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Terry Pratchett has Alzheimer's
Johnny C:
Man it is a weird attitude that says, "eh, this person is worth more than that person."
onewheelwizzard:
::grin:: You just agreed with me. I was pointing out that the word "tragedy" was only useful as a means of distinguishing Terry Pratchett's illness from my hypothetical grandmother's illness *by referencing the different circumstances of each,* namely, that losing Terry Pratchett means losing a more widely-available resource. In other words, saying that Terry Pratchett's illness is a "tragedy" is not at all saying that he is a more important or more valuable person than my grandmother, but rather that the impact of his impending loss will spread over more individuals, this being the extent of the distinction and the only reason why the word "tragedy" is being used. There's a significant difference and I specifically pointed out that it doesn't extend into a value judgment of any kind.
I really need to not enjoy arguing semantics as much as I do.
Dimmukane:
I'm pretty sure he doesn't think of it as a tragedy. He probably thinks he gets to start taking Dried Frog Pills soon.
jimbunny:
Guys, in the future, take the arguments into a new thread. As it is, this thread - which started as a expression of sadness over a well-loved author's illness - has been taken over by an unrelated discussion of abstractions and ill-defined vocabulary. Pretty shitty boarding, people.
IronOxide:
It's a damn shame, but people still have a few more good years in them after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's. It's a horrible and debilitating disease, but we shouldn't count him out yet.
Ravel wrote Bolero in the middle to late stages of Pick's Disease, a disorder that presents similarly. I'm going to hold out hope.
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