What's on your Won't Do list?

[intothewoods]

They treated symptoms. Go figure. They could actually touch you to examine you without lawsuits.

Drinking a little cream, if it works for you, can't possibly kill you in addition to treating the bacterial source of ulcers that they just finally figured out. I mean, if a lot of people feel better from something they can't ALL BE INSANE. That's something that contemporary medicine refuses to acknowledge - only authority and scientific method (influenced by pharma) count.

Diagnostics, surgery, and lab analysis have gotten a lot better. Drugs have gotten more powerful, but common sense has been abandoned for them.

I personally pray to all my Gods I'm not a poison-avoider. I don't think I'd have remissed without pred or 6mp. I don't think I'd still be doing well had I not gone insane with diet for a year and a half.

Treating digestive disorders with no dietary approach is OK, but who would ever take diet out of the picture for a diabetic? I do think some people go all out with DIY witch doctors and things, in avoidance of any meds, and it's just too much. Rational research on your own in old medical journals is useful. I was my own science project, which was a good enough distraction.

See my experience is colored by the many moms who refuse to listen to their pediatricians and birth in the woods and all that jazz. Peds don't know everything. And if you can birth in the woods, god bless you, but I do get tired of hearing pediatricians described like the fucking antichrist.

That's sort of a crazy mom war thing that I know you are fascinated to hear about.

If both doctors and patients could be a bit more balanced, that would be a wonderful thing. You almost have to present your evidence like a case. Can't get emotional or you'll be dismissed as a hysterical woman. There's a hell of a lot of sexism in there too. I learned a lot from everything I read, but I also felt like, crap, I need the guidance of an expert here. Chances are this this and this are fine, but what if I'm that 1 in a zillion where something goes wrong? How close do I need to be to a hospital? I need a doctor who will answer my questions and treat me like I'm knowledgeable at least about myself.

I should clarify, cities make me feel small in a bad way whereas nature makes me feel small in a good way. More accurately, cities disconnect me and wild places plug me into the universe.

As I walked through the streets of Vancouver, (arguably one of the most beautiful cities in the world), two things hit me like a sledgehammer to the brain.

#1. Hardly anyone smiles in a city. In a small town, smiling is par for the course. I have a 3km scooter ride to town here and in that short distance I will usually smile and wave at over six people. In the city, smiling is almost treated like an act of aggression. I'm a natural smiler, I can't help it, I'm a happy person. For this reason, the city alienates me.

#2. Hardly any natural light. Because of all the tall buildings, you have to work to find sunlight. I went downtown on a gorgeous, sunny, fall day and found myself in shadow at least 70% of the time. It doesn't help that everyone seems to have adopted the colour black as a uniform. The overall effect is depressing. How I missed seeing people with flower ei's on their head.

In my future home, in the Kootenays, I can still get lots of culture, diversity, and energy but in a town of only 10,000, spread out and surrounded by mountains, lakes and rivers. City life is fun for short spurts but would kill me, slowly, if I had to live there.

That's how I feel about small towns! People are extremely friendly in my neighborhood. Moreso than in the small town I moved from. People are very friendly in, say, San Francisco, but it can be hard to make friends there.

I do agree. But people have to be given some time to own their frustration and helplessness as well. You can't go back to medicine unless you're ready. Otherwise more doctors will be strangled to death with their own stethoscopes.

"Another opinion" if it's the same, useless opinion you got from the last brainless yahoo is not always a good thing. Especially if you're paying for it.

I accept that medicine has not advanced to the point where it can cure what I have. Lots of people are in the same position.

Me too. I had to eventually conclude that I had no control over this and there is no exact answer on this one. You know, I've perhaps been lucky to live in two major metropolitan areas, because I have been able eventually to find doctors who listened.

 

[intothewoods]

I've got echoes in my head now, every time this subject comes up.

"We grow goooooooood people in our small towns."

"I was raised in the South Bronx, and there's nothing wrong with my value system from the South Bronx."


Lately, I've been wanting to explore Iowa. I think I'll head there next.

