Is Getting Sick Beneficial?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the potential benefits of getting sick, exploring various perspectives on why illness might be seen as advantageous. Participants touch on topics related to immunity, social relationships, and historical medical practices.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that getting sick can help build immunity to certain illnesses.
  • Others suggest that illness might reveal the strength of personal relationships, as it can show who is willing to help during times of need.
  • A participant mentions that fever, a symptom of illness, is part of the immune response that helps eliminate infections.
  • There is a historical perspective shared about chicken pox, where it was once recommended for children to get infected to build immunity, as adult infections are more harmful.
  • One participant expresses confusion about the intent behind the original question, indicating a concern that others might misinterpret their curiosity.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the benefits of getting sick, with some supporting the idea of immunity and social insights, while others question the overall value of illness. The discussion remains unresolved with multiple competing perspectives.

Contextual Notes

Some claims depend on historical medical practices and may not reflect current medical consensus. The discussion includes assumptions about the nature of illness and its implications for health and relationships.

Mk
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Why should we get sick

I need help on finding resources on why getting sick is a GOOD thing. I'm sure there has to be some. I'm not meaning this like "so you can get out of school" etc.

- I give thanks, :biggrin: Mk

(This shy :shy: face always puzzles me to what it means until I hover it)
 
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Well, to grow immunity towards certain illnesses. If you search the biology forums, you might find something there...
 
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Arggh! When I post, others seem to figure I'm planning on doing something, usually for me its because I'm a fat cat that learns from curiosity.

goose said:
Well, to grow immunity towards certain illnesses.
That's not what I meant either, that's like doing it ahead of time so you don't have to do it later...
 
Other good things about getting sick? You know what getting sick means, right? :-p
Well, 'a friend in need is a friend indeed'. I suppose it could help you learn more about your relationships - finding out who sticks around and helps care for you. ? I suppose it also helps bring out the kindness in people.
 
There aren't really any good reasons for getting sick, unless you're talking about the things that make you feel sick, like fever, which is part of the immune response that tries to kill off the infection by making you too hot for the germ to survive.

With chicken pox, it used to be recommended, before there was a vaccine available, that if it's going around, don't try to keep your kids from getting infected. Once you have it, you build immunity to the virus, and only a very rare few will catch it a second time. It's much more harmful to get infected with it as an adult than as a child, so that's why it was recommended to just let the kids catch it so they wouldn't catch it as an adult.
 
Yikes, who gave that>?

subbert?
 

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