Alzheimer's related dementia patients being ignored by their caregivers.

I was watching A Baby Story on TLC and a woman on the show gave birth to a little girl, but her husband had been killed in a car accident while she was pregnant. That one's still fresh on my mind.

My 10 month old crying because he's teething.

I remember seeing a doco on Tv about these bears in China that are kept in welded shut cages all their lives. The cages are too small for the bears to move. The bears have a metal 'tap' surgically implanted into their bile duct so the Chinese can harvest bile for their "medicine". The bears are bored crapless, some go mad, others grind their teeth off on the bars. There is an Australian woman who through donations, buys these bears and sets them free in parks she builds. See http://www.animalsasia.org/ for info. The documentary was the saddest thing I have seen. A close second was the Romanian orphans who had never been cuddled and as a consequence developed brain damage although they were born normal.

Besides the hurt from family members at funerals - nothing really. All the rest was on television - and the events are countless. Is TV really all that great?

I just dumped on television again, however, I must say that it's really a wonderful tool for education only that's not its only use... It can be very misleading in the wrong hands.

A woman giving birth to a stillborn child.

The funeral for my cousin who was killed by a careless hunter. She was camping with her parents in a designated camping area and was hit by a ricocheting bullet from a hunter who was illegally hunting too near the camp. She had been sitting at the picnic table reading a book and her mother came out of the tent and found her lying with her head down on the book. She had died instantly and probably didn't know what hit her, but it was just such a needless death that could have been easily prevented as the area was well posted with "NO HUNTING" signs. They never found the person who's careless act caused her untimely death. She was only 13 years old.

Yeah, you have to take most things with a grain of salt, but that goes for everything doesn't it?

I didn't witness this, but my dad's death was so sad

My mom when my dad ran off with another woman.

Thats horrible!

Yes it was. To this day I wonder if the person who accidently killed her was even aware of his actions.

I forgot about the television documentaries from Romanian orphanages. I think I blocked them out because it was so painful to watch. I wanted to hold every one of those children and fix them. I cried so hard watching that.

Hmmm.....I saw a cat get hit by a car because of a very mean man and his very mean dog once. That was sad. I;m not sure though, there could be other things that were more sad, but I've blocked them out or something.

I think some things get so overwhelming, especially watching in Australia or the USA or Canada where things seem at least civilized. I wanted to slap the crap out of those so-called care givers who just fed the kids and didn't touch them. I really don't like kids but I wouldn't condemn one to a life of retardation that I could have prevented by a simple cuddle. It's very weird that humans need physical contact so much isn't it? How strange is it that humans will become physically and mentally retarded if we don't get touched as small children. How many small children will now be neglected by wary care givers because of the pedophile problem occurring now?

I can't remember specific incidences but it has something to do with children being mistreated in shopping centres or talked to like pieces of dirt. I stand there and wonder what hope is there for the child.

I guess seeing TV programs where were shown animals in animal shelters and adopt-a-pet notices with the animals' pictures, and realizing how many of these little orphans need good homes; and that some of them will have to be put to sleep because of not finding such homes...

Taking that further, I think grown ups need it too. I don't think any of us touch or get touched enough. There is such stigma attached to touching. It doesn't always have to be about sex and yet most people equate adult to adult touching with sexual overtures. I think if people touched each other more, felt free to connect, hold hands, comfort each other, there would be less loneliness and addiction.
You don't like to be touched. I think you said that once.

generic stuff involving the quality of souls and societies expectations/burdens. My cat nearly died a couple times. Probably something that doesn't come to mind at the moment.
Ah yes, my suicidal period, the synchronous death of my cousin, the time my wife felt that I was a stranger, and probaly still plenty more.

First thing I thought of: One of my buddies trying to put the doorhandles back on his car right after taking them off on concrete columns whilst exiting a multi-level carpark.

I agree 100%. I just moved, but my last job was working in a lock-down Alzheimer's ward during the graveyard shift. I didn't get along with my co-workers too well because of this issue. Most had no patience. They didn't seem to understand that the facility is HOME for the residents, and how far little personal touches and simple acts of kindness could go. But as for my co-workers, I trust in Karma.

The death of my bf's (at the time) grandfather.

