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Why I need to stop frequenting forums.
Monday, 15 July 2013 05:34 amAn impression for you:
"I make my own soaps so that I can control what I put on my skin. While I use synthetic fragrances from time to time, it's not a big deal--I mean, I gave a friend who claims to have chemical sensitivities a bar scented with synthetic fragrance without telling her and she liked it just fine!"
For all this person knows, the soap-loving friend is having issues, but hasn't figured out it's related to the soap, because her friend knows she can't abide certain chemicals and therefore her friend wouldn't give her anything containing them.
Which is to say, putting someone else's health at risk to score imaginary points off them makes you an asshole.
It isn't just taking away someone's right to control what they put into/onto their body. It's violating their trust by intentionally subverting that control, and for what purpose? To mock and belittle them.
Unless you are that person's doctor, your opinion on the validity of someone's allergies or sensitivities or dietary restrictions is not required. It does not matter a single gold-plated damn if you think someone is faking chemical sensitivities, if you think allergies are bullshit, if you think veganism is stupid: if it's not your body, it's not your issue. Nobody needs you to give a stamp of approval, "This allergy is legit!" You do not win anything by slipping someone a substance they are intentionally trying to avoid.
And if you slip a person something they say they're allergic to and they don't react? So what? You didn't disprove their medical history, you got lucky.
Knowing that your friend is a douchebag who latches onto special diets and hep health issues to feel special doesn't change the fact that you're a bigger douchebag if you intentionally slip gluten-coated bacon into her salad or slip a Tide-washed towel into her laundry. You're not required to let her douchery run your life, but that means refusing to let her guilt-trip you about going to the steakhouse or make you re-wash all your clothing she comes over to visit.
There's a clear and obvious difference, and it involves not doing what you wouldn't want someone to do to you.
"I make my own soaps so that I can control what I put on my skin. While I use synthetic fragrances from time to time, it's not a big deal--I mean, I gave a friend who claims to have chemical sensitivities a bar scented with synthetic fragrance without telling her and she liked it just fine!"
For all this person knows, the soap-loving friend is having issues, but hasn't figured out it's related to the soap, because her friend knows she can't abide certain chemicals and therefore her friend wouldn't give her anything containing them.
Which is to say, putting someone else's health at risk to score imaginary points off them makes you an asshole.
It isn't just taking away someone's right to control what they put into/onto their body. It's violating their trust by intentionally subverting that control, and for what purpose? To mock and belittle them.
Unless you are that person's doctor, your opinion on the validity of someone's allergies or sensitivities or dietary restrictions is not required. It does not matter a single gold-plated damn if you think someone is faking chemical sensitivities, if you think allergies are bullshit, if you think veganism is stupid: if it's not your body, it's not your issue. Nobody needs you to give a stamp of approval, "This allergy is legit!" You do not win anything by slipping someone a substance they are intentionally trying to avoid.
And if you slip a person something they say they're allergic to and they don't react? So what? You didn't disprove their medical history, you got lucky.
Knowing that your friend is a douchebag who latches onto special diets and hep health issues to feel special doesn't change the fact that you're a bigger douchebag if you intentionally slip gluten-coated bacon into her salad or slip a Tide-washed towel into her laundry. You're not required to let her douchery run your life, but that means refusing to let her guilt-trip you about going to the steakhouse or make you re-wash all your clothing she comes over to visit.
There's a clear and obvious difference, and it involves not doing what you wouldn't want someone to do to you.
