Tuesday, December 19, 2006

Holy Freakin' Nuts! Why people with a Peanut Allergy annoy me.

This is going to be a slightly controversial post, because it focuses on a very real medical condition and how much it annoys me.

Peanut Allergy.

I used to be sympathetic to people with a peanut allergy. After all, it's a horrific condition. All it takes is a few molecules of peanut to set it off and an allergic reaction can cause rashes, difficulty breathing and, in some cases, death.

It's a dangerous allergy and it's increasing. That's why you'll find just about all pre-packaged products with labels reading: "Free from Nuts" or "Made in same Factory as Nut Products." This allows people with the allergy to swiftly identify what they can and can't eat.

First thing that really annoys me about people with a Peanut Allergy: Why the hell do they have warnings like "May Contain Nuts" on packets of bloody peanuts? It's just stupid! If somebody with a peanut allergy picks up a packet of dry roasted and scoffs them down, perhaps it's just Darwinism at work!

Anyway. I fortunately don't have a peanut allergy. In fact, I think I have the opposite. I love peanuts. I could eat them all day long. In fact, one of the experiences I enjoy most is sitting on a plane with an enormous gin and tonic and a bag of salted peanuts.

But I heard a horrific rumour the other day that this simple pleasure would soon be denied to me. In fact, visiting Plane Insanity (an interesting blog about an air steward) I had my fears confirmed. Apparently, if there is a passenger with severe peanut allergy on your red-eye to London, they won't be breaking out the peanuts.

Let me just state that clearly. You cannot have any peanuts on your flight. Because of the one person sitting three rows down who's allergic to them.

Bloody hell! I think this is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. I'm literally angry with rage! How can you possibly justify denying a man his nuts?

The fact is, if a passenger with a severe peanut allergy boards a flight, there are negligible, but real risks to his health. Remember, all it takes is a few whiffs of peanut scented air and they're puffing up like an adder. And since all the air on a flight is recycled, the danger is increased.

But while I'm sympathetic to the dangers, I demand my rights. I paid £299 for this round trip to New York off Last Minute and I have no intention of anybody denying me my complementary peanuts. Give them to me now! If the bloke in P57 doesn't like it, I'm more than happy to show him how his parachute works.

That's pretty much the Second Thing That Annoys Me About People With a Peanut Allergy.

But then we get the third reason. The one that really annoys me. The one that makes me go purple around the jowls. People who only THINK they have a peanut allergy.

When I was working in Paris, I dealt with about 300 America students and the precautions we took regarding their health made the NHS look like a village Post Office. We had medical forms signed and notarized and full doctor's health records. I knew half of the kid's prescriptions off the top of my head. I knew which ones were ADD or OCD, even if I didn't quite know what those three letter terms meant.

We took the health of our students incredibly seriously.

And one thing I ran into a lot was parents who told me that their kids had a peanut allergy. So we'd take this seriously, make sure their food in the local restaurants was prepared without nuts and generally do everything within our power to keep them healthy.

And then what happened? I have to take a deep breath before I recount this, because it makes the vein in my forehead pulse.

I'd go up to their room in the Pierre et Vacances and find the little sod scoffing down a bowl of Crunchy Nut Cornflakes!

"Oi!" I would shout, sounding a bit like Michael Caine. "What the bloody hell are you doing? You've got a bloody peanut allergy!"

"Mmmmgh," they'd tell me, their mouth full. "Mgh murumph murumph mmmph."

As much as it would have delighted me to rush them to the SAMU and watch the little sod get an andrenalin shot straight through the breastbone, it actually transpired that they ate a bowl of Crunchy Nut Cornflakes every morning and - in actual fact - the nut allergy their parents warned me about was one of the many fictional medical conditions protective parents invent before packing their kids off to study abroad.

So the Third Reason People With a Peanut Allergy Annoy Me (and this is the controversial one) is that some of them actually don't have an allergy at all.

Mind you, I've known a vegetarian with a wheat allergy who stole one of my hamburgers once, so I guess I shouldn't complain.

There. I've said it. I'm sure I will horrify some readers with this rant, but I had to get it off my chest. And please, please, if you've got a peanut allergy and you're flying to Miami or New York, give me advance warning.

53 comments:

Anonymous said...

