Well, thank you Captain Obvious!

Everyone has an opinion.  Everyone.  Some are helpful, some are not, some are stupid as hell, while others are absolutely golden.  Not saying most aren't worthwhile.  I'm just saying that a person REALLY needs to know when to offer that opinion, and when to just shut up and give that person respect.  Respect vs. opinion.  Yeah, that's a no-brainer.  Or at least it should be.

So, with a health issue comes research, a gathering of information in order to help oneself.  No different here with me.  I research, unbiased, and stick to the appropriate sources for information. Because consulting Dr. Google isn't going to give you anything except a false idea that you're going to die from a common cold.  Having said that, I think most people choose to take responsibility for their own health and set about to find out what they can do to facilitate improvement, and to also how to avoid pitfalls and making the situation worse.  Another a no-brainer.

Now, about those well-meaning individuals who, in all their 'wisdom and expertise,' tell you that having a healthy diet and partaking in daily exercise will fix what's wrong.  Well, thank you Captain Obvious!  *sigh*  I don't mean to say that suggestions offered have no merit.  Many do.  But many are really just a waste of my time, to be honest.  Give me some credit for having a brain, and for being smart enough at this stage of the game in my life to know what's good and bad for me.

So, when I begin to look at the plethora of information out there about NASH, for example, it tells me a lot, but in completely general terms.  What I WANT to know is what people are actually doing to improve the situation, what their experiences are.  Is that so hard?  And no, I'm never impolite or mean to anyone who offers up the obvious, but I do feel a bit annoyed when they push their suggestions, assuming I'm not already doing... well, the obvious.  I simply smile, say thank you, and try to change the subject quickly when I know it's not going anywhere.

Good grief.

Here's my humble suggestion to anyone feeling as if they have to offer an opinion:  Ask yourself if what you're going to say is obvious.  Then, and most importantly, ask yourself if the person you're talking to has the capacity to extract such obvious information from sources outside yourself.  This means, is it something their doctor(s) could have already addressed?  Is it something anyone can find on Wikipedia?  If so, maybe it's just best to listen to that person, because that is far more helpful than offering up something that could, in fact, insult their intelligence.

The exception to the above---is actual expertise.  I mean, you're a doctor specializing in that field, or you're someone who is going through the same thing and know what works, what doesn't, what to do if it's not 'fixable,' what you do to manage.. etc.

God bless those who try and help.  And I truly mean that.  Again, I'm not mean or disrespectful to those who end up stating the obvious, I just wish they would give me credit for being able to find the most obvious of information, or... that I would already know certain things.

You know what I mean.  Right?

*sigh* lol