I promise not to debate you…

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What logic is that?
More access to calorie dense food and a sedentary lifestyle has lead to obesity?
In comparison to what?
More access to guns in the last 50 years has led to more gun crime and mass shootings?

You are dumb and you will stay dumb till the day you die.
Call up your hillbillie buddies Billy Bob, then go hunting and killing animals that can’t shoot back for sport, go shooting at each other, keep pointing out that some people, even children have to be sacrificed in order for you to have access to your precious weapons and second amendment rights and keep it moving. Ignore me like I am trying to ignore your very stupid behind.
I will no longer partake as I have said. And I am not the only one. Plenty of people are realizing that this country has way too many issues including and especially easy access to guns.

Wow. Tell me how you really feel…

The logic of personal responsibility for your actions and that actions have consequences. You so quickly dismiss people that are obese and need joint replacements by saying they simply need to eat better, to “get educated and change their lifestyle.” Yet if I say to those women who ‘need’ elective abortions, you simply need to stop having sex if you can’t deal with the natural outcome of sex, you’d roast me for it. At least a lot of obese people have the ‘defense’ of it being too expensive to eat healthy. No such excuse for getting pregnant.
 
Give me a break. Obesity is a construct of our eating habits. Why were we not as obese as we are now 50 years ago. Sure your parents influence your eating decisions as a child. As an adult yiu can choose to get educated and change your lifestyle.
Or keep complaining and blame everyone else but yourself as you stuff your
Face full of Pizza, and French fries and beer and blame your parents for bad genes.
Very American. Blame everyone but yourself. Tell me why they aren’t that obese in the Mediterranean. Or in Africa.
Whatever dude. You gets no love. Keep the blame alive.
Another reason to leave this country.
My response to you hardly warranted such vitriol. You seem to get angry and name call very easily as you interact with anyone who may share a differing opinion.
Someone pointed out that an elective total knee replacement in a european country can take up to 6 years or more due to limited resources. You downplay it and say, just stay active and avoid obesity. We do plenty of total joint replacements on non-obese patients, so I don't find your solution to the problem to be the panacea that you seem to think it is. Your solution seems to limited health care resources in this instance seems to be "just stay healthy and it's no problem." In addition, to deny the role of genetics in the health of the offspring (yes, even obesity) seems a bit insensitive. Perhaps you have been blessed with good genetics and healthy beautiful parents. I see patients every day who were not and they have struggled with health issues their entire life. Some self inflicted, but others related to poor genetics and upbringing. I do my best to treat them with compassion and encouragement. As you age and become a consumer of health resources, you may have the misfortune to experience an illness that causes you to rethink your stance.
 
My response to you hardly warranted such vitriol. You seem to get angry and name call very easily as you interact with anyone who may share a differing opinion.

I really do feel bad for those who get so easily angry at others who hold different views than themselves, as well as those who seem to hate the country/people they live in/with. Seems like a sad place for someone to be mentally and emotionally. I hope her change of scenery leads to a change of outlook on life and others.
 
My response to you hardly warranted such vitriol. You seem to get angry and name call very easily as you interact with anyone who may share a differing opinion.
Someone pointed out that an elective total knee replacement in a european country can take up to 6 years or more due to limited resources. You downplay it and say, just stay active and avoid obesity. We do plenty of total joint replacements on non-obese patients, so I don't find your solution to the problem to be the panacea that you seem to think it is. Your solution seems to limited health care resources in this instance seems to be "just stay healthy and it's no problem." In addition, to deny the role of genetics in the health of the offspring (yes, even obesity) seems a bit insensitive. Perhaps you have been blessed with good genetics and healthy beautiful parents. I see patients every day who were not and they have struggled with health issues their entire life. Some self inflicted, but others related to poor genetics and upbringing. I do my best to treat them with compassion and encouragement. As you age and become a consumer of health resources, you may have the misfortune to experience an illness that causes you to rethink your stance.
I am specifically speaking of obesity of which we make all kinds of excuses for.

