How can we distinguish between expert opinions and uninformed views in public debates. Why is it crucial to prioritize evidence-based arguments over mere opinions. What are the dangers of false equivalencies in media discussions.
The Pitfalls of False Equivalence in Public Discourse
In today’s media landscape, we often encounter a troubling phenomenon: discussions on complex issues where experts are pitted against individuals with little to no relevant background. This practice, ostensibly aimed at providing a “fair and balanced” perspective, can actually undermine meaningful dialogue and public understanding.
Why does this matter? While the intention may be to present diverse viewpoints, this approach can inadvertently lend undue credibility to unfounded opinions. It’s crucial to recognize that not all opinions hold equal weight, especially when dealing with topics grounded in scientific research or specialized knowledge.
The Dangers of Manufactured Equality
When media outlets present expert opinions alongside uninformed views as if they carry equal validity, they create a false equivalence. This can lead to several problematic outcomes:
- Confusion among the public about what constitutes credible information
- Undermining of scientific consensus on critical issues
- Difficulty in implementing evidence-based policies
- Erosion of trust in genuine expertise
Distinguishing Between Facts and Opinions
While everyone is entitled to their opinion, it’s essential to understand that opinions and facts are not interchangeable. Facts are verifiable through empirical evidence, while opinions are subjective beliefs that may or may not be based on factual information.
How can we differentiate between facts and opinions in public discourse? Consider these key points:
- Look for citations of peer-reviewed research
- Consider the speaker’s credentials and relevant experience
- Be wary of claims that contradict established scientific consensus
- Pay attention to the use of emotional language versus objective data
The Value of Expertise in Complex Debates
Expertise matters, especially when dealing with intricate subjects like climate change, healthcare, or economic policy. Experts bring years of study, research, and practical experience to the table, allowing them to provide nuanced insights that go beyond surface-level understanding.
Why should we prioritize expert opinions in public debates? Here are some compelling reasons:
- Experts can contextualize information within broader frameworks
- They are more likely to recognize the complexities and limitations of their field
- Experts can identify and debunk common misconceptions
- Their opinions are typically grounded in rigorous methodology and peer review
Overcoming the Allure of False Balance
The concept of “false balance” in media coverage can be seductive. It appears to uphold principles of fairness and impartiality. However, when applied indiscriminately, it can lead to the spread of misinformation and the erosion of public trust in scientific consensus.
How can media outlets and consumers combat false balance? Consider these strategies:
- Prioritize quality of information over quantity of viewpoints
- Provide context for the credentials and expertise of all speakers
- Clearly distinguish between factual reporting and opinion pieces
- Encourage critical thinking and media literacy among audiences
The Role of Critical Thinking in Public Discourse
As consumers of information, we have a responsibility to approach public debates with a critical eye. This doesn’t mean dismissing all opposing viewpoints, but rather developing the skills to evaluate the credibility and substance of different arguments.
How can we cultivate better critical thinking skills? Here are some practical steps:
- Question the sources of information presented
- Look for consensus among multiple reputable experts
- Be aware of your own biases and preconceptions
- Seek out diverse perspectives from credible sources
- Practice intellectual humility and be willing to change your mind when presented with compelling evidence
Balancing Respect for Individuals with Scrutiny of Ideas
It’s crucial to maintain a clear distinction between respecting individuals and accepting all ideas as equally valid. While we should uphold the inherent dignity and worth of all people, ideas themselves must be subject to rigorous scrutiny and evaluation.
How can we strike this balance in public discourse? Consider these principles:
- Treat all individuals with respect, regardless of their views
- Focus critiques on ideas and arguments, not personal attacks
- Encourage open dialogue while maintaining high standards for evidence
- Recognize that changing one’s mind in light of new evidence is a strength, not a weakness
The Importance of Evidence-Based Decision Making
In an era of increasing complexity and rapid technological change, the need for evidence-based decision making has never been greater. Whether in public policy, healthcare, or personal choices, relying on solid evidence and expert analysis can lead to better outcomes.
What are the benefits of prioritizing evidence-based approaches? Consider these advantages:
- More effective and efficient problem-solving
- Reduced influence of personal biases and preconceptions
- Improved ability to adapt to changing circumstances
- Greater accountability and transparency in decision-making processes
Fostering a Culture of Intellectual Curiosity
To truly address the challenges posed by false equivalencies and misinformation, we need to cultivate a societal culture that values intellectual curiosity and lifelong learning. This involves moving beyond surface-level debates and encouraging deeper engagement with complex issues.
How can we promote intellectual curiosity in our communities? Here are some strategies:
- Encourage reading from diverse, reputable sources
- Promote interdisciplinary thinking and collaboration
- Support science education and critical thinking skills in schools
- Create platforms for meaningful dialogue between experts and the public
- Celebrate intellectual achievements and breakthroughs in various fields
By fostering a culture that values expertise, evidence, and intellectual growth, we can create a more informed and discerning public. This, in turn, can lead to better decision-making at all levels of society, from individual choices to national policies.
Navigating the Information Landscape in the Digital Age
The digital revolution has dramatically transformed how we access and consume information. While this has democratized knowledge in many ways, it has also created new challenges in distinguishing credible sources from unreliable ones.
How can we effectively navigate the vast sea of information available online? Consider these tips:
- Verify information across multiple reputable sources
- Be wary of sensationalist headlines and clickbait
- Check the credentials and potential biases of authors and organizations
- Use fact-checking websites to verify controversial claims
- Pay attention to the date of publication to ensure information is current
By developing these skills, we can become more discerning consumers of information and better equipped to participate in meaningful public discourse.
The Role of Media Literacy in Combating Misinformation
As the lines between traditional media, social media, and user-generated content continue to blur, media literacy has become an essential skill for navigating the modern information landscape. It involves the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, and create media in various forms.
Why is media literacy crucial in today’s world? Consider these key points:
- It helps individuals identify and avoid falling for fake news and propaganda
- Media literacy promotes critical thinking and analytical skills
- It empowers people to be active, informed participants in democratic processes
- Understanding media production can help people create and share responsible content
By promoting media literacy at all levels of education and in public discourse, we can create a more informed and resilient society better equipped to handle the challenges of the digital age.
Embracing Complexity in Public Debates
Many of the most pressing issues facing our world today are inherently complex, with no simple solutions. Yet, public discourse often gravitates towards oversimplified narratives and false dichotomies. To make progress on these challenges, we need to embrace complexity and nuance in our discussions.
How can we foster more nuanced debates on complex issues? Consider these approaches:
- Acknowledge that many problems have multiple facets and potential solutions
- Encourage exploration of trade-offs and unintended consequences
- Promote interdisciplinary perspectives to capture the full scope of issues
- Create spaces for long-form discussions that allow for deeper exploration of topics
- Celebrate leaders and media figures who embrace nuance and avoid oversimplification
By embracing complexity, we can move beyond superficial debates and work towards more effective and sustainable solutions to our shared challenges.
The Importance of Intellectual Humility
In an era of polarization and echo chambers, intellectual humility – the recognition that our knowledge and understanding are limited and subject to revision – is more important than ever. This quality allows us to engage in more productive discussions and be open to new evidence and perspectives.
Why is intellectual humility crucial for meaningful dialogue? Consider these benefits:
- It promotes genuine learning and growth
- Intellectual humility fosters more respectful and productive debates
- It allows for the possibility of changing one’s mind in light of new evidence
- This quality helps bridge divides and find common ground on contentious issues
By cultivating intellectual humility in ourselves and valuing it in others, we can create a more collaborative and constructive approach to addressing complex societal challenges.
Building Bridges Between Experts and the Public
While recognizing the importance of expertise, it’s equally crucial to build bridges between experts and the general public. This involves creating opportunities for meaningful dialogue and translating complex ideas into accessible language without sacrificing accuracy.
