Rod's back! Coverage in The Spectator, 2nd November
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We could move to a model that takes us out of mental health care for a start (which is where most cfs units are based) into community health, like MS or diabetes or other chronic conditions that don't necessarily have a "cure".
It would be a stop gap until we have better options but for now it could be a centre to coordinate a proper assessment (PEM criteria) and management strategies that can work: pain relief, POTS tests, sleep, and whatever else we have to hand at the moment.
So I'm not sure there would be a complete vacuum, it really is a case of political will, and on the basis of dealing with a physical illness rather than a psychological one. That is the fundamental shift that needs to happen.
It would be a stop gap until we have better options but for now it could be a centre to coordinate a proper assessment (PEM criteria) and management strategies that can work: pain relief, POTS tests, sleep, and whatever else we have to hand at the moment.
So I'm not sure there would be a complete vacuum, it really is a case of political will, and on the basis of dealing with a physical illness rather than a psychological one. That is the fundamental shift that needs to happen.
Nothing wrong with being rude from time to time. Being a pushover generally gets you nowhere in life. I am sick to death of political correctness and hypersensitivity. The female journalist in question wrote a poor quality article and got bitch-slapped for it on the internet. That's life.
It's interesting to see people here distancing themselves from Coyne's "bitch comment" tweet while this comment by a forum member posted a while ago about a Norwegian female journalist was "liked" many times on PR and I didn't hear a peep out of anyone about its patronising, sexist overtones:
It's interesting to see people here distancing themselves from Coyne's "bitch comment" tweet while this comment by a forum member posted a while ago about a Norwegian female journalist was "liked" many times on PR and I didn't hear a peep out of anyone about its patronising, sexist overtones:
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You're absolutely right, though to be perfectly honest I didn't much like it and suspected it would come back to be used against him. As it was. These personal attacks rarely end well.
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Hadn't read that one before - Priceless !
And you are right, it's time we stopped being so politically correct.
Did anyone notice on Isabel hardmans Twitter link blog, the article
which is summed up by saying
"Freedom of speech can get ugly. But the censorship of hyperbole or dumb, infantile anger is uglier still."
And you are right, it's time we stopped being so politically correct.
Did anyone notice on Isabel hardmans Twitter link blog, the article
which is summed up by saying
"Freedom of speech can get ugly. But the censorship of hyperbole or dumb, infantile anger is uglier still."
I'm not. Political correctness just means to address someone without prejudice. It doesn't mean unnecessary politeness or false respect.
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Beg to differ , political correctness is an over the top response to try not offend even the most sensitive person.
The thing is, offense is taken not given, so it's impossible to not offend at times if someone chooses to be offended.
Addressing someone without prejudice is not political correctness. It is fundamental to both our human rights and acceptable behaviour in society.
The thing is, offense is taken not given, so it's impossible to not offend at times if someone chooses to be offended.
Addressing someone without prejudice is not political correctness. It is fundamental to both our human rights and acceptable behaviour in society.
I was rather hoping the reverse of this might be true tbh. That a US broadsheet might take Tuller's (possibly abbreviated) articles, or someone such as Amy Dockser Marcus use the information to similar effect, to create a front page headline which contrasts with (for example) the UK Telegraph front page headline from last week. Thus the US newsprint journalists throw down the gauntlet and illustrate the stark relief between the two continents. I have no idea if it is even true, but I imagine there might well be a US/ UK rivalry in journo-land which could be useful for us. I know we are promised that this isn't 'it' & that more is to come (eg from Valerie's blog) I'm just musing that the big guns across the pond might have our back. Wishful thinking I imagine.
I didn't "like" it. I didn't even read it until you posted it now, and I'm not ploughing through the whole 11 page thread - did you object at the time ?
I'd have given it a serious eye roll because I really don't care for chauvanistic attitudes and am more than happy to say so if it seems necessary. I say so on these boards and in real life too, as I am not shy of giving an opinion.
But I also know that we could dig for imperfections in everyone, and people really need to learn the difference between throwaway poor taste comments (which people usually are sorry for if challenged) vs patterns of abuse and slurs that are used to repeatedly denigrate whole classes of people. Neither is particularly nice but they carry a different weight and meaning.
It's interesting that the nearer something gets to the latter type of abuse, the less likely there will be any genuine apology and the more it tends to be defended as "free speech" or "not being PC", when really people just want an excuse to stick the boot in to some uppity woman/gays/blacks/disabled persons etc.
I'd have given it a serious eye roll because I really don't care for chauvanistic attitudes and am more than happy to say so if it seems necessary. I say so on these boards and in real life too, as I am not shy of giving an opinion.
But I also know that we could dig for imperfections in everyone, and people really need to learn the difference between throwaway poor taste comments (which people usually are sorry for if challenged) vs patterns of abuse and slurs that are used to repeatedly denigrate whole classes of people. Neither is particularly nice but they carry a different weight and meaning.
It's interesting that the nearer something gets to the latter type of abuse, the less likely there will be any genuine apology and the more it tends to be defended as "free speech" or "not being PC", when really people just want an excuse to stick the boot in to some uppity woman/gays/blacks/disabled persons etc.
I've long suspected that at least some of the BPS researchers and journalists who are claiming that ME patients' response comments are "abusive" are suffering from some form of narcissistic personality disorder. From the Mayo Clinic's website:
"Narcissistic personality disorder is a mental disorder in which people have an inflated sense of their own importance, a deep need for admiration and a lack of empathy for others. But behind this mask of ultraconfidence lies a fragile self-esteem that's vulnerable to the slightest criticism."
