hey, friends - what gives? I don't see anything said wrong here by Rotsne, although I can see how it has been misconstrued. However, if we're getting concerned because the topic isn't very relevant to the site - this IS the Watercooler. Please, can we give Rotsne a break here? As far as I can see he's a decent bloke with difficult children like us who is trying to connect with us, but English is not his first language and there are some big cultural differences. If you find what ANYONE here says to be offensive, you always have the option that I continue to exercise with some posts - say nothing and ignore it.
I also live in a country where the government could be considered to be extremely intrusive, imposing their collective will as a "nanny state". A lot of people view Australia as a laid-back, relaxed place - but it's only superficial. We live with it and so are perhaps too accepting of a lot of the impositions we live with. Mind you, I do value our gun laws. But to ban a 15 year old kid from even buying a packet of plastic cutlery for a family picnic because it contains knives? I think it's going too far. I couldn't even take a plastic butter knife to the 2000 Olympics; I had packed a picnic of pate, fruit and cheese and had to use my credit card to cut up the food. Ever tried to cut up and core an apple with a credit card? And I'm sure a pacer pencil could do a lot more damage than a plastic knife, but any kid can buy as many pacer pencils as he wants, but oh no, it's an offence to sell any knives, even plastic cutlery. That's Australian laws for you.
I am concerned at this trend around the world where we are being increasingly regulated by our respective authorities, thereby removing a lot of personal choice. If we are increasingly wrapped in cotton wool, how will our children ever learn for themselves how to be safe?
ON the subject of painful surgery - did you hear about the doctor in Antartica who did her own biopsy on herself? Now THAT takes intestinal fortitude!
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/NWS/content/NWS_1_1x_Ice_Bound_Doctor_Beats_Breast_Cancer.asp
I don't want to discuss the rights/wrongs of male circumcision, other than to say, that wasn't the original topic of the thread and I don't think it should be now. You can't compare male circumcision to female genital mutilation. They just are too different in terms of what is done, why it is done and who does it.
As for dentists - while we're banning stuff, can we ban discussion of dentists from our threads? I find talking about dentists to be very distressing, I start to hyperventilate because I KNOW I have to make an appointment to go see one soon and I really can't pluck up the courage!
Star, I didn't know that about methadone. I've had it recommended to me as a possible pain management option. Are you sure you mean methadone and not naltrexone? I know naltrexone blocks opiate receptors. If there's a chance that methadone does too, then I need to have some stern words to my pain specialist. I need to have everything in place before I make that dreaded D***** appointment!
Marg