You also have the option of taking a trans-atlantic ship, if you want your gin and tonic and peanuts so badly. Alternatively, you can demonstrate how your own parachute works to the rest of the passengers. See how good your peanuts taste on the way down. Bloody, selfish prig! Have you ever actually seen anyone go into anaphylactic shock? Someone you actually care about? Oh, I fogot.....you don't care about anyone but yourself.
Happy Holiday!

Roland Hulme said...

I think you kind of missed the point of that tongue in cheek post. I wasn't making light of peanut allergy.

It's a terrible affliction, but what can we do about it? Ban peanuts everywhere? Not just in airplanes, but in airports. Bars. Hotels. What will the elephants say?

Anonymous said...

I have an anaphylactic peanut allergy and it's a pain in the arse.

Not just because of the social difficulties, not just because it makes people uncomfortable when they're eating and I'm not, and not just because of difficulty travelling.

It's choosing food that's the real pain. Half the bollocks has 'may contain peanuts' on it when it has absolutely no chance of having peanuts. Fish. Red cabbage. Sour cream. These are things that I've bought recently that have 'may contain' on them even though they'll have never been anywhere near a peanut in their short and misbegotten life. Arsebiscuits!

Deacon Barry said...

I just loathe peanuts. I'm not allergic to them, I just loathe the smell and taste of them. And hazelnuts, and walnuts, and almonds.

Anonymous said...

The peanut isn't a real nut, it's in the same family as soybeans.

Anonymous said...

Why the hell do they have warnings like "May Contain Nuts" on packets of bloody peanuts?

Because peanuts isn't nuts. It's in the same family as soy beans.

Anonymous said...

"Why the hell do they have warnings like "May Contain Nuts" on packets of bloody peanuts?"

Because peanuts aren't really nuts. It's in the same family as soybeans.

Anonymous said...

Quantas still serve peanuts - food labels drive me potty - I need to know what's in stuff, and when EVERYTHING is marked may contain.. because the manufacturers don't want to get sued..When travelling we have emergency rations of biscuts and microwaveable meals and chains like Mac Do with standardized ingredients are great. People with make believe allergies drive me nuts as my daughter is one of those that swell up from a sniff, and living abroad we have to fly to get home.

Anonymous said...

You are a real asshole.
Do you hate kids in wheelchairs too?
Do those damn diabetics annoy you?

Bad Penny said...

You are a real asshole.
Do you hate kids in wheelchairs too?
Do those damn diabetics annoy you?

Lighten up, Francis. It's humor. If you don't get it, move on. He's allowed to vent on his own damn blog, fer crysakes.

Little Black Sambo said...

Anon 4.34
"Happy Holiday" - meaning?

Anonymous said...

Perfect - you can have a second gin and tonic to wash away your guilt while your plane makes an emergency landing in greenland as a result of you putting somebody into anaphylactic shock (jackass)

Anonymous said...

Actually, Delta, Continental and Southwest all still serve peanuts. So those who can't survive a few hours hours without ingesting a peanut, you do have choices.

However, I'd argue that a tin can with peanut dust floating in recycled air flying at 30,000 feet is a very bad place for someone with peanut allergies. Even if you can't muster compassion for peanut allergic travellers, why would you want to risk having your flight diverted due to a medical emergency?

edrie said...

is NOT a nut

Anonymous said...

well i must say I LOVED eating peanuts untill i had my altime favorite candy, sweet peanut m&m's one day. i was 17 and i started feeling tinglingness in my lips..my upper lip was sweld. I didnt think anything of it till a week later i opened up another bag of that same sweet candy. And then my bottom lip swelled i ended up going to the hospital and they had said it was most likely the peanuts. I went to an allergist and they did a test on me, and i surely was HIGHLY ALLERGIC. The symptoms get worse you know and i am not to be by airborn peanuts, i already had a respitory problem when i was riding with a friend was was eating peanut snacks.They had to pull over and rush me out. I had to wait a bit till it calmed down. I guess you wouldnt understand untill it happened to you....or we can just give you a taste of what like is like to be me. Pretend that some incredible weight is wraping around your chest with great forse, as acid like burning goes through your nose and mouth, then tell me if your life would be worth a sin of glutney and greed. To me if i it was the other way around then YES i would say banned those nuts and keep it safe cause food isnt worth the life of someone who can not help what was given to them.

Rob said...