So, a narcissist will perceive any criticism as a personal attack. Does that sound like anyone we know?
What's the treatment for this disorder? Psychotherapy, of course.
"Narcissistic personality disorder is a mental disorder in which people have an inflated sense of their own importance, a deep need for admiration and a lack of empathy for others. But behind this mask of ultraconfidence lies a fragile self-esteem that's vulnerable to the slightest criticism."
So, a narcissist will perceive any criticism as a personal attack. Does that sound like anyone we know?
What's the treatment for this disorder? Psychotherapy, of course.
People all have different views about what sort of language is unsuitable/okay. I spend most of my time with those who have a 'relaxed' attitude to social niceties. When communicating with those you don't know it's worth trying to avoid doing too much to pointlessly get their back up, but I don't think it's fair to expect everyone to communicate with high-table manners all the time. It's possible to be a really dangerous, nasty bigot and yet use polite and conciliatory language, and I prefer to try to think about what people are communicating rather than get too caught up in how they communicate it. Wessely's great at charming those who don't know anything about his work. I don't want to manage people in that way.
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I stumbled across this page on the Black Triangle Campaign website that many of you on the other side of the pond may be familiar with. I am unfamiliar with the historical issues within the UK but the information on this page indicates it runs deep within the insurance industry, BPS cabal and from within the UK government. Specifically, ties to Unum, Wessely, Atos, DWP, and the BPS psychiatric model explains the reason why there such a concerted current effort and discussion to change social policy within the UK at the behest of the insurance industry.This is not going away anytime soon. Powerful forces with deep pockets are behind this movement. Reminds me of 'Putin paid trolls' in the comment sections of various UK news media sites, shaping social media discussion concerning the Ukrainian and Crimea conflict.
DWP/UNUM/ATOS SCANDAL ~ Professor Simon Wessely: ”It is only human for doctors to view the public as foolish, uncomprehending, hysterical or malingering”
In an article dated 5th March 2005 by Marshall and Williams (“ME: who is attacking whom?”), attention was drawn to a conference entitled “Malingering and Illness Deception Meeting” that had been held on 6th-8th November 2001 at Woodstock, Oxford. It was noted that attendees included key members of the “Wessely School”, namely psychiatrists Simon Wessely, Michael Sharpe, Peter White and Anthony David, as well as an active member of HealthWatch (Diana Brahams) and Dr John LoCascio, who had been head-hunted from UNUM Provident Insurance company to manage sickness and disability claims.
There might be some useful information for reason behind the fanaticism of the BPSschool.
DWP/UNUM/ATOS SCANDAL ~ Professor Simon Wessely: ”It is only human for doctors to view the public as foolish, uncomprehending, hysterical or malingering”
In an article dated 5th March 2005 by Marshall and Williams (“ME: who is attacking whom?”), attention was drawn to a conference entitled “Malingering and Illness Deception Meeting” that had been held on 6th-8th November 2001 at Woodstock, Oxford. It was noted that attendees included key members of the “Wessely School”, namely psychiatrists Simon Wessely, Michael Sharpe, Peter White and Anthony David, as well as an active member of HealthWatch (Diana Brahams) and Dr John LoCascio, who had been head-hunted from UNUM Provident Insurance company to manage sickness and disability claims.
There might be some useful information for reason behind the fanaticism of the BPSschool.
It might mean very different things to different people depending on their background and where they live, so perhaps we should get our definitions agreed before we discuss it further, to avoid misunderstandings. Or perhaps just avoid using that phrase altogether? Unless it's just me who has a unique misunderstanding of the phrase.
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@Ecoclimber - there is a lot of history. There is a huge amount of material on this site relating to UNUM and the UK sickness benefit policy changes of the last years, UNUM Executiives as government (DWP) advisors. On the Woodstock conference. UNUM annual reports with reports by Sharpe and Wessely. etc. FOI to DWP asking why the DWP part funded PACE. Professor Mansel Aylward, former chief Medical advisor to the DWP (1995-2005) then director of the UNUM Centre for Psychosocial Disabilities aat Cardiff Uni. Mansel Aylward has taken a particular interest in ME.
@Ecoclimber - there is a lot of history. There is a huge amount of material on this site relating to UNUM and the UK sickness benefit policy changes of the last years, UNUM Executiives as government (DWP) advisors. On the Woodstock conference. UNUM annual reports with reports by Sharpe and Wessely. etc. FOI to DWP asking why the DWP part funded PACE. Professor Mansel Aylward, former chief Medical advisor to the DWP (1995-2005) then director of the UNUM Centre for Psychosocial Disabilities aat Cardiff Uni. Mansel Aylward has taken a particular interest in ME.
Nope. I let it slide because stuff like that isn't worth my time/energy. I did however make a mental note of it for future reference.
In my opinion Coyne has possibly done more to raise awareness of the unacceptable BPS research & reporting on ME/CFS in 5 days than years of us patients nicely and politely tweeting to each other and posting here in our little echo chamber. I don't think we should alienate him over one un-PC tweet.
In my opinion Coyne has possibly done more to raise awareness of the unacceptable BPS research & reporting on ME/CFS in 5 days than years of us patients nicely and politely tweeting to each other and posting here in our little echo chamber. I don't think we should alienate him over one un-PC tweet.
