Pet Peeves

[Zwak]

TV news reporting results from various contest shows as if it's news.

This. It seems like it started with Survivor and has now spread to all kinds of crap: DWTS, American Idol. Ugh!

So contests that people watch for entertainment doesn't qualify as news? I get your point but when I really think about it as long as people are interested in it then it qualifies. The same "it isn't news, it is a contest" argument could easily be made against sports. Just ask the people who don't like sports if they are over-covered in news broadcasts.

You make a good point but the difference is that the tv news tend to only do stories on contest shows that air on their own network. IMO its just self promotion.

100% true on the self-promotion (cross-promotion). It is hard to give them (the networks) too much grief though. I would do the same in their situation.

I agree. I don't blame them for doing it, but as I viewer I don't like it.

[Kelly Red]

I want to thank the a-hole who hit my car today. I was in the left lane of a street with 2 lanes going each way, you were in the right. You took a right turn and felt the need to do a little jig into my lane so you didn't have to slow down. You also didn't bother to look or you would have seen me. Because you swerved into my lane you hit the right side of my car and dinged, scratched and scraped the paint down the whole side as I continued forward. I also want to thank you for attempting to lie to the police about what happened. I DO want to truly thank the driver behind you who stopped so see if I was okay and then told the police you were lying! Pet Peeve, people who don't slow down to round a corner, hint: if the speed limit is 30 MPH, that doesn't mean 30 on a turn. Slow down and stay in you own GD lane!!

[Gopherguy05]

I want to thank the a-hole who hit my car today. I was in the left lane of a street with 2 lanes going each way, you were in the right. You took a right turn and felt the need to do a little jig into my lane so you didn't have to slow down. You also didn't bother to look or you would have seen me. Because you swerved into my lane you hit the right side of my car and dinged, scratched and scraped the paint down the whole side as I continued forward. I also want to thank you for attempting to lie to the police about what happened. I DO want to truly thank the driver behind you who stopped so see if I was okay and then told the police you were lying! Pet Peeve, people who don't slow down to round a corner, hint: if the speed limit is 30 MPH, that doesn't mean 30 on a turn. Slow down and stay in you own GD lane!!

How did they lie about it?

[Superstar]

Mis-spellings and/or grammatical errors in major email blasts.

Just got one from the UofM Dept of Alumni Relations...1ST WORD OF THE SUBJECT LINE: Univeristy

[solar]

Mis-spellings and/or grammatical errors in major email blasts.

Just got one from the UofM Dept of Alumni Relations...1ST WORD OF THE SUBJECT LINE: Univeristy

It is not even in the subject line, it is in their email account name.

[Kelly Red]

I want to thank the a-hole who hit my car today. I was in the left lane of a street with 2 lanes going each way, you were in the right. You took a right turn and felt the need to do a little jig into my lane so you didn't have to slow down. You also didn't bother to look or you would have seen me. Because you swerved into my lane you hit the right side of my car and dinged, scratched and scraped the paint down the whole side as I continued forward. I also want to thank you for attempting to lie to the police about what happened. I DO want to truly thank the driver behind you who stopped so see if I was okay and then told the police you were lying! Pet Peeve, people who don't slow down to round a corner, hint: if the speed limit is 30 MPH, that doesn't mean 30 on a turn. Slow down and stay in you own GD lane!!

How did they lie about it?

By trying to say that I hit them?! But the police never bought his version and the other driver backed me up. I think the police have seen enough accidents to pretty much know what occured before they even start asking questions so he was stupid to try and lie. It was very satisfying to hear the third driver say flat out he's lying, but it was galling to stand there as he spun his tale.

[Greyeagle]

I agree. I don't blame them for doing it, but as I viewer I don't like it.

Me too. Really chips away at their credibility IMHO.

[dxmnkd316]

When you catch a belt loop on your jeans and pull it out... ARGH!!!

