It's a question, of course it was asked. February 5, 2006 1:29 PM Subscribe
The worst noise I see on AskMeFi is simple: posts that suggest that a question should NEVER be asked on AskMeFi. I keep wanting to flag them as "obnoxious" but that isn't specifically an option.
Why do people assume that if someone asks on AskMeFi that they are somehow prevented from asking a real specialist? To put it the other way, can we assume - especially when the poster SAYS so in their question - that the person knows to seek proper help, that they are just asking here for additional points of view?
People here are adults and just because someone asks something in the Green doesn't mean that they're going to let the answers they receive trump a doctor or lawyer's advice. It usually just means someone's a little worried and wants to know what this often intelligent audience has to say on a subject in addition to any other advice they might seek.
Why do people assume that if someone asks on AskMeFi that they are somehow prevented from asking a real specialist? To put it the other way, can we assume - especially when the poster SAYS so in their question - that the person knows to seek proper help, that they are just asking here for additional points of view?
People here are adults and just because someone asks something in the Green doesn't mean that they're going to let the answers they receive trump a doctor or lawyer's advice. It usually just means someone's a little worried and wants to know what this often intelligent audience has to say on a subject in addition to any other advice they might seek.
So, let's see here: you're taking people to task for making assumption about askers' intentions ("Why do people assume that if someone asks on AskMeFi that they are somehow prevented from asking a real specialist?"). Fair enough. But your rebuttal is...an assumption about askers' intentions ("It usually just means someone's a little worried...")? Lame.
Look, people have all sorts of reasons for coming to AskMefi for advice. We have no idea why people ask for advice that obviously warrants seeing someone with medical or legal or psychological expertise. Those who point out (like kcm did in the thread you linked to) that the asker really should trust a qualified professional, rather than taking the advice of a bunch of internet strangers, are doing a real service to the questioners. They are not being "obnoxious" - they are sanely and reasonably reminded the asker that the anecdotal advice one gets on the internet should be taken with several grains of salt. I'm always glad to see someone take the time to do so.
Oh, and BTW, kcm didn't say that the question "should NEVER be asked." S/he said that the questioner shouldn't listen to AskMe rather than qualified medical professionals. Next time you do a lame callout, try calling out the original poster for something they actually did.
posted by googly at 1:52 PM on February 5, 2006
Look, people have all sorts of reasons for coming to AskMefi for advice. We have no idea why people ask for advice that obviously warrants seeing someone with medical or legal or psychological expertise. Those who point out (like kcm did in the thread you linked to) that the asker really should trust a qualified professional, rather than taking the advice of a bunch of internet strangers, are doing a real service to the questioners. They are not being "obnoxious" - they are sanely and reasonably reminded the asker that the anecdotal advice one gets on the internet should be taken with several grains of salt. I'm always glad to see someone take the time to do so.
Oh, and BTW, kcm didn't say that the question "should NEVER be asked." S/he said that the questioner shouldn't listen to AskMe rather than qualified medical professionals. Next time you do a lame callout, try calling out the original poster for something they actually did.
posted by googly at 1:52 PM on February 5, 2006
People ask because they want to be reassured that it's not something serious. That's not a good thing.
posted by smackfu at 1:58 PM on February 5, 2006
posted by smackfu at 1:58 PM on February 5, 2006
Oh certainly, much better to assure people that every uncertainty that pops into their head is life or death and they must mortgage their house to solve each and every one.
posted by Chuckles at 2:01 PM on February 5, 2006
posted by Chuckles at 2:01 PM on February 5, 2006
For me, the "noise" flag = "obnoxious". As a matter of fact, in your first sentence you state: "The worst noise I see...". So, there's that.
posted by Roger Dodger at 2:09 PM on February 5, 2006
posted by Roger Dodger at 2:09 PM on February 5, 2006
Seeing as the question in, er, question is mine, I'll explain my reasons for asking.