And when I say you, I don’t mean you specifically @Gern Blansten directly I mean the American mentality of never taking responsibility and blaming everyone else. Which is the reason that malpractice is ridiculous in some states and capped in others. The American view is that someone else is to blame and if there is a bad outcome it’s someone else’s fault and they have to pay. You can change so many things for yourself as an adult. The internet is at your fingertips especially if you are of moderate means. You can learn to cook. You can learn about healthy diets. And quite frankly, junk food is more expensive than healthy food when you cook at home. Maybe not at restaurants.
I come from a third world country and I have never seen an old person get a knee replacement. Sure they have arthritis and some pain but they still get up and walk daily with with their canes. I am speaking of people in their eighties here. American mentality is all about there can never be any pain, any stress and there are drugs and surgeries to fix all that. Bad mentality.
Life has some bumps and pains in its journey.
What’s the percentage of obese patients you take for knee replacement versus thin patients? Let’s be real and honest here.
Ever wonder why they aren’t prescribing narcotics for appys and choles and taking patients to the OR for warts and moles overseas? Even in other first world countries?
Why do I have patients smoking and having MIs and crying about it? It’s a choice.
There is a very entitled mentality in this country.
So again, please tell me how obesity is not our own construct as life has become “easier” and more “convenient”
I am listening.
 
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Wow. Tell me how you really feel…

The logic of personal responsibility for your actions and that actions have consequences. You so quickly dismiss people that are obese and need joint replacements by saying they simply need to eat better, to “get educated and change their lifestyle.” Yet if I say to those women who ‘need’ elective abortions, you simply need to stop having sex if you can’t deal with the natural outcome of sex, you’d roast me for it. At least a lot of obese people have the ‘defense’ of it being too expensive to eat healthy. No such excuse for getting pregnant.
Who the hell are these women getting pregnant by? Dildos?
How about y’all men need to stop having sex with people with uteruses?
Oh I am sorry. Do you men take absolutely no responsibility for producing sperm?

Again, you are dumb and will remain dumb forever.
Don’t come at me with that BS of you feel sorry for me to try and elicit some likes from others on here.
I don’t care what you feel about me. Save your fake empathy and mind games. As I don’t care about people like your kind who don’t give a **** that people are getting murdered needlessly by others with easy access to guns.
 
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I am specifically speaking of obesity of which we make all kinds of excuses for.

And when I say you, I don’t mean you specifically @Gern Blansten directly I mean the American mentality of never taking responsibility and blaming everyone else. Which is the reason that malpractice is ridiculous in some states and capped in others. The American view is that someone else is to blame and if there is a bad outcome it’s someone else’s fault and they have to pay. You can change so many things for yourself as an adult. The internet is at your fingertips especially if you are of moderate means. You can learn to cook. You can learn about healthy diets. And quite frankly, junk food is more expensive than healthy food when you cook at home. Maybe not at restaurants.
I come from a third world country and I have never seen an old person get a knee replacement. Sure they have arthritis and some pain but they still get up and walk daily with with their canes. I am speaking of people in their eighties here. American mentality is all about there can never be any pain, any stress and there are drugs and surgeries to fix all that. Bad mentality.
Life has some bumps and pains in its journey.
What’s the percentage of obese patients you take for knee replacement versus thin patients? Let’s be real and honest here.
Ever wonder why they aren’t prescribing narcotics for appys and choles and taking patients to the OR for warts and moles overseas? Even in other first world countries?
Why do I have patients smoking and having MIs and crying about it? It’s a choice.
There is a very entitled mentality in this country.
So again, please tell me how obesity is not our own construct as life has become “easier” and more “convenient”
I am listening.

Wow, again. I agree with all of this
 
Who the hell are these women getting pregnant by? Dildos?
How about y’all men need to stop having sex with people with uteruses?
Oh I am sorry. Do you men take absolutely no responsibility for producing sperm?

Sex is obviously a joint venture with shared responsibility. Does the fact that a man has responsibility too remove the burden of responsibility from the woman? And I use ‘woman’ because I assume that’s who you are referring to when you mention people with uteruses, yes?

If I give my car keys to a drunk person who crashes it, am I not responsible?
 
Most people are having sex most of the time for fun and not to procreate. Sometimes birth control fails or is not used in the heat of the moment. If you end up pregnant as a result and you don’t want a kid, abortion IS taking personal responsibility.

In the same way, I suppose, that getting a knee replacement is taking responsibility for being overweight.

It’s not the same way as Choco was referring to people taking responsibility and making healthy choices to prevent the need for joint replacements 2/2 obesity. The equivalent with pregnancy would be to make responsible choices and avoid getting pregnant if you don’t want a child.

