# Happy New Bitchfest! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 1, 2014, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-new-bitchfest/677605 "2014-01-01T00:37:10Z")\ **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:** [January 28, 2014, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-new-bitchfest/677605/621 "2014-01-28T23:34:04Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > I concur with most of your rant, and especially most wholeheartedly agree that the misleading signs are the source of the problem … but I think you’re being unrealistic to think that most average people look up city bylaws. You’re probably right. To my logical mind, when you get a dog, you look up the laws pertaining to dogs in your area. I can see that not everyone would do that - they’d just go by a sign that says, “Off-leash area” and that’s the end of that. I do blame the city, too, for creating a mess like this - don’t put the path right through an off-leash area then leave it up to people to use it correctly without putting up any distinguishing fencing or any signs explaining the different areas. The complete lack of enforcement for the dog bylaws doesn’t help, either. Dog owners get away with law-breaking regularly, so it must be okay, right? ---
**Author:** ![flatlined](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb9ed0/32.png) [@flatlined](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flatlined)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2014, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-new-bitchfest/677605/622 "2014-01-29T02:05:18Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > You’re probably right. To my logical mind, when you get a dog, you look up the laws pertaining to dogs in your area. I can see that not everyone would do that - they’d just go by a sign that says, “Off-leash area” and that’s the end of that. I do blame the city, too, for creating a mess like this - don’t put the path right through an off-leash area then leave it up to people to use it correctly without putting up any distinguishing fencing or any signs explaining the different areas. The complete lack of enforcement for the dog bylaws doesn’t help, either. Dog owners get away with law-breaking regularly, so it must be okay, right? I am NOT arguing with you. I do think that you should be able to go about your daily business without worrying about getting hurt by a dog. However…I consider myself to be a responsible dog owner. Until yesterday, I never even considered looking up the city laws concerning dogs. I figured that it was our responsibility to not let our pet ownership negatively impact other people. While this includes not ignoring her so she barks the neighborhood down, and cleaning up after her, it also includes walking her with a short, sturdy leash and only letting her loose in dog safe areas. I depend on the signs to tell me when I can let her off leash, but I also look for fences. However, I’m a reasonable person, not a jerk who yells at a woman who is afraid of a large dog barreling at her. ---
**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:** [January 29, 2014, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-new-bitchfest/677605/623 "2014-01-29T03:25:58Z")
Fuck Facebook for being very timely in showing me lots of memes and celebrity accounts and such, but waiting seven hours to show me the post from my friend who was hospitalized with her husband and their two young children for carbon monoxide poisoning. As in, hospitalized at the very hospital I work at, so maybe I could have stopped by to see them if they wanted, or brought them something if they needed it. Now I’m home and they’ve been released home. Thanks a lot, Facebook. Fuck your algorithms of what’s “important.” ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2014, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-new-bitchfest/677605/624 "2014-01-29T03:30:16Z")
> [@ENugent](#): > > I got a flu shot in October. Nevertheless, I have the flu now. It sucks. Nasal swabs suck, too. I got a flu shot last year for the first time since the late 70s, because back then, I got so sick, there was mucus coming out of my eyes, but because I was in the Air Force, and lived in the barracks, I had to go to work unless I was sick enough to go to the hospital. There were no sick days. I wanted to die. So I never got a flu shot again. And then last year, they kept saying, “Oh, you better get one, and besides, the flu shots these days are dead viruses, so you can’t get sick.” And that night, I had a fever of 102. Never again. ---
**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:** [January 29, 2014, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-new-bitchfest/677605/625 "2014-01-29T03:32:41Z")
I followed similar logic. Flu shot = several days of guaranteed feeling cruddy, while I normally have a good chance of not catching something going around. Forgot to factor in that I now work in a thrift store and ride public transit, thus massively increasing my exposure. Still a wash for me so far, really. DH did get the shot, due to being in a high-risk group (diabetic), and he got a mild flu too. ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2014, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-new-bitchfest/677605/626 "2014-01-29T05:07:30Z")
YOU CAN’T GET THE FLU FROM THE FLU SHOT. IS THAT CLEAR? The flu shot can take long to work so if you get the flu it’s because of other factors not the flu shot. Get the fucking shot. I had the flu in my teens. I was so sick I lost five pounds in a week. I was so sick I couldn’t sit up. I was so sick my dad had to carry me to the car because I literally couldn’t walk there to go see a doctor. I was so sick it took me a month before I felt not so sick. Do not fuck around with the flu. It can easily be debilitating and worse, [it can be deadly.](http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2014/01/is-it-too-late-to-get-a-flu-shot) ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2014, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-new-bitchfest/677605/627 "2014-01-29T05:18:45Z")