As mikel noted, I am intending to see a GP tomorrow. I'm not asking if I should, or wanting to be told I shouldn't. I trust (to some extent) the community here, and if someone said "Someone I know was in the same situation, and died of a heart attack before they could go to the doctor the next morning", I'd be on my way to A&E quicker than you can say "too young to die".
Having said that I am of course taking everything said with a large pich of salt - I suppose I am just interested/curious to hear what people have to say on the subject - although obviously what my GP says will be the most important word on the matter, it can often be helpful to have other peoples' perspectives.
posted by Lotto at 2:43 PM on February 5, 2006
As mikel noted, I am intending to see a GP tomorrow. I'm not asking if I should, or wanting to be told I shouldn't. I trust (to some extent) the community here, and if someone said "Someone I know was in the same situation, and died of a heart attack before they could go to the doctor the next morning", I'd be on my way to A&E quicker than you can say "too young to die".
Having said that I am of course taking everything said with a large pich of salt - I suppose I am just interested/curious to hear what people have to say on the subject - although obviously what my GP says will be the most important word on the matter, it can often be helpful to have other peoples' perspectives.
posted by Lotto at 2:43 PM on February 5, 2006
Ugh, quit your whining. She's already going to see the doctor, and I don't think anyone is going to change her mind about that.
It's so fucking irritating to see mefites try to police each others lives like this, oh no, you can't ask this question! Heavens to Betsy! It's only your opinion that she shouldn't ask, not any sort of fact, and you can indicate such in the question itself.
The idea that asking a question here can only be damaging may be incorrect. You don't know for sure, and you never will. Some doctors suck, and may, in fact, give worse advice them askme. It's up to the poster to evaluate her sources of information, and make a decision, not your job to keep her away from information you think might be harmful.
posted by delmoi at 2:45 PM on February 5, 2006
It's so fucking irritating to see mefites try to police each others lives like this, oh no, you can't ask this question! Heavens to Betsy! It's only your opinion that she shouldn't ask, not any sort of fact, and you can indicate such in the question itself.
The idea that asking a question here can only be damaging may be incorrect. You don't know for sure, and you never will. Some doctors suck, and may, in fact, give worse advice them askme. It's up to the poster to evaluate her sources of information, and make a decision, not your job to keep her away from information you think might be harmful.
posted by delmoi at 2:45 PM on February 5, 2006
Ooops, I read the post totally wrong. In fact, you were complaining about the very same thing I was complaining about.
/needs to read more carefully.
posted by delmoi at 2:46 PM on February 5, 2006
/needs to read more carefully.
posted by delmoi at 2:46 PM on February 5, 2006
I trust (to some extent) the community here
This is a major problem, because 99% of the community here that answers health questions aren't healthcare professionals. Chest pain SCREAMS red flag in any physician's eyes, and I would much rather have someone come in to the ED for heartburn, get ruled out for a heart attack or pulmonary embolus, and go home 24 hours later.
I just came to Metatalk to raise this exact issue. Over the past several months, I've seen more and more scary questions but even scarier answers; often things are suggested by posters that are contraindicated in certain diseases with certain symptoms.
I realize that people are just trying to help, but often educated people give suggestions that are just way off base, anecdotal, or flat out wrong.
posted by gramcracker at 4:57 PM on February 5, 2006
This is a major problem, because 99% of the community here that answers health questions aren't healthcare professionals. Chest pain SCREAMS red flag in any physician's eyes, and I would much rather have someone come in to the ED for heartburn, get ruled out for a heart attack or pulmonary embolus, and go home 24 hours later.
I just came to Metatalk to raise this exact issue. Over the past several months, I've seen more and more scary questions but even scarier answers; often things are suggested by posters that are contraindicated in certain diseases with certain symptoms.
