Surgery to stunt disabled girl's growth
January 5, 2007 5:36 AM Subscribe
Parents of a severely mentally and physically disabled child have stunted her growth to keep their little "pillow angel" a manageable and more portable size.
This post was deleted for the following reason: previously
A double except in the sense that the previous post had some degree of sensitivity while this mouths the revoltingly judgemental tone of the single link it provides.
posted by biffa at 5:43 AM on January 5, 2007
posted by biffa at 5:43 AM on January 5, 2007
i was hoping that wasn't the case. i should have known that this was too good not to already be posted...
posted by engling at 5:46 AM on January 5, 2007
posted by engling at 5:46 AM on January 5, 2007
What biffa said.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:47 AM on January 5, 2007
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:47 AM on January 5, 2007
Of course, you mean 'too good' in the sense that it represents an irresistable opportunity to be a pompous, judgemental prick about someone else's private family concerns? Go be a wanker in the previous thread whydoncha.
posted by blackberet at 5:50 AM on January 5, 2007
posted by blackberet at 5:50 AM on January 5, 2007
What biffa said. Please don't post again until you figure out how to do so without using your biases as a thick topping.
posted by languagehat at 5:55 AM on January 5, 2007
posted by languagehat at 5:55 AM on January 5, 2007
blackberet confessor..I meant "too good" as in having the potential to generate an interesting and logical discussion upon the topic. but, from the past few comments, that's not the case.
i thought this was a forum for open discussion, and not once did i weigh in with my opinion on the topic, before many of you jumped to conclusions on what that may be.
now that i have a moment to do so, i think that this would be an incredibly difficult decision. i can sit here, childless, and say, "oh, i would never do that", and be the pompous judgemental prick that blackberet assumes that i am... but until put in the situation, i don't know what i would do.
posted by engling at 5:56 AM on January 5, 2007
i thought this was a forum for open discussion, and not once did i weigh in with my opinion on the topic, before many of you jumped to conclusions on what that may be.
now that i have a moment to do so, i think that this would be an incredibly difficult decision. i can sit here, childless, and say, "oh, i would never do that", and be the pompous judgemental prick that blackberet assumes that i am... but until put in the situation, i don't know what i would do.
posted by engling at 5:56 AM on January 5, 2007
I think that using "Pillow Angel" was enough to weigh your opinion...
posted by Gungho at 5:59 AM on January 5, 2007
posted by Gungho at 5:59 AM on January 5, 2007
Uh, guys, before you jump all over engling, the only thing he's guilty of is not putting quotes around the opening salvo of the AP wire story CNN is running. Don't shoot the messenger!
posted by The God Complex at 6:01 AM on January 5, 2007
posted by The God Complex at 6:01 AM on January 5, 2007
(Seriously. That's from the article. I know it seems crazy, but this is the AP we're talking about here.)
posted by The God Complex at 6:03 AM on January 5, 2007
posted by The God Complex at 6:03 AM on January 5, 2007
engling: nevermind.
But oh CNN, you do so make my blood boil.
I shall now shake my fist.
posted by hal9k at 6:04 AM on January 5, 2007
But oh CNN, you do so make my blood boil.
I shall now shake my fist.
posted by hal9k at 6:04 AM on January 5, 2007
Jesus, that's the opening to an AP story? Wow.
My apologies engling. Still a pretty barebones double post, but clearly I'm the one leaping to judgement this morning.
posted by blackberet at 6:07 AM on January 5, 2007
My apologies engling. Still a pretty barebones double post, but clearly I'm the one leaping to judgement this morning.
posted by blackberet at 6:07 AM on January 5, 2007
thx God Complex...again "pillow angel" not my choice of wording,
Perhaps reading the story before flaming someone?
posted by engling at 6:10 AM on January 5, 2007
Perhaps reading the story before flaming someone?
posted by engling at 6:10 AM on January 5, 2007
My apologies engling. Still a pretty barebones double post, but clearly I'm the one leaping to judgement this morning.
Hopefully the others will join in the apology.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 6:21 AM on January 5, 2007
Hopefully the others will join in the apology.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 6:21 AM on January 5, 2007
i thought this was a forum for open discussion, and not once did i weigh in with my opinion on the topic, before many of you jumped to conclusions on what that may be.
If something is a great topic for a discussion, but not even remotely the best of the web, then it really isn't "good" by MetaFilter standards.
posted by hermitosis at 6:22 AM on January 5, 2007
If something is a great topic for a discussion, but not even remotely the best of the web, then it really isn't "good" by MetaFilter standards.
posted by hermitosis at 6:22 AM on January 5, 2007
engling
I'm going to take the road less taken and refuse to withdraw my complaint.