On a side note, is “safe, legal, and rare” just a dead democrat talking point? Or do any of you pro-choice people believe in that at all?
 
In the same way, I suppose, that getting a knee replacement is taking responsibility for being overweight.

It’s not the same way as Choco was referring to people taking responsibility and making healthy choices to prevent the need for joint replacements 2/2 obesity. The equivalent with pregnancy would be to make responsible choices and avoid getting pregnant if you don’t want a child.

On a side note, is “safe, legal, and rare” just a dead democrat talking point? Or do any of you pro-choice people believe in that at all?


I personally don’t care how many abortions there are. Not my body, not my business. I don’t want a bunch of people who are incapable of taking care of kids to be forced to have kids.

I also love doing anesthesia for knee replacements. Easy, well reimbursed cases. 2 blocks+2 ultrasounds, bring it!! I’m very pro-TKR. If they banned knee replacements I would be very sad.
 
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I think this is you escaping the argument . Sorry I hurt your feelings .
What exactly did you find insulting ? Do you think your post is insulting ?

I think when you are confronted with the truth about your gun obsession you get defensive and cry foul ..

So far we have had blade not wanting to compromise his magazine size because it takes too long to change at the shooting range .

And now we have you who is against any red flag laws because you may have to wait 6-10 months to get a gun.

I’m saying that neither of those things are a reasonable compromise and show exactly the alternate universe where you live .

I’m sorry you find it a personal attack. It’s not. It’s an argument and I don’t see any attempt at you arguing anything meaningful.

I’m glad you are getting off on the likes from your brethren.

Guns mean something important to you. To your identity. That is why it’s so personal to you. And that’s why you lash out. I would reflect on that.

Peace man. I don’t mean to insult you. Sometimes it’s upsetting when something is revealed to you that you don’t like and can’t accept.
No, you were being a jerk. At least that was my opinion.

Now don't get me wrong, after Texas I am fully behind severe restrictions on guns. No magazines over 10 rounds, outright banning of any future sales of Ar-15s or similar. Under 21 can't purchase semi-automatic anything. Penalties for parents who ignore what their children are doing. And so on.

So its not like I'm blindly agreeing with pgg here. But your post was clearly mocking a legitimate complaint he had against a certain state's laws on guns and his personal views on guns.

This kind of interaction with law abiding gun owners is part of the problem. After this, what possible incentive does he have to even attempt to compromise with you?
 
No, you were being a jerk. At least that was my opinion.

Now don't get me wrong, after Texas I am fully behind severe restrictions on guns. No magazines over 10 rounds, outright banning of any future sales of Ar-15s or similar. Under 21 can't purchase semi-automatic anything. Penalties for parents who ignore what their children are doing. And so on.

So its not like I'm blindly agreeing with pgg here. But your post was clearly mocking a legitimate complaint he had against a certain state's laws on guns and his personal views on guns.

This kind of interaction with law abiding gun owners is part of the problem. After this, what possible incentive does he have to even attempt to compromise with you?
I am curious to ask why you are now on board after Texas. Why not After any of the other ones before? Why not after Columbine?
Honestly curious as to why now you are starting to change your mind.
 
I am curious to ask why you are now on board after Texas. Why not After any of the other ones before? Why not after Columbine?
Honestly curious as to why now you are starting to change your mind.
Well I was 15 when Columbine happened...

Everyone has their breaking point I guess. I can't point to a concrete "this is what changed my mind".
 
yeah im allowed to disagree and mock an opinion that i dont agree with..thats what we do here.

there was an initial comment that i was "hardwired" to not like guns, i thought that was offensive and that was not a stone thrown by me.

Imagine it is 50-100 years in the future. This issue is settled. There are the same gun laws as other countries, and mass shootings stop. That WILL happen.

Now imagine you look back at a message board from 50-100 years ago and one guy is yelling at another guy who is purporting no gun restrictions in the face of uncontrolled mass shootings of children in his country, mocking his opinion... whos the jerk?

do you think those who were upset and angry during the civil rights movement were jerks? you guys are going to be on the wrong side of history.. out.

Now don't get me wrong, after Texas I am fully behind severe restrictions on guns. No magazines over 10 rounds, outright banning of any future sales of Ar-15s or similar. Under 21 can't purchase semi-automatic anything. Penalties for parents who ignore what their children are doing. And so on.