I realize that people are just trying to help, but often educated people give suggestions that are just way off base, anecdotal, or flat out wrong.
posted by gramcracker at 4:57 PM on February 5, 2006
I'd like to underline what delmoi says about some doctors sucking. This is very important! All the people who suggest "go see a doctor" as if that's the best advice that can be given must have very little experience with medical problems. If you go to a doctor, it is quite possible that doctor will have no clue whatever what's up, and people should realize this. Community medical advice is a very good thing. Of course bad advice can be and is given, but so it goes. If you're dealing with some kind of chronic illness especially, there is likely no better advice you can get than advice that comes from somebody else who has gone through it and, naturally, been to many many many doctors.
posted by flavor at 5:27 PM on February 5, 2006
posted by flavor at 5:27 PM on February 5, 2006
Why do people assume Y? To put it the other way, can we assume Z - especially when the poster SAYS so in their question?
I think it's fair to assume Z when the poster says so in their question, but not otherwise, as without evidence, there's really no difference between assuming Y and assuming Z.
posted by Bugbread at 5:59 PM on February 5, 2006
I think it's fair to assume Z when the poster says so in their question, but not otherwise, as without evidence, there's really no difference between assuming Y and assuming Z.
posted by Bugbread at 5:59 PM on February 5, 2006
If you go to a doctor, it is quite possible that doctor will have no clue whatever what's up, and people should realize this. Community medical advice is a very good thing. Of course bad advice can be and is given, but so it goes.
If you go to the community, it is quite possible that the community will have no clue whatever what's up, and people should realize this. Doctor's advice is a very good thing. Of course bad advice can be and is given, but so it goes.
Is this some sort of "contradicting yourself" themed thread, or is it something in the water?
posted by Bugbread at 6:01 PM on February 5, 2006
If you go to the community, it is quite possible that the community will have no clue whatever what's up, and people should realize this. Doctor's advice is a very good thing. Of course bad advice can be and is given, but so it goes.
Is this some sort of "contradicting yourself" themed thread, or is it something in the water?
posted by Bugbread at 6:01 PM on February 5, 2006
If you go to a doctor, it is quite possible that doctor will have no clue whatever what's up, and people should realize this. Community medical advice is a very good thing. Of course bad advice can be and is given, but so it goes. If you're dealing with some kind of chronic illness especially, there is likely no better advice you can get than advice that comes from somebody else who has gone through it and, naturally, been to many many many doctors.
This is insane.
posted by gsteff at 6:05 PM on February 5, 2006
This is insane.
posted by gsteff at 6:05 PM on February 5, 2006
"All the people who suggest "go see a doctor" as if that's the best advice that can be given must have very little experience with medical problems."
Stick one thumb in your mouth and and your other thumb up your ass. Now, switch.
posted by mischief at 6:13 PM on February 5, 2006
Stick one thumb in your mouth and and your other thumb up your ass. Now, switch.
posted by mischief at 6:13 PM on February 5, 2006
Stick one thumb in your mouth and and your other thumb up your ass. Now, switch.
Do you run an HMO, by chance?
posted by Rothko at 6:23 PM on February 5, 2006
Do you run an HMO, by chance?
posted by Rothko at 6:23 PM on February 5, 2006
I'd like to underline what delmoi says about some doctors sucking. This is very important! All the people who suggest "go see a doctor" as if that's the best advice that can be given must have very little experience with medical problems. If you go to a doctor, it is quite possible that doctor will have no clue whatever what's up, and people should realize this. Community medical advice is a very good thing.
What is this, parody? You might as well denigrate any professionally-trained individual. Yes, this is insane.
posted by delfuego at 6:26 PM on February 5, 2006
What is this, parody? You might as well denigrate any professionally-trained individual. Yes, this is insane.
posted by delfuego at 6:26 PM on February 5, 2006
I'm not saying don't go to professionals. Always go to professionals.
posted by flavor at 6:30 PM on February 5, 2006
posted by flavor at 6:30 PM on February 5, 2006
I take it, then, that what you're saying is "Don't always put your entire faith in individual doctors, as they aren't infallible, but make use of community knowledge as well"? That's a much more agreeable statement, especially if "community knowledge" includes knowledge that community members obtained from other doctors (that is, if you have disease X, and your doctor recommends treatment Y, and the community has 5 other people with disease X, all of whose doctor's recommended Z over Y, then community knowledge is indirect but wider ranging professional knowledge, and that's a good thing).
posted by Bugbread at 6:48 PM on February 5, 2006
posted by Bugbread at 6:48 PM on February 5, 2006
Yeah, I guess I'm an optimist at heart.
