# Weird Dave got burned!

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-dave-got-burned/242278>\
**Category:** The BBQ Pit\
**Created:** [April 27, 2004, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-dave-got-burned/242278 "2004-04-27T14:53:24Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 3

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**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:** [April 27, 2004, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-dave-got-burned/242278/41 "2004-04-27T20:55:44Z")

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> [@Derleth](#):
>
> This thread would mean a whole lot more if **WeirdDave** were actually in it.
> 
> Seriously, folks. Is this _all_ you have to do today?

Yes.

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**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\
**Post date:** [April 27, 2004, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-dave-got-burned/242278/42 "2004-04-27T20:57:16Z")

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> [@Dante](#):
>
> What are the symptoms of your allergy? Dry mouth? Short term memory loss? Inexplicable food cravings? Short term memory loss?

Don’t forget short term memory loss.

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**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\
**Post date:** [April 27, 2004, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-dave-got-burned/242278/43 "2004-04-27T20:58:44Z")

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> [@Dante](#):
>
> What are the symptoms of your allergy? Dry mouth? Short term memory loss? Inexplicable food cravings? Short term memory loss?

And let’s not forget short term memory loss!

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**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\
**Post date:** [April 28, 2004, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-dave-got-burned/242278/44 "2004-04-28T01:20:27Z")

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If everyone didn’t have me on their ignore list, they would have seen that I alluded to the fact that illegal drugs weren’t mention in the very first reply. I thought that pointed out the ommision quite nicely, maybe not.

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**Author:** ![Queen\_Tonya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/4491bb/32.png) [@Queen\_Tonya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Tonya)\
**Post date:** [April 28, 2004, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-dave-got-burned/242278/45 "2004-04-28T01:53:36Z")

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> [@Trunk](#):
>
> Has anyone actually proven that marijuana is bad for developing fetuses?
> 
> I’d think it might help babies calm the the fuck down.

Perhaps there’s a shortage of studies to provide a proper statistical sampling, because most folks don’t want funny-looking kids with flippers? :wally  
Congrats on the impending bundle of joy, I loved the OP.

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**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\
**Post date:** [April 28, 2004, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-dave-got-burned/242278/46 "2004-04-28T02:05:59Z")

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> [@Queen Tonya](#):
>
> Perhaps there’s a shortage of studies to provide a proper statistical sampling, because most folks don’t want funny-looking kids with flippers? :wally  
> Congrats on the impending bundle of joy, I loved the OP.

Nah, flipper babies were from Thalidomide. My mother was prescribed thalidomide during both of her pregnancies (68 and 71), and refused to take it. Refused to take anything, as a matter of fact.

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**Author:** ![chukhung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e79b87/32.png) [@chukhung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chukhung)\
**Post date:** [April 28, 2004, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-dave-got-burned/242278/47 "2004-04-28T03:28:52Z")

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> [@GingerOfTheNorth](#):
>
> My mother was prescribed thalidomide during both of her pregnancies (68 and 71)

Where was your mother living at the time? :eek:

This [page](http://www.sfaf.org/treatment/beta/b36/b36thalido.html) says

> [@](#):
>
> In 1961 the link was made between thalidomide and birth defects. Germany acted immediately and removed the product from the shelves. A few days later, Britain withdrew the product, and 4 months later, in March 1962, Canada followed. Thalidomide had not yet received approval in the U.S.

I’m amazed that in 1968 a physician _anywhere_ would have prescribed thalidomide to a pregnant woman. I believe it was still available in some parts of the world at that time (mainly as a leprosy treatment), but I would hardly have thought that there was a physician alive who hadn’t heard about thalidomide’s extreme teratogenicity by that late date.

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**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\
**Post date:** [April 28, 2004, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-dave-got-burned/242278/48 "2004-04-28T03:29:26Z")

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[pause for public service announcement]

Well, although there’s no direct cause-and-effect proven that smoking dope while you’re pregnant causes birth defects, still _anything_ that goes into your body while you’re pregnant can adversely affect the developing fetus–aspirin, antibiotics, alcohol, Valium.

