posted 05-18-2004 11:01 PM         

We're fast headed to a nation of 300 million victims looking for an oppressor. And an excuse.

We're eager to explain away our shortcomings as someone else's prejudice. Our antisocial behavior as a condition. Our crimes as an illness.

Our obesity is the responsibility of people who sell food. Our lung cancer is the tobacco company's fault. Our bad grades at school are the teachers' doing.

The bank heist? Advertisers made me want goods I can't afford. The murder? Had an abusive parent.

And on and on and on. Everyone is yapping about how tough it is for me-me-me, how we need a batch of government-sponsored special programs for us-us-us and how the fault is never-ever-ever mine.

The idea of personal responsibility is headed the way of Tyrannosaurus.

We've got pictures of prisoners being abused in Iraq, and all we know for certain is that no one who's talked to reporters admits to being culpable for anything.

Some dope has a movie out about how McDonald's made him fat. Well, a tofu restaurant could make you fat if you sat there and ate all day. Did you consider doing a push-up up and away from the table?

No criminal is evil any more. He or she is misunderstood. Probably chemically imbalanced or mentally unbalanced. There, but for the grace of prescription drugs, go you or I.

Stop it! Please.

Wouldn't you love to see somebody stand up and take the blame, and mean it? None of this half-baked Donald Rumsfeld "I take full responsibility for everything my underlings didn't tell me' stuff.

Just tell the truth. If you're still capable of it.

I was late for work ... because I left the house late. Lots of traffic, sure, but I should have accounted for it.

I'm fat. Not because I had no idea jumbo sizes of fast food weren't good for me, but because I'm basically a glutton.

I never spent one minute getting my child ready for school, and that's why Johnny can't read.

I've got lung cancer. Because I never thought all those cigarette warnings were meant for me.

I'm unemployed. Not because The Man is holding me down, but because it's easier to sit home and do nothing.

I cheated on my spouse. Not because he/she is a pain, but because I thought I could get away with it.

I do drugs. Not because it's the only way out of my miserable existence, but because I'm too weak to live life sober.

Yeah, I shot the guy. Not because of a chemical imbalance. I just like killing people. I used to be known as a sociopath. Now, I'm just deluded.

Enough, already.

We are lucky enough to live in a society where everyone has a chance. Even if only a fraction of us can bring ourselves to admit it, these days.

But, hey, look around: You always can find someone who had it tougher than you and still made something of himself.

There are still a few folks who make it through life without suing a corporation for making its coffee too hot. People who muddle through without going on the dole. Who manage to avoid a life of crime despite a terrible childhood.

We may be too far gone, but maybe we can try accountability. Maybe one day at a time? It IS my fault that I'm so insensitive. There, it's out in the open.

posted 05-19-2004 12:58 AM         

thanks Larry, for some reason I was talking to a redhead tonight, well I should but I won't email this to her, DAM, my fault again....

posted 05-19-2004 03:19 PM         

They stand there waiting for you to make excuses and really don't know how to respond when you simple admit to a mistake. They wait for you to blame something or someone else and when you don't they are truely surprised.

posted 05-19-2004 09:40 PM         

Anyone here suffer from Shy Bladder Syndrome? You read that right: Shy Bladder Syndrome.

According to this news article a man who says he was fired by Caterpillar Inc. because he wasn't able to urinate for a drug test sued the equipment giant Wednesday, alleging discrimination.

posted 05-20-2004 07:25 AM         

quote:

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Originally posted by rsterling78:
ABSURD ILLNESS UPDATE:

Anyone here suffer from [B]Shy Bladder Syndrome? You read that right: Shy Bladder Syndrome.

According to this news article a man who says he was fired by Caterpillar Inc. because he wasn't able to urinate for a drug test sued the equipment giant Wednesday, alleging discrimination.

The man says he suffers from paruresis, more commonly known as shy bladder syndrome, and was physically unable to urinate into a specimen cup, despite having drunk 40 ounces of water and being given three hours to complete the task.[/B]

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Absurd illness my *** !!!

I was on a sailing race years back....No wind. so the 3 hour race took 12 friggin hours. The boat had no head so it would be lighter, as it was a racing boat...

Ever try to pee off a boat while trying to hang on? the water was still a bit choppy for no wind which was odd, so peeing was impossible for me with 8 guys on a small sailboat in broad daylight. By the 11th hour I was in extreme pain but still could not pee if I had a gun to my head....Worst day I had in a loong time. I thought my bladder would explode....

Most local hick bars around here have troughs in the men's room, how the hell can you pee in that with rowdy drunks on either side of you? I end up avoiding those bars....

Shy bladder is real, and not any fun. You end up in a lot of discomfort and can't do anything about it.

posted 05-20-2004 11:33 AM         

Randy - you're absolutely dead-on correct. When we admit we have screwed-up and offer no excuses, it really deflates the accuser's sails!

posted 05-20-2004 01:20 PM         

quote:

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Originally posted by Bob Miller:
Larry - thanks for the article...I really enjoyed reading it. And we complain that our political leaders aren't accountable. The society they represent isn't either!

Randy - you're absolutely dead-on correct. When we admit we have screwed-up and offer no excuses, it really deflates the accuser's sails!

Of course I have never actually screwed anything up myself so I never had to admit it was my mistake.

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posted 05-20-2004 09:57 PM         

No offense intended. I have to admit, though, I have been a practicing primary care physician for years and I have never before heard the term "shy bladder syndrome." Not in practice, not in residency, and not in med school. Sure, I've heard of bladder atony where the bladder muscles can't contract. I've heard of prostatic hypertrophy where the prostate swells around the urethra and thus prevents urination. But shy bladder syndrome?