Comments on: Back to Basics http://ccannizzaro.com/2008/back-to-basics/ "To explain the unknown by the known is a logical procedure; to explain the known by the unknown is a form of theological lunacy." Sat, 19 Jul 2008 11:07:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.2 By: StevePocetaMD http://ccannizzaro.com/2008/back-to-basics/#comment-874 StevePocetaMD Sun, 03 Feb 2008 07:08:31 +0000 http://ccannizzaro.com/2008/back-to-basics/#comment-874 Hi, As a doctor who has been dealing with restless legs syndrome for over 20 years--long before there were drugs to treat it--I resent the fact that you would belittle this condition that causes many people to suffer. I appreciate your opinions on issues that you know something about, but RLS is a true disease, the genetic causes are known, and I hope that those people who have it do not see your insulting comments. You can view my many comments about this issue of prescription drugs and RLS on my blog at: http://www.revolutionhealth.com/blogs/blogs/my_weblog Hi,
As a doctor who has been dealing with restless legs syndrome for over 20 years–long before there were drugs to treat it–I resent the fact that you would belittle this condition that causes many people to suffer. I appreciate your opinions on issues that you know something about, but RLS is a true disease, the genetic causes are known, and I hope that those people who have it do not see your insulting comments. You can view my many comments about this issue of prescription drugs and RLS on my blog at:
http://www.revolutionhealth.com/blogs/blogs/my_weblog

]]> By: Chris http://ccannizzaro.com/2008/back-to-basics/#comment-875 Chris Sun, 03 Feb 2008 17:07:19 +0000 http://ccannizzaro.com/2008/back-to-basics/#comment-875 Thanks for your reply, Steve. Looking back, I can see how my declaration can be taken that way - more inflammatory than intended. Perhaps, a level of detail that does not lend itself to a bullet point is more in order. I only pick on Restless Legs Syndrome as one example of a disorder that found a drug, and all of the sudden became something that everyone with leg pain or a subconscious habit should ask their doctor about. No doubt that some who thought they were alone found comfort in the fact that they weren't the only ones to experience the symptoms. But the discovery and subsequent promotion of the drug has convinced many with a fraction of the symptoms - either in quantity or severity - that they are one of the afflicted. It's simply one disorder that is used for disease mongering: <a href="http://medicine.plosjournals.org/perlserv/?request=get-document&doi=10.1371%2Fjournal.pmed.0030170&ct=1" rel="nofollow">Giving Legs to Restless Legs</a> The fact that a genetic link for RLS has been discovered is inconsequential to the matter of enlarging the market for the drug that treats it. It's promotion has only given people an excuse to dismiss any personal responsibility for their symptoms that could easily be caused by poor diet, obesity, or lack of physical activity. The burden of responsibility is lifted from their shoulders, and attributed to something which they have no control over. Luckily, all they have to do is buy and ingest a pill that treats the symptoms, without worrying about the personal habits and lifestyle choices that affect the feelings and comfort in their legs. Nevertheless, I have fixed the comment to more accurately reflect the common sense I was trying to convey, which was more about the promotion of drugs in general rather than a specific disease. Thanks for your reply, Steve. Looking back, I can see how my declaration can be taken that way - more inflammatory than intended. Perhaps, a level of detail that does not lend itself to a bullet point is more in order.

I only pick on Restless Legs Syndrome as one example of a disorder that found a drug, and all of the sudden became something that everyone with leg pain or a subconscious habit should ask their doctor about. No doubt that some who thought they were alone found comfort in the fact that they weren’t the only ones to experience the symptoms. But the discovery and subsequent promotion of the drug has convinced many with a fraction of the symptoms - either in quantity or severity - that they are one of the afflicted.

It’s simply one disorder that is used for disease mongering: Giving Legs to Restless Legs

The fact that a genetic link for RLS has been discovered is inconsequential to the matter of enlarging the market for the drug that treats it. It’s promotion has only given people an excuse to dismiss any personal responsibility for their symptoms that could easily be caused by poor diet, obesity, or lack of physical activity. The burden of responsibility is lifted from their shoulders, and attributed to something which they have no control over. Luckily, all they have to do is buy and ingest a pill that treats the symptoms, without worrying about the personal habits and lifestyle choices that affect the feelings and comfort in their legs.