[g_manpucker]

When you're a volunteer and you get judged how you do your job of volunteering by someone your helping. I am a Cub Scout den leader for my son's Cub Scout Pack, it's a volunteer position. One of the boys parents loves to keep bringing up about how I schedule the meetings, I schedule the meetings around my work and personal schedule so that I can be there to be the "leader" of the den. He brings up how "sporadic" the meetings seem to be but yet he offers NOOOO help at all to lead the meetings.

To shut him up I scheduled the last 4 den meetings well ahead of time and he comes up to me tonight and says they will be missing the next two meetings and will make the last meeting of the year. That is why I don't try to schedule the meetings to meet the needs of all the parents, because it's impossible. 6 of the 7 parents have been wonderful this past year but this one guy makes me feel like walking away. If I didn't really give a crap I would walk but I want my son to have a good Cub Scout experience like I did growing up.

I like volunteering but sometimes it amazes me how those you help just won't cut some slack because you are doing something for free without asking for anything in return but some cooperation and understanding. This is also the reason I gave up being a coach for tee ball a couple of summers ago for my daughter.

[Zwak]

People who are constantly changing their relationship status on Facebook.

[SouthTexGopher]

People who are constantly changing their relationship status on Facebook.

Sorry about that. I hope my response to your email explains mine.

[Handyman]

People who worry too much about Facebook statuses

[Zwak]

People who are constantly changing their relationship status on Facebook.

Sorry about that. I hope my response to your email explains mine.

Actually wasn't referring to you or any of my GPL pals. There's a gal that I am FB friends with that is 2 years older than me that has gone between 'engaged' and 'single' about 6 times in a year. She must change it every time they have a fight.

[psych]

People who are constantly changing their relationship status on Facebook.

Sorry about that. I hope my response to your email explains mine.

Actually wasn't referring to you or any of my GPL pals. There's a gal that I am FB friends with that is 2 years older than me that has gone between 'engaged' and 'single' about 6 times in a year. She must change it every time they have a fight.

Sounds like that will be a healthy marriage.

[Lars Sauve]

When Maiani can't follow the simplest instructions. You'd think he's MacWilliam sometimes.

[Bash Brother]

The hockey player or the physicist?

[Tee09]

Actually wasn't referring to you or any of my GPL pals. There's a gal that I am FB friends with that is 2 years older than me that has gone between 'engaged' and 'single' about 6 times in a year. She must change it every time they have a fight.

Sounds like that will be a healthy marriage.

My wife knows a girl who is 24, already has two babies with two different daddies, left a third guy at the altar last year, and is now engaged to a fourth dude. She also does the relationship status change thing whenever they have a fight. She can't figure out why people don't seem very excited for her engagement. The rest of us can't figure out what the fourth guy is thinking.

[dailyfbo]

Actually wasn't referring to you or any of my GPL pals. There's a gal that I am FB friends with that is 2 years older than me that has gone between 'engaged' and 'single' about 6 times in a year. She must change it every time they have a fight.

Sounds like that will be a healthy marriage.

My wife knows a girl who is 24, already has two babies with two different daddies, left a third guy at the altar last year, and is now engaged to a fourth dude. She also does the relationship status change thing whenever they have a fight. She can't figure out why people don't seem very excited for her engagement. The rest of us can't figure out what the fourth guy is thinking.

"Fourth dude" has some obvious issues. Or is looking for citizenship.

[gator]

People who's health is very poor, but they won't quit habits to help them a bit.

[gator]

Spring Break for Elementry through High School. Serious, I never had a whole week off and I survived.

[davescharf]

Spring Break for Elementry through High School. Serious, I never had a whole week off and I survived.

This could easily be expanded to days off during the entire year. One of the guys who works on my team is constantly taking vacation days because his son is out of school for "MEA days". I think he's had 3 or 4 of those days on top of a week for Spring Break just since Jan 1st.

[gopherguy13]

Spring Break for Elementry through High School. Serious, I never had a whole week off and I survived.