* applause *

I agree that it sucks for those that suffer with it, but why is the world suddenly allergic to peanuts? I mean seriously, only 5 or so years ago I'd never heard of such a thing. Now every package I see has some warning about nuts, yes INCLUDING packages of freakin' nuts!

"warning this was packaged in a factory employing a women who allegedly saw a nut once."

It's coming. Mark my words!

Anonymous said...

hello, yes, i see the humor in your posts, though i admit it wasn't quite as clear until you began to respond to the comments about it. probably bec/ its a sensitive issue - every time i use public transportation i have to be vigilent. for that matter, last year at work in a room that was 24x24 i was standing 6 feet from my boss. her back was to me and i was working but began to feel the effects of my allergy. i had no idea what was going on until she turned around and offered me peanut M&Ms!!! anyway, the allergy is on the rise most likely bec/ we are getting more exposure to them in our foods, the manufacturing of items on the same machinery, and genetic engineering. i'm 41 and its getting worse but i have had it forever for both tree nuts and pnuts (which are actually 2 different allergies).

i always feel guilty when i have to ask people to refrain from eating them around me. last year i took a bus trip and about an hour into it 5 of the 6 people around me opened up nuts/pnut foods (the high protein craze is killing me).

thanks for letting me vent. please just ask for extra packages of pretzels to get you through the long flights...

Anonymous said...

I can tell you that peanut allergies have been around for years. It is not a recent thing. I am almost 34 and have had it since I was 3 years of age and gradually ended up allergic to all nuts. I know you are only having a laugh, but it's no laughing matter for us. Why not have your bloody peanuts before you get on the plane if you are so desperate! I think they should be banned from all planes. (If I had my way, they would be banned from this planet altogether!) If somebody opens a packet of peanuts on the plane, I can smell them no matter where they sit. Then I start reacting. I mean do you expect those of us with nut allergies to swim across the Atlantic? We have to fly on planes! Surely, it is no big deal to ban peanuts. I doubt people on planes would miss them at all.

Anonymous said...

Are people turning into babies, or what? How in the world did we suddenly end up with a bunch of people who are allergic to peanuts? This is blasted ridiculous. I'm going to go to the grocery store and buy jars and jars of peanut butter and eat it in all sorts of public places. I'm going to make a peanut butter milkshake and drink it when I visit the hospital!

Seriously.. it is a bit annoying. I mean, ok, some people are allergic to peanuts. Tell them to be careful. If they don't want to smell my peanuts, they can go away. I just think that really, people are turning into babies. They're allergic to peanuts, to dogs, to cats (I'm allergic to cats but I still pet them all the time.. and sneeze for a long time afterwards, but I love them so much that I don't mind).. is it something about all the weird chemicals that companies put in our food, or maybe people are feeding their babies peanuts before they can digest solid food?

Anonymous said...

Does the cat kill you after petting it?

Anonymous said...

You wrote your message poorly. People with peanut allergies don't bother you. Lawyers who make labeling laws bother you, and people who DON'T have a peanut allergy bother you. Honey nut cheerios typically don't have PEANUTS they have tree nuts. You can be allergic to peanuts (a legume) and NOT allergic to tree nuts. That is probably why the bloke was eating the cereal.
As for the airplane...you don't have any freakin' rights other than getting their safely, and hopefully on time, with your luggage. What you stuff in your face is not a civil right. And how selfish to be angry about not getting peanuts when someone else could die if they did. Seriously How shallow can you be? Imagine having a pnut allergy and being on a plane with no Dr. or medical facility? You wouldn't want pnuts served, either.
Grow up, and think through your logic next time you title a post.

Anonymous said...

Well I think peanut allergies have been taken a bit to far. I can see an airplane banning them because the air is recycled but some school boards are banning nuts completely. If the kid is severely allergic then yes keep them away from nuts but don't ban the damn things completely.

Yes, I know there was a case of a girl dying after being kissed by a boy who had peanuts some 9 hours earlier, but guess what? The coroner doing the autopsy on said girl found that she died from something else so that example is completely worthless. I say educate everyone about who is allergic, how badly and what people need to do if they come in contact with them. If people want to eat peanuts in schools with severely allergic kids make an acceptable practice of what to do (maybe make a special room for those people) and remind them they gotta avoid the kid with the allergies. But again, don't ban it completely. I mean what if said family is poor (I site the senator living on food stamps as a decent example) PB or PBJ is one of the cheapest/ most affordable option for a school lunch...not everyone can afford the organic soy crackers or whatever.

irondequoit said...

