nly know what's in the book
He had paced and paced the floors of his quarters, until he
was literally tired from the exertion. But resting gave him no peace and soon he was on
his feet again, thinking as he paced, anxiously looking out his window... hoping to see a
courier... ANY courier, bringing him a response to his second attempt at contacting the
young academician.
Nothing. No one... no post... nothing.
'Another fortnight shall not pass awaiting a response from this academician.!' he
thought to himself. Many a possibility had crossed his mind concerning this 'dilemma', he
now found himself embroiled in. Then. it hit him.'Perhaps a note to her superiors at
the Uga..!' he pondered the idea for a time and then almost laughed out loud, 'No,
no..! I'd have to write to The Hinkle herself..!'
In the end he thought it best to stay the course he'd set early on. 'I shall write yet
another letter to the young academician' he decided, 'but this time, I shall paint her
into the corner of her choosing.'
Quickly, he gathered parchment and quill and seated himself at his desk. He opened the
ink well and set about composing yet a third request to the young academician.
As to the task of delivery, he knew there was but one courier amongst all those in Morgdom that he could trust to carry the task to fruition. For this time the Medi wouldst require, no, wouldst DEMAND, a reply from the young academician. His friend and confidant, courier and scribe was indeed the only one who couldst perform this important task. And, the Medi suspected, said courier wouldst jump at the chance to be involved in something this important to the Morgdom community.
And so it was that the third communiqué was placed in the care of the worthy courier. "Her reply is far more important than even this scroll," the Medi informed his friend, as he handed him the document. "I must implore you to await her response, no matter how long it takes. I will gladly pay for any extra time you are required to spend, but her answer is paramount to your mission." The courier looked up at him from the scroll in his hand and said, "Sire, there will be no 'extra' pay; not one schilling. In fact, there will be no charge at all for this valiant undertaking." He removed several arrows from his quiver and carefully placed the scroll in a small compartment at the bottom. The Medi, for the first time noticed the insignia on the quiver and he could not avert his gaze from it. Replacing the arrows, the courier saw the inquisitive look on the learned knight's face and told him, "Most know me as a simple courier. Some are aware that I can scribe as well as any educated man. But only the few that I trust know that I am, first and foremost, a slayer."
The Medi was speechless as he watched the courier's shadow descend down the stone stairwell. He rushed to the window and yelled out, "Godspeed, My Friend..!" The courier never looked back but raised his longbow high in salute as he made his way through the square.
The Medi did not have long to wait this time. In a short five days the courier returned carrying quite a lengthy reply. Initially, seeing the size of the scroll, the Medi was hopeful that the young academician had included her study. But, alas, that was just not to be and her note didst read as follows:
"Hi Mr. Smith,
You are correct. I rarely check this email because I no longer work for the
University of Georgia. Surely you knew this, as you seem to be tracking my
online activity. Of course, you could have contacted the University of Georgia
on several occasions and reached Ms. Laura Turner who has filled my position
there for nearly a year.
Your self-described agenda is curious to me. I am not even an M.D., but both as
people of scientific interests, I would not approach ANY medical condition
without extreme skepticism. It seems to me to be begging the question, a logical
fallacy, to say "let's treat Morgellons as a real disease to prove that it is a
real disease." Scientifically, as you know, you test things that are
falsifiable, and yours is not a falsifiable agenda, and consequently I would
think it not scientific.
Delusory Parasitosis is called a "monosymptomatic hypochondriasis", meaning,
otherwise, people are doing just fine-- if it wasn't for that pesky delusion
causing such distress. I have never spoken with two people with Morgellons who
have symptoms down to minute details, who have not developed these symptoms only
after speaking with one another. Mental health disorders are frequently
co-morbid, and so, some may have the monosymptomatic subtype, while others have
a variety of bizarre histories, including UFO abductions and the like. This is
also common, as mental health conditions are spectrum disorders, so while two
people may both have a diagnosis of "schizophrenia," for example, their symptoms
may be drastically dissimilar.
I would say that most people who have diagnosed themselves with Morgellons are
delusions. They have a false, unshakable belief that they have a condition in
spite of overwhelming evidence to the contrary, or worse, an actual medical
condition such as eczema or lupus or a herniated navel. This makes for a
delusion. So while they may not all have delusions of parasitosis, one could, by
definition, be able to be classify people with these bizarre mentation a
delusional. This isn't what I've taught, but the conclusion to which I have come
through my own investigation and critical thinking. To say you've been to 8
doctors, who have all diagnosed you as having lupus, and you defy this and
self-diagnose as Morgellons still, is certifiably a delusion.
I have no interest in Morgellons except as a hobby, a personal interest in
critically analyzing the evidence. My job at UGA was, past tense, to investigate
bugs, and when people didn't have bugs but submitted bits of dirt, dust or lint,
find out what that was about and get people to appropriate resources.
