so am I "lesser" by default, or "greater" cos I've done more than peer out of a window?

[Maybethisyearornext]

'When lesser mortals would have stayed at home, Catherine proved that the show goes on' | Writes @AllisonPearson in the telegraph

I find this indescribably offensive

I am a "lesser" cancer patient because I didn't attend the trooping of the colour? Ok, but I attended as many days of work as I could, and as many hospital appointments as was required, and that mean a mile walk to the station each time. And in the months I could not return to school premises I undertook small amounts of voluntary work in order to keep in touch with the world and work on my stamina

And I coped without any income at all in the 5 months it took the DWP to process my ESA claim - did this "greater" cancer patient do this?

I don't blame Princess Catherine. She is just muddling through the best she can like all of us, trying to cope with treatment, keep up her spirits, provide happy times for her family, be a useful citizen, and hope for the future

But how ignorant do you have to be to write that other cancer patients are "lesser mortals" - and how could an editor let that pass? Were they asleep at their desk?

Please complain or suggest any other way you can to react to this, and get it taken down, and get an apology - this has caused distress among many families this morning. I am not on twitter myself, can people who are on twitter say something please?

https://x.com/Telegraph/status/1802114337319932072

This is nauseating. I wish Kate well, but this forelock tugging is sickening

Totally agree with you OP

It is a stupid, thoughtless comment by a stupid thoughtless person

Thanks. I am upset by cancer patient being put in the "lesser mortal" category

You went to work when you could. She's gone to work when she could.

WTH?

Yes. I understand that. I have had cancer. I worked part time from home I only had 2 weeks sick pay so I worked when I didn't feel like it. I would definitely have taken more time off if I had been paid. I don't think you are lesser and you are taking this way too personally.

@Maybethisyearornext i wish you well.

Just had a look at that twitter link.

Strapline - Fair Lady: Princess of Wale's selfless display just the tonic Britain needed.

No offence to Catherine who I wish only good things for, but what bilge is this that seeing one woman in public is the 'tonic Britain needed'?

Absolute nonsensical, arse kissing bollocks churned out as opium for the masses.

No offence to Catherine who I wish only good things for, but what bilge is this that seeing one woman in public is the 'tonic Britain needed'?

It’s cringe

@Churchview The ACTUAL tonic we need is a good Euros tournament and a new government. The country doesn’t depend on one member of the Royal family for a feel good factor (despite how lovely she is). I wish her well

How do you know?
She wasn't having a dig at cancer patients per se, tather this is someone with cancer who is getting back into work (on a very public satge) whereas some wimps refuse to go to work because they feel a bit queasy, or have a headache

Don't take it personally. Its just the usual fawning language always used about the royal family. You have to remember their very existence requires on the population accepting that this particular family of human beings are elevated to superiority over the rest of us, to be bowed to, and awarded huge privilege for no good reason. This language just serves to reinforce the message they are our 'betters' in case the cognitive dissonance required to tolerate monarchy slips. The POW did well yesterday. Everyone's health is different.

Well, you did exactly what Catherine did: did go to work and other things when you were able to.

Catherine could easily have maintained her ‘stay out of the public eye’ strategy, but broke it to fulfill ‘royal duty’. I took it to mean that others might well have played her royal privilege card and stayed out of the public eye. In Catherine’s circumstances.

Not that anyone undergoing cancer treatment is a lesser mortal because they stay at home at times when they are not well enough , don’t have the energy or the wish to do some task.

Most people in treatment have to force themselves to do some things that are hard because they don’t have the support.

Catherine has paid support for everything, a PR team to protect her, every support that could make it possible to stay at home. But she chose to attend, despite not having to.

That’s all.

But I can see that it is a phrase that applied generally, out of the specific context, could be taken personally by people in the most sensitive circumstances.

Calling someone that, is disgusting.

No, you don't

Royal commentary is all total nonsense, don't give it any headspace

Don’t read the DM and expect to read anything sensitive or considered. This is exactly the kind of crap that Pearson and DM dine out on.

To be fair (which is more than Pearson deserves since she is never fair to others), I imagine she'd say she was talking about how other people in Catherine's exact situation may behave ie if Kate was a lesser mortal, she'd have stayed home given the specific circumstances of her life.

I take your point on the tone though. But really, her articles are often unpleasant and I think she can very reasonably be ignored.
She also misses out the king from her fawning - he has cancer and turns up for events.

Sending love and solidarity OP x

I understand exactly where you're coming from. In all these sensitive areas like illness, disability and bereavement the media sometimes does a grand job of making those without privileges like wealth and popularity feel inadequate because they're not always able to muscle through and achieve "great things" etc when it's often just a fight for any kind of survival.

It adds a layer of extra pressure that is absolutely not needed.

It's well and good to say avoid the media if it upsets you, but it's everywhere and it influences how the populous think around such subjects, as if bad days are a sign of moral failing.

Cancer sufferers go through a horrendous process of treatment and have to navigate a broken bureaucratic system just to get basic needs met, which is enough of a challenge without the implication that they should always be doing something "worthy" on top.

It's a really crass and insensitive thing to have been written and your feelings are perfectly valid.

I completely agree with this, it’s not worth your time. But also, I don’t really understand, because you also worked when you could and attended your appointments and the POW has done exactly the same when she could, it’s just that her job involves going in a carriage and waving from a balcony. You’ve both done your best and your both doing great.

YABU to take it personally and assume all other people going through cancer are distressed by it ). It’s a throw away comment by a not very good journalist with space to fill. You could even think it might be rather sarcastic (Kate only has to sit in a carriage and stand on a balcony and wave, whereas in real life, people with cancer are trekking on public transport to a job dealing with all sorts of ‘actual’ shit at work) . I’d not give it any more headspace. It really isn’t worth it.

I remember when having cancer treatment, putting a stack of slap on and dressing up to go to an important family event. All my family and friends were thrilled to see me out and about, looking so well. The slap all washed off at bed time, not quite so fabulous without it and next day I spent sitting in a chair, completely drained. i'm willing to bet that's what Kate is doing today. We all just do what we can manage, when we can.

how do I know? Because one of the support groups I am in has several women with children, and they have been in the group saying how their children have reacted - and because my own (adult) children have also seen this and been shocked and contacted me

And she was having a dig at us, she literally called us "lesser mortals"

Given the nature of the article, she could have used a different phrase.

However, you are taking it personally. That was not the intent, and they weren't making a statement about cancer patients. I'm sure you know 'lesser mortals' is used as a joke, not literally.

It is offensive OP. People often talk about cancer patients who fought their battle and won, as if those who died didn't fight hard enough.
Most people who are not going through it simply don't realise the impact their words might have.
You're doing grand.

I also completely agree. Whilst I’m glad to see Catherine out and about , to me the implication is that those who don’t try reeeeally hard are somehow lesser mortals. Which is absolute rubbish, every cancer patient is different, some days you hide under a blanket and scream, other days you might make it out. Both of which are fine, the blanket option doesn’t make you a lesser mortal.