How can we improve communication between experts and the public? Consider these strategies:
- Encourage scientists and experts to engage in public outreach and communication
- Create platforms for direct interaction between experts and community members
- Promote science journalism that accurately conveys complex ideas to a general audience
- Incorporate storytelling and relatable examples to make abstract concepts more concrete
- Develop educational programs that foster scientific literacy from an early age
By bridging the gap between specialized knowledge and public understanding, we can create a more informed citizenry and foster greater trust in expertise and evidence-based decision-making.
The Role of Institutions in Upholding Evidence-Based Discourse
Institutions such as universities, scientific organizations, and reputable media outlets play a crucial role in maintaining the integrity of public discourse. They serve as gatekeepers of knowledge, upholding standards of evidence and peer review that are essential for the advancement of understanding.
How can institutions contribute to more evidence-based public debates? Consider these approaches:
- Maintain rigorous standards for peer review and publication
- Provide clear explanations of methodologies and limitations in research
- Offer accessible summaries of complex studies for public consumption
- Engage in partnerships with media outlets to ensure accurate reporting of scientific findings
- Develop programs to combat misinformation and promote critical thinking
By strengthening these institutional roles, we can create a more robust ecosystem for the generation and dissemination of reliable knowledge.
The Future of Public Discourse: Challenges and Opportunities
As we look to the future, the landscape of public discourse continues to evolve rapidly. New technologies, changing media ecosystems, and shifting social norms all present both challenges and opportunities for fostering more informed and productive debates.
What are some key trends and considerations for the future of public discourse? Consider these points:
- The increasing role of artificial intelligence in information curation and fact-checking
- The potential for virtual and augmented reality to create more immersive educational experiences
- The need for new ethical frameworks to govern the use of emerging technologies in public communication
- The challenge of combating deepfakes and other sophisticated forms of misinformation
- The opportunity to leverage big data and advanced analytics to gain deeper insights into complex societal issues
By anticipating these trends and proactively developing strategies to address them, we can work towards a future where public discourse is more informed, nuanced, and constructive.
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“Just a Flesh Wound”: Moving Past Stupid Arguments
How many times have you seen a TV segment or newspaper discussion about some hotly-contested issue in which a person with experience, education, training, and professional background is presented next to a person with none of the above?
Usually there’s something about providing a “fair and balanced” look at the issues, an implicit tug of the forelock to the moral relativism of all things.
That’s valuable when we’re talking about stuff like religion and morality. Less so when we’re talking about the climate, about health care, about so many other issues where facts come into play.
Everyone is entitled to an opinion, but an opinion is not the same as evidence. You shouldn’t be able to fight facts with opinion.
Yet we blunder on, letting people present these false equivalencies. We wearily accept this manufactured equality of value between people who’ve delved in the mines of research and have quarried scientific gold and those who merely sprayed gilt paint onto their beliefs. Both look good, but only one of them is useful. Only one holds up when you try to build something with it.
We need to start reminding ourselves, and getting comfortable saying, that people are equal in value but ideas are not. People have inalienable rights; ideas should have to fight to be considered and believed. If your idea can’t hack it, too bad.
My friend Ted Letcher, who’s an atmospheric scientist, came up with a great mental framework for this today. He’s graciously allowed me to reprint his comment here:
“As someone who studies climate and climate change for a living, I was dismayed (though not particularly surprised) to recently see the same old climate denier chestnuts paraded about the internet and news media as legitimate arguments, despite having been thoroughly debunked again and again. Then I got to thinking about Monty Python and the Holy Grail, and I have come to the conclusion that the Climate Change “debate” is very similar to the scene with the Black Knight.
Now if you are unfamiliar with this scene, first, let me extend my sincerest apologies that the trajectory of your life has thus far kept you from Monty Python and the Holy Grail, second; here is a link to the scene:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjEcj8KpuJw. (scroll down this page to watch)
Both in the climate change debate and scene with the black knight, we start with two sides that appear evenly matched.
Overtime however, it becomes more and more apparent that one side has lost all real credibility, and is no longer in any position to be taken seriously.
Now as much as I like to imagine, lets say Rush Limbaugh as a freshly minted quadruple amputee, wobbling around on his torso threatening to bite my legs off (though really anyone who openly accuses myself, my friends, my colleagues, and my mentors of being money hungry frauds, with no real proof is good to imagine here), I believe it’s time, past time, to sheathe the metaphorical sword and move onward in the quest to understand and fix global warming. It’s time to leave the climate deniers (note how I say deniers, and not skeptics … there is a difference) behind for good, as they shout their fears and hatred into the unlistening void.”
Ted’s right. It’s time to “sheathe the metaphorical sword and move onward”. And it’s time to leave the people who present these false equivalencies—who insist on debating science based not on facts but on beliefs—behind in the dust.
We need to find ways to stop arguing with them, and just leave them behind. Unless the rules of the debate involve using actual facts, there’s not much point to trying. We need to learn to keep moving.
If we rebut all their points and they’re still claiming it’s just a flesh wound, we need to stop giving them airtime and mindshare. To say, as Andrew Shepherd does in The American President, “This is a time for serious people, and your fifteen minutes are up.”
People are equal in value, but ideas are not.
I’m going to work on recognizing when a person is shouting a “Black Knight argument” at me, where their rhetorical arms are lying on the ground, there’s no evidence, and they’re just yelling at me.
When I’m in those situations, I’m going to imagine the Black Knight down in the dirt, still saying “right… we’ll call it a draw” even after he’s lost four limbs and (obviously) the fight. I’m going to remember that his argument isn’t based on facts and doesn’t deserve further consideration…
… and I’m going to walk on by.
Let’s keep moving.
Tis But a Scratch: America 2020. It’s easy to feel unsafe at the moment… | by David Breeden | Humanism Now
Black knight Tis but a scratch Art Print by OverClocked
It’s easy to feel unsafe at the moment. The pandemic has dragged on for months and is only getting worse. Personal safety; the safety of loved ones and friends; the discouraging news of the ever-rising numbers. And the bungling of those designated to keep Americans safe
Then there’s the fallout from the pandemic: Life disrupted. Life made more difficult. Life made more restricted and lonely. Businesses closing. Employment insecurity. The list of things to be worried about stretches on and on.
Then there’s the American political situation . . .
We Americans can‘’t agree on what we do know, what we don’t know . . . and even on how to figure out what we do and don’t know.
Reminds me of one of the most memorable scenes in the cult classic Monty Python and the Holy Grail — the confrontation between King Arthur and the Black knight.
“You shall not pass!” says the Black Knight. A sword fight ensues. First Arthur cuts off the knight’s left arm, to which the knight replies, “Tis but a scratch!” When Arthur cuts off his right arm, the knight responds, “It’s only a flesh wound!” Arthur proceeds to cut off the knight’s legs, to which the knight eventually concedes, “We’ll call it a draw, then.”
The Black Knight gets an “A” for effort, but his foolhardy insistence upon ignoring reality insures his defeat. And at the end of the scene, he sure looks a lot like the US at the moment.
To respond to the deep wounds in the American body politic with “Tis just a scratch!” is equally foolhardy. Healing — whether it be social or psychological healing — doesn’t start until we admit there is a problem. No matter the results of the upcoming election, there is a deep wound in the American body politic and saying it’s only a flesh wound only makes it worse.
Aristotle in his book Politics, claimed of the polis ( πόλις) — meaning the city or state, and the origin of the word politics — that government arises “to be for the sake of life, and exists for the sake of the good life.”
Remember the first few words of the US Constitution?
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
Government arises — it is — out of simple necessity for safety. And, then — ideally — goes on to a next level, in which government ensures not merely safety for citizens but also well-being. “Promote the general welfare.” Flourishing, as Greek philosophers phrased it.