So its not like I'm blindly agreeing with pgg here. But your post was clearly mocking a legitimate complaint he had against a certain state's laws on guns and his personal views on guns.

This kind of interaction with law abiding gun owners is part of the problem. After this, what possible incentive does he have to even attempt to compromise with you?
 
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yeah im allowed to disagree and mock an opinion that i dont agree with..thats what we do here.

there was an initial comment that i was "hardwired" to not like guns, i thought that was offensive and that was not a stone thrown by me.

Imagine it is 50 years in the future. This issue is settled. There are the same gun laws as other countries, and mass shootings stop. That WILL happen.

Now imagine you look back at a message board from 50 years ago and one guy is yelling at another guy who is purporting no gun restrictions in the face of uncontrolled mass shootings of children in his country... whos the jerk?
Probably still you. Agree with him or not, pgg makes his points in a calm and rational manner, typically without demeaning or name calling. He backs up his points with the reasons he believes them. You don’t really do any of those things.
 
Probably still you. Agree with him or not, pgg makes his points in a calm and rational manner, typically without demeaning or name calling. He backs up his points with the reasons he believes them. You don’t really do any of those things.
maybe its your "reading comprehension" as well.. im not sure what you found so offensive or hard to understand about my post. i think you just dont like the ideas. i dont think its reasonable to not have any red flag laws because i dont want to wait 6-10 months. im sorry you find that so personally offensive
 
yeah im allowed to disagree and mock an opinion that i dont agree with..thats what we do here.

there was an initial comment that i was "hardwired" to not like guns, i thought that was offensive and that was not a stone thrown by me.

Imagine it is 50-100 years in the future. This issue is settled. There are the same gun laws as other countries, and mass shootings stop. That WILL happen.

Now imagine you look back at a message board from 50-100 years ago and one guy is yelling at another guy who is purporting no gun restrictions in the face of uncontrolled mass shootings of children in his country, mocking his opinion... whos the jerk?

do you think those who were upset and angry during the civil rights movement were jerks? you guys are going to be on the wrong side of history.. out.
You guys? Did you not read the part where I want significant restrictions on guns?

I also didn't say you can't say whatever you want, as long as it doesn't violate the TOS and your post clearly didn't. But even you admit to mocking an opinion, and in my mind that makes you a jerk. That's my post distilled down.
 
Hell, all the more reason to freak out as this happened to kids your age.
Well I hope more gun lovers are starting to change their minds.
Columbine was the first major school shooting so while it was horrible the feeling I remember at the time was basically "man those kids were messed up", not really a concern about this being a regular thing.

I wouldn't call myself a gun lover (I hunt but that's all I do with guns), the people that are aren't likely to have big changes of heart anytime soon.
 
Probably still you. Agree with him or not, pgg makes his points in a calm and rational manner, typically without demeaning or name calling. He backs up his points with the reasons he believes them. You don’t really do any of those things.
Ok, disagree with you here. Dude can def be a jerk, extremely demeaning, disrespectful, rude, condescending, down right nasty and irrational, but please, carry on.
 
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Probably still you. Agree with him or not, pgg makes his points in a calm and rational manner, typically without demeaning or name calling. He backs up his points with the reasons he believes them. You don’t really do any of those things.
Typically, yeah. Just don't use the word "bed." 😛
 
maybe its your "reading comprehension" as well.. im not sure what you found so offensive or hard to understand about my post. i think you just dont like the ideas. i dont think its reasonable to not have any red flag laws because i dont want to wait 6-10 months. im sorry you find that so personally offensive

well the title of this thread was about not debating. 🤷‍♂️
 
Give me a break. Obesity is a construct of our eating habits. Why were we not as obese as we are now 50 years ago. Sure your parents influence your eating decisions as a child. As an adult yiu can choose to get educated and change your lifestyle.
Or keep complaining and blame everyone else but yourself as you stuff your
Face full of Pizza, and French fries and beer and blame your parents for bad genes.
Very American. Blame everyone but yourself. Tell me why they aren’t that obese in the Mediterranean. Or in Africa.
Whatever dude. You gets no love. Keep the blame alive.
Another reason to leave this country.
Just had a long talk with a friend who does several trips a year of mission work in some of the most impoverished countries in Africa. Guess what surgeries he said they’re doing while they are there.
Total knee replacements. About twenty of them over several days with every trip.
I thought that was pretty cool.
 