((((hug))))
I so needed to hear that. Thank you.

I just remembered something I'd rather forget;
My bestfriend's 4 year old niece's funeral. Car accident...
That was really sad.

*returns hug* ANYTIME!!

ugh, saddest for me was the death of my mother. saddest in general, the death of a child! most sad and tragic, sept. 11th.

Watching my grandfather slip from clarity into death over a four day span. That took us all down.

I really can't remember the last time I touched, or was touched by another human, even in a sexual way - . Yes, it's been that long!

Take the voice of experience, don't bother unless it's going to on the par with the best you left off at. At least now it's intermission, not a downhill trend.

I won't. I am quite picky anyway.

The death of my son.

That is so dangerous...quick ...go hug your dog tight! You do have dogs, right?

If someone, anyone, touched your hand or patted you on the back or rubbed your arm or reached out to you in a friendly way, how would that feel to you?

So far... my life up until this point. There are some high points here and there. I have a lot to be thankful for. Still, all in all, this life I have lived has been pretty mournful.

I didn't have television for three years. I have had it for the past two. It really is this atrocious home wrecker.

I've witnessed alot of heart wrenching things so this is a hard question, but one the saddest things I've ever seen was a guy in a motorized wheel chair come threw the drive thru at work. It was so sad he was very polite and asked if I could put a straw in his cup for him cause he could only use one arm. It just broke my heart that no one would help this poor man out It almost made me cry and pissed me off as well just seeing the "toxicity of our city".

The world today is full of sadness I can look into a strangers eyes and feel their sadness It's very depressing. Most people wouldn't believe this but i'm very sensitive alot of things get to me. A child is so innocent any kind of pain or sadness directed towards them is sad not only for them...........but for the person inflicting the hurt as well.

Yeah I have dogs. I love touching them, but they have to be clean. I wash them at least once a week. I can't handle their wet noses on me and they know not to lick. Everyone who knows me knows not to touch me. I have told people that. I don't like people touching me in a 'friendly' way. I don't understand why people have to touch others especially when humans communicate verbally and visually. I get creeped out when people touch me for no reason, and unless I need someone to pull me up off the edge of a cliff, there really is no reason for anyone to touch me in a work setting.

*nods*
I like it. I like to feel connected. But it has to be the right people, not just any person.
Do you think that people want to touch you more, because you don't want them to?
I find I seem to attract what I most want to repel....and visa versa.

i don't mind so much people elbowing me to get my attention, but I hate the giggle and the upper arm grab that so many women do. There's also one wanker at work who I don't bump into very often but every time he sees me he asks me if I work out and will do things like grab my arm roughly like guys sometimes do but hold on just a little too long, like he's determining how strong I am or something. I hate that crap. Guys sometimes pretend to be play-fighting but it's more to sus out who's strongest etc. I feel outside all that crap. I'm a pod!

That is just plain wrong. You have my permission to punch the next man who does that to you.

Why do you think women do that giggle arm grab thing? Do you think it insincere? What would you have them do instead? Do you think most men like that? When a woman connects and shows them she feels they are funny and touchable that way, I mean?

I hear ya! I used to work at an animal shelter and it was always hard when animals got put down. There just aren't enough homes. At first I was angry with my supervisor, but then I realized we were doing the best we could with the resources we had. Sometimes euthanasia is the most humane thing for an animal. But if I could take them all home I would!

Where you live, do you have an animal shelter agency which transports various adoptables in cages to different neighborhoods where there are a fair number of people walking about, to display the cages to pedestrians so it's convenient to stop and take a look at the animals and therefore possibly adopt? We have this here, especially in the downtown area. I think this is a great idea because people who wouldn't ordinarily consider going out of their way to an animal shelter are exposed to cute critters in cages that need homes.

I live in Minnesota.
We used to have a store front down town so people could look at animals, but it didn't work out because other businesses complained about the barking, and there was no where to walk the dogs.

Yeah, walking dogs is a problem for city dwellers. People round here usually just walk them on the sidewalk and carry a plastic bag so as to scoop the poop from the curbside. There are a few parks here and there where people are more or less free to let their dogs run a bit, but a big city is not the greatest place for dogs unless one has a yard. So many dog owners are apartment dwellers around here. I know what you mean about people complaining about barking. I used to have a dog (in an apartment) and he would HOWL when I left the place... I realize now I was negligent in training him properly.