There was no indication from your post that its entire text was a quote. In the absence of such, it's not unreasonable to conclude that the post was your composition, and reflected your views.
Indeed, it's expected. With self-linking prohibited, post content is the primary avenue by which a contributor can make his or her views known.
Plus, your response was kind of tool-ish.
So no, I won't withdraw my complaint, and I won't apologize. On the contrary, I think you owe us an apology.
posted by The Confessor at 6:26 AM on January 5, 2007
I'm going to take the road less taken and refuse to withdraw my complaint.
There was no indication from your post that its entire text was a quote. In the absence of such, it's not unreasonable to conclude that the post was your composition, and reflected your views.
Indeed, it's expected. With self-linking prohibited, post content is the primary avenue by which a contributor can make his or her views known.
Plus, your response was kind of tool-ish.
So no, I won't withdraw my complaint, and I won't apologize. On the contrary, I think you owe us an apology.
posted by The Confessor at 6:26 AM on January 5, 2007
If you'll go back and read biffa's comment (which I and several others seconded) you'll find that it was not worded in such a way as to attack engling personally, or at least not in any way as, well, vicious as blackberet's comment. (And blackberet's admirable apology has been duly noted). But biffa's beef was essentially with the linked article (at least that's the way I interpreted it), and I still agree with what he said, and the way that he said it.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:34 AM on January 5, 2007
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:34 AM on January 5, 2007
"There was no indication from your post that its entire text was a quote. In the absence of such, it's not unreasonable to conclude that the post was your composition, and reflected your views."
Unless you bother to actually click the link instead of being an ass right off the bat.
But don't let that spoil your fun.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 6:37 AM on January 5, 2007
Unless you bother to actually click the link instead of being an ass right off the bat.
But don't let that spoil your fun.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 6:37 AM on January 5, 2007
tool-ish? people still use that word?
confessor, in any discussion, i welcome voices of dissent.
so thanks.
no apologies however. it is an interesting topic, and from the previous thread, that is obvious. i didn't put quotes around the entire sentence (but pillow angel was). it's surprizing to me what people will get hung up on.
so which is a more important topic for debate on mefi? not putting quotes around a sentence or the article content?
in light of that, i shall step out of the discussion.
posted by engling at 6:39 AM on January 5, 2007
confessor, in any discussion, i welcome voices of dissent.
so thanks.
no apologies however. it is an interesting topic, and from the previous thread, that is obvious. i didn't put quotes around the entire sentence (but pillow angel was). it's surprizing to me what people will get hung up on.
so which is a more important topic for debate on mefi? not putting quotes around a sentence or the article content?
in light of that, i shall step out of the discussion.
posted by engling at 6:39 AM on January 5, 2007
Before this thread gets rightfully deleted as the double (triple) it is, I just wanted to state that if I never hear the phrase "pillow angel" again, it will be too soon.
posted by Faint of Butt at 6:42 AM on January 5, 2007
posted by Faint of Butt at 6:42 AM on January 5, 2007
"Before this thread gets rightfully deleted as the double (triple) it is, I just wanted to state that if I never hear the phrase 'pillow angel' again, it will be too soon."
Does that mean I shouldn't send your valentine this year?
posted by mr_crash_davis at 6:45 AM on January 5, 2007
Does that mean I shouldn't send your valentine this year?
posted by mr_crash_davis at 6:45 AM on January 5, 2007
I specifically did read the article before commenting hence the particular phrasing of my comment and use of 'mouths'. Your lack of quotation marks implies the adoption of the terminology as your own, this is further backed up by the absence of any commentary besides the quoted text. It's an unpleasant article (which is not the same as an unpleasant subject) dealing shallowly with a complex issue and you added nothing to make it worthwhile as a post.
posted by biffa at 6:48 AM on January 5, 2007
posted by biffa at 6:48 AM on January 5, 2007
so which is a more important topic for debate on mefi? not putting quotes around a sentence or the article content?
I vote for article content. But quotes around a sentence is probably a good idea.
*makes note to self*
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:48 AM on January 5, 2007
I vote for article content. But quotes around a sentence is probably a good idea.
*makes note to self*
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:48 AM on January 5, 2007
mr_crash_davis
Thank you, sir; I won't.
Especially for single-link, apparently one-sided double posts.
engling
An admirable retreat, sir. Just keep in mind that
1) You're still acting like a tool.