There will be a Target there. And a Walmart. Many.

 

[JMohegan]

There will be a Target there. And a Walmart. Many.

If I see a Walmart, I'll definitely pop inside.

Mostly I want to talk to the people who gave us BHO, and are currently putting most of the rest of the country to shame when it comes to gay marriage. Call it a stereotype busting tour. That's why I want to go.

 

[WriterDom]

People in rural America tend to be very conservative, politically and socially as well. Friendly and smiling, sure - as long as you blend in.

The friendliness in rural America doesn't come with a political litmus test. Besides, there are plenty of liberals in small towns. They don't get an L branded on their forehead.

Here the democrats have pretty much run the entire town and county. We finally got a republican to send to the Atlanta house. Only because the democrat who had been in office about thirty years didn't pay her state taxes for years in a row. Her job? Tax accountant. Her excuse? Too busy doing the peoples business.

 

[Homburg]

People in small towns are people.
People in large cities are people.

People are people.

I think the difference lies in how many people you might meet on a given day. In a small town, you'll meet less, and in a big city, you'll meet more. Statistics being what they are, the more people you meet, the more assholes you will find in that number. And, as people tend to remember the assholes more than the normal jamoaks, cities get more of a reputation for rudeness.

The flipside of small town life and less overall number of assholes (though not necessarily) due only to less overall people, you have the other problem - when you do meet the asshole, you will be meeting them again and again and again. While cities may expose you to more assholes in volume if not percentage, you can also be safe in the idea that, statistically speaking, you won't be seeing them again tomorrow. Can't say that in a small town. Same goes for making friends.

There's something to be said about the advantage of large numbers, and playing statistics in your favour. In the end though, it is still more about what sort of experience you want.

I've met some of the nicest people in big cities. I will never forget one old lady in Queens. We needed directions, and my buddy was convinced that no one would help us. I told him he was full of shit, and stopped literally the first person I saw. I wound up in a short, but enjoyable, conversation with some little old lady that gave me perfect directions. She was a charming little thing, and put a smile on my face.

And I've met some of the most obnoxious, rampant asshats in small towns. People so blinkered by their own agendas that the only thing separating them from the "big city" types that they so roundly derided was accent and lack of fashion sense.

People are people.

 

[JMohegan]

The friendliness in rural America doesn't come with a political litmus test. Besides, there are plenty of liberals in small towns. They don't get an L branded on their forehead.

Here the democrats have pretty much run the entire town and county. We finally got a republican to send to the Atlanta house. Only because the democrat who had been in office about thirty years didn't pay her state taxes for years in a row. Her job? Tax accountant. Her excuse? Too busy doing the peoples business.

What passes for "liberal" in Georgia isn't the same thing as that which is considered "liberal" in the northeast. We've been through this before.

The conservative vs. liberal balance, rural vs. urban, is reflected in the voting records of national elections. Given the consistency of the numbers, this is just not something you can plausibly refute.

As for the alleged open-mindedness of rural Americans on social issues, the legions of posts on this board from people in small town America, talking about how they're forced to search the Internet for mates, would tend to indicate otherwise.

My own experience with small towns, in places like Colorado, rural PA, or rural Virginia, has been that people are warm and welcoming - as long as the conversation stays superficial. Beyond that point, there's significant disdain expressed for the "godless" and the liberal.

People in small towns are people.
People in large cities are people.

People are people.

When it comes to the range of personality traits, I agree.

Conservative vs. liberal is something different.

 

[Homburg]

As for the alleged open-mindedness of rural Americans on social issues, the legions of posts on this board from people in small town America, talking about how they're forced to search the Internet for mates, would tend to indicate otherwise.

Was somebody really arguing that rural areas were socially open-minded? (Honest question, as I didn't see that posted) Sure, some are, but most rather aren't. And that is true regardless of where you look in any state. Rural areas are just flat going to be less socially liberal.

My own experience with small towns, in places like Colorado, rural PA, or rural Virginia, has been that people are warm and welcoming - as long as the conversation stays superficial. Beyond that point, there's significant disdain expressed for the "godless" and the liberal.