(which is to say I would like to think that "go see a doctor" goes without saying)
posted by flavor at 8:02 PM on February 5, 2006
(which is to say I would like to think that "go see a doctor" goes without saying)
posted by flavor at 8:02 PM on February 5, 2006
Community medical advice is a very good thing. Of course bad advice can be and is given, but so it goes. If you're dealing with some kind of chronic illness especially, there is likely no better advice you can get than advice that comes from somebody else who has gone through it and, naturally, been to many many many doctors.
Hahahahhahahah...oh, wait, you were serious. Sorry.
posted by docpops at 8:11 PM on February 5, 2006
Hahahahhahahah...oh, wait, you were serious. Sorry.
posted by docpops at 8:11 PM on February 5, 2006
Oh, and gramcracker nailed it - lately the breadth of inane responses to potentially serious medical issues/symptoms from people talking out their asses has gotten unreal. Scarier still is that the poster seems to be taking the responses to heart before someone who actually has a cogent or relevant opinion can weigh in.
posted by docpops at 8:15 PM on February 5, 2006
posted by docpops at 8:15 PM on February 5, 2006
I don't trust doctors. I trust random internet dweebs even less. Critical thinking is an important skill.
It's all relative, and nobody needs to be sticking their thumbs anywhere.
Unless it's a prostate problem, I guess.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 10:15 PM on February 5, 2006
It's all relative, and nobody needs to be sticking their thumbs anywhere.
Unless it's a prostate problem, I guess.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 10:15 PM on February 5, 2006
(Note: I am also a random internet dweeb. Do not trust me with medical advice.)
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 10:15 PM on February 5, 2006
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 10:15 PM on February 5, 2006
Anyone who thinks any doctor particular is infailable is a tool.
posted by delmoi at 10:22 PM on February 5, 2006
posted by delmoi at 10:22 PM on February 5, 2006
holy christ, people. There's the very real threat of lawsuits if a community gives bad advice to someone with a legal/medical/psychological problem and no one says "see a professional." whether or not the lawsuit has a chance in hell of being won isn't even the point. If it goes to court, it costs #1 money to fight it, and if the plaintiff is ridiculous enough and/or their lawyer is greedy enough, even the most frivolous lawsuit can go to court.
it's called covering your bases. It's not in any way harmful. It is, in fact, helpful, even if it's noisy (and I strongly feel that it isn't). Chill. If you don't think people should trust doctors, feel free to say so in the thread.
Saying "you should go see a doctor, you shouldn't be asking us" is in all likelihood more about saying "see a doctor" than saying "don't ask us." I think that the phrase "you shouldn't be asking us" could easily be translated to "we're not experts, you shouldn't be taking our advice as expert advice, and you shouldn't use us as your only resource" without remotely marring the intentions of the answerer.
posted by shmegegge at 10:30 PM on February 5, 2006
it's called covering your bases. It's not in any way harmful. It is, in fact, helpful, even if it's noisy (and I strongly feel that it isn't). Chill. If you don't think people should trust doctors, feel free to say so in the thread.
Saying "you should go see a doctor, you shouldn't be asking us" is in all likelihood more about saying "see a doctor" than saying "don't ask us." I think that the phrase "you shouldn't be asking us" could easily be translated to "we're not experts, you shouldn't be taking our advice as expert advice, and you shouldn't use us as your only resource" without remotely marring the intentions of the answerer.
posted by shmegegge at 10:30 PM on February 5, 2006
A poorly answered medical question can be costly. Lots of times people answer questions they honestly don't know the answers to. A family member of mine had been sick, and when they looked up up symptoms online they thought they had cancer. Turns out it wasn't.
