John Prescott and Bulimia
I've never had a kind word to say about the overpromoted John Prescott's absurd and enormously wasteful policies or his unpleasant, class-tension-exploiting political instincts. However, IMHO his disclosure today that he has suffered for a long time from bulimia really deserves praise. I'm sure that there will be much smirking in the blogosphere but I admire his courage immensely.
Judging by John Prescott's intellectual history, I think he most likely just misunderstands what bulimia is. I suspect what he was doing was simply eating till he was sick. That sounds more likely. What is worse though is how much of that food/ regurgitation was claimed in his MP's expenses. Self inflicted problems are one thing when privately funded, but publicly funded self harm? Is that what I go to work for?
Posted by: Igirisu Jin | April 21, 2008 at 17:18
Well, Prescott's strange cofession has come after the disclosure of the immense amounts of public money that he spent on food. I remain a sceptic on the bulimia. Could it be that the definitin of the word has been especially widened for the purpose of delfecting criticism?
Posted by: JohnF | April 21, 2008 at 17:45
It just goes to show the pressure of modern life and how individuals seek escape in many different ways. I particularly feel sorry for young people today who are under constant pressure to have the latest mobile, ipod etc. Then of course there is the 10,000 pound debt that university students are saddled with before they have even started life proper. I have respect for politicians who are involved in public service and are devoting their life to our country. As public figures they must accept a degree of scrutiny and heat from the media but at times that scrutiny does become personal goes beyond the pale.
Posted by: Tony Makara | April 21, 2008 at 18:33
Bulimia is only an illness because those in charge of the terminology have decided it is. People think that because it is catagorised in a specific way, then it must be a specific thing. Until recently, Pluto was a planet, now it is not. But Pluto hasn't changed. The point is, just because the powers that be have decided to term Bulimia an illness, it doesn't mean that it isn't self inflicted or that you are unable to stop it by deciding to. It is little different to gambling addiction.
Posted by: Igirisu Jin | April 21, 2008 at 19:46
Using the Internet can be an 'addiction'. If my PC or connection is down, along with a certain level of financial uncertainty I go through withdrawal from a substantial means of stimulation. We can establish a vice using and abusing just about anything. Having said this... that vice can become quite dangerous like very unhealthy eating. Labeling it an illness is our modern way of defining behavior releaving judgmentalism.
Posted by: Steevo | April 21, 2008 at 21:02
Yes, and as soon as you label something like this an illness it means people assum you cannot critcise it or be blunt about it, you have to dance around the issue and be caring and sympathetic etc. All that happenes is it becomes an excuse to shift blame. Oh the doctor said its an illness so its not my fault. People who think like this whether its an eating disorder, depression, or addiction to something external (obviously substances that cause physical dependancy are slightly different) tend to do very little about fixing the problem. It's left to others to fix it, or doctors to treat it, and tax payers to pay for it. No matter what it is in life, people need to learn to stop shifting the responsibilty and to just get on and sort themselves out. All it takes is strength of mind. But often those who aren't strong in that way are held back by the people telling them that it's okay and not their fault, that it's an illness. I realise most people do have a mental weakness of some sort, but this kind of thing is just typical of Prescott. I can sometimes be highly cynical, especially of the left, and so I suspect JohnF's post may be right.
Posted by: Igirisu Jin | April 22, 2008 at 11:38
Why take anything this abysmal creature says at face value? He's a proven liar, cheat and was so thoroughly incompetent that I doubt he could catch a disease even if he tried.
Posted by: Andy | April 22, 2008 at 12:07
Bulimia? rowlocks, gross gluttony and no doubt a faint memory of I Cladius, so as to make more room.
Prezza is taking all for a ride and in doing so has managed to deflect our recalling his serial womanising and affairs and the rather ugly bullying and harrassment that he habitually indulged in, much of it against female civil servants.
That's of far more import, than this complete load of bollocks, and needs to be brought to the front for all to be reminded that Prezza was a very unsavoury character.
He does deserve one iota of sympathy for anything.
Posted by: George Hinton | April 22, 2008 at 14:35
He does deserve one iota of sympathy for anything.
Posted by: George Hinton | April 22, 2008 at 14:35
I forgot the negative:-
He does NOT deserve one iota of sympathy for anything.
Posted by: George Hinton | April 22, 2008 at 15:27
I think he was an amnesiac bulimic.
He forgot to be sick afterwards.
Posted by: Cleethorpes Rock | April 22, 2008 at 18:55