4 ms·

Why does the immune system warrant scare quotes? Or are those some other kind of quotes?

by unwind 6y ago

DoreenMichele 6y ago
Unlike, say, your circulatory system or digestive system, your immune system is not a separate set of distinct and readily identifiable organs with a specific and isolated function of "immunity." Your skin is part of your so-called immune system. Your gut is part of your so-called immune system. Your respiratory tract is part of your so-called immune system. Figuring out that the system as a whole is generally designed to keep out invaders and there is no separate distinct "immune system" was enormously helpful to me in understanding how to effectively cope with a compromised immune system due to a genetic disorder, so my underlying condition cannot be fixed. But there is a lot I can do to shore up the functioning of my impaired body with the right mental models. See also: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=24033181 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=24033181 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=24015957 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=24015957
- unwind 6y ago
  Thanks for clarifying and (of course) good luck. For what it's worth, I'm sorry you have to live with that s*t.
- shock 6y ago
  > my underlying condition cannot be fixed. Yet. I don't want to give you false hope, but I believe CRISPR-Cas9 to be a game changer of the sort that we will classify time are pre- and post- CRISPR-Cas9. Until the technologies to fix your genes become available, you're already doing the best you can to take care of your body (I've read some of the things you wrote).
  - DoreenMichele 6y ago
    What I'm doing is game changing. CRISPR may provide hope for other people with the kind of diagnosis I have, but my health is in good shape and I see no reason to take chances on something that could have serious and terrible side effects. My biggest problem currently is that I'm dirt poor. Trying to solve that is my current focus.
    - shock 6y ago
      > My biggest problem currently is that I'm dirt poor. You wrote in 2009 that "Rewarding people for having serious problems tends to grow those problems". Based on what I read written by you, you are a pretty smart person, so, assuming that you aren't poor since a short time, what is your reward for being poor?
      - DoreenMichele 6y ago
        As stated above, I have a serious genetic disorder. It's supposed to be killing me and it's supposed to cost up to a quarter of a million dollars annually to treat under conventional medical approaches. There's no reward for being poor. My poverty hasn't grown. I used to be homeless. I've gotten myself off the street. I've saved an estimated $9.5 million over the last 19 years in terms of what should have been spent on medical care for me and my oldest son but wasn't because of the diet and lifestyle based approach we have pursued. I would like to get support for what I'm doing via Patreon. I face credibility challenges and sexism is a factor and yadda. I would appreciate it if you would leave me alone. Someone who claims to be familiar with my writing and can reference something I said in 2009 but has zero understanding of the reasons I remain poor and then asks questions like this that amount to victim blaming isn't something I need in my life at all.

Why does the immune system warrant scare quotes? Or are those some other kind of quotes?

by unwind 6y ago

Why does the immune system warrant scare quotes? Or are those some other kind of quotes?

Unlike, say, your circulatory system or digestive system, your immune system is not a separate set of distinct and readily identifiable organs with a specific and isolated function of "immunity." Your skin is part of your so-called immune system. Your gut is part of your so-called immune system. Your respiratory tract is part of your so-called immune system. Figuring out that the system as a whole is generally designed to keep out invaders and there is no separate distinct "immune system" was enormously helpful to me in understanding how to effectively cope with a compromised immune system due to a genetic disorder, so my underlying condition cannot be fixed. But there is a lot I can do to shore up the functioning of my impaired body with the right mental models. See also: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=24033181 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=24033181 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=24015957 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=24015957

unwind 6y ago
Thanks for clarifying and (of course) good luck. For what it's worth, I'm sorry you have to live with that s*t.
shock 6y ago
> my underlying condition cannot be fixed. Yet. I don't want to give you false hope, but I believe CRISPR-Cas9 to be a game changer of the sort that we will classify time are pre- and post- CRISPR-Cas9. Until the technologies to fix your genes become available, you're already doing the best you can to take care of your body (I've read some of the things you wrote).
- DoreenMichele 6y ago
  What I'm doing is game changing. CRISPR may provide hope for other people with the kind of diagnosis I have, but my health is in good shape and I see no reason to take chances on something that could have serious and terrible side effects. My biggest problem currently is that I'm dirt poor. Trying to solve that is my current focus.
  - shock 6y ago
    > My biggest problem currently is that I'm dirt poor. You wrote in 2009 that "Rewarding people for having serious problems tends to grow those problems". Based on what I read written by you, you are a pretty smart person, so, assuming that you aren't poor since a short time, what is your reward for being poor?
    - DoreenMichele 6y ago
      As stated above, I have a serious genetic disorder. It's supposed to be killing me and it's supposed to cost up to a quarter of a million dollars annually to treat under conventional medical approaches. There's no reward for being poor. My poverty hasn't grown. I used to be homeless. I've gotten myself off the street. I've saved an estimated $9.5 million over the last 19 years in terms of what should have been spent on medical care for me and my oldest son but wasn't because of the diet and lifestyle based approach we have pursued. I would like to get support for what I'm doing via Patreon. I face credibility challenges and sexism is a factor and yadda. I would appreciate it if you would leave me alone. Someone who claims to be familiar with my writing and can reference something I said in 2009 but has zero understanding of the reasons I remain poor and then asks questions like this that amount to victim blaming isn't something I need in my life at all.