diseasifcation of behaviors is popular, but totally wrong. It’s a mental illness, asshole. So, apparently, if something isn’t as serious as cancer, it isn’t worthy of being an illness? Addiction IS a disease. And no, it’s not just like “cracking one’s knuckles.” Unlike cracking your knuckles, you can’t just start quiting cold turkey. (Not unless you want to go into shock.) That’s what happened to my great-aunt. She quit for a weekend to attend a family event and wound up in the hospital. Years later, I lost my godmother to the effects of the disease. And this was AFTER she was in AA and sober – she caught an infection, and because she was still recovering from so many years of drinking, her body wasn’t ready to fight it off I didn’t say it’s right, but addiction IS a mental illness. You can’t just quit on your own, most of the time. (I’m sorry, as this is a really, REALLY sore spot with me. A lot of it is denial. Most alcoholics, unlike people who are saying, “well, I’m not fat because I eat too much – it’s genetics!” will not say they’re alcoholics. They refuse to admit they have a problem, period. They don’t believe they drink too much. And most of the time, it IS genetic. There are a hell of a lot of drunks on my dad’s side of the family. :() ---
**Author:** ![Jamaika\_a\_jamaikaiake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7993a0/32.png) [@Jamaika\_a\_jamaikaiake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jamaika_a_jamaikaiake)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-patient-in-the-blood-lab-center/513059/303 "2009-10-15T02:57:50Z")
> [@Stoid](#): > > A library hates me? Really? If you’re right, that’s kinda cool, a building that hates. I had no idea that buildings could feel anything at all, much less something so pointed and particular, requiring enough fundamental intelligence to be able to differentiate between me and anyone else. So how do you know the library hates me? Do you have some kind of architectural-psychic connection? Or does it talk to you? No, the _Library_, the institution, not the _library_, the building. Sheesh. It’s like the Church/church distinction. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-patient-in-the-blood-lab-center/513059/304 "2009-10-15T04:09:51Z")
> [@Jamaika\_a\_jamaikaiake](#): > > No, the _Library_, the institution, not the _library_, the building. Sheesh. It’s like the Church/church distinction. Hot damn, a whole _institution_ hates me? [Jake Johansson] My power is beyond your understanding! [/Jake Johansson] ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tao_s_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-patient-in-the-blood-lab-center/513059/305 "2009-10-15T10:23:12Z")
Well there’s an interesting picture, secret room revealed by pulling a special book where a new librarian is finding out the whole book thing is just a cover. Her real mission, and the organization’s reason for being, as the room’s wall paper of hateful pictures, and the dart board background reveal, is to deliver divine retribution against it’s arch nemesis, **stoid**. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-patient-in-the-blood-lab-center/513059/306 "2009-10-15T11:05:40Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > I didn’t say it’s right, but addiction IS a mental illness. You can’t just quit on your own, most of the time. > > (I’m sorry, as this is a really, REALLY sore spot with me. A lot of it is denial. Most alcoholics, unlike people who are saying, “well, I’m not fat because I eat too much – it’s genetics!” will not say they’re alcoholics. They refuse to admit they have a problem, period. They don’t believe they drink too much. And most of the time, it IS genetic. There are a hell of a lot of drunks on my dad’s side of the family. :() Wrong. People quit drinking “on their own” all the time. Most of them do it without any bullshit cult nonsense. Some folks however, seem to benefit from joining a cult. It doesn’t work for very many, but for some, that Stepper-Thinking seems to replace one addiction with another. Hooray. At least they have stopped drinking, even if it is at the cost of their individualism. Hey, whatever mental gymnastics works for you… problem is, it only works for a tiny number of people. Coincidentally, the same number who manage to quit without any intervention whatsoever. Time to end the self-degrading charade. Faith healing is not a good way to treat people with deep-seated behavioral problems. ---
**Author:** ![Maeglin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@Maeglin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maeglin)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-patient-in-the-blood-lab-center/513059/307 "2009-10-15T15:22:33Z")
Christ, this thread is making me hungry. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-patient-in-the-blood-lab-center/513059/308 "2009-10-15T15:28:43Z")
I know. That reminds me–::guzzles Oreos:: Hey. This metabolism won’t last forever. Best to take advantage of it while I still can. I’ve probably got another five years of guzzling to go! ---
**Author:** ![Maeglin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@Maeglin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maeglin)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-patient-in-the-blood-lab-center/513059/309 "2009-10-15T15:42:49Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > I know. That reminds me–::guzzles Oreos:: Hey. This metabolism won’t last forever. Best to take advantage of it while I still can. I’ve probably got another five years of guzzling to go! I keep telling myself that my metabolism will slow down every year. Thankfully, I am wrong. I did just have sunflower seeds and tomatoes for lunch, but that just chased the jalapeno chocolate ice cream from last night. I am hungry all the goddamned time, so I eat. I honestly have no idea how I would cope with being fat. When I start to get hungry, I completely lose my concentration, become incredibly grumpy, and have a hard time doing anything except rustling up food. I am typically very active and eat well just so I don’t get fat, because god knows, I would have a hell of a time trying to lose the weight. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-patient-in-the-blood-lab-center/513059/310 "2009-10-15T17:11:10Z")
> [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](#): > > Well there’s an interesting picture, secret room revealed by pulling a special book where a new librarian is finding out the whole book thing is just a cover. Her real mission, and the organization’s reason for being, as the room’s wall paper of hateful pictures, and the dart board background reveal, is to deliver divine retribution against it’s arch nemesis, **stoid**. MUahahahahahahha! ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-patient-in-the-blood-lab-center/513059/311 "2009-10-15T17:17:41Z")