Aristotle was probably incorrect about how government came to be — anthropology has shown that human cities developed for other reasons.
But his point still holds: government is constituted — burdened — first and foremost with the safely of its citizens, and then, ideally, strives toward human flourishing.
Now, given that definition — and that little promise in the Constitution — it isn’t difficult to see that for many — if not most — Americans, government in the United States is failing at the first assumption, let alone achieving the second.
In the streets we hear the cry: “No, justice, no peace!”
To which the reply from on high is, “Tis but a scratch.”
When we talk about wanting more civility and rationality in our political discussions — as I did in my last post— it’s easy for the privileged among us to forget that for many of our fellow citizens, politics is about life or death. For many Americans — and those seeking asylum here — quite literally so.
Literally life and death. For other Americans, the struggle feels as if it is about life and death for imagined reasons, but the fear is just as real for them, such as the perennial American fear, “they are taking our freedom!” or “They’re coming to take my guns.
”
Often, emotions are triggered mentally — it’s all in the mind — but the emotions don’t stay there: they become embodied: “fight or flight.”
For many Americans today on both ends of the political spectrum, it feels as if American political systems have failed in the most elemental reason for government.
“Tis but a scratch!” is not an adequate answer. Seriously: whichever side “wins,” it’s time to stop the bravado.
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Great Scene: “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” | by Scott Myers
The famous Black Night scene.
In a comedy, there’s nothing better than coming up with a great set piece, something the writers and actors can milk for all it’s worth — and then some. A classic example is the Black Knight scene from Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975). I suspect that countless males around the world know this scene by heart, including both of my sons who have been known to act it out line for line.
Here King Arthur (Graham Chapman) and his loyal sidekick Patsy (Terry Gilliam) happen upon a bridge guarded by the cruel Black Knight (John Cleese):
As he moves, the BLACK KNIGHT bars the way.
BLACK KNIGHT
None shall pass.ARTHUR
What?BLACK KNIGHT
None shall pass.ARTHUR
I have no quarrel with you, brave Sir knight, but I must
cross this bridge.BLACK KNIGHT
Then you shall die.ARTHUR
I command you, as King of the Britons to stand aside.BLACK KNIGHT
I move for no man.ARTHUR
So be it!ARTHUR draws his sword and approaches the BLACK KNIGHT. A furious fight now starts
lasting about fifteen seconds at which point ARTHUR delivers a mighty blow which
completely severs the BLACK KNIGHT’s left arm at the shoulder. ARTHUR steps back
triumphantly.ARTHUR
Now stand aside worthy adversary.BLACK KNIGHT
(Glancing at his shoulder)
’Tis but a scratch.ARTHUR
A scratch? Your arm’s off.BLACK KNIGHT
No, it isn’t.ARTHUR
(Pointing to the arm on ground)
Well, what’s that then?BLACK KNIGHT
I’ve had worse.ARTHUR
You’re a liar.BLACK KNIGHT
Come on you pansy!Another ten seconds furious fighting till ARTHUR chops the BLACK KNIGHTS’s other
arm off, also at the shoulder. The arm plus sword, lies on the ground.ARTHUR
Victory is mine.
(sinking to his knees)
I thank thee O Lord that in thy …BLACK KNIGHT
Come on then.ARTHUR
What?He kicks ARTHUR hard on the side of the helmet. ARTHUR gets up still holding
his sword. The BLACK KNIGHT comes after him kicking.ARTHUR
You are indeed brave Sir knight, but the fight is mine.BLACK KNIGHT
Had enough?ARTHUR
You stupid bastard. You haven’t got any arms left.BLACK KNIGHT
Course I have.ARTHUR
Look!BLACK KNIGHT
What! Just a flesh wound.
(kicks ARTHUR)ARTHUR
Stop that.BLACK KNIGHT
(kicking him)
Had enough … ?ARTHUR
I’ll have your leg.He is kicked.
Right!
The BLACK KNIGHT kicks him again and ARTHUR chops his leg off.
The BLACK KNIGHT keeps his balance with difficulty.
BLACK KNIGHT
I’ll do you for that.ARTHUR
You’ll what … ?BLACK KNIGHT
Come Here.ARTHUR
What are you going to do? Bleed on me?BLACK KNIGHT
I’m invincible!ARTHUR
You’re a looney.BLACK KNIGHT
The Black Knight always triumphs. Have at you!ARTHUR takes his last leg off. The BLACK KNIGHT’s body lands upright.
BLACK KNIGHT
All right, we’ll call it a draw.ARTHUR
Come, Patsy.ARTHUR and PATSY start to cross the bridge.
BLACK KNIGHT
Running away eh? You yellow bastard, Come back here and take
what’s coming to you. I’ll bite your legs off!
Here is the scene in all its absurd glory:
Personal note: When my son Will was ten years old, he got pneumonia.
Laid him out. At the very end of his recovery, I saw that Monty Python and the Holy Grail was playing for one night only at the Nuart Theater in Santa Monica. It was — and is — one of Will’s very favorite movies, and since he’d never seen it in on the big screen before, I asked if he’d like to go. He jumped at the chance.
Unfortunately, as we were driving across town, his stomach became upset, so he kept asking me to slow down. Eventually, I was crawling along at about 10 miles per hour with furious Angelino drivers honking at me and cursing me as they zipped by. I almost literally had to carry Will into the theater, walking the block and a half from where I found parking.
But you know what? It was worth it. Will loved seeing the movie in a theater. I probably spent more time looking at him than I did the screen, watching his lips recite line after line of dialogue he had memorized from his many viewings of the film on video tape.
To this day, he remembers that experience, a first moment of his recovery from pneumonia and a chance to see his revered Python troupe on a big screen.
This anecdote is a reminder of how important movies can be in our personal history, even ones as silly as Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
For more articles in the Great scene series, go here.
Monty Python and the Holy Grail – Movie Quotes
King Arthur:
How does it… um… how does it work?
Sir Lancelot:
I know not, my liege.
King Arthur:
Consult the Book of Armaments!
Maynard:
Armaments, chapter two, verses nine through twenty-one.
Minstrel + minor role:
And Saint Attila raised the hand grenade up on high, saying, “O Lord, bless this thy hand grenade, that with it thou mayst blow thine enemies to tiny bits, in thy mercy.
” And the Lord did grin. And the people did feast upon the lambs and sloths, and carp and anchovies, and orangutans and breakfast cereals, and fruit-bats and large chu…
Minstrel + minor role:
And Saint Attila raised the hand grenade up on high, saying, ‘O Lord, bless this thy hand grenade, that with it thou mayst blow thine enemies to tiny bits, in thy mercy.’ And the Lord did grin. And the people did feast upon the lambs and sloths, and carp and anchovies, and orangutans and breakfast cereals, and fruit-bats and large chu…
Maynard:
Skip a bit, brother…
Minstrel + minor role:
And the Lord spake, saying, “First shalt thou take out the Holy Pin. Then shalt thou count to three, no more, no less.
Three shall be the number thou shalt count, and the number of the counting shall be three. Four shalt thou not count, neither count thou two, excepting that thou then proceed to three. Five is right out! Once the number three, being the third number, be reached, then lobbest thou thy Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch towards thy foe, who, being naughty in my sight, shall snuff it.
Minstrel + minor role:
And the Lord spake, saying, First shalt thou take out the Holy Pin. Then shalt thou count to three, no more, no less. Three shall be the number thou shalt count, and the number of the counting shall be three. Four shalt thou not count, neither count thou two, excepting that thou then proceed to three. Five is right out! Once the number three, being the third number, be reached, then lobbest thou thy Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch towards thy foe, who, being naughty in my sight, shall snuff it.
Maynard:
Amen.
King Arthur:
Right. One… two… five!
Sir Galahad:
Three, sir.