2) Nobody thinks you've won.
posted by The Confessor at 6:49 AM on January 5, 2007
Thank you, sir; I won't.
Especially for single-link, apparently one-sided double posts.
engling
An admirable retreat, sir. Just keep in mind that
1) You're still acting like a tool.
2) Nobody thinks you've won.
posted by The Confessor at 6:49 AM on January 5, 2007
I read the article yesterday. The fact he had quotations around "pillow angel" made it readily apparent to me he was referencing the article. In fact, the whole post appeared construed with the article in mind. Stop kicking at the mole hill people.
Don't let other people's anal retentiveness ruin your day engling.
posted by Atreides at 6:56 AM on January 5, 2007
Don't let other people's anal retentiveness ruin your day engling.
posted by Atreides at 6:56 AM on January 5, 2007
Nobody thinks you've won.
Casting this kind of discussion in terms of winners and losers makes you look rather petty and vindictive, I'd say.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:58 AM on January 5, 2007
Casting this kind of discussion in terms of winners and losers makes you look rather petty and vindictive, I'd say.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:58 AM on January 5, 2007
Damn. I double posted this to MeFi and all I got was deleted.
Next time I want to double post something, this is the place to do it.
posted by Doohickie at 6:59 AM on January 5, 2007
Next time I want to double post something, this is the place to do it.
posted by Doohickie at 6:59 AM on January 5, 2007
engling: You used the word "portable". I'd say that gives some indication as to where your allegiances lie. It's fine to have an opinion, but using such a word (along with the horrible expression "Pillow Angel" although I grant you that isn't your term) does smack of editorializing...
posted by ob at 7:00 AM on January 5, 2007
posted by ob at 7:00 AM on January 5, 2007
I'm having the last word on this my little pillow angels!
posted by Divine_Wino at 7:01 AM on January 5, 2007
posted by Divine_Wino at 7:01 AM on January 5, 2007
Sorry, engling—I too withdraw my snarkiness. Obviously you should have checked better for previous posts, but having tripped over the same wire myself, I'm not about to point fingers. And yes, putting quote marks around quotes is an excellent idea, especially when they could be seen as inflammatory, but you're well aware of that by now.
Nobody thinks you've won.
I do. He's being gracious; you're being a dick.
posted by languagehat at 7:02 AM on January 5, 2007 [1 favorite]
Nobody thinks you've won.
I do. He's being gracious; you're being a dick.
posted by languagehat at 7:02 AM on January 5, 2007 [1 favorite]
To make my point more clearly, it seems as though those who are ethically opposed to this see this as being a symptom of a society that puts convenience first. Therefore "portable" strikes me as a loaded term.
posted by ob at 7:03 AM on January 5, 2007
posted by ob at 7:03 AM on January 5, 2007
ob: Have you read this thread? It wasn't his word.
posted by languagehat at 7:03 AM on January 5, 2007
posted by languagehat at 7:03 AM on January 5, 2007
Oh, sorry I thought we were only talking about the term "Pillow Angel" I didn't realize that it was the whole phrase. I which case I take it back, sorry engling! Still the original article is quite, quite horrible...
posted by ob at 7:07 AM on January 5, 2007
posted by ob at 7:07 AM on January 5, 2007
flapjax at midnite
*Confessor nods sheepishly*
Survival reflex.
Englings cowardly retreat made me see red, I saw an exposed jugular, I went for the kill.
Veni, Vidi, Vici.
Would still rather be a petty, vindictive winner than a loser of the same stripe.
posted by The Confessor at 7:07 AM on January 5, 2007
*Confessor nods sheepishly*
Survival reflex.
Englings cowardly retreat made me see red, I saw an exposed jugular, I went for the kill.
Veni, Vidi, Vici.
Would still rather be a petty, vindictive winner than a loser of the same stripe.
posted by The Confessor at 7:07 AM on January 5, 2007
engling : "so which is a more important topic for debate on mefi? not putting quotes around a sentence or the article content? "
Honest answer? It varies by post. For a post like this, the more "important topic for debate" (by which I assume you mean "the topic which attracts the most debate") is usually the article content, but since it's a double, the content is being discussed elsewhere, which just leaves the quoting issue.
flapjax at midnite : "Casting this kind of discussion in terms of winners and losers makes you look rather petty and vindictive, I'd say."
I agree. However, if forced to state who I think is the winner, I'd pick engling over The Confessor in this particular fray.
posted by Bugbread at 7:11 AM on January 5, 2007
Honest answer? It varies by post. For a post like this, the more "important topic for debate" (by which I assume you mean "the topic which attracts the most debate") is usually the article content, but since it's a double, the content is being discussed elsewhere, which just leaves the quoting issue.
flapjax at midnite : "Casting this kind of discussion in terms of winners and losers makes you look rather petty and vindictive, I'd say."
