Know whereof you speak, before you speak

[unixronin]

Or, "It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak up and remove all doubt."

"The New Yorker's Malcolm Gladwell explains how good teeth go bad: 'People without health insurance have bad teeth because, if you're paying for everything out of your own pocket, going to the dentist for a checkup seems like a luxury.'  The British, of course, have socialized medicine, which we guess explains why they have such great teeth." --- James Taranto

I think he's trying (not very effectively) to be sarcastic there.  (The give-away being, of course, that he said something nice about socialized medicine.  In my experience, when Americans, particularly "conservative" ones, say nice things about socialized medicine, it's always meant to be sarcasm.)  Ironically, I should note for the record that I'm a British citizen, I'm currently 45 years old, and I have never in my life had a cavity.  Not one.  Stuff that up your attitude, James Taranto.

Comments

[jilara.livejournal.com]

My great-grandmother, who grew up in a sod house and lived on a farm MILES from any towns, let alone medical care, never mind dentists, had a mouthful of perfect teeth. Guess what, she didn't eat much sugar.

Me, I ruined my teeth while still in high school because of a fondness for bubblegum. (Since then, not eating much sugar and not drinking soda, most my dental problems have been based on the existing damage from the bubble gum days.) I think people should look at diet.