Eh, I'll argue the point there. Talk labour issues in rural PA (to use an example) and you'll have every coal miner and coal miner's family hollering their blueness.

When it comes to the range of personality traits, I agree.

Conservative vs. liberal is something different.

Eh. I'm just not a fan of the single-axis political identity.

 

[WriterDom]

Religion and politics are fodder for arguments anywhere. Do you think I had any in depth political arguments with my liberal subs? No, you can be friends and lovers and not even go there. I didn't even make last one watch Fox News.

Same for religion. I respect everyone's choices and beliefs. But countries with no religion tend to have governments who take over that role. A feeling that Government is all powerful and all knowing.

Having a state religion is just as bad.

 

[LilyBart]

If I see a Walmart, I'll definitely pop inside.

Mostly I want to talk to the people who gave us BHO, and are currently putting most of the rest of the country to shame when it comes to gay marriage. Call it a stereotype busting tour. That's why I want to go.

I got lost here... what is BHO?

~LB

 

[Keroin]

Very nice.

Your description reminds me of some places I've been in Vermont.

Oh man, you just made me future-homesick. Sigh.

The Hume Hotel is so funky and they have this seven layer chocolate cake that even I cannot finish. I'll have to post some pics later of more Nelsony goodness.

(I've always wanted to go to Vermont.)

 

[WriterDom]

If I see a Walmart, I'll definitely pop inside.

Mostly I want to talk to the people who gave us BHO, and are currently putting most of the rest of the country to shame when it comes to gay marriage. Call it a stereotype busting tour. That's why I want to go.

You need to go see the State Supreme Court. Not the people of Iowa. My guess is state and senate will ban gay marriage again and it will go back and forth forever.

 

[intothewoods]

If I see a Walmart, I'll definitely pop inside.

Mostly I want to talk to the people who gave us BHO, and are currently putting most of the rest of the country to shame when it comes to gay marriage. Call it a stereotype busting tour. That's why I want to go.

If Home Depot makes you nuts, I'm going to advise against any Walmart-popping.

Oh yeah. Good idea!

The friendliness in rural America doesn't come with a political litmus test. Besides, there are plenty of liberals in small towns. They don't get an L branded on their forehead.

What about a J? Oh, I kid. Er, sort of.

I got lost here... what is BHO?

~LB

Barack Hussein Obama.

 

[JMohegan]

Was somebody really arguing that rural areas were socially open-minded? (Honest question, as I didn't see that posted) Sure, some are, but most rather aren't. And that is true regardless of where you look in any state. Rural areas are just flat going to be less socially liberal.



Eh, I'll argue the point there. Talk labour issues in rural PA (to use an example) and you'll have every coal miner and coal miner's family hollering their blueness.




Eh. I'm just not a fan of the single-axis political identity.

I wrote: "People in rural America tend to be very conservative, politically and socially as well."

That's the only point I'm trying to make, and the reason I made it was to explain part of my aversion to small town living to the non-US among us.

Religion and politics are fodder for arguments anywhere. Do you think I had any in depth political arguments with my liberal subs? No, you can be friends and lovers and not even go there. I didn't even make last one watch Fox News.

Same for religion. I respect everyone's choices and beliefs. But countries with no religion tend to have governments who take over that role. A feeling that Government is all powerful and all knowing.

Having a state religion is just as bad.

I've had in-depth discussions on politics, and religion, and pretty much everything else of interest to me personally, with every committed partner I've ever had.

I respect other people's right to their choices and beliefs, but I don't always respect the choices and beliefs themselves. Ethical compatibility is extremely important to me.

I got lost here... what is BHO?

~LB

44th President of the United States

Oh man, you just made me future-homesick. Sigh.

The Hume Hotel is so funky and they have this seven layer chocolate cake that even I cannot finish. I'll have to post some pics later of more Nelsony goodness.

(I've always wanted to go to Vermont.)

Yes, I'd love to see more pics.

