was i the only person to have a rant whilst watching Deal or No Deal yesterday!!
i will briefly fill in for those who missed it: a lady who had been given the all clear about her cancer was the contestant. although not seeing the show previously i guessed she’d had cancer because everyone kept calling her ‘inspirational’ which is what you get called when you have cancer for some reason. Anyhow, the lady had a very strong attachment to the number 5 but unfortunately it didn’t work out and she was very upset. At this point Noel obviously felt that he needed to say something ‘deep’ (snort) which went along the lines of: you need to look at it that maybe you were sent here to inspire people, to show others that when the ‘big c’ comes into your life it can be overcome and your ‘journey’(argh) can lead many ways and even into exciting things.
Exciting??? theres nothing ‘exciting’ about the ‘big c’ ‘journey’. its boring, and depressing and scary. if you have days of joy and excitement theyre down to you not flippin’ cancer. some may say that their brush with cancer has made them view life differently (i did appreciate my life before i had bc and this was brought on by other life changing moments i didnt need cancer to do this)
i really wish people would give up with the glib, cheery, nonesensical remarks!
Noel Edmunds is the exact reason I stopped watching Deal or No Deal cos he’s so b****y patronising all the time! Glad I didn’t see it yesterday or I would’ve been just as angry! I’ve had a few set backs lately and I’m ready to kill someone for the slightest misdemeanour so that wouldn’t have helped! lol
your post made me smile, I am not sure anything that has ever come out of mr edmunds mouth could ever be deep and meaningful maybe we should send round mr blobby to give him a slap
there is one thing no one ever warns you about… its one of the most irritating side effects of treatment…being poorly and forced to watch mind numbing daytime telly :)))))
There is a meme in pop media which goes: If something really bad like cancer happens to you, a magic halo automatically drops over you and makes you inspirational, saintly and wonderful. This means it takes no effort whatsover on your part to be manically cheerful, able to work twice as hard as before, and most importantly, needing no support from and causing no inconvenience to others. If this isn’t the case, then the bad thing was your fault anyhow and you should go away and not bother anyone.
Associated with this is the idea that cancer is always ‘caused’ by something specific and easily identifiable and that one of these things is being negative. The tiniest slip into negativity and you will give yourself cancer/relapse all over again and it will be all your fault.
The automatic Cinderella ‘now my life is better than before’ is part of the meme. (The only other one, if you’re already part of the media is the brave-fight-tragically-ended version.) Cancer or whatever else is supposed to AUTOMATICALLY cure marriage or relationship problems, redeem delinquent kids and turn you into a cardboard cutout success story.
Only, as we all know, it isn’t like that and the meme is not only a false image, it can be highly damaging when other people take if as true.
I cannot watch DND anymore because of that idiot!! He is a fool and should not be allowed to make so called ‘deep’ pronouncements to the populace at large under the guise of intelligent counselling!..
Oh my goodness, nearly going off on a rant of my own!!
As you say, this b****y disease is hard enough without platitudes.
Sorry an feeling irritable today with the world in general and sadly those close to me. Its the damn infernal waiting for me…
Think I’ll go back to bed and get out the other side!
So true and well put. I’m going to print that out and give a copy to everyone I know!
If I read another article where cancer has been a ‘positive life-changing experience’ and everything is hunky dory in their life and better for the experience, I’m going to scream - I have not met anyone in real life (and BC has affected all the women in my family) where this has happened.
You just don’t see stories about the families that collapse under the strain or the people who wind up on unemployment or disability benefits, do you? Most of us aren’t glamorous young women with hired help and professional assistance in terms of wardrobe and make up.
People often mean to be encouraging, I’m sure, and yes some people do discover a strength they didn’t know they had, but it’s not automatic and it’s not easy. All too often the ‘encouragement’ is insensitively delivered and is merely lip service with no real help or support given or even intended.
As one BC person to another, would we really want to be turned into different people? Isn’t that one of the real difficulties, that you look in the mirror and see someone different looking back, that you are an officially sick person and so on? So let me go on being a Grumpy Old(er) Lady, thank you.