This could easily be expanded to days off during the entire year. One of the guys who works on my team is constantly taking vacation days because his son is out of school for "MEA days". I think he's had 3 or 4 of those days on top of a week for Spring Break just since Jan 1st.

MEA days????

The only MEA break is the 2 or 3 day break in like October.

[Chris Eckes]

People who are constantly changing their relationship status on Facebook.

Sorry Zwak... can't help that I'm in demand! And by constantly I did it once a few weeks ago and hope to keep it that way

[davescharf]

Spring Break for Elementry through High School. Serious, I never had a whole week off and I survived.

This could easily be expanded to days off during the entire year. One of the guys who works on my team is constantly taking vacation days because his son is out of school for "MEA days". I think he's had 3 or 4 of those days on top of a week for Spring Break just since Jan 1st.

MEA days????

The only MEA break is the 2 or 3 day break in like October.

I guess in Hugo/Centerville that's what they call them..or at least what he calls them. I am just as confused, but it seems like there's at least one day a month where the kids are out of school for one reason or another.

[Slap Shot]

Spring Break for Elementry through High School. Serious, I never had a whole week off and I survived.

Since when has Spring Break been a new thing?

[Tee09]

When you set something up and do a bunch of test runs just to be extra sure it's working right, and the damn thing breaks in the middle of the first run that actually matters.

[Bash Brother]

When you set something up and do a bunch of test runs just to be extra sure it's working right, and the damn thing breaks in the middle of the first run that actually matters.

Been practicing with viagara?

[Tee09]

When you set something up and do a bunch of test runs just to be extra sure it's working right, and the damn thing breaks in the middle of the first run that actually matters.

Been practicing with viagara?

All the cool kids are using Cialis now.

[streakygopher]

Spring Break for Elementry through High School. Serious, I never had a whole week off and I survived.

Worse, "spring break" has become an entitlement for suburban kiddies..."spring vacation" every year, starting when they're about 6 or 7 with the "oh-you-have-to-take-your-kids-to" Disneyworld. My own theory is that the moms want it as much as the kids...at least they do when the venue changes to Florida or Mexico.

[sunbone]

Spring Break for Elementry through High School. Serious, I never had a whole week off and I survived.

Worse, "spring break" has become an entitlement for suburban kiddies..."spring vacation" every year, starting when they're about 6 or 7 with the "oh-you-have-to-take-your-kids-to" Disneyworld. My own theory is that the moms want it as much as the kids...at least they do when the venue changes to Florida or Mexico.

Maybe it is because where I grew up but I never knew any kids that went on a spring break trip. Spring break was for college kids, if anybody. Also if I remember correctly we got good Friday off and maybe the Monday after Easter and that was it. Now got out of my yard!

[Zwak]

Spring Break for Elementry through High School. Serious, I never had a whole week off and I survived.

Worse, "spring break" has become an entitlement for suburban kiddies..."spring vacation" every year, starting when they're about 6 or 7 with the "oh-you-have-to-take-your-kids-to" Disneyworld. My own theory is that the moms want it as much as the kids...at least they do when the venue changes to Florida or Mexico.

Maybe it is because where I grew up but I never knew any kids that went on a spring break trip. Spring break was for college kids, if anybody. Also if I remember correctly we got good Friday off and maybe the Monday after Easter and that was it. Now got out of my yard!

When I was a kid it was called "Energy Week." The though being it would save energy to not use the schools for a week. They got rid of it my senior year in high school (1984). Since there was no energy week that year we actually graduated in May.

[sunbone]

Spring Break for Elementry through High School. Serious, I never had a whole week off and I survived.

Worse, "spring break" has become an entitlement for suburban kiddies..."spring vacation" every year, starting when they're about 6 or 7 with the "oh-you-have-to-take-your-kids-to" Disneyworld. My own theory is that the moms want it as much as the kids...at least they do when the venue changes to Florida or Mexico.

