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Anyone else find the user of 'cancer' in these terms to be frustrating? Having had to experience the pain of people I care about having cancer, it immediately j

Anyone else find the user of 'cancer' in these terms to be frustrating? Having had to experience the pain of people I care about having cancer, it immediately just makes me feel like shit. I guess maybe I'm just sensitive...

buboard 7y ago
Yep unfortunately, cancer has become a cancerous meme. It's bad taste language, i dont know who started the trend but i hope it ends soon.
gilbetron 7y ago
I've had cancer, and I've had people close to me die of cancer, so I can see where you're coming from. Even the mention of it would freak me out - I remember when my mom was dying of cancer, and I was being treated for it, watching an episode of Stargate to escape from it - and one of the characters in the episode was dying of cancer - so much for escape! But, then again, somethings really are as virulent and aggressive as cancer, and I'm ok with them being compared to it. I'm fine with the (needed, imo) reaction.
epicide 7y ago
Totally a valid concern and this usage should probably be limited or eradicated. However, I think there is some legitimacy to it in this case considering how negative of an impact ads can have on lives. In other words, it's obviously figurative, but not necessarily (meant as) hyperbole.
hinkley 7y ago
You could try bringing the word 'blight' back, but some farmers and foresters might get their jimmies rustled.
ufo 7y ago
I was diagnosed with cancer this week. I couldn't bring myself to read the article and came here only to see if I needed to make this exact comment myself or if someone like you already had.
ssully 7y ago
It's incredibly lazy, but unsurprising. I find the people who talk about advertisements so dramatically on HN intersect really nicely with the kind of people whose day is ruined because the free bagels their company provided that day didn't include their favorite cream cheese flavor.

buboard 7y ago

Yep unfortunately, cancer has become a cancerous meme. It's bad taste language, i dont know who started the trend but i hope it ends soon.

gilbetron 7y ago

I've had cancer, and I've had people close to me die of cancer, so I can see where you're coming from. Even the mention of it would freak me out - I remember when my mom was dying of cancer, and I was being treated for it, watching an episode of Stargate to escape from it - and one of the characters in the episode was dying of cancer - so much for escape! But, then again, somethings really are as virulent and aggressive as cancer, and I'm ok with them being compared to it. I'm fine with the (needed, imo) reaction.

epicide 7y ago

Totally a valid concern and this usage should probably be limited or eradicated. However, I think there is some legitimacy to it in this case considering how negative of an impact ads can have on lives. In other words, it's obviously figurative, but not necessarily (meant as) hyperbole.

hinkley 7y ago

You could try bringing the word 'blight' back, but some farmers and foresters might get their jimmies rustled.

ufo 7y ago

I was diagnosed with cancer this week. I couldn't bring myself to read the article and came here only to see if I needed to make this exact comment myself or if someone like you already had.

ssully 7y ago

It's incredibly lazy, but unsurprising. I find the people who talk about advertisements so dramatically on HN intersect really nicely with the kind of people whose day is ruined because the free bagels their company provided that day didn't include their favorite cream cheese flavor.