Just had a long talk with a friend who does several trips a year of mission work in some of the most impoverished countries in Africa. Guess what surgeries he said they’re doing while they are there.
Total knee replacements. About twenty of them over several days with every trip.
I thought that was pretty cool.
And guess what? They aren’t as necessary as they are over here.
Pretty simple. Extra weight leads to increased pressure on the supporting joints.
I would guess you as a doctor should already know.
Stop being petty. Maybe you are obese and with bad knees and looking for excuses at your younger age.
Good luck on your knee replacement.
My suggestion, stop stuffing your face with junk. Try some veggies. Do some exercise.
 
And guess what? They aren’t as necessary as they are over here.
Pretty simple. Extra weight leads to increased pressure on the supporting joints.
I would guess you as a doctor should already know.
Stop being petty. Maybe you are obese and with bad knees and looking for excuses at your younger age.
Good luck on your knee replacement.
My suggestion, stop stuffing your face with junk. Try some veggies. Do some exercise.
As stated previously, you seem to be generally angry. You stated that knee replacements weren’t needed in Africa. I found out today that they actually are done quite often. That made you angry?
Now you’re calling me fat and telling me to stop stuffing my face? You don’t know me, but if I did have a weight problem, I would hope that I have a physician that could exhibit some degree of empathy as opposed to the disdain that you have exhibited.
It seems that if someone presents ideas that contradict yours, you go straight to anger and name calling and hateful comments. I can see why you want to leave the US. I’m not sure that you will find people in Europe any easier to get along with if you arrive there with the same tendencies. If I were a gambler, I would put money on it that you will not leave the US. We’ve all heard the empty celebrity threats that they will leave the US if candidate xyz gets elected. They never do. I suspect that will be what happens with you.
At some point, maybe the reason you don’t get along may be that you don’t treat people very well. All I have done is present an alternate point of view on a few topics and you have now lashed out at me on multiple posts.
I don’t understand your unprovoked vitriol.
 

I can’t wait until the NRA backs up my lawsuit that will allow me to carry “Kung Fu stars” in NYC. I’ll finally be able to be a real TMNT again.
1657544989992.gif

Be careful!
 
As stated previously, you seem to be generally angry. You stated that knee replacements weren’t needed in Africa. I found out today that they actually are done quite often. That made you angry?
Now you’re calling me fat and telling me to stop stuffing my face? You don’t know me, but if I did have a weight problem, I would hope that I have a physician that could exhibit some degree of empathy as opposed to the disdain that you have exhibited.
It seems that if someone presents ideas that contradict yours, you go straight to anger and name calling and hateful comments. I can see why you want to leave the US. I’m not sure that you will find people in Europe any easier to get along with if you arrive there with the same tendencies. If I were a gambler, I would put money on it that you will not leave the US. We’ve all heard the empty celebrity threats that they will leave the US if candidate xyz gets elected. They never do. I suspect that will be what happens with you.
At some point, maybe the reason you don’t get along may be that you don’t treat people very well. All I have done is present an alternate point of view on a few topics and you have now lashed out at me on multiple posts.
I don’t understand your unprovoked vitriol.
Please. Just cuz you see an online persona does not mean you know anything about me in real life. I don’t know you and can’t stand you but have no clue what you are like in real life.
Guess what, there are plenty of people around me who I get along with in real life. Not trolls online. I have a very good friend on this board in real life. Online is where people air out their frustrations in case you didn’t know. I don’t have to be constantly nice on here and kiss anyones behind and it’s quite lovely. The people that I see not treating people well, tend to be in my experience, male physicians with big egos. Especially ones who wield knives. People tell me I am too nice at work, so honey get a grip.

You know nothing about me except an online persona.

And no I have no empathy for people who stuff their damn faces too much and want a pill to fix their problems without even trying to change their diet or move. But I can fake some empathy since it’s what I am Supposed to do as a physician. What can I say, the obesity in this country absolutely disgusts me. Buffets disgust me. Gluttony and laziness disgust me. The lack of personal responsibility in this country disgusts me.

I also have no understanding for people who love guns more than other humans. In other words, I can’t stand you, or your gun loving ilk.