Anyway, my point is that medicine is best left to medical professionals. When someone asks for info supposedly supplementing doctor's advice, the best case scenario is that AskMe-ers will echo whatever the doctor said. Worst case is that some over-zealous AskMe-er will try to play doctor and fail, either giving bad advice/misdiagnosing the problem/screwing over the questioner. Just don't do it.
posted by apple scruff at 11:49 PM on February 5, 2006
Anyway, my point is that medicine is best left to medical professionals. When someone asks for info supposedly supplementing doctor's advice, the best case scenario is that AskMe-ers will echo whatever the doctor said. Worst case is that some over-zealous AskMe-er will try to play doctor and fail, either giving bad advice/misdiagnosing the problem/screwing over the questioner. Just don't do it.
posted by apple scruff at 11:49 PM on February 5, 2006
Currently, the self-confidence with which people answer AskMe questions seems to have more to do with their temperament than with their actual knowledge. That's fine for many topics, but it's potentially disastrous for medical and legal ones.
A sensible compromise between "Let's give equal weight to the opinion of anybody who knows how to type" and "Let's not permit questions that are the slightest bit important" might be:
If you are answering a question that requires special expertise (legal, medical, or other), with potentially disastrous results if your advice is bad, then be very, very explicit about how qualified (or unqualified) you are to answer. Then trust the asker to distinguish between answers that begin "I am a doctor specializing in exactly this condition" and "I am not a doctor, but once while I was drunk I read a forwarded e-mail about this condition."
posted by yankeefog at 2:33 AM on February 6, 2006
A sensible compromise between "Let's give equal weight to the opinion of anybody who knows how to type" and "Let's not permit questions that are the slightest bit important" might be:
If you are answering a question that requires special expertise (legal, medical, or other), with potentially disastrous results if your advice is bad, then be very, very explicit about how qualified (or unqualified) you are to answer. Then trust the asker to distinguish between answers that begin "I am a doctor specializing in exactly this condition" and "I am not a doctor, but once while I was drunk I read a forwarded e-mail about this condition."
posted by yankeefog at 2:33 AM on February 6, 2006
I feel there should be a disclaimer when you submit a question to Ask MeFi that if you have a Legal, Financial or Medical problem you should ALWAYS consult a professional.
posted by empath at 6:41 AM on February 6, 2006
posted by empath at 6:41 AM on February 6, 2006
The thing that's most douchbagy about the people who feel like they have to chant O NOES SEE A DOCTOR is that the person who goes into a doctor's appointment having done their research will almost always get better care than someone who hasn't.
Your doctor's job is to be knowledgable about a very broad topic and provide care to a large number of people every day. If you live in a fantasy land that I would love to find, s/he will spend a full 30 minutes in a day pondering your issue and giving it full attention. You, on the other hand, can give as much attention as you like to your own symptoms and conditions and nothing else.
To use the above example about tax advice, a wise person can use AskMe to help determine how to best prepare for that doctor's appointment just as they would prepare to see a tax professional with receipts and records. Coming in with pointed questions and supporting documents is not disrespectful or dismissive of their expertise, it's how you get the most out of it.
posted by phearlez at 8:58 AM on February 6, 2006
Your doctor's job is to be knowledgable about a very broad topic and provide care to a large number of people every day. If you live in a fantasy land that I would love to find, s/he will spend a full 30 minutes in a day pondering your issue and giving it full attention. You, on the other hand, can give as much attention as you like to your own symptoms and conditions and nothing else.
To use the above example about tax advice, a wise person can use AskMe to help determine how to best prepare for that doctor's appointment just as they would prepare to see a tax professional with receipts and records. Coming in with pointed questions and supporting documents is not disrespectful or dismissive of their expertise, it's how you get the most out of it.
posted by phearlez at 8:58 AM on February 6, 2006
holy christ, people. There's the very real threat of lawsuits if a community gives bad advice to someone with a legal/medical/psychological problem and no one says "see a professional."
