# People we've "lost" this year **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 14, 2016, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-weve-lost-this-year/743139 "2016-01-14T16:14:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2016, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-weve-lost-this-year/743139/61 "2016-01-15T16:18:22Z")
> [@Plumpudding](#): > > trump hadivanka putin KOCH?! Gesundheit. ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2016, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-weve-lost-this-year/743139/62 "2016-01-15T16:39:02Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > Yeah. “Everything happens for a reason.” I guess it does, if you are talking strictly cause-and-effect, but NOT HELPFUL, PEOPLE. > > How about this one? “God never gives you anything you can’t handle.” > > Lots of euphemisms that need more hate than the one in the OP. The absolute worst one I’ve ever seen (admittedly, only on Facebook, as I can’t imagine anyone having enough gall to say it in person) is telling someone who has just _lost_ a loved one that they’ve “won their battle with X.” What fresh bullshit is that? I’d long determined if someone uttered that nonsense to me, I was going to kick straight in the keister. Now that’s a euphemism from hell. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2016, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-weve-lost-this-year/743139/63 "2016-01-15T22:30:31Z")
> [@faithfool](#): > > The absolute worst one I’ve ever seen (admittedly, only on Facebook, as I can’t imagine anyone having enough gall to say it in person) is telling someone who has just _lost_ a loved one that they’ve “won their battle with X.” What fresh bullshit is that? I’d long determined if someone uttered that nonsense to me, I was going to kick straight in the keister. Now that’s a euphemism from hell. This statement doesn’t make any sense to me - is the “they” that won the battle the person that died or the person making the comment? Like “hey, sorry your boo died of cancer but personally, I beat cancer”? If it’s referring to the person that died, common vernacular at that point would be that they _lost_ the “battle”, since they died. I’ve never heard anyone call that a win. ---
**Author:** ![CatastrophicFailure](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@CatastrophicFailure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CatastrophicFailure)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2016, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-weve-lost-this-year/743139/64 "2016-01-15T22:52:47Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > Yeah. “Everything happens for a reason.” I guess it does, if you are talking strictly cause-and-effect, but NOT HELPFUL, PEOPLE. > > How about this one? “God never gives you anything you can’t handle.” I always liked a reply to this I heard once: “Does that mean if I were a weaker person my mother would still be alive?” ---
**Author:** ![CatastrophicFailure](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@CatastrophicFailure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CatastrophicFailure)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2016, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-weve-lost-this-year/743139/65 "2016-01-15T23:11:41Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > This statement doesn’t make any sense to me - is the “they” that won the battle the person that died or the person making the comment? Like “hey, sorry your boo died of cancer but personally, I beat cancer”? If it’s referring to the person that died, common vernacular at that point would be that they _lost_ the “battle”, since they died. I’ve never heard anyone call that a win. I don’t think it makes any sense either, but people use it. Google this phrase (with the quotation marks) for multiple examples: “won his battle with” obituary I don’t like “lost his battle with cancer,” either. It has the implication of weakness behind it, which is why I imagine people try using “win” instead. I think not using the phrase at all is a better solution. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2016, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-weve-lost-this-year/743139/66 "2016-01-15T23:21:03Z")
> [@CatastrophicFailure](#): > > I don’t like “lost his battle with cancer,” either. It has the implication of weakness behind it, which is why I imagine people try using “win” instead. I think not using the phrase at all is a better solution. Yeah, I agree with you there. People are desperate to try and establish a sense of agency when it comes to terminal illness, and yeah there’s some forms of treatment, yeah it can be good for one’s state of mind and giving them a positive outlook, etc. But ultimately we just don’t have _that_ much control if our body decides it’s gonna kill us. A hard thing to acknowledge. ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2016, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-weve-lost-this-year/743139/67 "2016-01-16T01:00:22Z")
