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Original poster

What things do you find strange? Or unusual to you?

44 replies

cindylawless · 04/02/2023 19:40

For example, I had an oral surgeon take my tooth out recently. I felt all sad leaving, wondering how she copes knowing she will never know how I am or how life is for me. When I left that building it would be goodbye forever

Similarly, my DS is under Great Ormond street and has had the same consultant for 6 years. When he eventually turns 17? He will be discharged from their care and he will never see him again. How do these doctors cope? Must be so weird seeing someone every 6 months for years and then nothing

What things do you find unusual or strange?

OP posts:
Msgrieves · 04/02/2023 19:45

This post Hmm it's a job, they are not emotionally invested

QuertyGirl · 04/02/2023 19:49

People plasticating their gardens with toxic matting that contains know carcinogens

Original poster
cindylawless · 04/02/2023 19:50

@Msgrieves obviously my own example is me being a bit mad, but I think my son's is a good example?

Years of seeing my lovely DS and then one day nothing, never to know his outcome or how he's doing

OP posts:

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General health
Riverlee · 04/02/2023 19:52

Wishing your son all the best. My son was in GOSH. I used to send a Christmas card with a short note every year with an update.

Sometimes when stuck in traffic jams, or on the train, I look at the people around and contemplate how everyone is living different lives, have their own dreams, problems etc.

ErrolTheDragon · 04/02/2023 19:53

That's a pretty egocentric idea tbh.
Just imagine being a teacher, do you expect them to think about the hundreds of pupils who pass through their classroom?

Original poster
cindylawless · 04/02/2023 19:55

ErrolTheDragon · 04/02/2023 19:53

That's a pretty egocentric idea tbh.
Just imagine being a teacher, do you expect them to think about the hundreds of pupils who pass through their classroom?

My son would've seen the same consultant for 16 years by the time he's done

But anyway, I have senior school teachers I'm friends with on Twitter :) they do know how I'm doing, and would speak to me if we passed in the street

OP posts:
Ihatethenewlook · 04/02/2023 20:02

cindylawless · 04/02/2023 19:55

My son would've seen the same consultant for 16 years by the time he's done

But anyway, I have senior school teachers I'm friends with on Twitter :) they do know how I'm doing, and would speak to me if we passed in the street

Show quote history

I’m the person you’re describing. I remember being sat next to a man clutching a Rasta mouse teddy on a train one morning who was clearly struggling coming home after pulling an all nighter in Blackpool. When he got up for his stop he gave my dd the teddy, it made her day. That was 12 years ago and I still think about him weirdly often, I’d love for him to know how happy he made her. Also I’m a carer, I used to work for an agency so would cover different houses/homes almost every shift. I still think about some people I looked after for very brief periods of time years ago. I wouldn’t expect them to think the same of me though, so it is a little different that you think how they’d miss you, and not the other way around.

XenoBitch · 04/02/2023 20:07

Imagine how overwhelmed your oral surgeon would be if they thought about every patient they had pulled a tooth from? it is not like you were seeing them weekly for months or years beforehand.

I was in hospital for a month, and several years later, I had an outpatient appointment. One of the nurses recognised me, and called me by my name. I could not remember them at all.

touterustome · 04/02/2023 20:10

I work in healthcare and it's kind of a bittersweet part of the job. It's a privilege and it's also nice to know you've played a role in someone's life. You don't need to know someone their whole life for that to be nice, in fact sometimes it's nicer just keeping it packaged like that. Of course health profs get a bit emotionally invested with some patients more than others. I still think about patients I saw years ago and wonder how they are, but it's in a wistful way not a desperate need to know.

Tamarindtree · 04/02/2023 20:17

QuertyGirl · 04/02/2023 19:49

People plasticating their gardens with toxic matting that contains know carcinogens

Do you mean those grass/mud protector holey mats they have in playgrounds?

NewBootsAndRanty · 04/02/2023 20:21

Tamarindtree · 04/02/2023 20:17

Do you mean those grass/mud protector holey mats they have in playgrounds?

