jeniwren@compuserve.com
Is it just me, or do there seem to be more diseases lately? I don't want to be a doomsayer by any means, but it just seems like you can't turn around but for the discovery of a new acronymed disease or condition. As an example, I can no longer be grouchy without wondering if I'm suffering from PMS. Before PMS, women were 'delicate'. I think I like being delicate, personally. Can we vote on this, please?
Somehow, giving a series of symptoms a name gives it legitimacy. Men used to say that women were wusses for cramps and general irritability during 'that time of the month'. Now they just have to suck it up and go, it's okay, she has PMS. Giving it a name makes it more real than before, when it was just series of days on the calendar when all the menfolk around knew it was best to be out sheering sheep or something.
Of course, if you have wild mood swings all the time, you no longer have PMS, you must have something else. The list is, of course, endless. Not all of them get mysterious acronyms, but that's okay because they get nifty names, like bi-polarity. Doesn't it sound like you should be wearing a parka? Then there is the ever intriguing multiple personality syndrome. That is long enough to deserve being an acronym, but it just sounds so interesting that people like to say the whole thing. I have a hard enough time maintaining one personality. Having more than one must be exhausting.
I wonder if we'll someday discover that all these diseases are actually one disease with multiple personality syndrome. Can you imagine the acronym that one disease would get? It staggers the mind.
We're learning so much about how the mind works and there is so much more yet to be learned. I wonder if we'll ever get to the point (as is illustrated in the movie GATTACA) of discovering (or is that, believing?) that all behaviors are biologically driven. As we discover better ways to chemically counteract biologically induced anti-social or negative behaviors (such as those with ADD), will we find that you can just take one pill and it'll make you normal no matter what your condition? What about those of us who want to stay weird?
It's all too much for me. One side of me is grateful that the people who used to be just out and out weird actually have diseases that can be treated. The other side is wondering when I'll find out what makes ME a bit strange. Is there a cool sounding acronym for incessant chatting yet? Call me when you hear. In the meantime, YES, I'm female. Do NOT MORF me again!
[Rant Mode OFF] Thanks for listening.