I know this is an old post, but I just wanted to say fuck you. I do not see this as humor or tongue in cheeck because you have been denied nuts. Toughh shit. I hope you get denied many other things you enjoy as well becasue you are an asshole. I also hope you get run over by a bus. How do you like that sick humor. No go suck on some testicle nuts asshole.

Unknown said...

I agree. Fuck 'em.

When I flew back from England this summer they didn't even offer me my little salty fat balls. Nothig nada.

Why must the needs of the many be swayed by the needs of a few. why don't they have peanut free flights or peanut free airlines so the rest of us heathens who want their damn nuts can have them.

Anonymous said...

Oh, go bite your bum, you great fat blithering moron. I hope some day you have children you adore, children who must rely on the mercies of others to keep them safe, and I hope they run into an idiot like their dad.

Anonymous said...

again, I know that this is an old post but,

I have a life threatening peanut allergy.

I'm more responding to some of the posts that people sent in response than to your whining about not getting peanuts on a flight when someone could die form it. Grow some balls jackass.

I agree completely witht he fact that schools shouldn't ban peanuts and nuts completely. A kid who has to grow up with an allergy has to learn that the whole world is not going to be peanut friendly when they leave home. It's the same with bars hotels, etc.

Now the shit about the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few is fucking stupid. Technically the NEEDS of the few DO outweigh the WANTS of th many. So, it depends on the situation. When its a public place, people should have their freedoms yeah. but when your on an airplane where someone could die from you breaking open a little nut pckage, just dont, god.

People say that people with peanut allergies have a holier than thou attitude and some of us do. But usually the only reason is to save our asses. Even if were denying you (in our prescence) some treat.

Anonymous said...

I know this is an old post, but I find it HILARIOUS how bent out of shape the peanut people can get! (Yes, I refer to those with peanut allergies as "peanut people.") It happens to drive me crazy the extremes to which we must go to accommodate these peanut people. Sucks that they can die from inhaling a peanut, it really does. But can the world ever be peanut-free? Will the peanut people ever be safe? I recommend a set of latex gloves and a surgical mask be issued to all peanut people, so the billions of people who don't have peanut problems can enjoy the insanely healthy little "nut."

Anonymous said...

"Are people turning into babies, or what? How in the world did we suddenly end up with a bunch of people who are allergic to peanuts? This is blasted ridiculous. I'm going to go to the grocery store and buy jars and jars of peanut butter and eat it in all sorts of public places. I'm going to make a peanut butter milkshake and drink it when I visit the hospital!

Seriously.. it is a bit annoying. I mean, ok, some people are allergic to peanuts. Tell them to be careful. If they don't want to smell my peanuts, they can go away. I just think that really, people are turning into babies. They're allergic to peanuts, to dogs, to cats (I'm allergic to cats but I still pet them all the time.. and sneeze for a long time afterwards, but I love them so much that I don't mind).. is it something about all the weird chemicals that companies put in our food, or maybe people are feeding their babies peanuts before they can digest solid food?"

Personally, I think you are being a baby! My husband and I are not allergic to anything but our daughter is allergic to peanuts and that makes her a baby? Get Real! By some weird genetic twist or maybe vaccination, or who knows what, my So, you mean to tell me you would sit there and eat peanut butter in front of someone who was so highly allergic to it that they could have a severe reaction right in front of you having their throat close up and die and you would be content with that? As long as YOU had YOUR peanut butter, scarfin it down right? How selfish!
And another thing can you die from petting your cat? No, that is the difference between this allergy and many others, it is FATAL! Educate yourself before you open your mouth!

And to whoever wrote this blog (your name is of no importance to me) you're selfish and inconsiderate as well. You have no idea what it is like worrying about what your child can and cannot have and what school will be like when your child starts (kids like to share lunches!). You have no idea what it is like worrying about going on an airplane and having a jerk like you sitting next to me and my daughter. Take your peanuts and shove 'em! :)

Anonymous said...

