On Wed, 6 Jul 2005, Luna wrote:
> Which does a disservice to people who really _are_ allergic to certain
> foods. Pretty soon everyone will just assume that "allergic" is code
> for "on a diet" and they won't be so careful with what they serve to
> others. "Oh, she says she's allergic to peanuts, but she's probably
> just on that diet, it won't really hurt her to give her that chicken
> with the peanut sauce."
Yeah, but this in itself assumes that all real allergic reactions are
necessarily serious/lifethreatening. I'm really, truly, you can ask my
allergist allergic to aspirin and other NSAIDs, but that doesn't mean I'd
fall down in anaphalactic shock if I took an Aleve by mistake. Or, at
least I haven't so far. There are a wide range of possible reactions one
can have to an allergenic food or other substance.
I'm not big on lying as a means of defending ones' food choices, but the
idea that people doing so lessens the seriousness w/ which others view
allergies ignores the fact that not all reactions are dramatic. It also
ignores the fact that people routinely minimize the possibility of
allergic reactions in others. This isn't, for the most part, because
they've been desensitized by people lying about having allergies, it's
because, well, because people are stupid and inconsiderate.
Martha
>
> In article <[email protected]>,
> Bev-Ann <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > I know someone who just says she's allergic to whatever non-plan food being
> > offered so there are no questions as to why she won't have any.
> >
> > on Tue, 05 Jul 2005 16:41:14 GMT, Jennifer <[email protected]>
> > wrote:
> >
> > >This may sound simplistic, but it does work... When it comes to LC, I
> > >discovered that I had to change "Can't" to "Don't" in my thinking.
> > >
> > >I "can't" eat pasta... means "Poor me, someone or something is not allowing
> > >me to eat pasta". I have no choice. It's beyond my control. (which also
> > >means that sometimes if I do eat pasta, then it's a "cheat" and there is
> > >the ensuing guilt and shame for cheating).
> > >
> > >I "don't" eat pasta... means that I have made a choice, it's not something
> > >that's part of my life. I am in control. (which also means that sometimes
> > >if I do eat pasta, I have just decided at that moment to make a different
> > >choice... no guilt, it's just my decision at that moment).
> > >
> > >An bonus to this way of thinking and talking is when you are out and about
> > >and someone offers you something you would rather not eat at the moment,
> > >don't works better than can't to get them to understand.
> > >
> > >If you tell them you can't have ice cream, they will tell you can... that
> > >just a little won't hurt. If you tell them you don't eat ice cream... what
> > >are they going to say? Yes you do? And if they say, "well you used
> > >to"... you can always say "I don't anymore". ; )
> >
> > -----
> > Bev
>
>
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