Bloodletting

[sylvar]

I gave blood today at the Methodist church. Apparently their 'method' involves walking right past the bloodmobile and into a building to sing songs about how nice it would be if people would occasionally do something that helps others. I wasn't there when the bloodmobile opened for donations, and I took my time afterward, and yet nobody else had donated before me and nobody else had come in by the time I left.

As I drove away, I asked a couple of Methodists walking from the parking lot toward the church if they'd please spread the word that I'd been the only donor so far, and after all, it's Lent. They looked at me kinda funny at that point; perhaps they surmised I wasn't one of them. Which makes me think that I should round up a bunch of agnostic and atheist people to get together and bum rush the bloodmobile at a yuppie church. I'd like to think that the clergy would take it as a challenge when they found out that godless heathens were saving more lives than their own flock...

And just to be clear, I'm a universalist (and, now that I've been exposed to the term, an apocatastasist) Christian, but I'm dismayed; my optimistic side hopes that everyone in that church gave blood on Good Friday and just isn't eligible to donate again.  My pragmatic side figures that it's time for some good old-fashioned shame to get churchies to open their hearts and veins.

Oh, and I've just requested In the Hands of a Happy God: The "No-Hellers" of Central Appalachia from iBorrow.  Sounded interesting.

Comments

[sylvar.livejournal.com]

Plus, it's just possible you've had sex with a man who has had sexual contact with another man. I hate that law. Seriously, what's the point if they're also screening the blood for any pathogens they're worried about?

[knobody.livejournal.com]

it's based on statistics and old ones at that. while it's probably not relevant these days, it was at the time it was mandated and the fda is slow to change. remember, our blood supply isn't completely safe. it takes time between infection and a positive antibody titer. that window could allow infected blood into the blood supply so the questions are there to further screen out those with higher risks. i'm not saying it's the best solution, but it's what has been chosen as most cost effective. if i ever need blood products, i'd be happier with more strict screening even if some healthy donors are turned away. and since only about 5% of eligible donors actually donate, there's room to improve without getting more lax on the screening procedure.

which reminds me, i'm off of deferment now. i guess i should find a half hour sans short people sometime soon.

[switchknitter.livejournal.com]

I KNOW I've sex with men who've had sex with other men. And I got pierced within the last two years...

[sylvar.livejournal.com]

So then don't worry about the meds.

I wonder if it'd make any difference if I signed an advance health care directive that said "Dudes, if I'm about to bleed out, I don't care who donated the blood, just use it..."