I hope A's injuries aren't serious, Aims. That's scary. I also always feel for the dog and dog owner if it's always been a good dog.

I can't imagine hating a pathologist. It's not his fault, plus doctors usually are at their best when it's an actual diagnosable, treatable condition and not something like weight, which is often amorphous and difficult to do anything about. I have nothing but good things to say about my oncologist, whose practice of prescribing every possible antinausea drug prior to chemo, so I'd have them in case I needed them, probably saved me a world of hurt. When I hit the five-year mark, he held my hand and I saw tears in his eyes.

I can't imagine hating a pathologist. It's not his fault, plus doctors usually are at their best when it's an actual diagnosable, treatable condition

This. I never met the pathologist who diagnosed me, but I never once hated him/her. Never even thought to.

Now, I went out on a date once with a pathologist and he was a jackass. Had nothing to do with his chosen career, however. He was just a jackass.

Aims! Oh no. Please say comforting things to B for me.

Post toasties:

IOextremelypersonalN (but this is Bitches, right?), I am on day 3 of being miserable being a girl. Last month was really light so I knew this month was going to suck, but this is probably the worst period I've ever had.

I just don't think that Katie Bee meant that every doctor ever on the face of the planet is horrible.

But that's what she said. And it's just not true even if she's had nothing but shitty experiences which I'm not denying she's had.

I know it's a super emotional issue (it certainly is for me, obviously) but painting an entire profession and all the individuals in it who provide great care to their patients is just wrong.

Sorry, ChiKat, I feel your pain. Not right now literally, but soon.

And for the record, I didn't take Katie Bee's comment as anything more than a frustrated rant about an uncomfortable situation that frightens her as a way to make herself feel better. I was surprised that anyone took it personally or found it offensive. I didn't see it any differently from a rant about UPS drivers being assholes or Comcast customer service sucking rocks.

I just don't think that Katie Bee meant that every doctor ever on the face of the planet is horrible.

But that's what she said.

She didn't say that. After talking about how she had bad experience after bad experience with doctors, she said "they are all mean people who suck." She ALSO ended her statement with "(rant, rave, fume, expostulate)."

Honestly, you don't recognize that as hyperbole derived from an accumulation of very bad, demoralizing personal experiences? Seriously? That's what a rant IS.

Maybe I'm being an ignorant jackass, but when someone is talking about a highly emotionally charged subject and how it affected them personally, I tend to assume that sweeping generalizations are hyperbole, meant to convey the depth of that person's feelings.

And Buffistas NEVER exaggerate for effect. Ever. Right?

t edit Or, What Vortex Said.

I was surprised that anyone took it personally or found it offensive

well, I did. Like I said, I'm deep in serious medical business right now and so it is very personal to me plus I see every day how very much my best friend gives to her patients and our community. She, and her colleagues and the other doctors I've encountered, are not horrible or awful. We are all lucky to have them in the world.

I read it the way lisah and ND did, though with a twinge of sympathy.

I remember when people went on rants about Microsoft and were reminded that we have several people who work for, and like that company.

I understand that Katie Bee has, rightfully, issues with doctors that she's dealt with. But that statement was broad enough to paint all of them as jerks, and it hurt some of our buffistas.

lisah, I understand that this is touching a nerve for you because you are in the middle of medical problems yourself, and as such you seem to be taking Katie's comment about her own situation as an attack upon the medical professionals who are dealing with you.

But, really, it wasn't. She said she is feeling frightened. She made a joke about how dying alone and unaided seems less intimidating than dealing with the people who have dealt with her so far, and who have, by their behaviour towards her, caused her to feel so frightened and angry that she's indulging in a rant in a safe space. And she made it clear that she was aware this was not a fair and measured statement, but was rather hyperbole and venting brought about by fear and frustration, by adding

"(rant, rave, fume, expostulate)."

I am very happy to hear that the medical professionals who are dealing with you and yours have NOT treated you or your loved ones in a manner that would make you frightened to face them, or want to make nervous jokes about preferring to just die in the back yard. That's terrific.

And I am very sorry indeed that Katie has not had the pleasure of such compassionate and helpful service, and is feeling so daunted at the prospect of having to go back to the hospital after having such bad experiences.

I really hope she gets the chance to experience the kind of positive and compassionate service you're talking about, and I equally hope you don't ever have the kind of humiliating and reductive experience that she's had to date, and which a number of other Buffistas have clearly experienced too.