Nevertheless, I have fixed the comment to more accurately reflect the common sense I was trying to convey, which was more about the promotion of drugs in general rather than a specific disease.

]]> By: Ben Abbott http://ccannizzaro.com/2008/back-to-basics/#comment-876 Ben Abbott Mon, 04 Feb 2008 02:28:36 +0000 http://ccannizzaro.com/2008/back-to-basics/#comment-876 <b>General Stuff</b> Chris: "There is an enormous difference between trust and faith" The same can be said of truth and faith. In the best of situations, I think faith is accepting as fact what cannot be known. In the worst it is accepting as fact what is known to be false. I addition, faith is easy and free. We can never be certain of truth, and the pursuit of it will consume all our effort and our lives. <b>Fashion</b> huh? ... what is "Axe body spray"? ... and I have no clue what "Popped Collars" or "Crocs" refer to :-( <b>Academics</b> Chris: "Just because there are two sides to every issue doesn’t mean that both sides are equal." When the *merits* are not equal the variance is not the matter of opinion, it is a matter of the merit (ex: scientific merit of ID). <b>Driving</b> I agree on all points ... even if it makes me a hypocrite ;-) <b>Money</b> If it makes you happy, spend as you like. If you are unhappy about the consequences, then you are an irrational idiot. General Stuff

Chris: “There is an enormous difference between trust and faith”

The same can be said of truth and faith. In the best of situations, I think faith is accepting as fact what cannot be known. In the worst it is accepting as fact what is known to be false.

I addition, faith is easy and free. We can never be certain of truth, and the pursuit of it will consume all our effort and our lives.

Fashion

huh? … what is “Axe body spray”? … and I have no clue what “Popped Collars” or “Crocs” refer to :-(

Academics

Chris: “Just because there are two sides to every issue doesn’t mean that both sides are equal.”

When the *merits* are not equal the variance is not the matter of opinion, it is a matter of the merit (ex: scientific merit of ID).

Driving

I agree on all points … even if it makes me a hypocrite ;-)

Money

If it makes you happy, spend as you like. If you are unhappy about the consequences, then you are an irrational idiot.

]]> By: Chris http://ccannizzaro.com/2008/back-to-basics/#comment-877 Chris Mon, 04 Feb 2008 05:43:09 +0000 http://ccannizzaro.com/2008/back-to-basics/#comment-877 Axe body spray is that stuff that promises a virtual harem of girls will tackle you the instant you spray it on yourself. It's a hybrid between cologne and deodorant that's often applied in copious amounts by impressionable young men that think it's an actual aphrodisiac. <a href="http://media.urbandictionary.com/image/large/poppedcollar-41662.jpg" rel="nofollow">This</a> is what popped collars look like. The urban dictionary gives <a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=popped+collar" rel="nofollow">a pretty accurate definition</a>. And finally, <a href="http://www.hegemonyrules.net/images/crocs.JPG" rel="nofollow">crocs</a> are a rubbery material posing as a shoe, slipper, or sandal. People have been lauding them as the most comfortable "shoe" known to man. And somehow that makes it okay to wear them out of the house, even though they don't match a single article of clothing ever made, besides - maybe - <a href="http://www.toomik.net/helen/blog/images/Homer_muumuu.jpg" rel="nofollow">a mumu</a>. Axe body spray is that stuff that promises a virtual harem of girls will tackle you the instant you spray it on yourself. It’s a hybrid between cologne and deodorant that’s often applied in copious amounts by impressionable young men that think it’s an actual aphrodisiac.

This is what popped collars look like. The urban dictionary gives a pretty accurate definition.

And finally, crocs are a rubbery material posing as a shoe, slipper, or sandal. People have been lauding them as the most comfortable “shoe” known to man. And somehow that makes it okay to wear them out of the house, even though they don’t match a single article of clothing ever made, besides - maybe - a mumu.

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