Maybe it is because where I grew up but I never knew any kids that went on a spring break trip. Spring break was for college kids, if anybody. Also if I remember correctly we got good Friday off and maybe the Monday after Easter and that was it. Now got out of my yard!

When I was a kid it was called "Energy Week." The though being it would save energy to not use the schools for a week. They got rid of it my senior year in high school (1984). Since there was no energy week that year we actually graduated in May.

I remember having that when I was in elementary school but it was during the winter to save on heating costs IIRC.

[Greyeagle]

50 in a 70? Get off the damn freeway you putz.

[Beauner]

Spring Break for Elementry through High School. Serious, I never had a whole week off and I survived.

Worse, "spring break" has become an entitlement for suburban kiddies..."spring vacation" every year, starting when they're about 6 or 7 with the "oh-you-have-to-take-your-kids-to" Disneyworld. My own theory is that the moms want it as much as the kids...at least they do when the venue changes to Florida or Mexico.

Maybe it is because where I grew up but I never knew any kids that went on a spring break trip. Spring break was for college kids, if anybody. Also if I remember correctly we got good Friday off and maybe the Monday after Easter and that was it. Now got out of my yard!

Agreed.
I never knew anybody in high school that went on spring break trips until MAYBE our junior or senior year of high school (although rarely).
Now our tryouts for EVAA traveling baseball are held on different days because parents kept complaining that they couldn't take their kids on a spring break trip.

[davescharf]

In defense of the week off in the Spring, some families like to take a couple trips a year and outside of summer there aren't many other opportunities where kids are off. We would like to take our daughter (and future kids) on a Spring trip and maybe a late Summer trip when they're in school so Spring Break is the only time to do that.

My biggest beef is always all the extra days that they seem to have off over the course of the year. I also can't believe how many people will pull their kids from school for a week to go somewhere too, although it's their decision in the end.

[PrideOnIce]

In defense of the week off in the Spring, some families like to take a couple trips a year and outside of summer there aren't many other opportunities where kids are off. We would like to take our daughter (and future kids) on a Spring trip and maybe a late Summer trip when they're in school so Spring Break is the only time to do that.

My biggest beef is always all the extra days that they seem to have off over the course of the year. I also can't believe how many people will pull their kids from school for a week to go somewhere too, although it's their decision in the end.

MEA (Fall break), Thanksgiving (Fall festival or whatever), Christmas (Winter Celebration), and Spring break
Thanks that was good one.

[Zwak]

In defense of the week off in the Spring, some families like to take a couple trips a year and outside of summer there aren't many other opportunities where kids are off. We would like to take our daughter (and future kids) on a Spring trip and maybe a late Summer trip when they're in school so Spring Break is the only time to do that.

The good thing about that is the airlines and hotels don't change their prices at all during spring break

[gopherguy13]

In defense of the week off in the Spring, some families like to take a couple trips a year and outside of summer there aren't many other opportunities where kids are off. We would like to take our daughter (and future kids) on a Spring trip and maybe a late Summer trip when they're in school so Spring Break is the only time to do that.

My biggest beef is always all the extra days that they seem to have off over the course of the year. I also can't believe how many people will pull their kids from school for a week to go somewhere too, although it's their decision in the end.

MEA (Fall break), Thanksgiving (Fall festival or whatever), Christmas (Winter Celebration), and Spring break
Thanks that was good one.

MEA and Thanksgiving are both like 2, maybe 3 days off. And a lot of families want to stick around and be with family for Christmas/New Years.

I think he has a valid point.

[Beauner]

In defense of the week off in the Spring, some families like to take a couple trips a year and outside of summer there aren't many other opportunities where kids are off. We would like to take our daughter (and future kids) on a Spring trip and maybe a late Summer trip when they're in school so Spring Break is the only time to do that.

My biggest beef is always all the extra days that they seem to have off over the course of the year. I also can't believe how many people will pull their kids from school for a week to go somewhere too, although it's their decision in the end.

