# This can't be good **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 19, 2009, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-cant-be-good/514369 "2009-10-19T18:15:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**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:** [October 19, 2009, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-cant-be-good/514369/1 "2009-10-19T18:15:47Z")
Working in a hospital, I often catch snippets of fascinating conversation as I go about my appointed rounds - from staff, patients and visitors. Unfortunately I usually miss out on the punch line, because after hearing the initial bombshell you can’t very well stop dead in your tracks without seeming like an obvious eavesdropper. Today’s case in point - I’m heading down the corridor and I hear: _“She’s painting dots on herself with White-Out!!”_ Oh my. Is this part of a new syndrome in DSM-IV? The consequences could be dire, if she goes overboard and completely whites herself out, much like [Shirley Eaton](http://old.commanderbond.net/resources/sections/news/images/2540_autographica/eaton.jpg) in Goldfinger. Or is this what really happened to Michael Jackson? Damn, I want to know the rest of the story. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2009, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-cant-be-good/514369/2 "2009-10-19T18:19:33Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > because after hearing the initial bombshell you can’t very well stop dead in your tracks without seeming like an obvious eavesdropper. I would. ---
**Author:** ![supergoose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@supergoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/supergoose)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2009, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-cant-be-good/514369/3 "2009-10-19T20:03:14Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > I would. Yeah, me too. You could at least pretend to need to tie your shoe or check your phone or something. Now I’m really curious too. ☹ ---
**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:** [October 19, 2009, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-cant-be-good/514369/4 "2009-10-19T20:25:02Z")
It occurs to me that maybe White-Out Lady feels she has done something wrong, and is trying to correct herself. Brings to mind that creepy [Lloyd the bartender](http://www.blogcdn.com/www.cinematical.com/media/2006/02/lloyd01.jpg) in _The Shining_, whose children kept tearing up the Overlook Hotel, until he _corrected_ them. Dang, I see too many movies. ---
**Author:** ![Covered\_In\_Bees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ab992/32.png) [@Covered\_In\_Bees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Covered_In_Bees)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2009, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-cant-be-good/514369/5 "2009-10-19T20:27:37Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > It occurs to me that maybe White-Out Lady feels she has done something wrong, and is trying to correct herself. > > Brings to mind that creepy [Lloyd the bartender](http://www.blogcdn.com/www.cinematical.com/media/2006/02/lloyd01.jpg) in _The Shining_, whose children kept tearing up the Overlook Hotel, until he _corrected_ them. > > Dang, I see too many movies. It was [Delbert Grady](http://unrealitymag.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/2775943-1.jpg) that did the, correcting, of his children. Then his wife start meddling and he, corrected, her too. ---
**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:** [October 19, 2009, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-cant-be-good/514369/6 "2009-10-19T20:52:24Z")
> [@Covered\_In\_Bees](#): > > It was [Delbert Grady](http://unrealitymag.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/2775943-1.jpg) that did the, correcting, of his children. Then his wife start meddling and he, corrected, her too. I stand _corrected_. Is it, just me, or are there, a lot of commas buzzing around here? ---
**Author:** ![Covered\_In\_Bees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ab992/32.png) [@Covered\_In\_Bees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Covered_In_Bees)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2009, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-cant-be-good/514369/7 "2009-10-19T20:55:35Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > I stand _corrected_. > > Is it, just me, or are there, a lot of commas buzzing around here? Yes lots of commas. I think they portray how Grady was speaking better than italics. ---
**Author:** ![Trepa\_Mayfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@Trepa\_Mayfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trepa_Mayfield)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2009, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-cant-be-good/514369/8 "2009-10-19T22:11:23Z")
Hooray for hijacks! ---
**Author:** ![Mindfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindfield/32/19759_2.png) [@Mindfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mindfield)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2009, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-cant-be-good/514369/9 "2009-10-19T23:04:49Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > I stand _corrected_. > > Is it▓ just me, or are there▓ a lot of commas buzzing around here? Problem solved. /Digital white-out. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2009, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-cant-be-good/514369/10 "2009-10-19T23:21:19Z")
Did I say an hour? My face is red, I stand corrected. (I stand corrected!) ---
**Author:** ![Translucent\_Daydream](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/translucent_daydream/32/16170_2.png) [@Translucent\_Daydream](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Translucent_Daydream)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2009, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-cant-be-good/514369/11 "2009-10-20T17:22:12Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Working in a hospital, I often catch snippets of fascinating conversation as I go about my appointed rounds - from staff, patients and visitors. Unfortunately I usually miss out on the punch line, because after hearing the initial bombshell you can’t very well stop dead in your tracks without seeming like an obvious eavesdropper. > > Today’s case in point - I’m heading down the corridor and I hear: > > _“She’s painting dots on herself with White-Out!!”_ > > Oh my. Is this part of a new syndrome in DSM-IV? The consequences could be dire, if she goes overboard and completely whites herself out, much like [Shirley Eaton](http://old.commanderbond.net/resources/sections/news/images/2540_autographica/eaton.jpg) in Goldfinger. Or is this what really happened to Michael Jackson? > > Damn, I want to know the rest of the story. You don’t think that the lady was having an issue with inhaling the fumes, like being addicted to it? Whats it called, huffing? [Like this dude?](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3sDawBVHX7c/SITNLz8e-XI/AAAAAAAAAQM/kBFezRw9vFk/s320/PatrickTribett.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2009, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-cant-be-good/514369/12 "2009-10-20T17:29:40Z")
Colourblind hypochondriac going for measles? ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2009, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-cant-be-good/514369/13 "2009-10-20T17:36:06Z")
> [@Translucent\_Daydream](#): > > You don’t think that the lady was having an issue with inhaling the fumes, like being addicted to it? Whats it called, huffing? > > [Like this dude?](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3sDawBVHX7c/SITNLz8e-XI/AAAAAAAAAQM/kBFezRw9vFk/s320/PatrickTribett.jpg) Naw, she’s trying to cover up her needle marks. I’ve seen it. ---
**Author:** ![Mindfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindfield/32/19759_2.png) [@Mindfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mindfield)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2009, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-cant-be-good/514369/14 "2009-10-20T17:53:31Z")
> [@picunurse](#): > > Naw, she’s trying to cover up her needle marks. I’ve seen it. Perhaps she misunderstands what it means to be a white person?