h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

re post 39:

It's alright, Sho. I see what you mean and I totally understand your reaction.

One detail though: The young man is still at journalist school. He's a student and won't be out and able to "do something about it" for quite some time. Not in any professional capacity anyway.

And like I said he is openly criticizing his potential employers. Mostly male editors-in-chief. This earns him my respect.

Case closed

The case will not be closed, in a large sense, because we're still a species with a great deal of self-examination and awareness of our place. What to do about being a man or a woman or a boy or a girl (you may put woman and girl first, if you like).

We usually want to be good people, and then we find that, looking back, we came up short, and can't fix things. A man and a woman can love each other yet despair about the other's traits.

As long as humans draw breath, they will agonize about many of these points.

Of course post 42 would be a good one

Thank you for that, paulh

On a *slightly* different note (and thank you for the inspiration, Sho): Yes, toxic masculinity is another thing that makes you go "hmmm". But forgive me for saying so: #notallmen

I was lucky to have a very good . One time about a dozen years ago I saw him about something quite trivial. As one does when one is me. A flu vaccination I think. He measured my blood pressure while I was there anyway and asked me how I was. You know, in general.
- Thanks, I'm okay I think. Not bad, actually. For one thing I'm older than my father now.
- What do you mean?
- My father passed away when he was 53.
- Oh, what did he die of?
- Gastrointestinal cancer. Two of his siblings also died of cancer by the way.
- Ah. Sorry about that. Say, would you like to be tested for that, just to be on the safe side?
- Yeah, sure, why not.
So I was sent to a specialist who found some cells that didn't behave like they should. Not cancer yet - but given my family history ...
So the sick cells were removed and later tests three and five years later showed that I was in the clear.
But then blood tests revealed that something else might be wrong and after a few blood tests more I was sent to another specialist. (I'm not using the doctor-smiley now since it was a woman. A young immigrant. From Pakistan, I believe.)
- Yeah, you've got cancer alright. But don't worry, your chances of surviving it are good.
Long story short: After a few procedures and a number of tests I am only two years from getting the all clear. I am quite confident as a matter of fact. Only a year after the last procedure the surgeon told me: - I can't guarantee it, but since it hasn't returned now it most likely never will.

Back to the toxic masculinity concept. I have never understood it. Just like I never have understood homophobia. It's not quite getting to the point where I question my masculinity but it does make me wonder

Why is it so difficult for men to go see a doctor? A deep underlieing fear she or he may tell you there is something wrong? The believe that whatever it is will go away by itself if we suppress and forget it?

I just don't get it

it's not difficult for me. I want doctors to save me from whatever it is I think I may have. I feel safe in their presence.

What's the worst a doctor could tell you?

That you got a tumor in your head!?


(In case you don't read my journals, I'm having surgery tomorrow to remove a clival chordoma... again.)

Good luck to you.

i just want the truth form my doctor, and I think he will oblige.

I know, Baron, and I wish you all the there is!

Paulh, my doctors are obliged by law to tell me the truth - and I believe they do

I survived!
I should be home Tuesday.

Good for you!

I'm glad the medical community can manage something besides the ubiquitous virus.

Yeah, it's always good to hear good news. More people should tell when the doctors get things right

You mean they sometimes don't?

all round - you are all lovely.

Pierre I'm very glad that you spoke to your doctor
Baron - so happy to see that it went well.
Paul - post 42 thank you for that

Mince pies all round!

Merry social-distanced Christmas.

You seem to live in the best country in the world for Covid-19 care, Sho.

re post 53:

Thank you, Sho

re post 54:

Germany is certainly better than a lot of other countries regarding covid-19, paulh, but this second wave of the plague may change that. Too many covid deniers are putting other people's lives at risk. My eldest son and his girlfriend in the capitol Berlin included

We are facing more restrictions in Denmark. We have had 894 covid-related deaths while I write this (in a country with 5.6 million inhabitants). The capitol is worst off so I'm glad I'm living in my little town on this little island and don't have to go there. But my daughter and her boyfriend live there

I'll meet both daughter and son at their brother's at Christmas - if we are still allowed to travel and it is not considered too risky. We'll see.

Personally I could live without it if we can't celebrate xmas together. We have done it before. Ten years ago I travelled by train to Rome on 23 December and back again 31 December. It is a fond memory

Why is the virus killing more men than women? Or is this even an answerable question? Maybe it's a coincidence, or one with roots in bad health habits (smoking?) than men indulge in more than women?

I'm just reporting the statistic via a link, and I hope someone cleverer than I (of whom there are many here) will get an inspired answer.

Oh, I forgot to include the link

http://www.rgare.com/knowledge-center/media/research/covid-19-mortality-rates-by-age-and-gender-why-is-the-disease-killing-more-men-than-women

If I catch this virus, I am not optimistic about pulling through. Maybe the lack of optimism itself is a risk factor.

This assumes that I haven't caught it already. It can lurk undetected for two weeks.

re post 56:

From what I have read, the male body is generally worse at resisting and fighting infections than the female body. Even if one takes into account that men generally live more unhealthily (smoke and drink more) than women. Manflu kills seems to be the conclusion.

I found this:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/20/health/coronavirus-men-women.html

and this:
https://www.news-medical.net/health/Does-the-Immune-System-Differ-between-Men-and-Women.aspx