I've got no problem with people wanting to take a spring break trip with their families to Disneyworld or whatever. But EVAA had tryouts on the same weekend for 10 years (it's been around now for 14), and all of a sudden parents are complaining that they can't take a spring break trip.
The tryouts used to be Saturday and Sunday. Then it was Saturday for 3 age groups and Sunday for 2 age groups so they could eliminate a trip and just do the tryouts in one day per age group (an idea I really like--lets the kids get more into a groove too).
We never had an issue of parents complaining about spring break trips. Last I checked, you could still do it the Saturday-Friday before tryouts. That's 6 days if you leave Saturday morning. 7 if you leave Friday after school.

Now it's Sunday-Monday, so evaluators have to take a day off of work/leave early to go judge tryouts, the program directors/coordinators do too, and everything gets cramped together.

[gator]

Just saw some SUE fans at the Tampa airport carrying a 7>5 sign.. Great start to my early morning

Sometimes the # of National Championships means crap... It's like a Minnesota Gopher Football fan carrying a sign at TCF saying;
(Minnesota) 6 > (Iowa) 1
or
(Minnesota) 6 > ( ) 0

[rowshkex]

Might as well start counting the total number of NCAA championships in all sports combined and comparing the two schools.

Probably something like 126 > 7.

[WPoS]

screaming children on airplane rides after 3 hours of sleep at 7:45 in the morning......seriously, I understand I don't have kids....but 45 minutes of screaming?

W

[gator]

Working Urgent Care and patients wait tell the last minute to come in to bee seen.

[rowshkex]

The post-urgent care ER surge.

[Handyman]

Why does MEA have to come up every year...I swear people just look for things to whine about sometimes

[Bertogliat]

screaming children on airplane rides after 3 hours of sleep at 7:45 in the morning......seriously, I understand I don't have kids....but 45 minutes of screaming?

W

You think 45 minutes is bad? You should try havings kids........nevermind, for a minute I almost forgot who I was talking to.

The secret is to start drinking when the kid starts screaming. Stop drinking when you no longer care.

In all seriousness, it takes about 30-45 minutes to pressurize and depressurize. Not a good time for kid with colds or ear problems. And you are not allowed to give them drugs that you and I can take to drain the sinuses. And kids ALWAYS have colds.

[Viking]

screaming children on airplane rides after 3 hours of sleep at 7:45 in the morning......seriously, I understand I don't have kids....but 45 minutes of screaming?

W

You think 45 minutes is bad? You should try havings kids........nevermind, for a minute I almost forgot who I was talking to.

The secret is to start drinking when the kid starts screaming. Stop drinking when you no longer care.

In all seriousness, it takes about 30-45 minutes to pressurize and depressurize. Not a good time for kid with colds or ear problems. And you are not allowed to give them drugs that you and I can take to drain the sinuses. And kids ALWAYS have colds.

This was in the middle of the flight. We had already been at altitude for quite a while. Also, it didn't seem to be affecting any of the other children.

[rowshkex]

I'm all peeved today...

1) Once again, people who are insensitive of their surroundings. Today's example: we had a test this morning, for which a girl sat at the same table as me (two per table). She wrote so vigorously and flamboyantly she shook the table... Not to mention she was ERASING for more time than she was WRITING.

2) People who bitch about getting scholarships and having to write applications and attend meetings for them--this goes ESPECIALLY for women and minorities. I get that no one likes to fill out applications or attend schmooze meetings, but please respect the fact that because you're a woman or minority in the academic world, you now have a SIGNIFICANT advantage over me. I can't apply for 90% of the scholarships because I'm a male, and more notably a WHITE male.

[Luckygirl#13]

Drivers who have to speed right up to my bumper and then dart over to the left lane to pass me. I'm not driving Miss Daisey for crying out loud. You know you're driving faster than everyone else on the highway and the left lane is open, so move over there and drive 85mph. Why do have to wait until you're about an inch from my bumper to get over??? Makes me crabby.