King Arthur:
Three!
when Social Justice Warriors feel like the Black Knight » Mike Frost
It hasn’t been a good week to be a social justice warrior. And I don’t use that term in its pejorative sense.
To me, a social justice warrior is what the term suggests at face value, a person committed to fighting for justice.
I know Twitter has turned “SJW” into an insult to describe young progressives, offended by everything, incapable of reasoned debate, blah, blah.
But for me, fighting the good fight for justice and peace in this world is exactly what Jesus calls us to, and what his followers have been doing for centuries.
Being a social justice warrior shouldn’t put you on the left or the right. It shouldn’t deem you a liberal or a conservative. Rather, it should put you firmly in the will of God.
The kind of religion the Bible advocates is rooted in justice that flows from the heart of God. It seeks to bring all things into the wholeness of God. As one justified by faith in the God of all justice, I believe we are to experience the wholeness God brings and extend it to others.
This week, those of us committed to that task were dealt a crushing blow when the richest nation in the world, and the one most likely to refer to itself as Christian, enacted a policies that required immigration officials to separate children from their parents. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, there are now 11,200 children incarcerated in 100 centers across 17 states.
You remember the Black Knight from Monty Python’s Holy Grail? Charged with guarding a bridge over a small stream, the Black Knight is nothing if not supremely confident. When Arthur tries to pass, the Black Knight refuses him access and Arthur is forced to engage him in a sword fight that results in both the Black Knight’s arms and legs being cut off. As each limb goes flying, the Black Knight exclaims, “Tis but a scratch” and “I’ve had worse” and “It’s just a flesh wound!”
As Arthur leaves the limbless torso of the Black Knight in his wake, we hear the indefatigable knight calling after him, “Come back here and take what’s coming to ya! I’ll bite your legs off!”
I know the Black Knight is a buffoon, more confident than his skill level justifies. And social justice warriors can feel the same way at times. No matter how many battles we lose and how many people are laughing at us, we refuse to give in.
Because it does appear laughable to keep fighting when forces like our governments, businesses and the military are involved.
While the American situation has exploded recently, in Australia we have been faced with a similar immigration policy for many years. In fact, we’re old hands at locking up immigrant children. And fighters for justice have been protesting that policy from day one.
I’ve lost count of the number of marches I’ve attended or petitions I’ve signed. I’ve visited my local member of parliament multiple times. I joined a group of fellow ministers praying for a more just policy, on our knees in our Prime Minister’s office until we were arrested. I’ve chained myself to the gates of the Prime Minister’s official Sydney residence to highlight the issue (yep, arrested again).
I’ve watched my fellow Christians be similarly arrested praying in parliament house or their local politicians’ offices. I’ve followed as Jewish Australians left hundreds of children’s shoes outside the parliament, symbolising the number of children trapped in detention.
My friend Pastor Jarrod McKenna suspended himself in a tent above the foreign minister’s office. Rev Rod Bower has appeared on national television programs to highlight the issue. Church leaders across the country have spoken out.
And the government seems to have begrudgingly listened. The numbers of children in immigration detention in Australia have been reducing. There have been some small victories along the way.
Then I saw this photo this week:
The current situation in the USA makes a social justice warrior feel like the Black Knight, limbless and hopeless.
Thousands of children have been separated from parents within hours of arrival in detention, including breastfeeding children. Large centers have been set up to house them, including facilities like the one in the photograph above. One center is a converted Walmart in Brownsville, Tex., in which 1000 children are incarcerated with no windows and only one hour of play permitted per day.
The new US measures mean that these centers are not considered a child protective program but a criminal operation, effectively turning the children of asylum seekers into criminals. Even more draconian is the decision to no longer adjudicate the cases of whole families together. Now the child’s case will be dealt with separately from their parent’s case. This means that many parents, whether deported or not, often do not know where their child is.
What’s worse is the fact that there are no established processes for communication between parents and their children. Many children can expect to experience 2-3 months of separation without communication.
It’s simply unthinkable.
It really takes an enormous amount of faith to keep believing in the way of Christ. I want to cry out, “Tis only a flesh wound”, and keep fighting the good fight, but it’s hard.
I want to say, “Call Congress, organize protests, donate to legal and humanitarian efforts,” but it’s tough.
Where do we find the hope required to keep fighting when it feels like our arms and legs have been cut off? Especially when our adversary is the government of the United States of America?
I have to keep telling myself that Jesus experienced injustice, so we would not experience judgment, and therefore it is God’s will that we bring justice to others. It’s in God’s strength we should keep fighting.
As Theologian Paul Louis Metzger wrote,
“Both individual transformation and community transformation are part of restoring wholeness. While morality and immorality are birthed in the human heart (James 3:10-18), justice is centered in God’s heart. We are to purify our hearts (James 4:8) whose desires lead us to sin. With transformed hearts, we are to extend God’s justice to the poor, orphans, and widows, and to show no partiality.”
I’m praying for your transformed heart this week, and mine. I’m praying that in the face of the immoral policy of seizing children at the border, we will be filled with the Spirit of love and truth, and find the strength to keep fighting. In Christ’s name, and for his sake.
Types of wounds and methods of their treatment
Acute traumatic wound.
Depending on the type and circumstances of the accident, the so-called “traumatic wounds” vary greatly in the degree of tissue damage.
Ranging from shallow skin lesions to complex wounds that can involve tendons, muscles, nerve fibers, blood vessels, bones or internal organs. Sometimes the skin remains intact, and the subcutaneous tissues and bones are damaged.This is called a “closed wound” as opposed to an “open wound”.
A large wound or a small one, serious or not very serious – the more effective first aid was provided, the more chances for its successful healing.
There are two types of wound treatment, namely, preliminary and prescribed by a doctor. Pre-treatment of wounds includes all first aid measures. Depending on the severity of the wound, the prescribed or primary treatment of the wound is carried out by surgeons in polyclinics or in hospitals.
Depending on the nature of the wound received, the person providing first aid can face a wide variety of situations, each of which requires an appropriate response. Providing first aid for abrasions, scrapes or cuts on the skin can sometimes take the form of prescribed treatment.
Generally accepted rules and guidelines for wound care
When treating wounds, it is advisable to follow the following rules and recommendations:
– When providing first aid, if possible, sit or lay down the victim, while the affected part of the body should be at maximum rest.
– To avoid possible infection or infection, do not touch wounds or the skin around them with bare hands (use disposable gloves).
– As soon as you find a wound, it must be covered with a sterile napkin and secured with a bandage (for example, using a first aid kit) to protect the wound from dust and possible microbial contamination. If you do not have a sterile dressing at hand, use a regular dry cloth, which, if possible, should be ironed (and thus disinfected the victim).
– It is necessary to stop bleeding as soon as possible (see the section “Hemostasis”).
In emergencies there is an unwritten rule: stopping bleeding is more important than avoiding infection !!!
– When treating wounds, you should not at your own discretion use drugs such as powders, aerosols or oils, as this can make it difficult to access the wounds and also lead to the need for painful cleaning.
– If foreign bodies get into the wound, a doctor must remove them.
If a foreign body protrudes from the wound, it must be fixed before transporting the victim (see the Foreign Bodies section) with a bandage to the bandage.
– Wounds must receive medical treatment within the first 6 hours.
Recommendation 1:
In principle, even the smallest wound can lead to tetanus. This is why we strongly recommend that you vaccinate accordingly.
Recommendation 2:
With the exception of minor scratches and abrasions to the skin and cuts, wounds should be examined and treated by a doctor.
The purpose of first aid is to prevent further penetration of aggressive substances and microorganisms into the wound.
Abrasions and scratches on the skin.
Abrasions and scratches on the skin are formed when the skin is rubbed against a rough surface.
For example, this can happen when you fall.