And yeah darling I am out this joint.

Unprovoked vitriol? Hahaha. Welcome to the online world.

How many people do you know in my life that I don’t get along with?
 
Please. Just cuz you see an online persona does not mean you know anything about me in real life. I don’t know you and can’t stand you but have no clue what you are like in real life.
Guess what, there are plenty of people around me who I get along with in real life. Not trolls online. I have a very good friend on this board in real life. Online is where people air out their frustrations in case you didn’t know. I don’t have to be constantly nice on here and kiss anyones behind and it’s quite lovely. The people that I see not treating people well, tend to be in my experience, male physicians with big egos. Especially ones who wield knives. People tell me I am too nice at work, so honey get a grip.

You know nothing about me except an online persona.

And no I have no empathy for people who stuff their damn faces too much and want a pill to fix their problems without even trying to change their diet or move. But I can fake some empathy since it’s what I am Supposed to do as a physician. What can I say, the obesity in this country absolutely disgusts me. Buffets disgust me. Gluttony and laziness disgust me. The lack of personal responsibility in this country disgusts me.

I also have no understanding for people who love guns more than other humans. In other words, I can’t stand you, or your gun loving ilk.

And yeah darling I am out this joint.

Unprovoked vitriol? Hahaha. Welcome to the online world.

How many people do you know in my life that I don’t get along with?
Fair enough. Thanks for the response. I am sorry that you can't stand me, but the reasons are misplaced. I do not nor have I ever owned a gun and my BMI suggests that I am not obese, though I could definitely stand to exercise a bit more. The last buffet I went to was probably over a decade ago because they are not cost effective for me, since I tend to get full pretty quick.
There are likely other reasons to pick from.
 
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Fair enough. Thanks for the response. I am sorry that you can't stand me, but the reasons are misplaced. I do not nor have I ever owned a gun and my BMI suggests that I am not obese, though I could definitely stand to exercise a bit more. The last buffet I went to was probably over a decade ago because they are not cost effective for me, since I tend to get full pretty quick.
There are likely other reasons to pick from.
I am sorry, have you not been posting on here that you don’t believe any research exists where restrictions on gun ownership do anything for all these needless murders? Therefore you think restrictions are unwarranted? And responsible gun ownership is a necessity. And people should own high capacity rifles?
Am I mistaking you for someone else? If so, then my apologies.

And I am speaking the obese ones who get so big that they end up with all kinds of ailments they want a pill for, many who end up having difficult moving and taking care of themselves etc. BMI greater than 35 people. Yeah, they absolutely gross me out and we all know why a vast majority are that way. If you are not one then that’s great for you. Yeah, that part was just frustration directed at you because you seemed to be making excuses for people and blaming genes and parents and not acknowledging the fact that obesity leads to bad OA requiring way more TKRs than there would be necessary, period. When as physicians we know the facts and know that a smaller frame is going to diminish that likelihood. And that also waiting on a TKR for a few months to a year isn’t gonna kill you.
 
I am sorry, have you not been posting on here that you don’t believe any research exists where restrictions on gun ownership do anything for all these needless murders? Therefore you think restrictions are unwarranted? And responsible gun ownership is a necessity. And people should own high capacity rifles?
Am I mistaking you for someone else? If so, then my apologies.

And I am speaking the obese ones who get so big that they end up with all kinds of ailments they want a pill for, many who end up having difficult moving and taking care of themselves etc. BMI greater than 35 people. Yeah, they absolutely gross me out and we all know why a vast majority are that way. If you are not one then that’s great for you. Yeah, that part was just frustration directed at you because you seemed to be making excuses for people and blaming genes and parents and not acknowledging the fact that obesity leads to bad OA requiring way more TKRs than there would be necessary, period. When as physicians we know the facts and know that a smaller frame is going to diminish that likelihood. And that also waiting on a TKR for a few months to a year isn’t gonna kill you.
I don't recall posting any items on gun research, but my memory may be slipping. I have always stated that I am in the middle ground on gun restrictions because I think it is a very slippery slope and giving government complete control to disarm the public seems like a terrible idea in the long term with lots of unintended consequences. I, however, am okay with instituting some reasonable safeguards and restrictions. I think the red flag laws proposed are destined to be problematic because I have a general distrust of the government to enact those in a fair and just way, depending on which party has the upper hand at any given point in time.