There's just as likely to be a lawsuit due to all the pissing and moaning by wannabe lawyers being so annoying on MeTa.
posted by delmoi at 9:15 AM on February 6, 2006
There's just as likely to be a lawsuit due to all the pissing and moaning by wannabe lawyers being so annoying on MeTa.
posted by delmoi at 9:15 AM on February 6, 2006
I would recommend seeking a professional opinion. Oh, and stop picking at it, or it will never heal.
posted by blue_beetle at 9:22 AM on February 6, 2006
posted by blue_beetle at 9:22 AM on February 6, 2006
holy christ, people. There's the very real threat of lawsuits if a community gives bad advice to someone with a legal/medical/psychological problem and no one says "see a professional."
More serious answer: do you have any evidence that anything like that has ever happened in the history of the world?
Anyway, my point is that medicine is best left to medical professionals. When someone asks for info supposedly supplementing doctor's advice, the best case scenario is that AskMe-ers will echo whatever the doctor said.
Again with the cult of doctor infailability BS. The "best" case scenario is that Ask might give someone some information that leads them to seek another doctor, or ask their doctor about something else, or something and a medical error that might otherwise be costly is corrected. For some reason, some people believe that each and every doctor is error free. That's like being a little kid and thinking doctors never get sick (I remember asking about that as a very small child).
Doctors are mostly right, but that doesn’t mean that they are perfect, and it doesn’t mean that any and all advice from non-doctors can only detract from the perfict, ideal advice given by an 80 year old anesthesiologist who graduated at the bottom of his class at the Alabama segregated school for doctorin' in 1940, or whatever.
posted by delmoi at 9:24 AM on February 6, 2006
More serious answer: do you have any evidence that anything like that has ever happened in the history of the world?
Anyway, my point is that medicine is best left to medical professionals. When someone asks for info supposedly supplementing doctor's advice, the best case scenario is that AskMe-ers will echo whatever the doctor said.
Again with the cult of doctor infailability BS. The "best" case scenario is that Ask might give someone some information that leads them to seek another doctor, or ask their doctor about something else, or something and a medical error that might otherwise be costly is corrected. For some reason, some people believe that each and every doctor is error free. That's like being a little kid and thinking doctors never get sick (I remember asking about that as a very small child).
Doctors are mostly right, but that doesn’t mean that they are perfect, and it doesn’t mean that any and all advice from non-doctors can only detract from the perfict, ideal advice given by an 80 year old anesthesiologist who graduated at the bottom of his class at the Alabama segregated school for doctorin' in 1940, or whatever.
posted by delmoi at 9:24 AM on February 6, 2006
Btw, suggesting what is and is not a good idea if you want to avoid getting sued is something a lawyer might do, so in that sense, if you do it you're practicing law without a license. So someone could sue you for doing it.
Sure, they probably wouldn't but they still could. And it would cost you money.
I'm just saying.
posted by delmoi at 11:32 AM on February 6, 2006
Sure, they probably wouldn't but they still could. And it would cost you money.
I'm just saying.
posted by delmoi at 11:32 AM on February 6, 2006
do you have any evidence that anything like that has ever happened in the history of the world?
You mean besides decades of legal landmark cases where an establishment is sued for the first time on frivolous charges and loses? McDonald's, that high school where the kid sued after he broke his leg while trying to illegally break into the school, every other stupid bullshit legal case ever?
Are you actually advocating that we specifically never tell someone to consult a professional because you honestly believe that there is no chance of anyone suing mefi for any reason whatsoever?
Or here's a better question: do you have a point besides the wholly irrelevant "cult of doctor infallibility" one that you've been obnoxiously harping on in this thread?