[Armadillo]

I'm all peeved today...

1) Once again, people who are insensitive of their surroundings. Today's example: we had a test this morning, for which a girl sat at the same table as me (two per table). She wrote so vigorously and flamboyantly she shook the table... Not to mention she was ERASING for more time than she was WRITING.

2) People who bitch about getting scholarships and having to write applications and attend meetings for them--this goes ESPECIALLY for women and minorities. I get that no one likes to fill out applications or attend schmooze meetings, but please respect the fact that because you're a woman or minority in the academic world, you now have a SIGNIFICANT advantage over me. I can't apply for 90% of the scholarships because I'm a male, and more notably a WHITE male.

You're about to have a few posters all over your ass for #2, and the word "schadenfreude" comes to mind for some reason.

[rowshkex]

I'm all peeved today...

1) Once again, people who are insensitive of their surroundings. Today's example: we had a test this morning, for which a girl sat at the same table as me (two per table). She wrote so vigorously and flamboyantly she shook the table... Not to mention she was ERASING for more time than she was WRITING.

2) People who bitch about getting scholarships and having to write applications and attend meetings for them--this goes ESPECIALLY for women and minorities. I get that no one likes to fill out applications or attend schmooze meetings, but please respect the fact that because you're a woman or minority in the academic world, you now have a SIGNIFICANT advantage over me. I can't apply for 90% of the scholarships because I'm a male, and more notably a WHITE male.

You're about to have a few posters all over your ass for #2, and the word "schadenfreude" comes to mind for some reason.

Haha, that's fine... I don't mind that they have an academic advantage. In fact, it's probably good for society. I DO have a problem with them complaining about "all the work [they] have to do" to maintain their scholarships--in other words, attend two meetings a semester. I told the girl I'd take her money if she didn't want it. Her comments were along the lines of:

"Ugh, I have to do all this crap [two meetings] for only $5000 [per semester] for this women's scholarship..."

[streakygopher]

1) Once again, people who are insensitive of their surroundings. Today's example: we had a test this morning, for which a girl sat at the same table as me (two per table). She wrote so vigorously and flamboyantly she shook the table... Not to mention she was ERASING for more time than she was WRITING.

Yeah, that's a good one. Like the guys at the health club who let out huge groans and gasps or count aloud with every rep they make...then walk to the drinking fountain staring at themselves in the mirror. Um, dude, you're not all by yourself here, and you're acting like a narcissistic douche bag.

[gopherguy13]

"Ugh, I have to do all this crap [two meetings] for only $5000 [per semester] for this women's scholarship..."

WOW. Getting paid $2,500 per meeting.

I would go to a meeting every week if they gave me $50 for coming!

[rowshkex]

"Ugh, I have to do all this crap [two meetings] for only $5000 [per semester] for this women's scholarship..."

WOW. Getting paid $2,500 per meeting.

I would go to a meeting every week if they gave me $50 for coming!

...I'd go if they were nice people and fed me lunch...

[Tee09]

"Ugh, I have to do all this crap [two meetings] for only $5000 [per semester] for this women's scholarship..."

WOW. Getting paid $2,500 per meeting.

I would go to a meeting every week if they gave me $50 for coming!

...I'd go if they were nice people and fed me lunch...

I was about to chime in that I will now go to just about any meeting if the food is free.

[Tee09]

May have mentioned this before, but people who clutter up craigslist with ads asking for higher-than-retail prices for used crap. Nobody is going to pay you $15 for your nasty used aquarium when they can get the same thing brand new for $11 at Walmart. It is the garage sale of the internet, not a specialty store.

It's even better when the ads also say something like "NEEDS TO GO" by a specific date, but then they get pissy when you make them an offer. Also priceless are the people who overpaid for whatever the thing was and are still hoping to get all their money back for it. The fact that you dumped five grand worth of repairs into an old station wagon does not make the thing worth five grand.

[Zwak]

That "new" song by Gotye was kind of catchy at first but it has become far too overplayed.