If I had a trust that the safeguards would be enacted in a fair and just way and not used as a political tool to suppress the politician's political enemies, I would be all for lots of safeguards. I think the best description I would give for myself is that I am a skeptic. I am skeptical of how they would be enforced; I am skeptical that they would be effective in achieving the intended goal (criminals will still get the guns and won't follow the rules enacted); and I am skeptical of the political goals of those who wish to enact these rules. I have defended pgg's position because he presents many of the same concerns that I have, despite me being a non gun owner. I just feel like it will be as effective as the prohibition of alcohol was. I am not pro gun, but I just don't see the proposed actions achieving what some think that they will. I don't have the answer, but I do see significant problems in the proposed solutions of some of our political leaders (especially when they have limited knowledge of some of the basics of guns-similar to myself).

With regards to obesity, they are not my favorites either. So many issues that have to be dealt with. As you said, it is mostly self-inflicted. I don't generally get angry with them though. I look at them with pity and wonder how it got as bad as it did. There are so many influences in life that lead to that situation including early and late childhood influences that are hard to break and lots of psych issues. So, my approach is more of a, there but for the grace of God, go I. Had I been born into a family that struggled with these issues, it could have been me. In my opinion, it cannot be denied that the obesity issue spans generations. Breaking that cycle as a young adult must be sooo difficult and we see that many simply choose not to. Those are the feelings that I have towards them and why I choose empathy. It is not that I endorse it, but, in my brief encounter, if I can offer some empathy and kindness, it is very easy for me to muster that up, because I really do feel sorry for those in that situation. Probably more than you wanted to hear, but that is my approach. I feel that I am able to be happier that way anyway. No sense, in my mind, in having anger at someone when I cannot change their situation. Now, if I was their primary care physician and had a chance to truly impact change over the long term, I would sure do that. In the periop time period of my influence, I feel that kindness is what they need the most at that point in time.

Cheers!
 
I think the best description I would give for myself is that I am a skeptic. I am skeptical of how they would be enforced; I am skeptical that they would be effective in achieving the intended goal (criminals will still get the guns and won't follow the rules enacted); and I am skeptical of the political goals of those who wish to enact these rules

I am a skeptic too but changes need to be made as gun massacres have been normalized stateside. If you fear gun legislation then you should fear all legislation as they are inevitably tainted by secondary gain by its politicians. Also why do we think this is a slippery slope when we literally rolled back the AR ban some time ago?
 
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Do you think we need a nationwide AR style rifle ban, or only in certain areas? Should the person living on a remote plot of land in rural Wyoming or Montana or Mississippi who may be 45min-1hr from any police response, and who may be at risk from bears, mountain lions, etc be able to own a more powerful rifle, or should they be limited to handguns?
 
I think this mythical farmer under constant attack by bears needs more than an AR. They need an RPG. And this epidemic of bears and mountain lions is clearly due to Biden. Let’s go Biden!

Do you think we need a nationwide AR style rifle ban, or only in certain areas? Should the person living on a remote plot of land in rural Wyoming or Montana or Mississippi who may be 45min-1hr from any police response, and who may be at risk from bears, mountain lions, etc be able to own a more powerful rifle, or should they be limited to handguns?
 
I think this mythical farmer under constant attack by bears needs more than an AR. They need an RPG. And this epidemic of bears and mountain lions is clearly due to Biden. Let’s go Biden!

You can mock if you like I suppose, but it’s hard to argue that someone living in the boonies doesn’t have different challenges when it come to self protection than does someone living in a metropolitan area. Lots of people rely on security systems and rapid police response in the event of an intruder or other threat. Some people don’t have that option due to geographical location. But again, if you wanna mock instead of giving a legit answer, that’s your call.
 
If 20 people die from a mass shooting in the city, you would say that’s an acceptable loss because the one rural farmer that was attacked by a bear in a 10 year time frame was able to protect himself with an AR that he probably not own anyways.

I didn’t say anything like that, I just asked if you thought gun laws should be universal nationwide, or if there could be distinctions between different situations.
 
My opinion is that kids dying en masse in the American school system is an international embarrassment and should be considered never events. Following this sequence, it’s shocking that we as a nation haven’t gone in mourning and instituted some proper restrictive measures. It’s like we’re paralyzed into inaction by some inane fear of the unknown that makes us repeat the same hell over and over. My guess is that most world governments if faced with this issue would have at least tightened restrictions and then slowly loosened them as soon as they could effective vet gun buyers.