I wonder if that “beast” of a lady complained about the skinny little prick with the big mouth that was behind her in line? ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-patient-in-the-blood-lab-center/513059/312 "2009-10-15T17:31:05Z")
Doubt she even heard him, with her fat ear canals all swollen shut. ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-patient-in-the-blood-lab-center/513059/313 "2009-10-15T20:01:41Z")
> [@Stoid](#): > > A library hates me? Really? If you’re right, that’s kinda cool, a building that hates. I had no idea that buildings could feel anything at all, much less something so pointed and particular, requiring enough fundamental intelligence to be able to differentiate between me and anyone else. So how do you know the library hates me? Do you have some kind of architectural-psychic connection? Or does it talk to you? You are so damned broken it isn’t funny. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-patient-in-the-blood-lab-center/513059/314 "2009-10-15T20:03:06Z")
> [@Michael\_Ellis](#): > > You are so damned broken it isn’t funny. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2009, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-patient-in-the-blood-lab-center/513059/315 "2009-10-16T03:11:29Z")
> [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](#): > > Wrong. People quit drinking “on their own” all the time. Most of them do it without any bullshit cult nonsense. Some folks however, seem to benefit from joining a cult. It doesn’t work for very many, but for some, that Stepper-Thinking seems to replace one addiction with another. Hooray. At least they have stopped drinking, even if it is at the cost of their individualism. Hey, whatever mental gymnastics works for you… problem is, it only works for a tiny number of people. Coincidentally, the same number who manage to quit without any intervention whatsoever. Time to end the self-degrading charade. Faith healing is not a good way to treat people with deep-seated behavioral problems. Cite? Why don’t you go shove a fry basket up your ass, you judgemental, stupid glob of rotting camel semen? Ever stop and think that maybe, just MAYBE doctors might know a wee bit more than you? Cults? I hope the next time you try to put salt on something, the lid pops off of the shaker and the salt spurts into your eye. Asshole. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2009, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-patient-in-the-blood-lab-center/513059/316 "2009-10-16T04:42:03Z")
I don’t know about the rest of you, but I certainly feel the warm embrace of peace, love and understanding…it’s positively toasty! ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2009, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-patient-in-the-blood-lab-center/513059/317 "2009-10-16T05:20:20Z")
I’m sorry I overreacted. But it’s a very sensitive subject with me, and I’m sick of the whole, “oh, AA is just PC nonsense!!!” bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2009, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-patient-in-the-blood-lab-center/513059/318 "2009-10-16T06:53:35Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > I’m sorry I overreacted. But it’s a very sensitive subject with me, and I’m sick of the whole, “oh, AA is just PC nonsense!!!” bullshit. So what if anyone else thinks so? If someone finds it easier to stay sober with AA and someone else, particularly a completely anonymous, meaningless someone else, thinks and says it’s PC bullshit… well, they are entitled to their value-free, utterly inconsequential opinion. It has all the substance of air, with none of the import. To even furrow your brow over it is to give it 100% more attention and power than it merits. PS: No matter how much I have resisted, I’ve always ended up having to confront the fact that anything that was " a very sensitive subject with me" had a whole lot more to do with things going on inside of me than anything going on outside of me. But walking through it always found me a whole lot happier, freer, stronger, and more balanced when I come out the other side. As always, YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2009, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-patient-in-the-blood-lab-center/513059/319 "2009-10-16T19:56:49Z")
> [@Stoid](#): > > Wow. Way to pay attention. > > Should you take the time to read more carefully, with a focus on comprehension, I’ll be glad to continue the discussion. So you can point to anywhere in this thread where you actually explicitly agreed with me? That’s what I’m going for, here: an admission of the basic science of how people get fat. I haven’t actually seen you concede \*\*once \*\*that even \*\*some miniscule part \*\*of people’s obesity is because of their own choices. > [@Guinastasia](#): > > A lot of it is denial. Most alcoholics, unlike people who are saying, “well, I’m not fat because I eat too much – it’s genetics!” will not say they’re alcoholics. They refuse to admit they have a problem, period. That’s my biggest problem, actually–people admit they’re fat but blame it on genetics and continue the habits that caused their obesity. People who admit their alcoholism, on the other hand, generally start taking steps towards treating it–they don’t use alcoholism as an excuse to keep drinking themselves to death. “Gee, Bob, are you sure you’re okay to drive home? You’ve had an awful lot to drink.” “I’m an alcoholic, I can’t help it!” “Oh, okay.” > [@Guinastasia](#): > > Cite? [snip] Why don’t you go shove a fry basket up your ass, you judgemental, stupid glob of rotting camel semen? Ever stop and think that maybe, just MAYBE doctors might know a wee bit more than you? Cults? Sorry, Guin, but **I Love Me, Vol. I** is right. AA pretty much is a cult, or, at best, pseudoscience (and I say this as somebody who knows that alcoholism \*\*is \*\*a disease). Here’s [a link to the Wikipedia page](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcoholics_anonymous#Effectiveness) that cites some studies of its effectiveness. IM layman’s O, recovering from addiction by saying you’re helpless is about the stupidest thing you can do (because when you fail, it’s not because you didn’t try hard enough or get the right therapy, but because your Higher Power didn’t magically make your problem go away). ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2009, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-patient-in-the-blood-lab-center/513059/320 "2009-10-16T20:16:19Z")
Yes, yes, the accurate description for AA isn’t “PC nonsense,” it’s “religious, culty nonsense.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-patient-in-the-blood-lab-center/513059.md?page=15) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-patient-in-the-blood-lab-center/513059.md?page=17)