This removes the surface layers of the skin tissue, at the same time damages the smallest blood vessels that are located in the papillary layer of the skin. The result is pinpoint bleeding and exudation.
Large abrasions and scratches on the skin are accompanied by very painful sensations, since a large number of nerve endings are exposed. If pathogens enter the wound and infect it, it may be difficult to heal the wound.
In general, abrasions and scrapes on the skin heal rather quickly and do not leave scars, as the subcutaneous tissue remains intact.
In the case of small and only slightly soiled wounds, it is enough to rinse them under tap water, perform an antiseptic treatment and apply a non-sticking adhesive bandage.
In case of more contaminated wounds, they must be washed more thoroughly.
Depending on the location and size of the wound, there are several ways to do this. For wounds on the hand, fingers or feet, an antiseptic bath is a good result. If you have bruises or scrapes on your knee, elbow, or torso, we recommend that you gently apply a damp gauze bandage or cloth to the wound.After you’ve dried the wound, you can start antiseptic treatment.
Conventional dressings tend to adhere to bleeding abrasions and scrapes on the skin. In this case, it is preferable to use dressings and plasters that will not stick to the wound. Such (atraumatic) dressings should be changed daily whenever possible.
Modern wound dressings, better suited for first aid due to their hydroactive properties, create and maintain a moist environment on the wound surface.As a result, they actively contribute to the healing process. In this case, there is no need to change the patch every day. You save time and pain.
In case of large (palm-sized) tissue damage or heavily soiled abrasions or scratches on the skin, you should see a doctor who will remove the remnants of dirt or foreign bodies from the wound and perform an antiseptic treatment.
Cuts
Cut the phalanx of the finger.
At home, cuts are most often caused by careless handling of sharp objects such as knives or glass shards.
These cuts are characterized by smooth wound edges, without damage to adjacent skin areas, and fairly heavy bleeding.
It often looks very dangerous, but as a result of bleeding from the wound, the remnants of dirt and pathogens are washed out. Therefore, small wounds usually heal without any problem.Cuts with a knife, which previously cut meat, pose a great threat, since a large number of pathogenic microorganisms accumulate on the knife.
Deep cuts in the joints and fingers are just as dangerous. In these cases, there is a risk of damage to nerve fibers or tendons.
Small surface cuts:
– Do not stop bleeding at once to wash away any remaining dirt and pathogens.
– Perform antiseptic treatment of the wound.
– Apply a suitable, preferably bactericidal plaster to the wound.
– Stop excessive bleeding with external compression.
To do this, apply a folded gauze bandage or rolled gauze bandage to the wound and hold firmly for a while.
Machining larger and deeper cuts:
– Be sure to go to the doctor’s appointment!
– Cuts in the fingers that are accompanied by numbness and difficulty moving should also be examined by a doctor.Cuts with a knife or other sharp objects that used to cut meat also require a doctor’s examination.
– For cuts on the face, you also need to see a doctor to prevent scarring.
As a rule, cuts are fairly easy to heal. Often there is no need to even suture. Instead, the doctor uses special adhesive strips to tighten the wound.
Puncture wounds
Puncture wounds may be inflicted with sharp glass and contain shards of glass.
Puncture wounds are inflicted with sharp-edged objects. Small puncture wounds that we often encounter in our daily life are usually caused by nails, needles, scissors, knives or pieces of broken glass.
Sometimes the source of the puncture wound remains in the wound itself.
It must be removed during first aid, or later during a visit to the doctor.
From the outside, puncture wounds usually look fairly harmless, but they can be quite deep.
When a puncture wound is received, there is a risk of damage to nerve fibers and tendons, as well as internal organs. It can also be accompanied by internal bleeding. There is also an increased risk of infection, even with minor puncture wounds, such as those caused by thorns or splinters, since pathogens enter the tissues along with a foreign body.
Remove small splinters stuck under the skin with tweezers. Then disinfect the wound and apply a patch or sterile wound dressing.
Foreign bodies and splinters should not be removed on your own if you are unable to determine how deeply they have penetrated the skin. Blood vessels can be damaged and bleeding can be caused.
As a first aid measure, you can wrap the wound area with foreign bodies trapped in it with a clean cloth.
With the exception of minor splinters, see a doctor immediately for other wounds.
You should see a doctor if you have not been able to completely remove a splinter, or if you have tissue inflammation.
Since the remnants of the foreign body can later be localized using X-rays, take the pieces of this foreign body with you to show them to the doctor.
Crushed wounds, lacerations and gaping wounds.
Crushed and gaping wounds are usually inflicted with blunt objects, while lacerations are inflicted with non-standard sharp objects.
Gaping wounds usually form on parts of the body with a minimum distance from the skin to the bones, such as the head or tibia.
Crushed, lacerated and gaping wounds usually have ragged edges rather than straight edges. In places of such wounds, as a rule, the skin changes its color and a hematoma forms. It is caused by hemorrhage in adjacent tissues. In the case of lacerations, adjacent tissues are usually not damaged as much.
All three types of wounds have one thing in common:
high risk of infection through the torn edges of the wound. The risk of infection is higher for lacerations, as the objects used to inflict these wounds are usually heavily contaminated.
The treatment and treatment of all characteristic, more or less serious, crushed and gaping wounds should be carried out by a doctor. Only small superficial crushed and gaping wounds, or not too lacerated wounds can be treated independently. Perform an antiseptic wound treatment and apply a bactericidal patch.
Bite wounds
Animal bites are associated with a high risk to human health.
Not only serious soft tissue damage can result.The bite can be accompanied by the ingress of highly pathogenic microorganisms along with the animal’s saliva.
In places where rabid animals have appeared (as warned by official sources of information), there is an increased risk of being bitten by a dog, less often a cat. Most often, wild animals suffer from rabies, especially foxes and badgers, which people can fearlessly admit to themselves. Not every bite from a rabid animal automatically means that the bitten person will become infected with rabies.If this nevertheless happened, and if the necessary measures are not taken, the person develops the following symptoms: irresistible convulsions and suffocation.
Animal bite wounds and bite wounds from other people should only be treated and treated by a physician.
As a first aid, you can apply a sterile gauze bandage to stop the bleeding.
If heavy bleeding is observed, a pressure bandage may be used.
Apply a sterile gauze bandage to the wound and secure it with a gauze bandage.Then apply a standard first aid bandage over the gauze bandage, applying a certain amount of force. If necessary, once again wrap the applied bandages with gauze.
With a few exceptions (bites to the baby’s face), these bite wounds are not stitched. They are treated with antiseptics in the open form. Your doctor will decide for himself which treatments are most appropriate. You should also talk with your doctor about the risk of contracting rabies and the need for appropriate vaccinations.
If you are bitten by an animal suspected of having rabies, you should get vaccinated immediately. In principle, preventive antibiotic treatment can be given, and if protection against tetanus is insufficient, appropriate vaccination should be obtained.
Children are much more susceptible to bites from rabid animals, since they are not yet able to adequately assess the behavior of the animal. As a result, when they get close to an animal, children often forget that it can bite or scratch.Therefore, adults are obliged to teach their children the rules of behavior in the presence of animals.
Signs of wound inflammation
How do you know if the wound is inflamed?
When pathogens enter the wound, inflammation begins.
The inflammation that has begun in the wound is indicated by the following:
redness, swelling, fever and pain.
To be more precise, the characteristic signs of wound inflammation are as follows:
– the edges of the wound swell and thicken;
– the area around the wound begins to gradually turn red and inflamed;
– a yellow or purulent plaque forms on the wound;
– pressure on the wound becomes more and more painful;
– sometimes it comes to fever and chills.
A wound infection may not spread beyond the wound itself. However, it can go to deep-lying tissues and lymphatic vessels.