[gopherguy13]

That "new" song by Gotye was kind of catchy at first but it has become far too overplayed.

Check out the cover by Walk Off The Earth!... When you are less annoyed by the song, that is

[Armadillo]

Allergies.

Ugh.

[Bertogliat]

I woke up and found both my cats were......still alive.

[5 O.T.]

I'm all peeved today...

1) Once again, people who are insensitive of their surroundings. Today's example: we had a test this morning, for which a girl sat at the same table as me (two per table). She wrote so vigorously and flamboyantly she shook the table... Not to mention she was ERASING for more time than she was WRITING.

2) People who bitch about getting scholarships and having to write applications and attend meetings for them--this goes ESPECIALLY for women and minorities. I get that no one likes to fill out applications or attend schmooze meetings, but please respect the fact that because you're a woman or minority in the academic world, you now have a SIGNIFICANT advantage over me. I can't apply for 90% of the scholarships because I'm a male, and more notably a WHITE male.

You're about to have a few posters all over your ass for #2, and the word "schadenfreude" comes to mind for some reason.

Haha, that's fine... I don't mind that they have an academic advantage. In fact, it's probably good for society. I DO have a problem with them complaining about "all the work [they] have to do" to maintain their scholarships--in other words, attend two meetings a semester. I told the girl I'd take her money if she didn't want it. Her comments were along the lines of:

"Ugh, I have to do all this crap [two meetings] for only $5000 [per semester] for this women's scholarship..."

So you're saying they have an advantage due to their skin color and/or because they are women instead of their receiving scholarships based on merit? You're ok with that? and you think that it's good for society??? Doesn't seem to fair to the people with better academic qualifications that happen to be the wrong color or wrong sex. Why is that form of discrimination acceptable?

The comments you attribute to this gal indicate a real sick level of ingratitude and entitlement.

[Beauner]

The comments you attribute to this gal indicate a real sick level of ingratitude and entitlement.

This part I agree with as a pet peeve. The rest I'm going to leave alone.

[Armadillo]

The comments you attribute to this gal indicate a real sick level of ingratitude and entitlement.

This part I agree with as a pet peeve. The rest I'm going to leave alone.

[Gopher Hockey Rube]

When people say that drug or alcohol addiction is a disease like cancer, diabetes, etc.

Yea because people CHOOSE to get cancer, diabetes, etc. I'm sorry but you CHOSE to start drinking or using drugs and now that it has taking over your life I guess it makes you feel better to call it a disease. Ridiculous.

[rowshkex]

So you're saying they have an advantage due to their skin color and/or because they are women instead of their receiving scholarships based on merit? You're ok with that? and you think that it's good for society??? Doesn't seem to fair to the people with better academic qualifications that happen to be the wrong color or wrong sex. Why is that form of discrimination acceptable?

The comments you attribute to this gal indicate a real sick level of ingratitude and entitlement.

Sorry, I did not mean to imply they have no academic merit. They are definitely intelligent people and deserve money. However, my point was directed at their lack of recognition that they have a significant financial advantage because of their demographic status, GIVEN equal merit.

[psych]

When people say that drug or alcohol addiction is a disease like cancer, diabetes, etc.

Yea because people CHOOSE to get cancer, diabetes, etc. I'm sorry but you CHOSE to start drinking or using drugs and now that it has taking over your life I guess it makes you feel better to call it a disease. Ridiculous.

I will let rowshkex (or whoever else in the medical field) handle the bolded one (see: type 2), but your second sentence is completely offbase. If you really think it is that easy to quit drinking/smoking/injecting/whatever, you really have no clue.

[rowshkex]

When people say that drug or alcohol addiction is a disease like cancer, diabetes, etc.

Yea because people CHOOSE to get cancer, diabetes, etc. I'm sorry but you CHOSE to start drinking or using drugs and now that it has taking over your life I guess it makes you feel better to call it a disease. Ridiculous.

