I work in the provision of Housing and Support Services for the so called "underclass", so this was a little bitter sweet for me. It reinforces the stereotypes, but it's also wickedly funny..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OA9t61PuiDc

Hope you Americans can get through the Midlands accent!

_________________
Fender Highway & Classic 60s Strats, Fender Toronado, Telecaster, Gretsch Projet, Charvel 3, PRS SE Soapbar II & Custom 24, Burns Batwing and many others!

I had a little trouble with the accent, but I got the point. I don't know whether to laugh or cry. If thats a joke its a cruel one. If it's serious, it's a sad story. Genetic Disorder / Substance abuse & a trip to Barbados
----Danny,

I don't know if this was intended to be a joke or for real, but my wife has bi-polar manic depression. She has a brilliant mind but she goes through massive mood swings. When her medicines are working, she is great; however, once they start to fail watch out for the roller coster ride she is about to go on. I do try to tell her of her warning signs (lets face it I have been with her for 21 years) and sometimes she heeds the warnings but sometimes she refuses to listen. The things Doreen is describing sounds like Bi-polar Manic Depression.

Some of the things Doreen says hits the money on the mark. Yes when my wife is in her manic stage, she is out of control, especially when it comes to money decisions. When she is severly depressed she does feel so tired that she does not want to do anything. As long as my wife's medicines are working, they keep her more normal and she is able to hold onto a job. When the medicines are not working, and she is depressed, it is harder for her to keep working until a new medicine or combination of medicines are found. She really has never been totally out of work, just harder for her to continue to work. Hence the "Lazy B@$ch Syndrome". And yes this is a genetic disorder that can be passed on to our child and their children.

All I can say is anyone living with a hyper mania or hyper depression they need to have it treated by a professional. I hate to say this but finding the right medicine(s) can take a while, and eventually the medicine(s) stop working and the doctors will have to find another one or combination. Anyone living with a person with mood disorders should never give up on their loved one.

I did not want to stir up sympathy here, just to let you know that Doreen's story (even if fictional) struck home with me and I am sure a few others here as well. Even in the US, especially in Texas, mood disorders are a taboo topic, and most people have a negative image of people that have them. If this is fictional and supposed to be a joke, I do not find the humor in it at all.

_________________
RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head

+1
----Danny,

She would say whole phrases that I didn't understand a word of. If I put some of this redneck on her, she would probably be blown away like me.

No offense meant for anyone dealing with mental health issues. Been there and done that with someone close to me..

Doreen is of course not ill at all. The issue of career work avoidance is very high profile in the UK right now. This piece is deliberately provocative and designed both to entertain and probably raise an issue for exploration.

As for the accent, well I always knew it might not travel well..

_________________
Fender Highway & Classic 60s Strats, Fender Toronado, Telecaster, Gretsch Projet, Charvel 3, PRS SE Soapbar II & Custom 24, Burns Batwing and many others!

Adey: After some carefull thought and consideration, I see the humor in the Doreen Thing. In The U.S we refer to her kind as Dead Beats and believe me, We have lots of them. The sad part of it is, that it is passed down from generation to generation. Once they learn the system and see how easy it is, you cant get them off dead center. They quickly become Heard Core Unemployable and stay there for life. I think we should let them STARVE, or Work For Food. Save the kids!
----Danny,

Can't argue with that. Break the circle..

_________________
Fender Highway & Classic 60s Strats, Fender Toronado, Telecaster, Gretsch Projet, Charvel 3, PRS SE Soapbar II & Custom 24, Burns Batwing and many others!

This is satire.

Doreen wasn't being actually diagnosed with Bipolar; the doctor was in collusion with her on creating a "need" to be on the dole (welfare). Notice she said, "Can't you make it something else, like 'Amburger's Syndrome?"

She is not making fun of anyone with Bipolar or any other actual syndrome, disease, or illness...she's making fun of lazy people who refuse to work.

Here in the US, there are plenty of unscrupulous doctors who are willing to write prescriptions to keep the addicts happy, make false diagnoses (plural diagnosis) to enable some to get on Disability, and other assorted welfare/Medicaid fraud schemes.

I think the accent has masked the fact that Doreen has Lazy Cow Syndrome, and she's what would be called in the States a "Welfare Queen"...just like her mother before her and her children after her.

If she said the exact same routine with a redneck accent, everyone would be laughing their heads off...I think people who have taken offense aren't understanding what she's saying.

_________________
Good Vibes To Y'all!



Screamin' Armadillos
Texas Roadhouse Music
Guitar/Slide Guitar/Harp/Vocals

I admit that I did take this satire a bit far. I heard stuff. It that sounded familiar to an actual disease not "Lazy Cow Syndrome". I guess the accent and dramatic music threw me off a bit.

_________________
RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head

Doreen has what Willie the Gardener calls Heart & Kidney disease, Heart lazy & Kidney care less