When an inflammatory reaction occurs in the lymphatic vessels, a red streak forms around the wound. On the arm, it can spread to the armpit, and on the leg, it can reach the groin area. In common parlance, this infection is mistakenly called blood poisoning. However, the correct name for this process is inflammation of the lymphatic vessels (lymphangitis) or nodes (lymphadenitis), that is, inflammation of one or more lymphatic vessels caused by the penetration of pathogenic microorganisms into the lymphatic capillaries.This process can regress under the influence of drug treatment. If a similar injury or injury occurs, the greatest care must be taken to properly treat the resulting wound. Choosing the right treatment will help you avoid getting an infection.
If you are in doubt about the action to be taken, seek the advice of your doctor.
Addresses of Paul Hartmann Consulting Centers:
1.Izhevsk, st. Kirov, 109, tel. (3412) 43-00-55
Working hours: 8.00 – 23.00 without lunch and days off
2. Izhevsk, st. Likhvintseva, 46, tel. (3412) 52-44-79
Working hours: 8.00 – 24.00 without lunch and days off
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Film A Taste of Flesh (2016) watch online in good HD 1080/720 quality
All her life Justine was a vegetarian, as she grew up in a vegetarian family. One day she enters the same veterinary school where her older sister is studying.In the same school, Justine’s parents once met. On her first night in the dorm, she meets her homosexual roommate Adrian. Justine is forced to take part in a kind of initiation rite for new students. Newcomers are brought to the party. Justine feels extremely uncomfortable in this place, but soon meets his older sister Alexia there.
Alexia shows Justine old photographs of students in their school bathing in blood with their parents. The next morning, the new class is splattered with blood while taking a shared photo, and then the newcomers are lined up and forced to eat raw rabbit kidneys.Justine refuses, citing the fact that she is a vegetarian. She even asks her sister to stand up for her. Alexia denies that Justine is a vegetarian and then begins to eat the kidney herself. Impressed Justine also decides to do it. In the evening of the same day, Justine discovers a severe itchy rash all over his body. The next day she shows the doctor. He says she has food poisoning and gives her a rash cream.
Another day passes, and Justine wakes up with a wild desire to eat meat products.She steals a hamburger from the cafeteria, but then she becomes ashamed and throws it away. However, the feeling of hunger still does not subside in her. Late in the evening, together with Adrian, she goes to the gas station so that no one sees him eating meat. On the way there, in front of Justine’s eyes, there is a car accident. After eating at the gas station, Justine never satisfied her hunger. In the morning, it all ends with Justine starting to eat raw chicken.
After talking with his teacher about deception, Justine begins to experience a fit of nausea.She vomits and spits out a ball of hair. In the evening, Justine drinks with Alexia and asks her to spend the night with her. She discovers that Alexia has the same cream that the doctor prescribed for her. Alexia helps Justine depilate the bikini area, but some of the wax adheres firmly to Justine’s skin. Alexia tries to cut it off with scissors. Justine starts kicking, and her sister accidentally cuts off her finger, after which she loses consciousness. Justine immediately calls an ambulance. While she is waiting for the doctors, a strong desire to eat meat rolls over her again.Justine eats the severed finger, at which point Alexia wakes up. At the hospital, Justine tries to provoke vomiting so that her sister’s finger comes out with her, but she does not succeed. Alexia’s dog is accused of missing the finger.
The next morning, Alexia takes Justine to a deserted road, where she jumps out in front of a passing car, and as a result, it crashes into a tree. Alexia starts eating one of the passengers. Justine tries to stop her and then goes back to school alone.The thirst for eating human flesh grows stronger in Justine, and she also develops an attraction to Adrian. She catches Alexia playing video games with him and becomes jealous. At night, Justine has a nightmare in which a creature attacks her.
Soon Justine gets to another party, where paint is thrown into her as part of the next ritual of initiation, and she is also forced to kiss her boyfriend. During the kiss, she bites off the guy’s lip. Later she goes to wash. At this moment, one of her teeth falls out, and she immediately eats it.Justine persuades Adrian to have sex, during which she tries to bite him several times, but it all ends with the fact that at the moment of orgasm she bites her own hand. The next day they fight.
At the next party, Justine gets very drunk. Then Alexia meets her and takes her to the morgue. And the next morning after that, everyone at school looks at Justine with shocked looks, and some even try to avoid her. After the lecture, Adrian shows her a video where she crawls on the floor like an animal drunk and tries to bite off a piece of the arm of a corpse, which Alexia pulls away from her.An enraged Justine lashes out at her sister. Alexia bites off part of Justine’s face and they both bite each other’s hands. As a result, they are pacified by eating each other. Two students take them apart. Alexia later bandages Justine’s wounds. And the next morning, the week of dedication ends. Justine wakes up to find Adrian dead in bed. Moreover, his right leg is almost completely eaten. She thinks she killed him in her sleep, but then discovers a bloody ski pole next to the bed, as well as a corresponding wound on Adrian’s back.
Justine gets out of bed and finds an almost unconscious bloody Alexia in the kitchen, holding a video console controller in her hands. At first, Justine thinks of killing Alexia with a ski stick, but then dismisses the thought. Justine picks up her sister and leads her into the shower to wash her of the traces of blood.
Alexia is imprisoned. Justine visits her with her parents. Despite everything that happened, the relationship between the sisters is improving. At home, Father Justine tells her that what happened is neither her fault nor Alexia’s.He also reveals that when he met their mom, he couldn’t understand why she didn’t want to be with him until they first kissed. He then unbuttons his shirt and reveals the scars and torn pieces of flesh, and also tells Justine that he is confident that she can find a solution to the problem.
Indications and methods of circumcision in men
Male circumcision – indications and methods
An operation to remove the foreskin of the male penis is called circumcision.It is done for medical reasons or because of national (religious) traditions. Circumcision of the foreskin in men should be carried out only in a medical institution, since the procedure is associated with the risk of complications.
Why circumcision is carried out
The procedure in question has been the subject of controversy among doctors for many years. Someone considers it a “relic of the past”, when the procedure was carried out only according to religious canons, while someone, on the contrary, speaks of its necessity.Whether to circumcise a child is decided on a strictly individual basis after consulting a doctor.
As a result of circumcision surgery, prevention is carried out:
- Inflammatory processes of the genitourinary system. Many boys are diagnosed with phimosis – fusion of the foreskin. If the problem is not solved in childhood, then an adult man is forced to constantly make efforts to push back the foreskin when urinating. This process is accompanied by micro-traumas of the skin with possible infection.The accumulation of urine residues, smegma leads to inflammatory processes, and the removed foreskin reduces the risk of pathological processes. Important: smegma has carcinogenic properties. Men with circumcised foreskin are less likely to be diagnosed with penile cancer;
- Problems with the bladder. If the foreskin is displaced, then it will block the urethra. The result is a forced retention of urine, which provokes hyperextension of the bladder.
In addition, official studies have confirmed that the procedure under consideration significantly reduces the risk of contracting AIDS. The World Health Organization has recognized circumcision as the prevention of this dangerous disease.
Phimosis in early childhood is the answer to the question of why boys are circumcised. But even if there are medical indications for carrying out the procedure in question, its disadvantages must also be taken into account:
- The patient may experience painful shock during the operation.It is possible in the case of circumcision without anesthesia, which is practiced with newborn boys.
- If the foreskin is circumcised during infancy, parents should be careful about glans hygiene. Adult men need to regularly carry out hygiene procedures, since in the absence of the foreskin, contamination and injury to the glans penis is more likely.
- During the procedure, an adult may experience severe complications – bending of the penis, gangrene, adhesive disease.In addition, sex after circumcision in adult men can become problematic – for example, if the operation was not performed correctly and the penis was bent or the circumcision was performed too “deep”.
More detailed information about the advantages and disadvantages of the operation, as well as how and why female circumcision is performed, can be obtained on the pages of our website Dobrobut.com.