I'm curious, do you work in the health field?

Just to throw this out there--diabetes and cancer, in many cases and to variable extents, ARE preventable diseases based on lifestyle choices. Of course, many times they are not, but it's not really scientifically or medically accurate to say they aren't preventable. This goes for many diseases. That being said, there is a balance between the way we phrase personal responsibility for diseases and environmental influences on diseases. This is the premise of (essentially) the entire field of public health, and it's definitely not as simple as the way in which you phrase it. Don't get me wrong, I'm with you on the whole you-shouldn't-have-started bit, but we really have to be careful to balance our insistence on EITHER argument.

[The Rube]

I've known an alcoholic or two. They don't know that the alcohol causes these things at first. They decide to have a beer and then boom their genetical makeup kicks in. Yes, they can choose to stop, and it takes a lot, but I was a critic until I saw it firsthand. It's a disease.

[Tee09]

So you're saying they have an advantage due to their skin color and/or because they are women instead of their receiving scholarships based on merit? You're ok with that? and you think that it's good for society??? Doesn't seem to fair to the people with better academic qualifications that happen to be the wrong color or wrong sex. Why is that form of discrimination acceptable?

The comments you attribute to this gal indicate a real sick level of ingratitude and entitlement.

Sorry, I did not mean to imply they have no academic merit. They are definitely intelligent people and deserve money. However, my point was directed at their lack of recognition that they have a significant financial advantage because of their demographic status, GIVEN equal merit.

Our department does some stuff where they preferentially admit non-white, non-Asian, grad students because it "improves our diversity stats." I believe we get bonus points if they are female because it's engineering. It's a bragging point in brochures that we have x% females, y% black students, z% hispanic, etc. For the life of me, I can't understand why we care about that more than about getting the 10-15 best applicants every year. Same thing with faculty hires. We aren't good enough to sabotage our recruiting for such a shallow reason. It drives me absolutely nuts.

[Tee09]

I've known an alcoholic or two. They don't know that the alcohol causes these things at first. They decide to have a beer and then boom their genetical makeup kicks in. Yes, they can choose to stop, and it takes a lot, but I was a critic until I saw it firsthand. It's a disease.

I've also known some addicts. I don't know if it's genetic or just part of their personality, but quitting their addiction would be way harder for them than for me. Don't know that I'd call it a disease, but different amounts of willpower required for different people based on their chemistry.

[The Rube]

I've known an alcoholic or two. They don't know that the alcohol causes these things at first. They decide to have a beer and then boom their genetical makeup kicks in. Yes, they can choose to stop, and it takes a lot, but I was a critic until I saw it firsthand. It's a disease.

I've also known some addicts. I don't know if it's genetic or just part of their personality, but quitting their addiction would be way harder for them than for me. Don't know that I'd call it a disease, but different amounts of willpower required for different people based on their chemistry.

The first thing that the people I know told me: You don't know you're an alcoholic until you have your first drink.


I can understand that completely.

[Armadillo]

People who have strong opinions regarding your particular field of expertise, yet couldn't be more wrong about it if they tried.

ORGANIC CHICKEN CONTAINS PATHOGENIC BACTERIA TOO, YOU STUMBLING IGNORAMUS!!!!!!!!!!!!

*that wasn't aimed at anyone here. Just venting.

[Kelly Red]

People who have strong opinions regarding your particular field of expertise, yet couldn't be more wrong about it if they tried.

ORGANIC CHICKEN CONTAINS PATHOGENIC BACTERIA TOO, YOU STUMBLING IGNORAMUS!!!!!!!!!!!!

*that wasn't aimed at anyone here. Just venting.

But its grass fed free range pathogenic bacteria
Although I guess chickens aren't grass fed, healthy grain free range?

[Kelor]

Pathogenic bacteria is great on toast.

[Armadillo]

Pathogenic bacteria is great on toast.

Mmm...Campylobacter jejuni and raspberry preserves...