You are freakin sicko - get over yourself. You obviously have never seen someone (like my daughter) go into such a sever reaction to having a peanut - which is a legume by the way - not even a nut - and practically stop breathing. And you most certainly ARE making light of peanut allergy....that is your whole freaking point about being annoyed...you must think everyone is faking it just because you ran into one kid scarfing down a bowl of nut cereal...maybe he was allergic to tree nuts and not peanuts...you probably don't even know the difference.
Secondly I just flew from Boston to Seattle and I was served peanuts. I almost flipped out because what if my daughter had been with me? she is not even 2 and I just assumed they were all peanut free. but no surprise there are still ignorant people out there - You are not alone. Write something intelligent next time.

Anonymous said...

Not funny.

Anonymous said...

I do understand that you are allowed to vent, but have compassion. As the mother of a child who has a severe peanut and tree nut allergy I understand the pain a person with a nut allergy goes through. And considering that every one on the plane purchased a ticket just as you did they have a right to have there life valued and protected on their flight and I have to say this trumps your right to eat peanuts and possibly put theirs in danger.

Necropraxis said...

The comments here seem to be very polarized. I suppose that is to be expected because people who feel strongly one way or the other are more likely to take the effort to leave a comment. So as a person with a severe allergy to peanuts I thought I would offer a more moderate point of view. First, it is clearly unreasonable to expect the entire world to change because of us.

For day to day travel, a person can buy their own car. If they are at a party with an allergen they can leave. However, a plane is a special case. You are trapped. There is no way to get out without severely inconveniencing everyone else by diverting the plane. And there is no way to do international travel in any reasonable amount of time without flying. I suggest the following compromise: allergens should not be banned on all flights, but a passenger should be able to request a peanut-free flight. This makes it the responsibility of the person with the allergy to inform the airline, rather than penalizing many people needlessly. There is a trade off here, and I think that the occasional peanut-banned flight is a reasonable cost to accomodate a person with a disability. I really don't want to make other people's lives harder, but it seems unfair to say that people with a (common) disability should be totally denied international travel.

Anonymous said...

I have the peanut, It's really a massive thing to deal with and I can understand why it may seem irritating at times to have a minor inconvenience on a flight like not having your nut snack, but try not being able to eat ANYWHERE comfortably with double and triple checking with people who also do not understand the allergy. Try not being able to eat on a plane at all for fear of contamination from peanut products. There are worse things in the world than a severe peanut allergy but I wish people like yourself would just think about the consequences of writing a "tongue in cheek" article such as this. I do feel it's well written, funny and to an extent, well intentioned. However, somewhat ignorant.

"Holy Freakin' Nuts! YOU ANNOY ME!"

Anonymous said...

Right on brother. With you all the way. I lose count of the number of hypochondriac people, mostly (nope, damn near all of 'em) from the US, who claim to be allergic to something whether it's peanuts, wheat, milk, dairy produce, cat dander, coca-cola, horseshit, moon rock, work ... you name it. No doubt there are many with a legitimate allergy - not disagreeing with that. But if I got a dollar for every clown that wants to bore me with details of their allergy to... yawn.
Here's a theory to test. What proportion have jack shit wrong with them but just need to feel important? A concept that's way too hypothetical. I don't think so. Tell me you've never come across someone who exaggerates the crap out of every story they tell.

Anonymous said...

I can understand why you may be annoyed at those who are allergic to peanuts and I can agree with your argument. I personally am anaphylactic to peanuts and have been all my life (16 years). However, I do not believe that you have the right nor the reason to beat down those with an allergy just so you can do whatever you want. To function properly, the world needs a socitey that can work together and help others out, which is what is not currently happening. And that is thanks to people like you.
Now, whenever I fly, I must call ahead and ask for no peanuts to be served on the flight, check with the flight attendants on the flight to make sure that they are aware that they now I have a peanut allergy, and tell those next to me that I am allergic to peanuts. This is a great incovinence to me however, this is something I have to do anywhere, all the time. School is no picnic either, and telling people to avoid kids with allergies is just isolating them.
I have gotten used to the smell of peanuts and I don't have a problem being around them. Some peoople over react about them but some people do have an allergic reaction when they smell them. But I do hope that you are aware that there are over one million people with a peanut allergy in the US alone. As well, I hope that you know that the protien from peanut butter (peanut protien is what people react to) can stay active for up to 72 hours. In other words, lets say that you ate some peanut butter and then touched a door knob at work, and it is not washed with soap. If someone with a peanut allergy touchs that door knob and then procceds to (for some reason)touch their eyes or mouth, they will go into, in my case, anaphylactic shock. Therefore, I have to be extremely careful at work for there are people just like you, who eat peanut butter even though they know I am deathly allergic.
Now, put yourslef in the shoes of a person who has a peanut allergy. Lets say that you go to a party and meet a really nice girl. You want to hook up but first you must make sure that they haven't had peanuts in the past 72 hours. It doesn't matter if they brushed your teeth or used mouthwash. The peanut protien is still active. If that girl has had peanuts in the past 72 hours, looks like you wouldn't be getting any action.
So please, next time you vent, educate yourslef. This is just as bad as me venting about handicapped people because we have to have ramps for them at public places. Hopefully you learn from these comments.