How the operation is performed
If there is a medical indication for the procedure, the foreskin is cut around the entire circumference of the glans penis.The surgeon simply cuts off the foreskin and sutures the edges of the wound with self-absorbable suture material.
Modern surgery offers laser surgery. The intervention is characterized by low trauma, no risk of bleeding and gangrene, and a quick rehabilitation period.
The operation itself does not present any difficulties, and the care of the sutures after the operation implies:
- applying a sterile, moderately tight bandage;
- regular treatment of seams with antiseptic preparations;
- hygiene procedures after each visit to the toilet.
The emerging edema after the operation is considered the norm and is removed by ordinary cold compresses (short-term, literally for 3-5 minutes), antiseptic preparations when processing sutures. In order to avoid the development of inflammatory processes, the patient receives a course of antibiotic therapy in the postoperative period. In some cases, the patient is prescribed vitamin therapy, which will support the body and strengthen the immune system.
Whether or not to be circumcised is up to the man to decide.If the operation is performed in infancy, then the decision is made by the parents. In any case, you need to weigh all the pros and cons of circumcision, consult with a surgeon, urologist and pediatrician.
Related services:
Urological consultation
Urological Check-up
Plastic surgery of the frenum of the penis (foreskin)
The frenulum is a fold of skin that connects the glans penis to the foreskin.It affects the position of the penis when it is erect. Nearly 16% of men between the ages of 17 and 25 experience a tear or tear in the frenum. This can cause serious problems, for example, a violation of potency. Plastic surgery of the bridle will help avoid such troubles in the future. The operation is performed by a surgeon-urologist.
Why is a short bridle dangerous?
Quite often, men do not talk about their problems with this part of the penis. Many simply do not know why a short bridle is dangerous.And she plays an important role in the male reproductive system. It contains a large number of nerve endings, which, during intimacy, accelerate arousal. Any of its defects can lead to malfunctions with the functioning of the penis, such as early ejaculation or impotence.
Plastic needs to be done for men:
The bridle can break during active intercourse. In this case, the man opens up profuse bleeding. In such a situation, it is quite difficult to do without medical assistance, so emergency hospitalization is necessary.
Pathology can be either congenital or acquired during trauma. It is simply impossible to detect a deviation in childhood. The problem manifests itself during puberty.
How do I fix the defect?
You can remove the short frenulum of the foreskin by circumcision or a full-fledged operation.Many men tend to the first method, hoping to quickly fix the problem. However, why go to such drastic measures if you can correct the situation with the help of a small plastic surgery.
Plastic surgery of the frenum of the foreskin is a completely safe method that will quickly increase the length of the fold. The operation is also called frenulotomy. It is performed using local anesthesia.
During the operation, the surgeon makes a straight-transverse incision of the frenum, and then sutures it with absorbable sutures.Typically, the plastic lasts 15 to 30 minutes. After the operation, the patient can go home.
Within 10 days, a man who underwent surgery for plastic surgery of the frenum must treat the wound with an antibiotic prescribed by a doctor. This is necessary to exclude tissue infection. The wound will completely heal in 2-3 weeks, therefore, during this period, it is better for a person to refrain from intercourse.
Laser plastic: advantages and disadvantages
Previously, defects of the frenum of the penis were eliminated only with the help of surgical interventions.However, today in medicine, laser therapy is actively used, including for solving such problems. The advantages of the method are that:
Many people think that the use of such innovative technologies reduces the risk of complications. However, the use of this technique to remove the foreskin revealed several serious disadvantages:
Therefore, a man with such problems is advised to give preference to traditional surgery, the risks of which are minimal.
Preparation for penile frenum plasty
There are several recommendations, following which, the patient can expect that the operation will take place without complications, and healing will be quick.Before plastic surgery of the frenum of the penis, it is advisable to lose weight, if any. If a man has any problems with blood pressure, heart or lungs, then it is important to notify the doctor about them in advance.
Before the operation, the patient will also be asked to undergo a preliminary examination. This will help, at the stage of preparation of the intervention, to diagnose concomitant human problems and prevent the occurrence of complications.
Transaction cost
The cost of the operation depends on the complexity of its implementation.After the initial examination, the doctor will tell you exactly how much the plastic of the foreskin frenulum will cost. The cost of the operation includes:
The operation can be performed at the Kuntsevo Multidisciplinary Rehabilitation Center. This is a modern medical center, which employs the best surgeons in the capital. They are ready to offer you their help any day of the week.
You may find it useful:
Circumcision in Kazan | Clinic MEDEL
There are questions that are not accepted to be discussed in a decent society. And just sharing with loved ones is embarrassing. A striking example of such an “uncomfortable” topic is cicatricial phimosis.
Life without circumcision can lead to complications
Cicatricial phimosis is an exclusively male disease in which the foreskin – the fold of skin that covers the glans penis – narrows and the glans penis does not open at all or opens with difficulty and pain.
Who is threatened?
The disease can be congenital or acquired. Phimosis in men – a fairly common phenomenon – can persist from childhood or be the result of an injury to the penis.
The cause of acquired phimosis, as a rule, lies in the transferred inflammatory diseases of the penis or urethra, leading to a loss of elasticity and narrowing of the foreskin. Also, a common cause of phimosis in adult men is mechanical trauma in the genital area.
Sometimes the disease occurs unexpectedly during puberty: due to a sharp hormonal surge, the genitals develop rapidly, and the sizes of the foreskin and the head of the penis do not match.
Regardless of age, phimosis leads to various complications. The head of the penis, which is permanently closed by the foreskin, is a focus of chronic infection due to the accumulation of urine residues and secreted physiological secretions.In addition, phimosis in an adult man can also cause psychological problems, since it often becomes the cause of sexual disorders – from painful sensations during intercourse to the complete impossibility of its implementation. Also, the lack of the necessary and timely treatment of phimosis in mature men leads to the formation of various complexes and general neurotization. In the absence of treatment or a combination of phimosis with balanoposthitis (inflammation of the foreskin and glans penis), a man may develop head cancer.
How to treat professionally?
Until recently, physicians attempted to treat phimosis with medication (for example, hormonal agents). But the practical results of such treatment of phimosis did not bring the patient the long-awaited relief.
Today, the only and proven method of getting rid of the problem is circumcision in Multidisciplinary Clinic MEDEL – partial or complete circumcision of the foreskin.
There are many reasons for this simple operation, because circumcision:
- Reduces the risk of developing urinary tract infections
- Reduces the risk of sexually transmitted diseases
- Reduces the likelihood of gangrene and penile cancer
- Eliminates pain and discomfort (if any before surgery)
Also, after the operation of circumcision, the sexual function of a man is significantly improved. The penis increases in length, becomes significantly larger both in a calm state and in an erect state, which is associated with a significant improvement in blood circulation in it.
How is the operation going?
Circumcision is performed under local anesthesia, the whole procedure takes 20-40 minutes, and most of the time is occupied by suturing – the doctor is faced with the task of not only “stitching” the wound, but also modeling the penis, making it more aesthetically pleasing than it was before the operation.
Hospitalization is not needed, the patient spends only 1–3 hours in the clinic, and after the operation he goes home on his own.
Despite the fact that circumcision of the foreskin is a simple procedure, it should only be carried out by a specialist and only after a preliminary examination. The MEDEL clinic in Kazan has such experienced doctors. You can get qualified medical help and advice on any issue that interests you.
To make an appointment with a urologist at the MEDEL Multidisciplinary Clinic in Kazan, call (843) 520-20-20.
How larvae are treated in Germany | Culture and Lifestyle in Germany and Europe | DW
Maggots swarming in an open wound? At the very thought of such a picture, you experience a feeling of disgust and disgust. And in vain: larva therapy is an effective method of cleaning wounds and preventing the development of infection, which is successfully used today. In particular, it is widely used in the University Hospital Regensburg. When it comes to cleaning and treating wounds, the doctors of this hospital rely on the so-called “bio-surgeons” – sterile larvae specially grown for such purposes.
