# Why can't you control your damn tumors? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 16, 2004, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-control-your-damn-tumors/280126 "2004-12-16T12:25:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2004, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-control-your-damn-tumors/280126/1 "2004-12-16T12:25:35Z")
[**Link**](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=5611976&postcount=1) I realize you’re a good friend, and your fight with cancer is a big deal to you, but I think you could show a little more compassion for those of us who still have plenty of life remaining. It pisses me off that your self-absorption has imposed upon me such a tough dilemma. In fact, I think you’re downright rude. You may be struggling with matters of life and death, but let’s get a little perspective, shall we? Tonight is the once in a lifetime finale of the Latest Fake Reality Show. Why on God’s green earth would you ask me to come see you tonight? I don’t even have TiVo! Frankly, I was hurt and disappointed when you were less than fully understanding even after I explained to you why it would be a problem. I want you to lie there tonight, and while your pain killer drips, I want you to think about what you’ve put me through. Selfish bastard. ---
**Author:** ![Metacom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecae2f/32.png) [@Metacom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Metacom)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2004, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-control-your-damn-tumors/280126/2 "2004-12-16T12:31:14Z")
Before I read the link, I thought this was gonna be a pitting of **gobear** ’s crazy people thread. There’s nothing that says “I value you as a friend” like saying “I’d love to come visit you in the hospital then, but a TV show I like to watch is on!” ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2004, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-control-your-damn-tumors/280126/3 "2004-12-16T13:18:30Z")
Years ago when I still lived at home, my cousin stopped by unannounced because she happened to be in the neighborhood. Too bad for her because my mom’s favorite show, “Unsolved Mysteries,” happened to be on. I kid you not, she sat in her bedroom (the only t.v. we had was in their bedrooom) for an hour and completely ignored a guest because that freaking t.v. show was more important to her than her own niece. Needless to say, I was mortified and my cousin was hurt. I vowed that very day that t.v. would never take priority over people. And I’ve kept that vow. To Twickster: One day you may need help. Trust me, “The Apprentice” folks aren’t going to give a flying fuck. Get a DVR, if you are that addicted to a show, but get your priorities in order. ---
**Author:** ![Oy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc8723/32.png) [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2004, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-control-your-damn-tumors/280126/4 "2004-12-16T13:22:56Z")
OH, cut me a break! \*\*Twickster \*\* is a really good person. She’s visiting her friend in the hospital fairly consistently, and I’ll be that’s more than a lot of people are doing. And yes, she was planning to visit - she just wanted to bitch _on the side_ about missing part of her show - the culmination, I might add, of a number of preceding episodes, if I’m reading it correctly (I don’t watch it, so I have no idea). She’s allowed to moan a little, ya know? Virtue doesn’t mean you can’t feel conflicted or disappointed when the virtuous choice crowds out your preferred choice. How about a little less self-righteousness, there, **Liberal**? Are \*you \* always completely delighted at the choices you have to make? If so, lucky you! ---
**Author:** ![Oy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc8723/32.png) [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2004, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-control-your-damn-tumors/280126/5 "2004-12-16T13:25:36Z")
Oh, and **Lisa**? As far as I’m concerned, unannounced, uninvited guests take what they get. Did they have the courtesy to check with their putative hosts first? ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2004, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-control-your-damn-tumors/280126/6 "2004-12-16T13:37:19Z")
Um… **Oy!** , it’s _television_. That’s all it is. It’s not even good television. It’s not even something that noone else watches. There was likely a thread on it. The various “entertainment” media have been all over this story. It’s not like the ending would be difficult to find. It’s not even _fucking important to anything at all._ To not visit a friend in the hospital because of a fuckin reality tv show is just wrong. I’m not trying to make any personality judgements on twickster. I don’t know her, but she sounds like a nice person. It just sounds like her priorities got a wee bit skewed. ---
**Author:** ![griffen2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ce7236/32.png) [@griffen2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffen2)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2004, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-control-your-damn-tumors/280126/7 "2004-12-16T13:41:37Z")
Couldn’t she tape it? ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2004, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-control-your-damn-tumors/280126/8 "2004-12-16T14:00:33Z")
In **twickster** ’s defense, she’s been one of the few people who have been there for her friend since he got sick. It’s not like he’s a long-lost friend who desperately needs her in his hour of sorrow. They see each other frequently enough that she felt comfortable kvetching that she was missing a favorite TV show to visit him in the hospital. Get a grip, **Lib**. She was _whining_. Robin ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2004, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-control-your-damn-tumors/280126/9 "2004-12-16T15:25:47Z")