Then why do I get so sick every time I get a flu shot? ---
**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:** [January 29, 2014, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-new-bitchfest/677605/628 "2014-01-29T05:21:33Z")
Seconded, Rick. Besides, I for one did not say I get the flu from that shot, I just feel lousy for a few days. Funny how flu-like the symptoms always are for me, though. ---
**Author:** ![Darwinian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Darwinian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darwinian)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2014, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-new-bitchfest/677605/629 "2014-01-29T05:28:57Z")
and just to add to the discussion about getting the flu shot, not only does the flu cause death it can cause many many other complications. The flu destroyed my hearing in one ear, started having flu symptoms, thought it was just a cold and treated it accordingly, woke up one morning with a massive earache which didn’t respond to painkillers, went to the doctor at lunchtime by which time it was too late and all the nerves in my ear had been destroyed. The ENT specialist that I saw later said I was the 3rd person that month that had had the same side effect from the flu but that mine was the worst he’d seen as the others retained partial hearing. I have since know of other people (including my boss) that have had the same thing happen. ---
**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:** [January 29, 2014, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-new-bitchfest/677605/630 "2014-01-29T06:35:45Z")
I get my flu shot early in the season each year (November), and I get a sore bicep for a day. That’s it. I don’t know what’s going on with people who get sick after they get a flu shot, but I also don’t think it’s actually from the shot itself. In my case, when I get a flu shot, not only do I not get the flu, I also find that the colds I do get are milder. From [the CDC’s](http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/flushot.htm) site: > [@](#): > > What about people who get a seasonal flu vaccine and still get sick with flu-like symptoms? > > There are several reasons why someone might get flu-like symptoms even after they have been vaccinated against the flu. > > People may be exposed to an influenza virus shortly before getting vaccinated or during the two-week period that it takes the body to gain protection after getting vaccinated. > > This exposure may result in a person becoming ill with flu before the vaccine begins to protect them. > > People may become ill from other (non-flu) viruses that circulate during the flu season, which can also cause flu-like symptoms (such as rhinovirus). > > A person may be exposed to an influenza virus that is not included in the seasonal flu vaccine. There are many different influenza viruses that circulate every year. The flu shot protects against the 3 or 4 viruses (depending on whether the flu shot is a trivalent or quadrivalent vaccine) that research suggests will be most common. > > Unfortunately, some people can get infected with an influenza vaccine virus despite getting vaccinated. Protection provided by influenza vaccination can vary widely, based in part on health and age factors of the person getting vaccinated. In general, the flu vaccine works best among young healthy adults and older children. Some older people and people with certain chronic illnesses may develop less immunity after vaccination. > > However, even among people who tend to respond less well to vaccination, the flu vaccine can still help prevent influenza. Vaccination is particularly important for people at high risk of serious flu-related complications and for close contacts of high-risk people. For more information about the effectiveness of the flu vaccine, see How Well Does the Seasonal Flu Vaccine Work? > > Lastly, the flu shot can cause mild side effects that are sometimes mistaken for flu. See ‘Why do some people not feel well after getting the flu shot?’ for more information. ---
**Author:** ![eulalia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eulalia/32/457_2.png) [@eulalia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eulalia)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2014, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-new-bitchfest/677605/631 "2014-01-29T12:24:11Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > I get my flu shot early in the season each year (November), and I get a sore bicep for a day. That’s it. I don’t know what’s going on with people who get sick after they get a flu shot, but I also don’t think it’s actually from the shot itself. > > In my case, when I get a flu shot, not only do I not get the flu, I also find that the colds I do get are milder. > > From [the CDC’s](http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/flushot.htm) site: I told my doctor about how I felt wiped out and got laryngitis for a couple of days from the flu shot and he said that was actually a good thing, because my immune system was clearly responding to the shot so I would be much less likely to get sick when exposed to the live virus. I guess missing one day of work is better than a week or more. ---
**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:** [January 29, 2014, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-new-bitchfest/677605/632 "2014-01-29T14:06:17Z")
What they said. Think about how sick you’d be if you actually got the flu, if your immune system freaks out that much at a bit of killed virus. This year’s H1N1 flu appears to be killing lots more healthy people same as last time it came around, like the middle-aged, children, and pregnant women. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2014, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-new-bitchfest/677605/633 "2014-01-29T15:27:00Z")
