Yeah, I thought the same when I wrote the comment. I’ve read a bit more about him and what he was charged with. In the UK he wasn’t convicted of grooming - they prosecuted him for it but he was found not guilty. I think it was a consensual relationship, but of course a 19 year old having sex with a 12 year old is rape regardless of consent in the UK and he was (rightly) convicted of that. In the Netherlands however the law is different, it wasn’t considered rape but something like “morally offensive actions”. So from the Dutch pov he’s not actually a rapist, which might explain why the Dutch Olympic committee don’t seem to think it’s that big a deal. Despite that, I still think a convicted pedophile rapist should not be allowed to compete in the games, but that needs to be made clear in the eligibility requirements by the IOC, rather than the wishy-washy “role model” contract.

All Olympic athletes sign a declaration saying they’ll strive to be a role model or something similar. I’d say a convicted rapist shouldn’t be considered a role model and therefore shouldn’t be allowed to compete.

Don’t worry, I have a life threatening illness and reduced life expectancy anyway. And I’m not suicidal. It was already my preferred way to go, this ordeal with my mum just made it crystal clear in my mind. Thankfully I have access to everything I need already so I wouldn’t get anyone else in trouble and my loved ones understand my decision and feel similarly. It being legal would be a bonus, but I’m not letting a law stop me.

My mums been in hospital for 10 weeks. She only 62 and was admitted for a fairly routine infection after chemo for breast cancer. Since she’s been in hospital I’ve lost count of all the things that have gone wrong but the most distressing thing is the hospital delirium she’s developed. I’d never have believed my mum could become so violent and abusive, it’s like she’s a completely different person. She has absolutely no agency over her body at the moment, she can’t even sit up unaided. It’s so horribly undignified that it’s completely cemented my decision to commit suicide once I get a terminal diagnosis (or a diagnosis that I know I couldn’t deal with graciously). I can’t have children so it’s a small comfort that I won’t inflict the pain and heartbreak I’m experiencing from my mum, but I don’t ever want to treat my partner how she’s treating my dad. I’m going out on my own terms if at all possible.

My partner is newly diagnosed at 40 and while on the surface it seems like he’s a just “shrug it off” guy, he’s not able to fully ignore it - there’s so much inner turmoil. He always feels bad for not doing XYZ and he’s never truly able to enjoy doing something else instead. He can be temporarily distracted by an enjoyable/relaxing activity, but he does care. He always cares. And he never feels like he deserves to enjoy anything when there’s so much to do at home/work/his life. It’s unbelievably distressing. ADHD is a spectrum. I’m so glad that you are able to shrug it off and enjoy other things, but that’s not the reality for all ADHD sufferers.

I get the sentiment but you’re glossing over two important things; 48.11% of people voted to remain and there hasn’t been a second referendum.

Half the country wanted to remain, the other half are racists and/or idiots that believed the outright lies peddled by the leave campaign. Latest polls suggest 60% would vote to remain today but we’re not being offered the chance to vote on that. Voting labour in general elections doesn’t mean we get to rejoin the EU.

Exactly as it sounds then! Thanks for spelling it out for me!

Cool cool cool cool cool… what’s photovoltaic?

It touches on it briefly, but refeeding syndrome is a killer and is very hard to treat even in hospital not in a war zone. Even if the war stopped tomorrow and food was abundant, there’s nowhere to treat patients who have been starving - more will die.

I caught whooping cough as a kid. Nearly killed me. It’s a terrifying disease.

I didn’t realise bird flu wasn’t transmitted between humans already tbh. I caught Swine flu (H1N1) from another human a decade or so ago.

I’m from the UK and our disgusting government is shipping immigrants that arrive on small boats to Rwanda for some fucking reason. None of these people seeking a better place to live are actually from Rwanda. Never mind that our own Supreme Court ruled Rwanda is not a safe country. That’s where we’re ship people off to. It’s absolutely insane.

I’m a millennial and don’t use Facebook. None of my zoomer family members use Facebook. In fact the only people I know who do use it are boomers.

I have two goddaughters, born 4 years apart. Each were due on 29th Feb, both arrived on the 1st March. I’m still disappointed by their lateness.

But in both cases the parents had decided to celebrate on the 1st of March on non-leap years, had they arrived on their due dates.

I saw photos of farmers protesting with signs specifically blaming Ukrainians, and saying they’re ungrateful/unwelcome in the country. But I also saw a headline saying that Russian agitators could be behind it. I have no idea which is more likely.

JSYK it’s “mind numbingly” not “mined numbingly”

I used to row (in the UK) and agree. Swans are fucking terrifying and give zero fucks. I accidentally hit one with my oar once. I’ve been marked ever since. 👀

Linen trousers?

Why would the pope comment on a murder in England that has no religious motive? Has Justin Welby condemned it? Mirza Masroor Ahmad? Yitzhak Yosef? No, because it’s completely irrelevant. Stop piggybacking on this tragedy with your weird religious agenda.

Only 6% of adults are practicing Christians in the UK. It’s statistically unlikely this has anything to do with religion.