dad did something that frustrated me...

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I checked my email this morning, and my father had sent me an article about how basically every single chronic illness on the planet "including autism" is caused by mercury poisoning, and if you take steps to cleanse the body of mercury, symptoms will improve.

I swear, he'll believe anything he reads, especially if it criticizes the pharmaceutical industry or implies some sort of cover-up. I have a degree in biology, and have read many articles related to the biological causes of different diagnosable conditions. And this article did not contain a single believable piece of information. It was supposedly written by a doctor, but there were no specific studies mentioned, nothing cited whatsoever, and it was just pathetic in general. But it was written in such a way so as to fool those who are unfamiliar with the subject. I would post a link to the article, but I deleted the email after I finished reading it, and also the specific contents of the article aren't really my main point here.

The fact that he would send something like this to me just shows how insensitive he is/how little he truly understands when it comes to my AS (and his AS, and his mother's AS, etc...).

It bothers me especially because in the past months, I have sent him links to genuinely informative articles and discussions, including some of the threads here on WrongPlanet. But he deletes anything I send him without even looking at it first. I actually take the time to read everything that he sends me, and what does he send me? This crap!

I have been better recently about not letting his actions get to me, and I am not terribly upset right now, but I guess I just needed to vent a little bit.

Thanks for reading, feel free to share similar experiences/thoughts.

Send him an article on homeopathic uses of mercury for curing chronic illness. If nothing else you can enjoy a private moment of irony.


Merc. viv.

Quicksilver
Mercurius vivus

One of the metallic chemical elements, mercury, also called quicksilver, was known in ancient Chinese and Hindu civilizations and has had a long history of medicinal use. Ingesting certain mercury compounds can cause increased perspiration and salivation; and so in ancient medicine mercury was used, along with bloodletting and purging, as a means of ridding the body of impurities. Undilute mercury is toxic, however, and severe symptoms of mercury poisoning may include nausea, inflammation of the digestive tract, and kidney failure.

Homeopathic practitioners prescribe Merc viv, as the homeopathic preparation of mercury is sometimes called, for conditions accompanied by symptoms of shaking, hot and cold sweats, and restlessness. Merc viv is made from the chemical element mercury by dilution with large quantities of milk sugar.
Uses

* abscesses, especially dental or glandular; backache with burning, shooting pains in the lower back
* chickenpox
* colds with an exceptionally runny nose and pain in the nostrils
* cystitis with slow urination
* painful diarrhea
* influenza
* earache with discharge of pus
* eye inflammation
* indigestion
* mouth ulcers
* burning sore throat
* toothache with increased salivation.

Did you explain to him why the article was bunk? I often drag home pieces of carrion that I find interesting but are ultimately just rotting chunks of bunk. Often it takes another's point of view to show me the flaws in an argument. Perhaps dad is more set in his ways and might not respond well to this treatment.

Me, I like aliens. I like that alien beings are a large part of many ancient mythologies. My dad, being a flower child of the 60s, knows all of this and rejects it as legitimate topic of discussion. Aliens are for the Twilight Zone and not for Religion. While I am just learning about this topic of much interest (to me), it is frustrating to have conversation shut down. I realize he does not want to listen to me blather, but perhaps he could use his listening skills to relate to what I am thinking about rather than to dismiss it with no further explanation or understanding of underlying patterns. Even if it is not all in line with his religious philosophy, we are ultimately discussing patterns, if he'd just let me get to a point.

Besides, I listen to him blather and do my best to find common ground.

Wavefreak, I think I will do that! Hah!

Then if he mentions it to me, I will explain to him why the original article was not a reliable source of information.

There's a fantastic podcast called the Quackcast. Check it out. It's done by the Chief of Infectious Medicine for a few of the hospitals in Portland. It's good and funny, and tears apart all the silly medical bunk by actually using studies. And he gives full citations.