Show quote history

Artificial lawns, I'd have thought

Msgrieves · 04/02/2023 20:25

I used to work in a hospital, can't say any patient was emotionally important, I remember them obviously, but I was in no way invested in the outcome.

Msgrieves · 04/02/2023 20:33

Actually thats wrong, remember a lady who was so lovely. She died of an esophageal bleed on the way to a scan.

Ireallydohope · 04/02/2023 20:37

You DS can still keep in touch with that consultant who will no doubt be delighted to get regular updates on how your DS is getting on in life.

The same if he has any favourite teachers, they'll be happy to hear how he gets on in later life after all he's been through medically

Stompythedinosaur · 04/02/2023 21:02

Msgrieves · 04/02/2023 19:45

This post Hmm it's a job, they are not emotionally invested

I work in children's healthcare and definitely think about kids I've worked with years after they pass into adult services.

Stompythedinosaur · 04/02/2023 21:04

We had dd2's birthday party today, and it struck me how weird the whole birthday cake ritual is - same number of candles as the age, light them, sing a song, blow them out. It's very odd really!

Tamarindtree · 05/02/2023 00:19

Chiropodists.

I just can’t imagine ever thinking, ‘I really want a career touching people’s feet.’

Apologies to any chiropodists!

Downunderduchess · 05/02/2023 00:40

I honestly thought you meant your tooth at first & how it’s no longer a part of you. As for the medical professionals, they have so many patients that they don’t have time to wonder much I imagine. I’m sure some people stick in their minds but generally speaking they are doing a job.

ForestMountainsDesertOcean · 05/02/2023 01:10

DD chipped a tooth as a toddler and we were in and out of the local dental hospital every few months for a couple of years. I do think the dentist we saw would think of her sometimes. She really went above and beyond for her, and DD was such an extraordinarily good patient for her age (according to them).

My own thing I find strange.
Dog ownership. Inviting stinking, slobbery beasts into your home. Bare anuses on your sofa, or worse, bed. So so gross. I don't understand people's lack of concern for good hygiene standards. Dogs smell so bad. I can't believe people don't mind the stench. Or the hair everywhere. And picking up shit.
Letting dogs lock you. They've just licked their own genitals. 🤢🤮

JaneJeffer · 05/02/2023 01:15

I honestly thought you meant your tooth at first & how it’s no longer a part of you.
I thought that too at first Grin

MyBloodyMaryneedsmoreTabasco · 05/02/2023 01:23

I don't know what I'd think of as unusual, but just wanted to say: I absolutely do think of children I've taught. I don't remember all of them instantly, I've taught for 25 years, so that's a lot of children. However, I bumped into a parent in the supermarket a few weeks ago and recognised her so asked after her DD and without even thinking said, "Ah, it was her birthday recently wasn't it?" Her DD is now 21 and I taught her in Reception. We do remember.
Sorry for derailing OP!

PauliesWalnuts · 05/02/2023 01:25

I went to school with a couple of friends whose families didn’t wash their underwear in the main family wash. They kept a box of washing powder in the bathroom and had to hand wash their own. I remember mentioning it to one friend’s mum and her saying “urgh, you don’t all wash your own smalls?!” I couldn’t get my head around why you wouldn’t put them all in the same machine.

PureBlackVoid · 05/02/2023 01:27

I find it strange how invested people get in a film/tv show, and that there are real emotional reactions to scenes we know are fake (no judging, I am the worst for it).

Noodlehen · 05/02/2023 01:28

Downunderduchess · 05/02/2023 00:40

I honestly thought you meant your tooth at first & how it’s no longer a part of you. As for the medical professionals, they have so many patients that they don’t have time to wonder much I imagine. I’m sure some people stick in their minds but generally speaking they are doing a job.

That would have been less strange.

Aldisfinest · 05/02/2023 01:32

No I get what you mean. I was pregnant with my daughter 6 years ago and spent 4 weeks in hospital. I do think about a lot of the midwifes & doctors sometimes. They were all so kind to me and took such good care of me. I was a unique case at the time, I wonder if any of them ever think of me.

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