Dogs can be a lot ofwork. I am blessed with a dog that almost never barks.

My friend's dad's funeral. We were in high school. A group of about 10 or so of his friends went to the services and we all cried our eyes out. It was terrible.

Lucky you. Barking dogs do not bother me at all but I know they drive some people nuts. I always think it's a positive thing when a dog barks suddenly when it doesn't usually bark a lot, because then you are warned of potential prowlers, etc. by the dog's alertness.

I don't know. It's like some of them aren't listening to what I say and laugh at things I think aren't really funny then do the touch. Why do some people feel they have to touch people? I don't know how to do it, even if I wanted to. Another guy at work has told me he gets creeped when women at work grab his arm or come up behind him and give him a neck rub, but what are guys supposed to do? Imagine a guy bringing a woman up on sexual harassment? One Christmas a couple of older ladies (50-60) had a few drinks at lunch and came in saying things about which guy has the nices arse etc. I think it's part of the pendulum swinging way too far so that now the most discriminated against group are the white, hetero males and it's acceptable for women to say things that could land a man in deep crap. I do think the laugh and grab is insincere and I don't see why it's needed at all.

Well, for one thing, some people communicate by words, others by sight or touch (i took a class on this actually). Different people trying to communicate well on a date might prefer to sit away from kitchen noises, able to gaze across the table at each other, or in cushy chairs side by side.
On the reverse discrimination thing, again I think you guys are behind us. I haven't heard much complaint of that since the late 70's / late 80's. In fact, I'm beginning to think the PC days are dead. The media is starting to fill with secretary sex jokes and such again. It could be a covert part of Bushes marriage campaign.
They could just have pity on you. Would that make you feel better? I don't get why you complain, well actually, i do recall having super low esteem during an early humble dirt phase of my spiritual path in which I was actually a secretly grumbly wreck about receiving compliments. Fortunately I came out of that discovering the joy of receiving and giving compliments much better than anytime earlier in my life. It's not healthy, I tell you. If you don't try out some alternate mindsets (not just behaviour), how are you going to be able to learn anything. You were justifying yourself in that last comment, as much as you were in your 'need to be understood' mode. They are both symptoms of the same thing. Hey, I got a longshot for you, why don't you write us an emotonal survey. something that digs deep. a survey you think will help people.

I think California is ahead of the world since it dumped affirmative action. I don't know if the reast of the US as as far through it as CA. We don't litigate as much in Australia. I think women in the US are aware of potential law suits and don't play up at work. Here the men are too proud to complain about sexual harassment by a women and even if they did it would come to nothing since no one is really hurt. I can't even think of an emotional survey. I can think of a few that will provoke a negative reaction

I know you can't. The idea of the assignment was to spend a week getting one to gel. It wasn't just the survey and it's it's interactive results I was thinking about. But maybe you should throw in an evil survey too. Perhaps one so evil you scare yourself.

I think it is wrong for anyone male or female to touch someone else in a way that makes them feel icky or say stuff that someone might find offensive BUT as is with most things PC....people do not judge on a case by case basis and unfortunately make broad and sweeping rules and laws that border on ridiculous!
The workplace especially shouldn't be a place where anyone, male or female feels that they cannot effectively work because of someone else's inappropriate behavior. Those older women were wrong to say that stuff.

What can you say though huh?

Dunno. *shakes her head*

How about "Let me lick your dried out rag hole out you chicken rash slut" or something like that?

Yeah, that won't get you in trouble......

Only of there are whitnesses

When Sue forgets her butcher knife, the backstabbing dog!

My daughter dying in my arms

Death

Everything and nothing.

One time I was walking out of a shopping center and I just spent like $300 on clothes and this woman and her son walked up to me( she was dirty and her clothes were ripped and her son was dirty too and he had a G.I.Joe doll) and she asked me if she could have a little change because she wanted to buy her son a little food. I felt so aweful!!! This was right before Christmas too! I did give her some money but I felt like returning all my clothes after that.

Several of my cats over the years dieing in my arms. Heartbreaking.