October 7, 2001

10:39 PM

The Pump Girls! Rockin' With the Diabetes! They're called the Pump girls because they all have insulin pumps in them! Cool! "The Pump Girls, is a pop music group consisting of 3 girls aged 13-14. The girls, who are all from Southern California, sing about boys, love, dancing and overcoming challenges. They all have Juvenile Diabetes. One of their goals is to motivate other teens to deal with the challenges of the disease successfully."
posted by RoyalJack (16 comments total)

I can't think of any group less likely to want to have anything to do with the "Pump Girls" ::ahem:: than other status-conscious teens. They'd rather go ahead and die than be seen enjoying the antics of some "Up With People"-esque shopping mall singers.
posted by aaron at 11:02 PM on October 7, 2001

Why do I feel like RoyalJack's been sitting with this in his browser's favorites for some time?

C'mon. This is a thoughtful, benevolent site for kids who can't take part in gym class and whatnot.

I don't have diabetes. But if aaron did he'd be all over it. ; )

For a better link, all in the sport of mocking people with problems check here instead.
posted by crasspastor at 11:20 PM on October 7, 2001

Sorry aaron. Upon re-read you weren't taking part in one man's "mockfest". I apologize.
posted by crasspastor at 11:25 PM on October 7, 2001

And I thought my brothers' Christian Ska-core Band was playing to a niche market...
posted by Optamystic at 12:51 AM on October 8, 2001

Hincandenza, it was saccharine bullshit like this that made me a bitter, sardonic twenty-something.

I can't accept a universe with both a God, and a thing like the Pump Girls in it, where the Pump Girls aren't porn, okay?
To me, Pump Girls = a godless, pointless existence that would make Franz Kafka shit white.
posted by dong_resin at 1:39 AM on October 8, 2001

speakiing of fatness, fat folks are likely to get type 2 diabetes, too.
posted by elle at 3:21 AM on October 8, 2001

sappy pop groups like this could also give you diabetes.
posted by hotdoughnutsnow at 6:51 AM on October 8, 2001

need another reason to change your name, girls?

"You are not permitted to access the URL http://www.pumpgirls.com/pg/default3.htm due to the policy of your organization."
posted by grabbingsand at 6:52 AM on October 8, 2001

How about Load Ladies - geriatric songstresses wearing Depends! Rockin Risers - men on viagra who've got a hard edge!

It just sounds stupid. Being a musician and having diabetes - yes, that can serve as a "feel-good" for the kiddies, and such a person is appropriate as a role model. But to make the disease the theme just seems crass.
posted by yesster at 9:32 AM on October 8, 2001

Geez, you all sound petty and demeaning while trying to get a few chuckles out of the crowd.

My wife has diabetes as a result of cystic fibrosis. Part of her annual CF treatment is an IV drug that must be taken three times daily. On Friday night, she plugged the drugs into her arm while at the SF Giants baseball game and watched Barry Bonds hit 2 home runs. Two of the top golfers in the world, Scott Verplank and Michelle McGann, play tournament golf with insulin pumps.

The Pump Girls are setting a good example in a tough age (teenage years), and it is important to show that life goes on. I say, applaud them, don't crack on them.
posted by msacheson at 11:17 AM on October 8, 2001

The Pump Girls are setting a good example in a tough age (teenage years), and it is important to show that life goes on. I say, applaud them, don't crack on them.

I agree. I hope all teengers form inspirational bands that travel to medical centers based on the disease they have!

Disease-Core in effect!

Seriously, I can't think of anything that would make me want to kill myself more than to have a teen pop-band former around a disease I'm suffering from.
posted by RoyalJack at 11:42 AM on October 8, 2001

nsacheson - did you read my previous post??

If a musician/band were to become popular first, then reveal the diabetes thing, but get on with their career and not have the diabetes thing be THE THEME, then that would be great.

This is just crass. Ask your wife what she thinks. If I were in her shoes, I would be offended.

We're not cracking on them for being diabetic, we're cracking on them for being pathetic.
posted by yesster at 12:23 PM on October 8, 2001

Yeah, you usually don't start a band because you share a certain physical ailment. Typically you start an organization and raise awareness and/or money to go towards research and such.

Then again, perhaps this will start a trend, making the way for other "ailment groups".

"Leprosy" .. "The Scabies" .. "Cancer" .. "Perfect Thyroid" .. "Cystic"

(These are all real bands by the way ;)
posted by valerie at 1:21 PM on October 8, 2001

So Pharmaceuticals are getting into the business of manufacturing pop-bands now too?

"The Pump Girls' are proudly supported by Bayer Diagnostics and are proud users of the DEX Glucometer. "

As if the music industry alone wasn't producing enough crap. It's completely crass, and purely commercially driven.

You didn't see Kid Rock's Joe C. promote himself as "the midget guy with a liver disease (I think it was liver) overcoming challenges everyday." Yes, he was ill - but he was just a normal member of the band otherwise.

It's not like he was singing songs about being sick...which, I'm sure, the Pumpgirls do.

(oh, and valerie..another band that seems more on topic - "Anthrax")
posted by mkn at 1:25 PM on October 8, 2001

aw. How sweet.
posted by crunchland at 2:40 PM on October 8, 2001