Unique properties
As a rule, larvae are used to treat wounds that heal too slowly – for example, diabetic leg ulcers and bedsores, postoperative scars and severe burns. During treatment, these white worms are applied to the damaged surface and a porous bandage is applied on top. Typically, this application is done for about four days. That is how much time it takes for the larvae to be full, increase a hundredfold, reaching the size of an earthworm, and stop their activity.If necessary, the procedure can be repeated several times, each time applying a new portion of maggots.
The larvae are highly selective, consuming only dead tissue. Along the way, they secrete allantoin, a unique substance that has an astringent, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect. Allantoin contains substances with amazing antibacterial properties.
For the treatment of medium-sized wounds, about five dozen maggots are required.Each portion of the larvae is ordered individually for a specific patient. There is only one maggot producer and supplier in Germany. At all stages of breeding, the larvae are cultivated under the most sterile conditions. Then the maggots are placed in special sealed granules and sent to customers.
Larvae instead of medicine
Special in-depth studies on the effectiveness of larva therapy have not yet been carried out, and therefore there are still some preconceptions regarding the use of this type of treatment for wounds and ulcers.At the same time, some German physicians and researchers attach great importance to larva therapy and consider it an irreplaceable auxiliary method in the treatment of wounds – effective, easy to use, significantly shortening the treatment period, and also eliminating the need for antibiotics.
University of Regensburg
Among those who are proponents of larva therapy, doctors Beatrix Cucuruz and Thomas Bonkowski from the University Hospital Regensburg, microbiologist Pietro Ninoff from the Laboratory of Medical Microbiobial.They were repeatedly convinced of the effectiveness of such a therapeutic method in the treatment of their patients.
The positive effect of larvae on wounds was noticed in antiquity. The surviving remains of chronicles and rock carvings indicate that larva therapy was practiced by both Australian aborigines and the Maya Indians living in South America.
In Europe, the French surgeon Ambroise Paré (1510-1590) is considered the father of larva therapy, who introduced a number of innovations in the field of wound healing.While treating the gunshot wounds of his patient soldiers, he suddenly noticed that the wounds that the fly larvae had left healed remarkably quickly, leaving little scar tissue in their place. True, this doctor did not manage to explain such a phenomenon.
Renaissance of the forgotten method
The therapeutic properties of maggots were appreciated during the Napoleonic Wars in Europe and during the American Civil War, when this method of wound healing became more widely used.Many years later, in 1929, the American surgeon William S. Beir began to practice the treatment with larvae, who thus successfully treated patients suffering from chronic osteomyelitis – inflammation of the bone marrow.
However, soon Beir’s treatment method was destined to fade into the background, and then completely sink into oblivion. The reason for this was the invention of antibiotics. The emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which began to spread in the 1980s, prompted a renewed focus on larval therapy.This method experienced a real renaissance then in Great Britain and the USA.
And in 1995 this method of treatment became famous in Germany. It was used by Wim Fleischmann, a surgeon from the Brandenburg city of Bietigheim-Bissingen. In the treatment of wounds in Germany, only one type of maggots is used – the larvae of the golden-green fly Lucilia sericata. They are mainly used for the healing of chronic, difficult to heal wounds. In Germany, larva therapy is carried out exclusively in clinics.
See also:
How Germans Get Rid of Ailments
Tea
Before deciding what to do with a particular illness, it’s a good idea to have a cup of herbal tea. It can be bought in Germany not only in a pharmacy, but also in any store. Herbal teas have a beneficial effect. In addition, they perfectly raise the general tone and help to relax.
How Germans Get Rid of Ailments
Licorice
A well-known cough remedy is licorice, licorice or licorice root (lat.Glycyrrhiza glabra), is the basis of the “sticky” delicacy, beloved by the Germans. Regardless of the shape and degree of sweetness, licorice candy can do other wonders as well. A paste of crushed licorice lozenges and petroleum jelly helps to relieve calluses and horny skin on the feet.
How the Germans get rid of ailments
Mustard
Today, few people know about the benefits of mustard plasters in Germany. Also, rarely do Germans soar their feet with mustard powder. Mustard is better known here as a remedy for … heartburn! It sounds paradoxical, but a teaspoon of hot mustard, “taken” after a meal, soothes the stomach.Mustard oil contained in mustard improves the functioning of the gallbladder and liver, preventing the occurrence of heartburn.
How Germans Get Rid of Ailments
Ginger
In the Middle Ages, ginger imported from distant countries (lat. Zingiber officinale), which was imported from distant countries, was added to the well-known remedies for “all diseases” in Germany – garlic and horseradish root. Rich in vitamins and essential amino acids, the miracle root improves digestion and blood circulation. And ginger tea with lemon and honey is a universal antipyretic and anti-inflammatory agent.
How the Germans get rid of ailments
Vodka
The fact that a moderately “accepted” drink not only warms, but also relieves of various ailments has been known for a long time. Adherents of traditional medicine in Germany use vodka as a remedy for … excessive sweating of the feet and hands. To get rid of such a nuisance, it is recommended to wipe your hands and feet with gauze soaked in vodka twice a day.
How Germans Get Rid of Ailments
Lard in German
A slice of smoked bacon or “speck”, as the Germans call it, can save you from a toothache! Anyway, calm her down for a while until you get to the dentist.Do not rush to eat the whole piece at once – leave it behind your cheek, where the tooth hurts, and in 15-20 minutes it will feel better for you. The meat salt “draws” fluid from the swollen gums and acts as a mild pain reliever.
How Germans Get Rid of Ailments
Olive Oil
Due to its high content of oleic (monounsaturated) acid, olive oil is considered to be simply miraculous. It has healing properties. For example: to eliminate eczema, thoroughly rub oil into reddened areas of the skin.An excellent prophylactic agent against skin inflammations is a bath with the addition of 100 ml of oil and 500 ml of milk.
How the Germans get rid of ailments
Cabbage
Legends can be made about the benefits of white cabbage. In Germany, it is considered a migraine remedy. The juice of both fresh and sauerkraut is especially useful, according to traditional healers. A compress applied to the forehead of finely chopped cabbage leaves wrapped in a cotton towel also helps.
How Germans Get Rid of Ailments
Cottage Cheese
Instead of mustard plasters, cottage cheese is often used in Germany. Curd compress helps to get rid of annoying cough. To do this, the heated (not hot!) Curd mass is spread on a towel and placed alternately on the chest and back, covering the patient with a woolen blanket.
How Germans Get Rid of Ailments
Black Pepper
As you know, they knock out a wedge with a wedge, and hiccups with pepper! This physiological reaction of the body cannot be called dangerous, it usually goes away by itself.But sometimes the hiccups can be excruciatingly prolonged. In this case, it is recommended to sniff the ground black pepper. The alkaloid piperine contained in it will cause a “defensive reaction”, and the hiccuping sneeze will get rid of the hiccups.
How the Germans get rid of ailments
Baking powder
Artificial baking powder or just soda – the Germans resort to this “handy” remedy urgently for inflammation of the bladder. A pinch of baking soda or baking powder, dissolved in a glass of water, neutralizes the acidic environment, so favorable for the growth of bacteria, and turns it into an alkaline one.
How Germans Get Rid of Ailments
Broth
With a breakdown, flu and other ailments, the list of “healing” dishes in Germany is headed by chicken broth cooked over low heat. Spices are added to the broth: cloves, peppercorns, bay leaves, parsley roots, onions, and, if desired, a small piece of ginger. The favorite German chicken broth soup – with thin, homemade noodles.
Author: Inga Wanner