I think **CF** has probably given enough head’s up on the inference, but yeah, this: > [@Rigamarole](#): > > This statement doesn’t make any sense to me - is the “they” that won the battle the person that died or the person making the comment? Like “hey, sorry your boo died of cancer but personally, I beat cancer”? If it’s referring to the person that died, common vernacular at that point would be that they _lost_ the “battle”, since they died. I’ve never heard anyone call that a win. …means that the person who died “beat” Cancer in the way that they got the ultimate prize, leaving this awful, awful world and going home to be with the Lord. And while I’m a believer and certainly hope my fellow is up above right now, playing softball while his granddad and favorite pup look on, that’s the most hackneyed, tortured logic ever. First, it means God didn’t give us a gift of life to be treasured, and instead, we’re so supposed to want to leave it that we’re happy to have chucked it over. And second, that the only real reason we wish to go to have is for all the awesome swag, like God is your own personal gum ball machine, but with better payout. Finally, it presupposes that others would ever think that idiotically to begin with. Fortunately, I’ve missed out on it so far, but I’m telling you, I’m studying up on exactly where a keister is if necessary. ---
**Author:** ![Fubaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@Fubaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fubaya)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2016, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-weve-lost-this-year/743139/68 "2016-01-16T01:14:54Z")
[This youtube video](https://youtu.be/peDLWyHegfI?t=1h8m15s) sort of backs up the OP ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2016, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-weve-lost-this-year/743139/69 "2016-01-16T03:13:23Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > How about this one? “God never gives you anything you can’t handle.” Yep, that one’s a pet peeve of mine. I guess those Jews who were being rounded up and gassed were just taking a minor pop quiz. ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2016, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-weve-lost-this-year/743139/70 "2016-01-16T03:46:25Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > And there the similarity ends, as unlike David Bowie, neither tobacco, alcohol nor recreational drugs have ever touched Trump’s lips. > > Therefore I think it’s safe to assume that he’s in the best shape of any 69-year-old who’s ever lived, anytime or anywhere. 😃 You’re right - Bowie had talent, charisma, and had a positive impact on the lives of millions. The age of 69- that IS where the similarity ends. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2016, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-weve-lost-this-year/743139/71 "2016-01-16T04:45:56Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > Therefore I think it’s safe to assume that he’s in the best shape of any 69-year-old who’s ever lived, anytime or anywhere. 😃 I know you’re funnin’ us, but I have a friend who just turned 72 but who moves like he’s 22. Terrific shape; far better that Trump. I hate him with every fiber in my diet. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2016, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-weve-lost-this-year/743139/72 "2016-01-16T06:08:44Z")
First post from someone who just registered yesterday. Seems legit. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2016, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-weve-lost-this-year/743139/73 "2016-01-16T13:03:31Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > That sounds like he went gay. Great…now I’m going to have [this](http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gxg5HWTIAY) stuck in my head all day. ---
**Author:** ![IDtenT\_Error](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@IDtenT\_Error](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IDtenT_Error)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2016, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-weve-lost-this-year/743139/74 "2016-01-16T17:40:08Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > I love the\* “died of an unexpected heart attack”\* death notice. As opposed to what? _“Louie Anderson died today of a heart attack, as expected”_. _“Louie Anderson died today of his regularly scheduled heart attack.”_ ---
**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:** [January 16, 2016, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-weve-lost-this-year/743139/75 "2016-01-16T20:24:10Z")
> [@BrazenPirate](#): > > With the possible exception of Elvis, every celebrity we’ve ever “lost” has never been found. Can we just call a spade a spade here? Why do people have to indulge in pathetic euphemisms? What’s wrong with “dead” or “died?” They’re succinct and descriptive. You left out Jesus. People are always asking me if I found him. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2016, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-weve-lost-this-year/743139/76 "2016-01-16T20:26:03Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > You left out Jesus. People are always asking me if I found him. I found Jesus. He was behind the couch. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2016, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-weve-lost-this-year/743139/77 "2016-01-16T20:34:31Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I found Jesus. [So have I.](http://weknowmemes.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/have-you-found-jesus-comic.jpg) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-weve-lost-this-year/743139.md?page=3)