Anonymous said...

Face it people. Peanut allergies aren't THAT common. Not even 1% of the entire population of earth. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peanut_allergy

So, if this is the case, why the peanut ban everywhere. Schools, airplanes, etc. When I went to school, peanut butter and jam was a staple in my lunch. Admit it, it was in yours too. Where were the peanut allergies then?

Honestly, in my opinion it's the fault of these sterile germophobes who are too afraid to expose their children to things to build their immune system. Your body needs to know what it is to fight it off.

If your child has a peanut allergy, dont get too attached; they're going to DIE! You may as well not even name them. Just call him "the boy"

Anonymous said...

My 5 year old daughter gets violently ill (vomits, shakes, very weak) when she someone has peanuts in the same room as her. If ingested she has 2-3 minutes before the epipen is administered and 15 mins to get to an hospital, otherwise it's almost certain death. She may have a life threatening condition but you're the loser (and all the ones who agree with him)

Anonymous said...

I think you write these articles to get attention, to bring out the worst in others and to see if you can get a few more hits on your blog.

I think with the increase of severe allergies someone you love in your lifetime may have life threatening allergies. (even yourself - adult onset is becoming more common)

How you react to someone who needs your consideration for such a short time says so much about you.
Hopefully you'll never need a favor or an act of kindness from another.

I just don't know how to explain such hatefulness to a small child - is this how people really are , a life is worth so little in America these days.

Roland Hulme said...

"I think you write these articles to get attention, to bring out the worst in others and to see if you can get a few more hits on your blog."

Articles? Plural?

Have you even read anything else on this blog? Clearly not.

Anonymous said...

Okay, you've contradicted yourself. You understand the severity of peanut allergies but you don't understand why you are denied the right to eat them on a plane? Do you have any idea how scary that is for a person with a peanut allergy? To be in a plane where multiple people that are sharing air with you are chomping on peanuts all around you? Do you have any idea how uncomfortable of a flight that would be if we have to spend the entire time hoping we're still alive when we get off the plane. All so that you sick people can EAT ONE STUPID FOOD ITEM!!!!

Are you insane? I am completely appalled and disgusted with you as well as everyone else that dares to say something as stupid as what you said. By the way, people put "may contain nuts" on peanut packages as another way of saying "may contain OTHER nuts". Just because someone isn't allergic to peanuts doesn't mean they can't be allergic to hazelnuts etc.

Gosh, can you imagine trying to explain to someone, an innocent child for example, that they have the possiblity of going into anaphylactic shock because some PIG wants PEANUTS. Don't give away the less harmful pretzels because this man wants his DAMN PEANUTS!!!!
You're an idiot. I've been suffering from a peanut allergy my whole life and people like you make me want to throw up. I'm shaking now as I type this I'm so furious.

Roland Hulme said...

Anonymous - I think you missed the tone of this post and the follow up posts.

Peanut allergies - in fact, allergies in general - are increasing in the population. We need to find out why. Many so-called 'peanut' allergies are misdiagnosed. My nephew had a 'peanut' allergy for months before it was correctly diagnosed as an allergy to eggs (you might find links in my blog to a friend I made through this post, whose daughter has an egg allergy originally diagnosed as a peanut allergy.)

Anonymous said...

The reason for the ban on planes is because of the recirculated air. When 100 bags of peanuts get opened simultaneously in a closed environment, it's a recipe for a severe asthma attack in someone with PA. That, plus the lack of access to emergency care if that does occur in air.

Unknown said...

Sorry - I know it's an old post, but I have a peanut allergy and I can totally see how we are annoying.

