What not to say to a person facing a scary medical situation, Part II

[sabotabby]

"I'll pray for you."

(So far okay.)

"Do you believe in...do you, uh, believe?"

(Getting a bit personal here.)

"No."

"Oh. You should."

(Totally. Out. Of. Line. Plus now I have Cher running through my head.)

This has been a public service announcement brought to you by the Committee Against You Getting Punched In Your Smug Face.

---

Here, have a song to get Cher out of your head.

Watch on YouTube

Comments

[lovableatheist.livejournal.com]

Did you know that you're fucking awesome and that I'm apparently not the only person in the history department at York who thinks so? True story!

[sabotabby]

I heard that you and another awesome person at York met. You guys should totally hang out and then I can enjoy York grad student awesomeness vicariously.

[lovableatheist.livejournal.com]

Oh, we hang out. We hang out in our common office/lunch room at least a few times a week. I heard you two met through the internet. The world is a small place. The internet seems to be smaller.

[seaya.livejournal.com]

This is something that shouldn't be said in *any* situation. Let alone this one!

[coconuthead.livejournal.com]

Well, the conversation is fucking bullshit, but I'm glad it gave you an excuse to dig up and post the song. I love Phil, but I hadn't heard that one before.

[heksenhaus.livejournal.com]

urgh!

[sadie-sabot.livejournal.com]

what the fucking fuck?

[franklanguage.livejournal.com]

My mother has often peered at me and said, "You don't believe in God…do you?" like she can't understand why or how that could be—a child that sprang from her own loins and was so lovingly raised. Yeah, Mom, let me tell you…God doesn't exist.

When I was in the hospital, having had a brain injury and been in a coma for a month, a lot of well-meaning people rushed to my side. It was about this time I realized I didn't believe in God anymore, and boy was I relieved. I still had annoying people to deal with, though.

I seriously want to take the next Amtrak up to Toronto, once things settle down. In the meantime, I'm sending out good thoughts.

[culpster.livejournal.com]

What, don't you want to LIVE FOREVER?

Everybody gets ice cream too.

[mendaciloquent.livejournal.com]

People say some stupid things in these situations, but this is excessive.

I had a bad mystery illness a few years ago, and no one during that entire 4-month-long, what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-you period said anything that stupid to me.

[firecat]

"Yes, I believe. I believe your smug face is about to get punched."

[lienne.livejournal.com]

<3

[pofflewomp.livejournal.com]

I've been told that I really ought to "believe in something" (I assume they meant "something" bestowing eternal life, rather than "something" like universal human rights and that people ought to be nicer) as it must be horrific for me waking up every morning considering the bereavements I've had, without such a belief. I replied that yes, it is horrific, but that I can't order myself to believe in something so utterly unlikely just to make myself feel better! I think, though, that many people do manage it, making themselves believe in "something" on purpose to make themselves feel better. I'm not sure how. It doesn't really make sense to me. Belief is surely meant to be something you just have or don't have, not something you will yourself to have?!?

[corwin77.livejournal.com]

I'll pray for you even if you don't believe but I won't shove my religion down your throat.

[mistersmearcase.livejournal.com]

Time to go straight for W.C. Fields and say "I believe I'll have another drink." Not the freshest joke in the book, but I'm guessing your interlocutor 1) never heard it and 2) wouldn't know what to say to it and would shut up.

[xturtle.livejournal.com]

I believe in the power of supportive friends to comfort you and render it possible for you to not injure yourself further by kicking ass on inappropriate people.

I also believe in the power of sarcasm and black humor as coping mechanisms. Clearly.

[yes-justice.livejournal.com]

This has been a public service announcement brought to you by the Committee Against You Getting Punched In Your Smug Face.

+1.

Sorry about the dolts.

[yes-justice.livejournal.com]

Also, I lol'd at cher too.

[poetic-pixie-13.livejournal.com]

Well that's fucking bullshit.

Also, you're amazing. Because, yes.

[ironed_orchid]

Sometimes punching people seems so right.

[ladypolitik.livejournal.com]

Yeah, well. I bet if you believe hard enough in people who say that getting kicked in the sphincter, Her Holiness Ladypolitik can make that miracle happen.