> **[Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines](https://news.yahoo.com/)** > > The latest news and headlines from Yahoo! News. Get breaking news stories and in-depth coverage with videos and photos. The one for today, Wednesday January 29. Soooooo true… ---
**Author:** ![ENugent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/4af34b/32.png) [@ENugent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ENugent)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2014, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-new-bitchfest/677605/634 "2014-01-29T15:28:00Z")
Yeah, I had no side effects at all from my flu shot - but I got the flu. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2014, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-new-bitchfest/677605/635 "2014-01-29T17:06:19Z")
My dad died 5 yrs ago at Christmas, Dec. 23rd. January is a very hard time of year for me because of it. I just accidentally called my mom’s house phone instead of her cell phone. She still has my dad’s voice on the answering machine. I didn’t realize since I never call that number. It was such a shock to hear it. I feel like I’m going to throw up. I can’t describe my emotions. I kind of want to call back and listen to the whole message over and over again. I’m also kind of angry with my mom for keeping it on there and subjecting me to listening to it without warning. At the moment, I’m just a sobbing mess. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2014, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-new-bitchfest/677605/636 "2014-01-29T17:16:34Z")
She probably kept it because she wants to hear his voice on the greeting. I haven’t turned off The Other Shoe’s cell phone yet for the same reason. But I agree, being blindsided by that is understandably very painful. Try not to yell at your mom about it or let her know your anger, though. Yell into a pillow instead, if you have to. Or, throw up, since you feel like it anyway - can’t hurt, might help. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2014, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-new-bitchfest/677605/637 "2014-01-29T17:50:30Z")
Oh, I won’t yell at her or anything like that. I actually understand. I was just mad at the moment because I was upset. I had a good cry and I’m feeling a bit better. I might bring it up another time and gently suggest she get a new machine and set the other one aside for now. Mostly likely I will just erase the number from my phone. It’s not like I don’t have it memorized, but that way I won’t hit the wrong button again. ---
**Author:** ![Avarie537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/48db29/32.png) [@Avarie537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avarie537)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2014, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-new-bitchfest/677605/638 "2014-01-29T18:50:24Z")
I swear I don’t know why I even bother remaining a member of my Facebook moms’ group. Some one posted asking about which amber teething necklaces were better and where could she get one locally. Two minutes on Google shows that any claims about anti-inflammatory properties due to succinic acid content are BS, and that since the mystical healing properties can’t be documented, retailers can’t make any of those claims in Australia. Just bleargh. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2014, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-new-bitchfest/677605/639 "2014-01-29T20:08:42Z")
Y’know, I figured a [thread about the relative merits and legality of raw milk](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=713789) would go off the rails, but I wasn’t expecting _that_ particular turn. Jeez. > [@Rhiannon8404](#): > > … I’m feeling a bit better… That’s good. I have a dark sense of humor under the best of circumstances – and these are not the best of circumstances for me right now – but I find it bleakly hilarious that you managed to basically butt-dial your dead father. (_ **Please** _ don’t be mad at me for saying that.) Just got a call from the Social Security office, who has apparently been trying to get a hold of me for a while (:dubious: it’s not like I’m incognito or anything) and it turns out that the late Mr. Shoe’s disability claim had been approved (:dubious: dude was in a friggin’ wheelchair thankyouverymuch) although I believe the approval came through the system after his death, and anyways I might be receiving a little something as a result. Basically, forwarding the benefits that were due to him, to me, as his surviving spouse. I’m … not sure how to feel about this. On the one hand, I haven’t been in a position to turn down “free” money for years and certainly am still not now. On the other hand, the _reason_ I would be receiving it – if I do, as I don’t count chickens 'till they’re hatched and all that – is really beyond words. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2014, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-new-bitchfest/677605/640 "2014-01-29T20:33:02Z")
Don’t try. Just think of it as another thing you found while you’ve been picking up the pieces; and be good to yourself. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-new-bitchfest/677605.md?page=31) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-new-bitchfest/677605.md?page=33)