> I realize this may sound insensitive to those with or knowing somebody with Crohns. I have Crohns :P)
The old "I'm not insensitive about X because I can claim to have X in an anonymous forum" defense, deployed preemptively at that.
The old "I'm not insensitive about X because I can claim to have X in an anonymous forum" defense, deployed preemptively at that.
If I were going to LARP on HN, I’d find something much more fun to LARP about. I only really mentioned it because after writing things out I definitely saw how it might look like I’m trying to be a dick commenting on things I’d presumably not know much about.
My point was that disclaimers to the effect of "no offense but" are almost always useless, no matter how qualified[1]. Familiarity with the plight of another doesn't make insensitivity about it impossible. Whether you actually have Crohn's or not is a moot point in the face of this.
1 - the sheer preponderance of such disclaimers sometimes makes me wonder if there actually are such linguistic "get out of jail free" cards and I'm the only one who doesn't have the common sense to understand it.