I hate being a pain in the arse... I hate asking wait staff to make sure I don't get peanut in my meals. I hate explaining what my shot of adrenaline is for.. I avoid talking about it as much as I can.

But when I am on a plane, and they start handing out peanuts to everyone on board, I start to panic. I CANT GET OFF!!! it's about then I start thinking that I am going to die. On a plane with strangers.

I don't want peanuts banned, I realize people love them, but jesus, can't we just stop handing them out on planes? are peanuts really that important to have on a trip? everyone gets so hung up on not having peanuts on a plane?!

If it were a restaurant for example, I could simply walk out, maybe phone an ambulance if i need to. But if I'm on a plane - I'm screwed.

Jason.

Mr.Shitheel said...

I get that if you really do have this allergy it is a pain. But you don't see diabetics and asthematics raising hell like this. If you've got it real bad you should probably be living in a plastic bubble like John Travolta in that stupid movie. It is sad that we have given into the peanut allergy people because it opens the flood gate for everyone else to ban whatever they are allergic to. Imagine if reformed alcoholics acted this way, you wouldn't be able to get a drink on a plane! I don't know about you but for me flying sober is not an option.
But the people who really lose out are the peanut farmers, and all they are trying to do is provide the rest of us (the vast majority, the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few) with a healthy nutritious food. A great naturally fat free source of protein. YOU with the allergy are the selfish ones. Go hide in your homes where it is safe.

CakesbyJoannaLo said...

You are such a dumbass. All your reasons for hating people with peanut allergies just shows what an ignorant and selfish dumbass you are. You can't live without your nuts for a few hours on a plane? your craving for nuts is more important than someone's life? you are such a moron. this post was not funny at all if that's what you were trying for. i feel really sorry for you.

Roland Hulme said...

Joey - I wrote this, like, 5 years ago. They've switched to little garlic croutons now. Those are delicious. Not as good as peanuts, but I'm willing to make the trade to prevent the person in the seat next to me going into anaphalatic shock.

Anonymous said...

I like how people with peanut allergies wish you would be run over by a bus. As for the person who's "shaking" now that they type, go fuck yourself. I hope you die early and die soon.

Erin said...

"Sorry - I know it's an old post, but I have a peanut allergy and I can totally see how we are annoying.

I hate being a pain in the arse... I hate asking wait staff to make sure I don't get peanut in my meals. I hate explaining what my shot of adrenaline is for.. I avoid talking about it as much as I can.

But when I am on a plane, and they start handing out peanuts to everyone on board, I start to panic. I CANT GET OFF!!! it's about then I start thinking that I am going to die. On a plane with strangers.

I don't want peanuts banned, I realize people love them, but jesus, can't we just stop handing them out on planes? are peanuts really that important to have on a trip? everyone gets so hung up on not having peanuts on a plane?!

If it were a restaurant for example, I could simply walk out, maybe phone an ambulance if i need to. But if I'm on a plane - I'm screwed."

Amen, Jason. I, too, feel the same way about my allergy. Got on a bus for NYC (8 hour trip) and they passed the peanuts around. I clung to my window seat and prayed for it all to end quickly.

Roland Hulme said...

Couldn't they just give out cashews on planes instead?

Photon_Man62 said...

I love you, 8ecb0fd0.

Kelenerz said...

Wtf is your problem?? I have a peanut allergy. We ( other peanut allergy people) didn't ask to be like this. -_-. We didn't even ask for all this special treatment.

rlx8 said...

:( i always thought a peanut allergy was a sissy allergy.

now i have one, 25 years into life.

i've heard that peanut allergies aren't nearly as common in countries where they don't roast them, and that increasing allergy rates could come from the fact that pb has become a staple of western life, when it really isn't any semblance of moderation at all. plenty of people may have unnoticeable allergies, but the excess consumption of pb causes them to become noticeable so that all of these warning labels end up getting stupidly put on everything.

we're paying for our own culture of excess.

rlx8 said...

:( i always thought a peanut allergy was a sissy allergy.

now, after 25 years of life, i have one.

i heard a couple places the increased rate of peanut allergy could come from:
1) roasting. countries that don't roast all their peanuts before using them in cooking, despite their prevalence, don't have all the peanut allergies.
2) excess. pb has become a staple of the western diet. maybe plenty of people had peanut allergies before our generation, we just never ate enough of them for the allergy to worsen with increased exposure. we're paying for our culture of excess.