on 6/6/01 7:07 PM, Larry Arnold at [log in to unmask] wrote:
> There is a social component to everything
>
> Diarhea is most definately social, why on erth does that man who has to go
> to a wedding reception regale us about the benefits of a concoction called
> immodium in the advertisement.
>
> Cancer too is social, in that it is a condition around which there is a
> large social taboo on discussing
>
> AIDS is the prime example of where social and moral values are accorded to
> ones having aquired the condition
>
> MS too if you think about it
>
> A broken spine, is an interesting case. one's range of funtion is impaired
> in relation to what one can do with a spine that is not broken (supposing
> the nerves have not been otherwise demyelinated,) however one person with a
> spine broken in a different way or place than another will have differing
> degrees of funtion so a broken spine is no absolute reality. As I say it is
> all relative.
>
> If one starts with a paradigm that a spine that is not broken is perfect,
> then a broken one is impairment, however how does one define a perfect
> spine, lack of scoliosis, arthritis, osteoporosis or some other condition,
> which may bring about a similar effect to a broken spine. Comparitors again.
>
> I am not and never was saying there should not be medical interventions, I
> would have a broken bone set, and cancer excised, but when medical domains
> trespass into social matters, for instance in pysciatry, or in validating
> ones rights to benefit, or pronouncing in other ways on ones fitness for
> work, that is when the issue becomes social.
>
> However to return to the question of a broken spine, it is not an unatural
> occurance, and is part of the range of funtion of ones spine, in so far as
> its design capabilities as it were that it is not infinitely strong. The
> point at which ones spine will break is part of ones overall genetic coding,
> not an impairment but a reaction to a specific event.
>
> It is the whole idea that "disease" or "disability" to use these words are
> somehow unnatural and atypical occurences that conditions a lot of people
> thinking about it. Look at "disability" in Shakespeare (William not Tom that
> is) if you want an example of what I mean.
>
> Our responce to all of these examples you gave is a human one. It is of
> course impossible to do, but I wonder what an animal perspective on
> "disease" were particularly if one were low down the evolutionary scale. A
> slug is born and it dies, is it particularly bothered if one inadverantly
> puts a spade through it? I don't know.
>
> If you are born blind for example, it is natural and innate to you, if you
> were to grow up in a society where everyone were blind, and that society
> were able to funtion, then where would the impairment be. I am of course
00000000> refering once again to HG Wells country of the blind.
>
>
> Larry
>
0000000000>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Mic0hael Morgan [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
>> Sent: 06 June 2001 14:03
>> To: Larry Arnold; [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: Re: reality
>>
>>>
>> I think this debate is getting out of hand so let's get back to, er,
>> reality. Q: Is Diarrhea social?, or Cancer, or MS, or AIDS, or a broken
>> spine? Of course they're not. They're physical realities existing
>> independently of thought. The subjective experience of them may vary but
>> that's not at all the same thing as saying they in themselves are social.
>> --
>> Best wishes,
>>
>>
>> Michael Morgan
>> 2 Glenhill Park
>> Glen Rd.
>> Belfast
>> BT11 8GB
>> tel: 028 9030 2944
>> fax: 028 9030 2973
>> [log in to unmask]
There is a social component to everything - Yes but there's a crucial
difference in saying there's a social dimension to disability than
disability is social in nature.
The man who takes immodium in the advertisement to control his diarrhea at
a wedding reception is responding to the social embarrassment it might cause
him, not to the diarrhea itself
--
Best wishes,
Michael Morg
Glen Rd.
Belfast
BT11 8GB
tel: 028 9030 2944
fax: 028 9030 2973
[log in to unmask]
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