I was reading through Kittysmith's thread and I didn't want to hijack it, so I decided to start another thread.
Kimba, in one of your posts to Kittysmith you wrote:
"So many times I wish I had a gigantic sign that read , Really? Do you realize who you are complaining to about THAT?. Once in a great while I'll comment, but since it usually doesn't get anywhere, I have learned to bite my tongue. (Mostly) Everyone feels a need to complain. But, it's even harder to listen to when in comparison, it's really so trivial.
I've not read many discussions when this point has been made, but I identified with it immediately, as, I imagine, most of us MSers can.
Muggles (one bloggers name for non MS folk) don't get it and they can't get it because they don't live in our bodies. I understand that, and I don't try to explain. In fact, I try to limit any mention or discussion of my disease to a minimum, and often will redirect the conversation to another topic. I know some feel we must "educate" those who don't know, but I'm weary of that effort. Sort of a "been there, done that" kind of thing, mainly because,over the years, I've seen little fruit come from the sowing of seeds of information about MS.
BUT when someone looks at me and describes a cramp and implies I couldn't understand how bad it was, or whines about an illness or condition they haven't gotten over, and it's been a WHOLE WEEK. That's when I too would like one of those "Really" signs.
I never answer back because I'm not one to play illness poker. In fact it mostly makes me chuckle as to how clueless they are (and the sad part is some of these statements come from folks that are close to us and just aren't tuned in, I guess.)
Kimba, I just wanted to thank you for bringing it up. It made me realize, once again, there is a kinship in this disease, even though each of our journeys is different, we all tend to deal with the same issues.
Bill Engvall (a stand up comedian) has a routine he calls, "Here's Your Sign." His sign is one that says "I'm stupid." (if you want a laugh look at his youtube video called Bill Envall Stupid People.)
Maybe we MS folk could make up signs that say "Really."
Kimba, in one of your posts to Kittysmith you wrote:
"So many times I wish I had a gigantic sign that read , Really? Do you realize who you are complaining to about THAT?. Once in a great while I'll comment, but since it usually doesn't get anywhere, I have learned to bite my tongue. (Mostly) Everyone feels a need to complain. But, it's even harder to listen to when in comparison, it's really so trivial.
I've not read many discussions when this point has been made, but I identified with it immediately, as, I imagine, most of us MSers can.
Muggles (one bloggers name for non MS folk) don't get it and they can't get it because they don't live in our bodies. I understand that, and I don't try to explain. In fact, I try to limit any mention or discussion of my disease to a minimum, and often will redirect the conversation to another topic. I know some feel we must "educate" those who don't know, but I'm weary of that effort. Sort of a "been there, done that" kind of thing, mainly because,over the years, I've seen little fruit come from the sowing of seeds of information about MS.
BUT when someone looks at me and describes a cramp and implies I couldn't understand how bad it was, or whines about an illness or condition they haven't gotten over, and it's been a WHOLE WEEK. That's when I too would like one of those "Really" signs.
I never answer back because I'm not one to play illness poker. In fact it mostly makes me chuckle as to how clueless they are (and the sad part is some of these statements come from folks that are close to us and just aren't tuned in, I guess.)
Kimba, I just wanted to thank you for bringing it up. It made me realize, once again, there is a kinship in this disease, even though each of our journeys is different, we all tend to deal with the same issues.
Bill Engvall (a stand up comedian) has a routine he calls, "Here's Your Sign." His sign is one that says "I'm stupid." (if you want a laugh look at his youtube video called Bill Envall Stupid People.)
Maybe we MS folk could make up signs that say "Really."
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