Here is one of the most head-scratchingest (borrowed word) examples I have seen in a long time. Last week CFTO news featured a family whose daughter has melanoma. She suffers from a severe case of tanorexia. Yes. I said tanorexia. This is the newest in an ever-increasing list of “addictions” that people apparently can’t control. This 22-year old Rhodes scholar young woman started her tanning career at the age of 16. When her friends gave her positive feedback about how wonderful she looked with a tan she was compelled to visit the salon more often. Before she knew it she was going for a fake-and-bake four times a week. Shocking she contracted melanoma isn’t it? She, along with her parents, are now pushing for legislation to put a minimum age requirement of 18 on tanning salons.
Huh????
So if she hadn’t become tanorexic until she was 18 then she wouldn’t have been diagnosed with melanoma until two years later? What kind of logic is this? And what is with her parents? Where were they when she was turning various shades of orange over the last 6 years? And where did she get the money? Tanning salons are not cheap. Were her parents funding the colour change? Most perplexing of all - has this family never heard of the dangers of tanning beds? Have they been asleep under a rock for the past couple of decades???
And yet another example of the blame game from the news this week. A rocket scientist woman filed a class action lawsuit against Nutella. This wife and mother was “shocked” when friends informed her that Nutella is not healthy.
This is not a health food.
According to an article in the Toronto Star, she “felt betrayed” by the makers of Nutella when she learned the product is full of sugar and fat. So she exercised her democratic rights and filed a lawsuit. The worst part of the whole story? She won. Any American consumer can apply for a refund and the makers of Nutella will refund them $4.00 to a maximum of three million dollars.
For the most astute amongst us.
I hereby nominate Nutella woman and tanorexia family for this year’s Darwin awards. Who seconds the motion?
Put these two news items together and you have the story of the tanorexic mom from the appropriately named Nutley New Jersey.
I wonder if I can sue General Mills for all the Cocoa Puffs I ate as a kid?
I can not believe she is from a place called Nutley. That is hilarious! Your comment really should be the last line of my actual post. So fitting! That particular tanorexic Nutlian is all over Facebook. One of the funniest comments I saw by her picture was “Wonka called and you’re needed back at the factory”. Ha!!
Is tanorexic even a real word? Who comes up with this stuff anyway? This post is spot on! Nice reflection piece.
Thank-you M.J. No, I don’t think it’s a real word. Nor should it be treated as a real “condition”!
That is the biggest crock of BS I’ve head this week. Ugh. Some people are sooo stupid.
Agreed Amberr! Quite unbelievable!
people sue for so many reasons these days. Unfortunately, billions can be paid out to those who least deserve it.
It just seems all so dishonest. Nobody wants to take the responsibility for anything. Crazy!
I always wonder how they manage to win these lawsuits. Did Nutella supposedly misrepresent themselves in some way? The nutrition label is on the back, just like it is on every food. I wish the people that filed these ridiculous lawsuits could be thrown in jail for a while for wasting the courts’ time and the taxpayers’ money.
It is a little bit more difficult here in Canada to sue. But there is still a pervasive feeling that no one ever makes their own mistakes anymore. It’s always the other guys fault. You’re right – it’s a complete waste of time and money!
Oh my stars! What is wrong with people? Where did common sense disappear? Maybe what we should do is take a look at our legal system as well. If people didn’t win stupid lawsuits, they wouldn’t file them. Sheesh!
Agreed Kathi! The legal system needs a complete overhaul! What kills me is that these people have the time and the wherewithal to go hire a lawyer and mire themselves in all that drama when all it does is point out their complete stupidity. Quite shocking!
The Nutella thing just makes me sad. But then again it may bring hope that most breakfast cereals will stop marketing themselves as a “nutritious start to the day”.
Adding vitamins a minerals to a bowel of sugar does not a healthy breakfast make.
Very true Rusty. It amazes me how easily the masses are swayed. Just put something out there and the general public buy into it. Very few seem to think for themselves. Now if I could just think up the next “healthy” trend and put it out there like I am some kind of expert maybe I will finally become the millionaire I was meant to be.