I agree. However, if forced to state who I think is the winner, I'd pick engling over The Confessor in this particular fray.
posted by Bugbread at 7:11 AM on January 5, 2007
The Confessor : "Englings cowardly retreat made me see red"
Cowardly?
posted by Bugbread at 7:12 AM on January 5, 2007
Cowardly?
posted by Bugbread at 7:12 AM on January 5, 2007
I just wanted to state that if I never hear the phrase "pillow angel" again, it will be too soon.
That's totally what I'm going to call farting in bed, from now on.
posted by antifuse at 7:16 AM on January 5, 2007 [1 favorite]
That's totally what I'm going to call farting in bed, from now on.
posted by antifuse at 7:16 AM on January 5, 2007 [1 favorite]
Indeed.
By removing himself from further discussion he insulated himself from the eventual loss.
Cowardice.
Now he can simply watch from the sidelines as people impressed by his "humility" continue the battle in his stead.
I've done things of that sort myself.
posted by The Confessor at 7:18 AM on January 5, 2007
By removing himself from further discussion he insulated himself from the eventual loss.
Cowardice.
Now he can simply watch from the sidelines as people impressed by his "humility" continue the battle in his stead.
I've done things of that sort myself.
posted by The Confessor at 7:18 AM on January 5, 2007
Or, he figured that it was retarded to argue about not putting quotes around a quote. Less cowardly, more sensible, if you ask me :)
posted by antifuse at 7:22 AM on January 5, 2007
posted by antifuse at 7:22 AM on January 5, 2007
"Oh. Oh, I see. Running away, eh? You yellow bastards! Come back here and take what's coming to you. I'll bite your legs off!"
posted by mr_crash_davis at 7:22 AM on January 5, 2007
posted by mr_crash_davis at 7:22 AM on January 5, 2007
That's totally what I'm going to call farting in bed, from now on.
What happened to the time-tested "dutch oven" (yes, those are quotation marks)?
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 7:23 AM on January 5, 2007
What happened to the time-tested "dutch oven" (yes, those are quotation marks)?
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 7:23 AM on January 5, 2007
Wow, did you write that, crash? It's good.
Oh wait; you put quotes around it. Nevermind.
posted by yhbc at 7:26 AM on January 5, 2007
Oh wait; you put quotes around it. Nevermind.
posted by yhbc at 7:26 AM on January 5, 2007
What happened to the time-tested "dutch oven" (yes, those are quotation marks)?
That term has been deemed far too "ethnically sensitive" for this day and age....damned wood boots!
posted by Shfishp at 7:27 AM on January 5, 2007
That term has been deemed far too "ethnically sensitive" for this day and age....damned wood boots!
posted by Shfishp at 7:27 AM on January 5, 2007
What happened to the time-tested "dutch oven" (yes, those are quotation marks)?
I always associated the dutch oven more with forcing one's partner under the covers with the fart gas. I'm going to use pillow angel as a more generic term - "Whoops, there's another pillow angel for you honey!" :)
posted by antifuse at 7:28 AM on January 5, 2007
I always associated the dutch oven more with forcing one's partner under the covers with the fart gas. I'm going to use pillow angel as a more generic term - "Whoops, there's another pillow angel for you honey!" :)
posted by antifuse at 7:28 AM on January 5, 2007
mr_crash_davis
Though I must disagree with the sentiment, please accept this emoticon for the apt reference:
:-)
posted by The Confessor at 7:29 AM on January 5, 2007
Though I must disagree with the sentiment, please accept this emoticon for the apt reference:
:-)
posted by The Confessor at 7:29 AM on January 5, 2007
Pancakes.
You better get some quotation marks around that, mister.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:35 AM on January 5, 2007
You better get some quotation marks around that, mister.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:35 AM on January 5, 2007
And shouldn't emoticons come with quotation marks too?
(nah, it'd just look like off-kilter hair and a goatee on those cute little faces...)
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:37 AM on January 5, 2007
(nah, it'd just look like off-kilter hair and a goatee on those cute little faces...)
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:37 AM on January 5, 2007
Maybe I'm not "the norm". I'm not "camera friendly". I don't "wear clothes that fit me". I'm not a "heartbreaker". I haven't "had sex with a woman"; I don't know "how that works". I guess I don't "fall in line". I'm not "hygenic". I don't "wipe properly". I lack "style". I don't have "charisma" or "self esteem". I don't "own a toothbrush" or "let my scabs heal". I can't "reach all the parts of my body". When I sleep, I "sweat profusely".
