I'm not saying people who hate doctors don't have perfectly reasoned reasons to do just that. I'm saying your friend just told you that it felt like a gut punch when put that way. And it's difficult, because this is a conversation amongst a bunch of people who wander in and out, and we all want to stick up for the point of view we identify with. I'm just saying the gut punch is as deserving of understanding and sympathy as doctor fear and loathing.

Try substituting almost any other word in that sentence for "doctors" and then tell me I shouldn't take offense. Put "teachers" in there. Put "Christians" in there. Tell me how it sounds to you now.

Or "men" or "women" for that matter.

I am pretty sure that Katie didn't mean to be hurtful and that her statements were hyperbole came from a place of pain--and I'm sorry that she has reasons to fear interactions with doctors--that doesn't lessen the pain I felt at reading them.

I would also like to note that my mom is RN/NP/OB/GYN, and overweight.

I wasn't offended by the ranting, but I do agree strongly with Willow's statement: A vague generalization is nobody's friend.

I don't think they're saying their experiences with the medical profession is better, though I could be wrong. I read that they were saying, "You're kinda calling my friend/family member a jerk, whether or not you mean to, and that hurts. Please stop."

There has been some sense of "you don't understand how hard they work/it is/the abuse they take". And you don't. But that isn't necessarily going to provide an insight.

Eh, I have lots of medical professionals in my family, but that has no bearing on who's been available for me when I've needed to see a doctor....What it has done, however, is given me the vocabulary to speak to specialists at least

Well, that's part of it. And you have a more comprehensive frame of reference -- you're more likely to know if something was "just not cool" or "dead fucking wrong" (and the ability to discuss those things with an informed party if you don't). It's not just "My Daddy is Dr. House so I get the bestest". You have a better clue. That's useful.

I am pretty sure that Katie didn't mean to be hurtful and that her statements were hyperbole came from a place of pain--and I'm sorry that she has reasons to fear interactions with doctors--that doesn't lessen the pain I felt at reading them.

And I can say with dead certainty that she didn't think Drew's parents wasted their lives. Or that she'd have hated a pathologist for giving her bad news.

Well, that's part of it. And you have a more comprehensive frame of reference -- you're more likely to know if something was "just not cool" or "dead fucking wrong" (and the ability to discuss those things with an informed party if you don't). It's not just "My Daddy is Dr. House so I get the bestest". You have a better clue. That's useful.

It's also something anyone visiting a medical professional should learn and probably could. Although maybe not the way I did (which was by running out of things to read and reading medical textbooks, lather rinse repeat for over a decade), but with a few trips to the library. It's critical for being a strong advocate for yourself. As my mother has lectured her non-RN sisters about frequently.

I have a more general thought about this, which is not directed at any one Buffista but was inspired by this conversation. I think we all rant and ranting can be GREAT. I am all for a good rant. But ranting can be tempered, not just here but everywhere. Any statement which starts with "All X are bad" is leading to a line of thought which is dangerous. Not really to the X, who may not even be reading the post, but to the poster. Taking personal experience and extrapolating to the whole world seems like it might close one off to that world.

I mean, after a few bad experiences with a profession, say, dentists, I might feel like all dentists are rip-off artists, and I have felt that. Oh BOY have I felt that. But taking my personal feeling about dentists and then saying that defines all dentists, even in a kinda fun hyperbolic rant, is way of dehumanizing someone and that can be a harmful path to go down. I can't control how I feel, but I can work to be aware that they are my feelings and not the world and I can control how I express those feelings.

Boubon, ChiKat, bourbon.

I have some at home. I think I will partake this evening.

Or some weed.

I wish.

And chocolate

surprisingly, even though it's a regular PMS craving, NSM this month.

And, the day has just gotten worse (white fonted for personal icks):

I've been having to change an overnight pad every 2 hours. And, this morning, I soaked through one bad enough that during my lunch I had to run to Target to buy new underwear because mine was unwearable. Good thing I have on dark brown pants today. And, yes, that heavy a flow is waaay unusual for me.

Being a girl is a lovely and dainty thing, let me tell you. (I'd end that sarcasm font, but I can't right now. Maybe in a week.)

Ah, ChiKat, been there. Sympathies.

And now I'm appreciating menopause in a way I hadn't before.