See, it doesn't matter if doctor's are infallible or not. It matters that they're trained professionals, and the overwhelming majority of answer givers in these matters on AskMe are not. Like I said, most of the time cries of "don't ask us" are just another way of saying "ask a doctor." Everyone knows that someone, likely many people, will answer any medical question with advice. There's no need to remind people to ask mefi for advice since the question's already been asked and people are already answering. There is a need to remind people to consult a professional. Whether or not people think doctors are perfect has nothing to do with it. They don't have to be perfect. They just have to be better than ignorant. Bad things happen to people who see incompetent doctors sometimes, but there is no better solution to serious medical issues than seeing a trained professional. Hell, even the medical business has practices such as second opinions to try to cut down on the likelihood of malpractice.
posted by shmegegge at 12:08 PM on February 6, 2006
You mean besides decades of legal landmark cases where an establishment is sued for the first time on frivolous charges and loses? McDonald's, that high school where the kid sued after he broke his leg while trying to illegally break into the school, every other stupid bullshit legal case ever?
Are you actually advocating that we specifically never tell someone to consult a professional because you honestly believe that there is no chance of anyone suing mefi for any reason whatsoever?
Or here's a better question: do you have a point besides the wholly irrelevant "cult of doctor infallibility" one that you've been obnoxiously harping on in this thread?
See, it doesn't matter if doctor's are infallible or not. It matters that they're trained professionals, and the overwhelming majority of answer givers in these matters on AskMe are not. Like I said, most of the time cries of "don't ask us" are just another way of saying "ask a doctor." Everyone knows that someone, likely many people, will answer any medical question with advice. There's no need to remind people to ask mefi for advice since the question's already been asked and people are already answering. There is a need to remind people to consult a professional. Whether or not people think doctors are perfect has nothing to do with it. They don't have to be perfect. They just have to be better than ignorant. Bad things happen to people who see incompetent doctors sometimes, but there is no better solution to serious medical issues than seeing a trained professional. Hell, even the medical business has practices such as second opinions to try to cut down on the likelihood of malpractice.
posted by shmegegge at 12:08 PM on February 6, 2006
Again with the cult of doctor infailability BS.
Doctors aren't infalliable, delmoi, and you may not realize this, but you're one of the worst offenders in health AskMe questions giving incorrect medical information.
posted by gramcracker at 4:03 PM on February 6, 2006
Doctors aren't infalliable, delmoi, and you may not realize this, but you're one of the worst offenders in health AskMe questions giving incorrect medical information.
posted by gramcracker at 4:03 PM on February 6, 2006
Doctors don't have perfect medical knowledge. Mefites don't have perfect medical knowledge. I would, however, be surprised if doctors, on the whole, didn't have better medical knowledge then Mefites, on the whole.
posted by Bugbread at 7:17 PM on February 6, 2006
posted by Bugbread at 7:17 PM on February 6, 2006
You mean besides decades of legal landmark cases where an establishment is sued for the first time on frivolous charges and loses? McDonald's, that high school where the kid sued after he broke his leg while trying to illegally break into the school, every other stupid bullshit legal case ever?
Yes, besides cases that specifically have nothing to do with giving bad advice over the internet.
Just because you think it's stupid to sue if you injure yourself breaking into something, and because you think it's stupid to sue a girl for not sleeping with you, does not automatically mean that people sue girls for not fucking them. I mean you're saying because A is stupid, and A is true, for All Bs that you can imagine in your paranoid dreams, if is stupid, it is as true in the real world as A.
I mean have you ever taken even a basic class in logic? Do you know anything about tort law beyond reading the oddly enough section of Reuters and fark.com?
Are you actually advocating that we specifically never tell someone to consult a professional...
Can you point out to me where I said that?
because you honestly believe that there is no chance of anyone suing mefi for any reason whatsoever?
I don't think the chance, X of anyone suing mefi and not having the case dismissed immediately for bad advice medical advice on AskMe, any greater then the chance Y of someone suing matt over being flamed in a thread (something that's actually happened in the real world, not just your head) or just being offended by some thread in the blue, or what. In other words, it doesn't rase the probability of being sued per comment or per thread above what it already is, and is an acceptable risk that matt has chosen to take. Matt has a real lawyer and he's probably asked him about it, since it comes up in the threads so much.