I didn’t say anything like that, I just asked if you thought gun laws should be universal nationwide, or if there could be distinctions between different situations.
 
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My opinion is that kids dying en masse in the American school system is an international embarrassment and should be considered never events. Following this sequence, it’s shocking that we as a nation haven’t gone in mourning and instituted some proper restrictive measures. It’s like we’re paralyzed into inaction by some inane fear of the unknown that makes us repeat the same hell over and over. My guess is that most world governments if faced with this issue would have at least tightened restrictions and then slowly loosened them as soon as they could effective vet gun buyers.

What restrictions would’ve prevented this latest mass shooting? And what steps would you take to appropriately ‘vet’ a gun buyer that aren’t already currently done?
 
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There were three separate mass shootings in South Africa taverns over the weekend killing around 25 or more people and injuring many more. Two weeks prior to that, 21 young people died in mysterious circumstances (not sure what that means? Poisoning?) at a tavern in South Africa. Is this issue spreading to other countries?
 
Restrict sales of AR15 guns. Get rid of high capacity rounds.

The AR15 looks intimidating, but it is the whole category of semi-automatic rifles (and easy conversion to full automatic) that is the problem.
agree that hi-cap magazines are an issue. why would anyone need so much firepower
 
There were three separate mass shootings in South Africa taverns over the weekend killing around 25 or more people and injuring many more. Two weeks prior to that, 21 young people died in mysterious circumstances (not sure what that means? Poisoning?) at a tavern in South Africa. Is this issue spreading to other countries?
So now we are comparing ourselves to a country that became “independent” less than a century ago.
Compared to a country that became independent and created its own democracy hundreds of years ago?
Why do we always compare ourselves to such countries? So that we can say, hey, we aren’t that bad.
It’s like comparing your savings to someone who just finished high school and saying, hey, I am so much farther ahead. I ain’t so bad. Instead of using your cohort age group and realizing you are squandering away 80% of your paycheck each year and saving very little.
Let’s not forget who brought guns to Africa and exploited and looted it and pitted tribes against each other and now watch from afar wondering what the hell is wrong with Africans.
 
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I didn’t say anything like that, I just asked if you thought gun laws should be universal nationwide, or if there could be distinctions between different situations.

Yes, they should be nationwide and no one should own arsenals of high-powered weapons. The “bear and mountain lion” argument is laughable…. I’m pretty sure rural farmers are not legitimately at elevated risk of bodily harm from wild animals (or home invaders) by being restricted to handguns, shotguns and normal low-capacity rifles. I bet you know that as well.

Some people argue powerful arsenals of weapons should be kept by citizens to defend against a tyrannical government. I can understand this argument more—- but I would say this particular belief is held by such a small percentage of our population that they should be overruled by those parents with classrooms full of dead kids.

I think anecdotes of mass shooting in other countries are …. Anecdotes. Despite their leader being just assasinated with a gun, Japan had literally 1 gun death last year. ONE. No need to be that restrictive here- but to say restrictions can never help— that’s just ignoring the obvious truth.
 
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There were three separate mass shootings in South Africa taverns over the weekend killing around 25 or more people and injuring many more. Two weeks prior to that, 21 young people died in mysterious circumstances (not sure what that means? Poisoning?) at a tavern in South Africa. Is this issue spreading to other countries?


I think it is. Norway too. Copycats? Bad ideas spread fast.
 
So now we are comparing ourselves to a country that became “independent” less than a century ago.
Compared to a country that became independent and its own democracy hundreds of years ago?
Why do we always compared ourselves to such countries? So that we can say, hey, we aren’t that bad.
It’s like comparing your savings to someone who just finished high school and saying, hey, I am so much farther ahead. I ain’t so bad. Instead of using your cohort age group and realizing you are squandering away 80% of your paycheck each year and saving very little.
Let’s not forget who brought guns to Africa and exploited and looted it and pitted tribes against each other and now watch from afar wondering what the hell is wrong with Africans.
I did not compare anything. Read it again. I reported that there were several mass shootings and expressed concern about it. You seem like that is offensive to you? Why would it be offensive that I stated something straight from The NY Times website?
 
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