/Bennett Brauer
By the way, the above is a quote
posted by pardonyou? at 7:45 AM on January 5, 2007
/Bennett Brauer
By the way, the above is a quote
posted by pardonyou? at 7:45 AM on January 5, 2007
They make MetaTalk in blue, now?
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 7:48 AM on January 5, 2007
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 7:48 AM on January 5, 2007
Duvet Cherub.
posted by Divine_Wino at 7:49 AM on January 5, 2007
posted by Divine_Wino at 7:49 AM on January 5, 2007
By the way, the above is a quote
Well then, you should've put the whole thing in quotation marks! Haven't you been paying "attention"?
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:52 AM on January 5, 2007
Well then, you should've put the whole thing in quotation marks! Haven't you been paying "attention"?
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:52 AM on January 5, 2007
The Confessor : "By removing himself from further discussion he insulated himself from the eventual loss."
What do you mean "eventual loss"? You mean he insulated himself from eventually losing the argument? From my experience at MeFi, only about 10% of arguments result with someone "losing", and those are almost entirely in MetaTalk, and almost entirely by precisely the kinds of people who don't duck out of conversations. For the other 90%, what happens is that people who think person A is wrong will continue to think they're wrong, people who think person A is right will continue to think they're right, and there is no-one who decides a winner or loser (though, of course, it will be eminently clear and self-obvious to people who oppose A that A lost the argument, and eminently clear and self-obvious to people who support A that A won the argument).
posted by Bugbread at 7:53 AM on January 5, 2007
What do you mean "eventual loss"? You mean he insulated himself from eventually losing the argument? From my experience at MeFi, only about 10% of arguments result with someone "losing", and those are almost entirely in MetaTalk, and almost entirely by precisely the kinds of people who don't duck out of conversations. For the other 90%, what happens is that people who think person A is wrong will continue to think they're wrong, people who think person A is right will continue to think they're right, and there is no-one who decides a winner or loser (though, of course, it will be eminently clear and self-obvious to people who oppose A that A lost the argument, and eminently clear and self-obvious to people who support A that A won the argument).
posted by Bugbread at 7:53 AM on January 5, 2007
It's Raining Florence Henderson : "They make MetaTalk in blue, now?"
It's the whole "blue LED" boom. Everything comes in blue now.
posted by Bugbread at 7:54 AM on January 5, 2007
It's the whole "blue LED" boom. Everything comes in blue now.
posted by Bugbread at 7:54 AM on January 5, 2007
ffs people. biased? judgemental?
pot. kettle. black.
i'd hate to see such judgement passed on me. thank god i kept my comment of "hey, at least she'll be easy to kidnap" to myself.
posted by jcterminal at 7:57 AM on January 5, 2007
pot. kettle. black.
i'd hate to see such judgement passed on me. thank god i kept my comment of "hey, at least she'll be easy to kidnap" to myself.
posted by jcterminal at 7:57 AM on January 5, 2007
Comforter Seraphim.
posted by Divine_Wino at 8:05 AM on January 5, 2007
posted by Divine_Wino at 8:05 AM on January 5, 2007
My wife and I have been using "pillow angel" as a term of endearment for one another ever since the first time this was posted. Yes, we are terrible people.
posted by M.C. Lo-Carb! at 8:08 AM on January 5, 2007
posted by M.C. Lo-Carb! at 8:08 AM on January 5, 2007
Electric-blanket cherub.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 8:11 AM on January 5, 2007
posted by flapjax at midnite at 8:11 AM on January 5, 2007
Woops, someone else already used "cherub". I hate that.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 8:12 AM on January 5, 2007
posted by flapjax at midnite at 8:12 AM on January 5, 2007
Elohim Halo Cozie
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 8:19 AM on January 5, 2007
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 8:19 AM on January 5, 2007
Man have you guys ever read the wikipedia entry on the hierarchy of angels, There is simply not enough opiated hash in all of Dushambe for me to wrap my head around that crazy jibber-jabber. It's like some OCD fantasy baseball nut with a vial of liquid acid got ahold of an Advanced Dungeons and Dragons manual and was given a stipend by the pope to come up with the nuttiest thing ever. Wow!
posted by Divine_Wino at 8:28 AM on January 5, 2007
posted by Divine_Wino at 8:28 AM on January 5, 2007
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posted by The corpse in the library at 5:39 AM on January 5, 2007