For someone who hates with such a passion uncertified advice, you sure do seem to love giving it too.
Or here's a better question: do you have a point besides the wholly irrelevant "cult of doctor infallibility" one that you've been obnoxiously harping on in this thread?
Yes, my point is that telling someone they should not ask a question or that a question should not be on askme is wrong. I think I was very clear about that. That’s why I said this in my first comment
I do think that telling someone, repeatedly that they need to seek professional advice when they've stated specifically that they already have betrays a serious lack of reading comprehension.
Doctors aren't infalliable, delmoi, and you may not realize this, but you're one of the worst offenders in health AskMe questions giving incorrect medical information.
I don't think I've given very much medical advice, although I would be curious to see exactly what it is you're talking about.
Doctors don't have perfect medical knowledge. Mefites don't have perfect medical knowledge. I would, however, be surprised if doctors, on the whole, didn't have better medical knowledge then Mefites, on the whole.
Sure, but that doesn't mean that medical questions should not be asked at all.
posted by delmoi at 9:05 PM on February 6, 2006
Yes, besides cases that specifically have nothing to do with giving bad advice over the internet.
Just because you think it's stupid to sue if you injure yourself breaking into something, and because you think it's stupid to sue a girl for not sleeping with you, does not automatically mean that people sue girls for not fucking them. I mean you're saying because A is stupid, and A is true, for All Bs that you can imagine in your paranoid dreams, if is stupid, it is as true in the real world as A.
I mean have you ever taken even a basic class in logic? Do you know anything about tort law beyond reading the oddly enough section of Reuters and fark.com?
Are you actually advocating that we specifically never tell someone to consult a professional...
Can you point out to me where I said that?
because you honestly believe that there is no chance of anyone suing mefi for any reason whatsoever?
I don't think the chance, X of anyone suing mefi and not having the case dismissed immediately for bad advice medical advice on AskMe, any greater then the chance Y of someone suing matt over being flamed in a thread (something that's actually happened in the real world, not just your head) or just being offended by some thread in the blue, or what. In other words, it doesn't rase the probability of being sued per comment or per thread above what it already is, and is an acceptable risk that matt has chosen to take. Matt has a real lawyer and he's probably asked him about it, since it comes up in the threads so much.
For someone who hates with such a passion uncertified advice, you sure do seem to love giving it too.
Or here's a better question: do you have a point besides the wholly irrelevant "cult of doctor infallibility" one that you've been obnoxiously harping on in this thread?
Yes, my point is that telling someone they should not ask a question or that a question should not be on askme is wrong. I think I was very clear about that. That’s why I said this in my first comment
The idea that asking a question here can only be damaging may be incorrect. You don't know for sure, and you never will. Some doctors suck, and may, in fact, give worse advice them askme. It's up to the poster to evaluate her sources of information, and make a decision, not your job to keep her away from information you think might be harmful.And then later
Again with the cult of doctor infailability BS. The "best" case scenario is that Ask might give someone some information that leads them to seek another doctor, or ask their doctor about something else, or something and a medical error that might otherwise be costly is corrected.I don't think that's too ambiguous, I believe that outside advice can help someone get the most out of their doctors visit, and I think telling someone not to ask questions could be harmful and worse: it's stupid and annoying.
I do think that telling someone, repeatedly that they need to seek professional advice when they've stated specifically that they already have betrays a serious lack of reading comprehension.
Doctors aren't infalliable, delmoi, and you may not realize this, but you're one of the worst offenders in health AskMe questions giving incorrect medical information.
I don't think I've given very much medical advice, although I would be curious to see exactly what it is you're talking about.
Doctors don't have perfect medical knowledge. Mefites don't have perfect medical knowledge. I would, however, be surprised if doctors, on the whole, didn't have better medical knowledge then Mefites, on the whole.
Sure, but that doesn't mean that medical questions should not be asked at all.
posted by delmoi at 9:05 PM on February 6, 2006
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posted by mischief at 1:33 PM on February 5, 2006