It is again curious to me that you, as an alleged M.D., do not understand that
scientific investigation goes through a series of grants and the like. I, and
likely you, work so that I can pay my bills, and luckily have been able to work
in areas that are of personal interest. While I have minimal personal time to
invest in Morgellons and my skeptical interests, I'm just there for the
conversation. I can't afford, nor do I have any interest, in "helping people
with Morgellons."
If you have seen a single solicitation for my survey, you would see it is not
for "Morgellons" but for "invisible, unidentified, or mysterious skin
infestations." What does this have to do with Morgellons? So everything else
about which you have ranted in this email to me, I will not address, as you seem
to not have read the very thing about which you are complaining.
It's again curious to me that you say "LOOK OBJECTIVELY AT EVIDENCE" when you
yourself begin your email with your agenda, which I have already shown to be
logically fallacious. I'm interested in your thoughts regarding this.
"I would hate to think the reason you are unwilling to share all three articles
you wrote is that two of them actually do not exist!" What does this mean? I am
growing more and more skeptical that you are an MD at all, because if you were,
you would know how the process of submitting academic literature works, and it
takes years to be peer reviewed, sent back for editing, re-submitted, and
published. It's very strange that you would be foreign to this, being an MD.
Please be advised of the privacy policy enacted regarding this email.
Best wishes and merry Christmas,"
"This communication is covered by the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, 18
U.S.C. 2510-2521."
For days he read and re-read the message from the young academician. Finally, he had
come to the conclusion that in this mission, he had failed. The study of the illness which,
of course, was NOT a study of the DOP, had not been produced, discussed or even
referred to in the reply from the young academician. Nay, the 'study' was obviously not
forthcoming.
He thought back to her initial contact with the citizens of Morgdom and the excitement many had expressed. He wondered at the number of innocents who couldst be lured in by lies presented by anyone wanting to prove their own point. And for this injustice to have gestated from the loins of the prestigious Uga, was beyond comprehension. Academia, he decided, was doomed.
After a time, he came to an interesting realization; the only boards she trolled for her victims, were the ones where she wouldst be sure to ensnare the residents of Morgdom. And the anger just burned hotter.
The insults to Morgdom, on the whole or in part, were enough to raise his ire to the point
of wanting to visit the Land of Lanta again and meet with the Hinkle and all of the mentors
and teachers of the young academician. But then, she didst go and question the very
credentials of a Knight of the Medi, which made him wish for a day when he couldst don
his sword, pick up his shield and shed blood..! But, No..! This issue wouldst be best
addressed from a distance, he decided. Too much emotion was involved here for any form
of face to face confrontation.
And he wrote to the young academician once again and it went, in part, like this:
Dear Mrs. Bione-Dunn;
When I read your reply to my prior e-mails, I was initially a bit shocked at the rude tone
and the arrogant, condescending attitude you expressed....the reason for the tone of your
note became readily apparent!
Your obfuscation did not conceal the fact that you failed to answer my question about
being allowed to review your research data..... YOU stated there were three articles you
had written..... Do those other two articles exist? If yes, why not share your thoughts and
research findings?
Perhaps the other two articles do not exist. Then, young lady, you have been caught in a
lie. Is that the reason for your vicious e-mail to me? Such a personal attack is certainly
the refuge of those who are unwilling to address uncomfortable questions!
Morgellons, Elliot’s disease, The Fiber disease, and other names have been used for the
physical illness in question. As many Morgellons patients have been diagnosed as DP, and
many believe they suffer from an unidentified and mysterious skin infestation,
“Morgellons” is archetypical for the patient group you solicited for your research project.
I had thought you would have some interest in ‘helping people with Morgellons’, based on
what you expressed in that ... post and the fact that you are training to be a health care
provider. I guess either your humanitarian feelings for this patient group went away when
your job changed or you were not truthful when soliciting patients for your research!
Either way, your behavior and attitude speak to the quality of your character.
I gave you the benefit of the doubt and assumed your intentions toward these sick people
were good. Instead, I find that you knowingly misrepresented yourself to a group of sick
people to obtain research subjects. Unless you choose to prove me wrong by showing me
the articles you claimed to have written, I must assume you also blatantly lied to those
same patients. I find such behavior reprehensible and unethical.
You questioned my academic credentials. These may easily be confirmed if you care to
take the time. Your own credentials, I understand, include a bachelor’s degree in
psychology. From this background, you then assume you have the ability to diagnose
mental illness by survey and over the phone! Your hubris exceeds even that of many
dermatologists!
I would suggest you look into the meaning of “diagnosis of exclusion” in medical practice.
You might then familiarize yourself with the diagnostic tests recommended before the
diagnosis of Delusions of Parasitosis is made!
...by pointing out the “privacy policy enacted regarding this e-mail”, I suppose you have
learned to be careful about what you write. That is a good step! However, you should
perhaps review the applicable codes cited in said “privacy policy”.
I wish you well in your continuing education. Best wishes for the New Year.
Sincerely
Again he carefully blotted and dried the scroll. The Medi once again summoned his courier and asked that he deliver one more message to the young academician.
"You need not wait for a reply this time." he grinned. "For there will be none."
Music: Lied To (a song for Sarah)