Vermont is one of my favorite states. I was just there, visiting a friend in Burlington, about a month ago. Here's a photo of a favorite spot.

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa78/johnmohegan/BandJ.jpg

 

[LilyBart]

Barack Hussein Obama.

Thank you. It seems I don't do acronyms well.

This is an incredible thread, by the way. I am knee-deep in other things that are requiring my brain to be at full-attention; otherwise I would like to add some thoughts. In the meantime, I am really enjoying the perspectives.

One thought that I will throw out though, is that you can live in a small neighborhood within a large urban environment, and still have the sense of community that is characteristic of small towns. I have been lucky enough to live this in a couple of cities. Including where I live now.

~LB

 

[JMohegan]

If Home Depot makes you nuts, I'm going to advise against any Walmart-popping.

I'd only be going to forestall all the "omg, how is it possible you've never been!" hysteria.

Also, I'm genuinely curious to see what it's like.

 

[Netzach]

The friendliness in rural America doesn't come with a political litmus test. Besides, there are plenty of liberals in small towns. They don't get an L branded on their forehead.

Completely utterly true. On both counts.

 

[Netzach]

You need to go see the State Supreme Court. Not the people of Iowa. My guess is state and senate will ban gay marriage again and it will go back and forth forever.

Uh, the same people who voted in Harkin?

I think you don't know Iowa. Or South Dakota very well. I'm sure .00008 percent of the populace thinks abortion is OK, but they keep striking down any kind of ban when the referendum comes up because they get the choice and separation of church and state issues - that people's souls are between them and their maker and it's not something that needs legislators.

They keep trying to build some kind of gay marriage ban into the state constitution here, and I don't see it working. When we say we like smaller government, we actually mean that.

 

[WriterDom]

If Home Depot makes you nuts, I'm going to advise against any Walmart-popping.

Oh yeah. Good idea!



What about a J? Oh, I kid. Er, sort of.

Baptist love Jews. At least they did Gideon, the one Jewish guy I worked with. You people are right out of the bible and shit, you know. I liked him too. He was funny.

 

[JMohegan]

Completely utterly true. On both counts.

The word "plenty" is clearly subjective.

 

[Netzach]

The word "plenty" is clearly subjective.

I've really stopped making assumptions about anything regarding old white rural people and politics, my travels around this state sure enforced that.

 

[JMohegan]

I've really stopped making assumptions about anything regarding old white rural people and politics, my travels around this state sure enforced that.

I need to come to your state, I really do. I remember, during the campaign, we talked about the difference between rural WI, MN farm country, and rural parts of rust belt states.

Oh, and I'm still dreaming about those eagles.

 

[Netzach]

I need to come to your state, I really do. I remember, during the campaign, we talked about the difference between rural WI, MN farm country, and rural parts of rust belt states.

Oh, and I'm still dreaming about those eagles.

Just don't go eagle spotting July-August. The larger state bird, the blackfly, will be in full effect up North for a while.

 

[ZRT]

The word "plenty" is clearly subjective.

I disagree with just about everybody I know politically. Neither conservative nor American-liberal, neither Republican or Democrat.

If I marked my associations by political litmus tests, I'd be pretty damned lonely.

 

[WriterDom]

Uh, the same people who voted in Harkin?

I think you don't know Iowa. Or South Dakota very well. I'm sure .00008 percent of the populace thinks abortion is OK, but they keep striking down any kind of ban when the referendum comes up because they get the choice and separation of church and state issues - that people's souls are between them and their maker and it's not something that needs legislators.

They keep trying to build some kind of ban into the state constitution here, and I don't see it working. When we say we like smaller government, we actually mean that.

It's not an up or down vote like California. So you might be right. Both the house and senate would have to vote to ban it. I'd like to see national civil union rights. It tastes a little better without the M word to me. They get their rights and we don't redefine marriage.

 

[JMohegan]

Just don't go eagle spotting July-August. The larger state bird, the blackfly, will be in full effect up North for a while.

Thanks for the tip.

Oh dear.