[http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1982/7/82.07.07.x.html](http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1982/7/82.07.07.x.html)

manduck you are funnee

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**Author:** ![SaxFace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@SaxFace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaxFace)\
**Post date:** [April 28, 2004, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-dave-got-burned/242278/49 "2004-04-28T07:28:25Z")

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I thought the thread was pretty cute (and I love to see husbands be so good to their pregnant wives!!) and was sorry it was closed. For what that is worth.

Regarding drugs while pregnant: I am pregnant and have crippling nausea and my doctor prescribed “Primperan”. I have no idea what it is (the descriptions are all in French) and am terrified to take it because I’ve read/heard one shouldn’t take anything medicinal while pregnant. I talked to an English speaking pharmacist about it and she said that I shouldn’t take it often but once in a while is fine. I’ve only taken it once in two weeks, I guess I believe I’m sick for a reason.

The same doctor who prescribed the medicine is the same one who told me it was okay to drink a glass of wine every day. Well, it is France.

Enjoy your new boxspring Gingy!!

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**Author:** ![PookahMacPhellimey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pookahmacphellimey/32/3175_2.png) [@PookahMacPhellimey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PookahMacPhellimey)\
**Post date:** [April 28, 2004, 10:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-dave-got-burned/242278/50 "2004-04-28T10:05:16Z")

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> [@Cheesesteak](#):
>
> You relied on your audience knowing you and Ginger would never do such a thing, which, given some of the responses, wasn’t something you could rely on.
> 
> All I think this says is, if you’re going to jokingly mislead people in a post you should throw the punchline, and not let it hang there for misinterpretation.

This long term newbie here didn’t know **Weirddave** or **Ginger** at all well enough to judge whether or not they might do this that or the other. I also don’t consider myself particularly bright or perceptive by Doper standards (in the real world I do of course 🙂 ). Still got the joke without needing it to the punchline to written out for me.

Oh, and when I am caught out by a joke, what I tend to do is laugh about it.

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**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\
**Post date:** [April 28, 2004, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-dave-got-burned/242278/51 "2004-04-28T12:35:37Z")

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> [@SaxFace](#):
>
> I thought the thread was pretty cute (and I love to see husbands be so good to their pregnant wives!!) and was sorry it was closed. For what that is worth.
> 
> Regarding drugs while pregnant: I am pregnant and have crippling nausea and my doctor prescribed “Primperan”. I have no idea what it is (the descriptions are all in French) and am terrified to take it because I’ve read/heard one shouldn’t take anything medicinal while pregnant. I talked to an English speaking pharmacist about it and she said that I shouldn’t take it often but once in a while is fine. I’ve only taken it once in two weeks, I guess I believe I’m sick for a reason.

I hope your husband is being as good to you! Has he fired you from housework yet, like Dave has?

My doctor prescribed Phenergan (promethazine). The nausea is mostly gone, though.

> [@chukhung](#):
>
> Where was your mother living at the time? :eek:

Germany. Dad was posted there with the military at the time, on a British base. I am convinced that those particular ‘nursing sisters’ were not in fact of God, listening to the stories Mom has told.

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**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\
**Post date:** [April 28, 2004, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-dave-got-burned/242278/52 "2004-04-28T12:35:46Z")

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> [@SaxFace](#):
>
> The same doctor who prescribed the medicine is the same one who told me it was okay to drink a glass of wine every day. Well, it is France.
> 
> Enjoy your new boxspring Gingy!!

A glass of wine is OK in the states, as well.

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**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\
**Post date:** [April 28, 2004, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-dave-got-burned/242278/53 "2004-04-28T12:39:10Z")

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A glass of wine every day?

Also, I think my Mom’s got some clarification 'splainin to do. Both Germany and Britain got rid of the stuff so early… but you know what? I grew up with a ‘Thalidomide baby’, who was born in Canada, whose mother had never left Canada. So I guess you never know.

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**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\
**Post date:** [April 28, 2004, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-dave-got-burned/242278/54 "2004-04-28T13:03:13Z")

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Yup. A glass of wine a day is OK. So long as it’s not a 64 oz. Big Gulp cup. I think a standard wine glass is around 4-6 oz. Your doctor may have different rules for you, but I’ve heard it repeatedly.

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**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:** [April 28, 2004, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-dave-got-burned/242278/55 "2004-04-28T14:37:03Z")

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> [@GingerOfTheNorth](#):
>
> Nah, flipper babies were from Thalidomide. My mother was prescribed thalidomide during both of her pregnancies (68 and 71), and refused to take it.