Near as I can tell, she and this person were discussing what would be a good time for her to visit. He suggested Thursday, and she said that, well, she kind of had plans then, and he was a bit grumpy about it, and so she’s cancelling her plans. And that’s supposed to make her a shitheel? Oh, c’mon. Oh, wait, I forgot–her plans are stupid and unworthy, so they should have absolutely zero value to her. :rolleyes: What a load of self-righteous twaddle. ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2004, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-control-your-damn-tumors/280126/10 "2004-12-16T17:45:36Z")
She even kicked her own butt a few posts down. Jeez, indulge in a little self deprecating kvetching among friends and wind up here? ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2004, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-control-your-damn-tumors/280126/11 "2004-12-16T17:50:12Z")
I just wanted to come in and defend **twickster** , too. I also think she’s a really nice person, and this Pitting is totally uncalled for. ---
**Author:** ![Excalibre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2004, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-control-your-damn-tumors/280126/12 "2004-12-16T17:53:53Z")
> [@Oy!](#): > > Oh, and **Lisa**? As far as I’m concerned, unannounced, uninvited guests take what they get. Did they have the courtesy to check with their putative hosts first? No damn kidding. You drop by my house without calling, don’t expect me to entertain you, or put my plans on hold, even if they amount to clipping my toenails and counting the designs on the wallpaper. Ain’t up to you what goes on if you don’t give me fair warning. Meanwhile, it seems obvious who he’s gonna pick on The Apprentice. The last couple episodes of the season were particularly boring last time around, and the choice was a lot less clear that time. As for Twickster, since it appears to just be a little whining about something mildly unpleasant, which is what we do here in the Pit, I’m willing to forgo the lynch mob. ---
**Author:** ![Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/soul_brother_number_two/32/3515_2.png) [@Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soul_Brother_Number_Two)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2004, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-control-your-damn-tumors/280126/13 "2004-12-16T17:54:21Z")
I’m thinking that it’s been time for Lib to lose his shit again. Hasn’t happened for a while. There was a little taste of it in gobear’s thread about his job from yesterday. Hold on to your hats. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2004, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-control-your-damn-tumors/280126/14 "2004-12-16T19:19:28Z")
> [@griffen2](#): > > Couldn’t she tape it? All she said about that was, “Because I wouldn’t tape the whole thing and watch it later, I’d flip on the TV when I got home.” I suppose that’s a “no”. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2004, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-control-your-damn-tumors/280126/15 "2004-12-16T19:21:31Z")
> [@Oy!](#): > > OH, cut me a break! \*\*Twickster \*\* is a really good person. She’s visiting her friend in the hospital fairly consistently, and I’ll be that’s more than a lot of people are doing. And yes, she was planning to visit - she just wanted to bitch _on the side_ about missing part of her show - the culmination, I might add, of a number of preceding episodes, if I’m reading it correctly (I don’t watch it, so I have no idea). She’s allowed to moan a little, ya know? And I’m allowed a little rant, ya know. What with not being psychic and all, I had no idea she was Mother Teresa. I just went by what she wrote. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2004, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-control-your-damn-tumors/280126/16 "2004-12-16T19:22:32Z")
> [@essvee](#): > > I’m thinking that it’s been time for Lib to lose his shit again. Hasn’t happened for a while. There was a little taste of it in gobear’s thread about his job from yesterday. Hold on to your hats. I thought I flushed you this morning. Looks like I’m going to need the plunger. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2004, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-control-your-damn-tumors/280126/17 "2004-12-16T19:25:26Z")
> [@CrazyCatLady](#): > > Near as I can tell, she and this person were discussing what would be a good time for her to visit. He suggested Thursday, and she said that, well, she kind of had plans then, and he was a bit grumpy about it, and so she’s cancelling her plans. And that’s supposed to make her a shitheel? Oh, c’mon. > > Oh, wait, I forgot–her plans are stupid and unworthy, so they should have absolutely zero value to her. :rolleyes: What a load of self-righteous twaddle. You’re such a bag of shit. If I pitted Fred Phelps, you’d take his side. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2004, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-control-your-damn-tumors/280126/18 "2004-12-16T19:27:02Z")
If a friend of mine was battling cancer, I’d be there where they wanted, when they wanted, no questions asked. Nothing could possibly be more important, at least for me. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2004, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-control-your-damn-tumors/280126/19 "2004-12-16T19:29:17Z")
I missed a lot of TV when my newborn nephew was in Children’s Hospital of DC over the summer. I didn’t and don’t care. It’s just TV. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2004, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-control-your-damn-tumors/280126/20 "2004-12-16T19:33:04Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > You’re such a bag of shit. If I pitted Fred Phelps, you’d take his side. Dawn’s in trouble? Must be Tuesday. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-control-your-damn-tumors/280126.md?page=2)