Don’t watch Deal or no Deal - but mega numbers do I understand …and we only have to see the whole media response to ‘famous’’ people having cancer to know that the Noel Edmonds portrayal does go down very well with a lot of people - sentimental, and unrealistic claptrap though it seems to some of us. Closer to home, look how the public love the ‘pink’ campaigns- including many people who have cancer themselves -or experiencing it with friends and families. I guess we all look at these things differently but I wonder how much effort and money would still be raised for certain ‘favoured’ good causes without all the hype and ‘fluff’ - all part of the ongoing ‘Diana’ phenomenon to my jaded view
And while I’m in ranting mood- how disappointing to see the limited nature of the list of charities that William and Kate want guests to support in lieu of wedding presents. Really like the principle (guess they won’t be needing toasters & duvet covers) - but I understand that Prince W only wants ‘British’ charities to have his support - despite the wonderful hols he’s had in Africa - and where a few royal donations could send out such a good message.
What more can you expect from mr blobby’s dad? Stay calm and carry on, you either need to watch more dvds to avoid noel, or sadly you will have to change your inappropriate forum name from now on!
Re the pinkification of cancer… I hate it with a passion. I want to smash the radio and telly in everytime the pink tutu race for life tesco advert comes on. Do the ends justify the means as it raises lots of much needed cash? I’m not sure, but i do know that i will have no part in pinkification.
I wanted to smack him yesterday so yeah I can see how you were annoyed. Inspirational is not how I would like to be described as, we just have to get on with it!
I thought she looked beautiful without her hair and very brave not wearing a hat or a wig.
Mine was episodes of sitcoms, often ones i had seen before as i was stuck on the settee but couldnt focus orconcentrate on anything even slightly demanding. Chin up SCACO, at least you arent married to noel and can zap him withyour remote control.
I know far more about daytime TV than I used to. Like Norberte I prefer something easy, that doesn’t require much concentration, so you can drift off to sleep now and again. All those house hunting programmes suit me and I’m fairly addicted to Heir Hunters.
(Just noticed I’d typed problems instead of programmes chemo brain or what?)
I know what you ladies mean, I hate being told that ’ your so brave’ . I’m not brave I have a disease that’s all and life has to go on. But if we didn’t have the pink race etc and all the hype that goes with it, would the advances that we are getting in our treatment be there. I personally don’t think so. But hey I’m just a 49 yr old woman who happens to have BC.
But when I’m back to full strength, look out auction houses and antique markets I will know just what to look for, or maybe I could branch out into house decorating mmm
Well said all of you - I thought I was a miserable old c… for quietly thinking these thoughts. So hate the ‘halo’ bit - nobody who hasnt been through ‘it’ has any idea of the inner turmoil we go through. Like some of you I also steer clear of the ‘Pink Gatherings’ just dont want to know. The last thing I want to do it to join ‘other sufferers’ in a mass run, walk , meeting etc. but being the hypocrite I am I’ll make good use of any funds for research they raise. What does that make me …certainly not the saint I’m now supposed to be . Oopps must go, wobbling on my pedistal as I type ! P.S Def. not watching N.E he really hacks me off ( and besides too thick to understand D.o.N.D.!! Have a rule to only watch / read comedy on bad days and do record alot… especially house programes too . Lazydaisy xx
PPS to Hattie Ahhh umm - Energy doesnt last all day and I for one have learnt to monitor and ration myself, work in the morning rest in the afternoon it’s the only way to make life bareable for my family, if you get too tired you get niggley and grumpy then every little pain gets magnified. So all you girls rest . rest , rest it’s your bodies way of telling you to slow down . Right it’s 8.02a.m and I’m off out to do some gardening then I’ll be free to watch Doctors … now that really is rubbish and Escape to the Country then make a cup of tea … then Midsummer Murders … anyone know the end to yesterdays fell alseep!!! L xx
maybe we should send round mr blobby to give him a slap