Just adding my voice to the clamor asking what sort of monster your mom’s doctor was and if she found another doctor when she realized how criminally imcompetant he was.

As for the OP, well, there are some over-sensitive Dopers these days and I just want to welcome Weirddave to the ranks of us burned by the mods because of complaints from people so stupid one would think they couldn’t work the **Report this post** button.

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**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:** [April 28, 2004, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-dave-got-burned/242278/56 "2004-04-28T14:38:34Z")

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> [@SaxFace](#):
>
> \<snip\>Regarding drugs while pregnant: I am pregnant and have crippling nausea and my doctor prescribed “Primperan”. I have no idea what it is (the descriptions are all in French) and am terrified to take it because I’ve read/heard one shouldn’t take anything medicinal while pregnant. I talked to an English speaking pharmacist about it and she said that I shouldn’t take it often but once in a while is fine. I’ve only taken it once in two weeks, I guess I believe I’m sick for a reason.  
> \<snip\>

My friend and sister both swear by those magnetic bracelet things for nausea. My sister uses them to do jewellery work while in the car, and my friend used them for pregnancy nausea. [Here’s](http://www.medserv.ca/details.cfm?ProductId=2278&Id=12) a link.

I was very surprised to learn that thalidomide is **still** used for leprosy treatment in third-world countries. The healthcare workers won’t give it to women of child-bearing age, but they get it anyway, and thalidomide babies are still being born.

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**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:** [April 28, 2004, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-dave-got-burned/242278/57 "2004-04-28T14:41:21Z")

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I see a post came in while I was typing - we have to remember that drug policies weren’t the same in the sixties as they are now, and thalidomide is a big reason why. After the thalidomide tragedy, Canada tightened up it’s drug laws hugely. **Ginger’s** mother’s doctor probably wasn’t doing anything out of the norm for the time.

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**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\
**Post date:** [April 28, 2004, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-dave-got-burned/242278/58 "2004-04-28T15:21:15Z")

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> [@Dante](#):
>
> [Further info](http://www.erowid.org/plants/cannabis/cannabis_myth7.shtml). Note: Erowid is a pro legalization site. Caveat Emptor.
> 
> Ginger, I suggest you get a [vaporizer](http://shop.grasscity.com/shop/grasscity/vapormed.html). That way you don’t get any carcinogens!
> 
> Oh, and one of [these](http://www.allerex.ca/epi.htm)…

Ah, the vaporizer looks interesting. And for only $600+ bucks. It claims you can enjoy your favorite herbs or smoke blends without the smoke. Except they fail to state that the user still has to EXHALE. Loss of short term memory my arse.

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**Author:** ![chukhung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e79b87/32.png) [@chukhung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chukhung)\
**Post date:** [April 28, 2004, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-dave-got-burned/242278/59 "2004-04-28T15:31:46Z")

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> [@featherlou](#):
>
> After the thalidomide tragedy, Canada tightened up it’s drug laws hugely. **Ginger’s** mother’s doctor probably wasn’t doing anything out of the norm for the time.

But that’s the thing. In her post, **Ginger** said

> [@](#):
>
> My mother was prescribed thalidomide during both of her pregnancies **(68 and 71)**  
> Bolding added

By 1971, thalidomide had been banned in Germany (where Ginger’s mother was living) for about ten years. Even being on a British base was no excuse–Britain banned thalidomide in 1962. Prescribing thalidomide to Ginger’s pregnant mother in 1971 was _hugely_ “out of the norm for the time.”

By the mid to late 1960s, the effects of thalidomide on fetal development were widely known throughout the medical community and especially in those countries where thalidomide had been used.

Thalidomide was a big scandal and all those horribly deformed children got a _lot_ of press worldwide. Even in the U.S. (where thalidomide had never been approved), I remember seeing a documentary about British “thalidomide babies” sometime in the late 1960s.

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**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\
**Post date:** [April 28, 2004, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-dave-got-burned/242278/60 "2004-04-28T15:51:53Z")

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I recall a big boycott of Tanquerey Gin, whose parent company was the company that made thalydomide. The reason was because of the paltry payout these victims received. Something stupid like $500 per victim.

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