Sick People

Bobbin

Executive Member
Joined
Oct 22, 2009
Messages
9,479
I'd believe that many viruses could be eradicated just by a change in human behavior alone. And millions of lives saved. But that behavioral change, which would require 100% commitment from all 6 or so billion of us, would be impossible to achieve across the board.
 

FuLL_MeT4L

Expert Member
Joined
Oct 25, 2004
Messages
1,230
Should a person be called a failure for getting sick, and be ridiculed for their weak immune system? No, everyone gets sick.... your post therefore insulted everyone - hence the hate ^_^

Fair enough; my use of the word 'failure' has been my undoing here!

I think that agency is really at the core of my poorly articulated rant. People assign agency to external or immutable sources, their weak immune system, the doctor's antibiotics, the seasons changing, and all sorts of other things. The "weak immune system" is too often used as a crutch, when many factors relating to the immune system are user-controlled. Having farmed out this responsibility they'll then continue to go about their day as per normal. This is what really bothers me.
 

SauRoNZA

Honorary Master
Joined
Jul 6, 2010
Messages
47,910
Maybe too much good hygiene is the problem?

Overdoing it makes you even more susceptible.

Which is why I find it extra hilarious when people go bat **** insane sterilising baby stuff...and then their kids are sick all the time.

You need to be exposed to the germs to handle the germs.
 

TehStranger

Executive Member
Joined
Nov 19, 2012
Messages
6,088
I'll get working on something for Friday?

Please do, and make sure it has at least most of the following:

  • Judgement
  • Hate
  • Name calling ("failure" is a good one to use)
  • Expert opinion formulated after years spent online, as opposed to actually doing a medical degree
  • Some good insight, but not too much, you don't actually want the thread to have a point
  • Angry replies (don't forget to add the Zewp stars you ******)
 

FuLL_MeT4L

Expert Member
Joined
Oct 25, 2004
Messages
1,230
Maybe too much good hygiene is the problem?

Overdoing it makes you even more susceptible.

Which is why I find it extra hilarious when people go bat **** insane sterilising baby stuff...and then their kids are sick all the time.

You need to be exposed to the germs to handle the germs.

Good point. Especially important for kids; eat those snails, small humans!

Not entirely sure where I stand with regard to adults. I suppose you want enough to keep your system looking for and killing new strains, but not enough to overload your body.
 

Major Boredom

Expert Member
Joined
Jan 31, 2005
Messages
3,145
So you've never been sick before in your life? Mmhmmm sure.

Fair enough; my use of the word 'failure' has been my undoing here!

I think that agency is really at the core of my poorly articulated rant. People assign agency to external or immutable sources, their weak immune system, the doctor's antibiotics, the seasons changing, and all sorts of other things. The "weak immune system" is too often used as a crutch, when many factors relating to the immune system are user-controlled. Having farmed out this responsibility they'll then continue to go about their day as per normal. This is what really bothers me.
OP obv does not have kids lol. You would be surprised at what they bring home from school.
 

Hamster

Resident Rodent
Joined
Aug 22, 2006
Messages
42,942
I think OP, in a very strong way, is referring to those that always have the sniffles and when they don't they have a headache or stomach cramps or something.

I hate it when really sick people come to work though. Take your flu or whatever you have on a sick day and stay at home. In this case sharing isn't caring, it's you being an *******.
 

cerebus

Honorary Master
Joined
Nov 5, 2007
Messages
49,172
I've got a minor sort of headcoldy thing this morning. Going to just ignore it and go to work anyway. I can't wait to see the OP's reaction but I really just don't give a toss. Our new geyser dripped through the ceiling last night so we had to call out an emergency plumber at 12am whose ladder slammed into my foot and he nearly fell downstairs and it turns out that the outlet pipe for the geyser was never placed anywhere so it's been overflowing onto the roof all this time and now there's a lovely crack above our boys' beds. Ai.
 

noxibox

Honorary Master
Joined
Apr 6, 2005
Messages
23,348
Edit: The above has been pinpointed as a source of great unrest and ensuing angry comments. I'll try again. While not all factors relating to an individual's capacity to fight disease are controllable, many of them are. I know far too many people who assign responsibility for their fighting off common illness to an external or unknowable source. People can very easily affect how often they get sick; through lessening their exposure with good hygiene, and supporting their immune system effectively with tons of sleep and good food. It is specifically the people who externalize all of the above responsibility whom I take issue with.
Your claim is basically rubbish, so it's not surprising it received a negative response.

I have no idea how GP's keep prescribing antibiotics with a straight face.
That is irresponsible, if they're really doing that still.

And yet every year come flu-season I see a swarm of colleagues going to the doctor to scoop up their 'required' dose.
Well similarly people do things like take vitamins, which make no difference.

P.S. I do get sick every couple of years. I typically quarantine myself and see nobody for 3 days instead of spreading it around to those I work with or care about.
Even if taking off work and sleep are the things to do, not everyone has that luxury.
 

Nerhzelok

Expert Member
Joined
Nov 20, 2007
Messages
2,154
Your body can't fight off the illnesses until it has actually caught it, and got rid of it.

Like a muscle... you can't expect your muscles to be in peak condition, unless you put it under strenuous activity.

So people who get sick, aren't *******s who lack hygiene, common sense, good eating habits etc... They're just people with
weak immune systems. If they simply allow their immune systems to do what they're supposed to, ie., fight off the illness without
the aid of medication, then what's the problem?


Now people who continuously use medication for the simplest of illnesses.... those are the *******s.
 

Nerhzelok

Expert Member
Joined
Nov 20, 2007
Messages
2,154
P.S. I do get sick every couple of years. I typically quarantine myself and see nobody for 3 days instead of spreading it around to those I work with or care about.

How DARE you rob your colleagues and loved ones the opportunity to exercise their immune systems!

You monster!


*sips coffee*
 

ShaunSA

Derailment Squad
Joined
Sep 7, 2005
Messages
49,815
Please do, and make sure it has at least most of the following:

  • Judgement
  • Hate
  • Name calling ("failure" is a good one to use)
  • Expert opinion formulated after years spent online, as opposed to actually doing a medical degree
  • Some good insight, but not too much, you don't actually want the thread to have a point
  • Angry replies (don't forget to add the Zewp stars you ******)

Now this advice deserves a stickied thread of its own! :cool:
 

bokdrol

Executive Member
Joined
Nov 17, 2011
Messages
6,616
Maybe too much good hygiene is the problem?

Overdoing it makes you even more susceptible.

Which is why I find it extra hilarious when people go bat **** insane sterilising baby stuff...and then their kids are sick all the time.

You need to be exposed to the germs to handle the germs
.
I agree 100% with this. Modern households are sterilised to within an inch of their lives and the kids always have snot noses and "allergies". In my day (he-he :p), we climbed trees, ate ants and dog poo, kissed dogs, licked the floor, ran around with skinned knees and were seldom ill.
 

mooks

Senior Member
Joined
May 29, 2012
Messages
897
Currently sitting coughing, sniffing & spluttering at my desk and feeling almost zero guilt about it. I bring myself to work when I'm sick because it is unspokenly (not a word, I realise that) frowned upon to take 3 consecutive days sick leave unless you have in fact already died. Since I was off Tuesday & Wednesday, I am here.

To make matters worse, we have hot-desking at my office and I know for a fact not everyone uses the disinfectant wipes when they sit at their 'new' desk every morning. So, am I possibly passing my germs on to someone else? Yes. Do I care? Mostly not. My commitments, performance and perception to management trumps my empathy.
 
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