Using Hep C for a joke!

[gene53]

I was watching Saturday Night Live last night and there was a skit where they had one of the actress's  dressed up like a drug addict and say I have Hep C like that was supposed to be funny.
I realize this is a comedy show but that just kind of freaked me out a bit using Hep C as a joke. I know I have other things to be more concerned with like my upcoming treatment for Hep C but that just kind of blew me away to use this horrible HCV in a comedy skit.
It's no joke to me and I don't think it's to funny to anyone doing the treatments and so on.

What do you think about that????????????

Gene

[Bill200]

I think just ignore it.  Personally I think the jokes were caused by Pamela Anderson.  She was the first one I started hearing jokes about it with.

[jules2551]

I just noticed someone changed the public email address that i posted earlier.  I guess that is not allowed?  I mean its public...that is how I found it.

Jules

[gene53]

Thank you all for your responses,

Karen, I know you didn't intend to offend, especially since you are going through this too.

I agree there is a stigma assigned to HCV and I don't expect that to change anytime soon.

I also wish someone like Steve Tyler or some other celebrity would use there celebrity status to bring more attention to this HCV.
It doesn't matter to me how one contracts this virus or disease weather it was through drug use, tattoo, piercings, blood transfusion, or any other means.
Having treated twice before myself and relapsing and preparing for round 3 now with Incivek. I am now reading all my brother and sister warriors experiences here like a friend who had to quit tx after 12 weeks because of possible irreversible sx. Another friend with end stage liver disease and cancer, waiting for a transplant. Another only in his second week of tx and contemplating quitting tx because of the sx. The list goes on and on.
Maybe if someone could bring attention to what each of us has to go through in these treatments to the naive public,  then possibly these television shows might have a different take and show a smidgen of compassion.
I know until I was diagnosed in 2003 I had no clue what Hep C was.

I guess the bottom line is this can be summed up in one word ' Awareness '

Thanks again to everyone for your responses!

Gene

[jules2551]

You can send an email to ***@**** you won't get a response but a generated letter like Keith mentioned earlier.  I shot off one yesterday so if you are interested go for it

[printze]

I hope Steve Tyler was watching  the show , I bet he didn't find ot funny just like the rest of us .I f I was on the show I would have refused to do that skit . Very cruel and insensitive, put the writers and producers in our situations and see how much they laugh about it . Disgusting.

[crossroadsec]

Just talked w my daughter who saw the skit. She said it was pretty tasteless and made drug references. I think SNL is tasteless at times and pick when to watch according to guests n hosts. I probably have an odd sense of humor.
That said, I live a quiet lifestyle and thankfully have not had to address any negativity re my diagnosis last year. BUT, I avoid discussions n refer to it as a blood disorder. Would I love to see some credible media? You bet. I'll never watch House again.
Bottom line is that people are ignorant.  I have an open heart n mind and I'm always surprised by cruelty. I made a careless summary about something that many of you have had tough experience with. I sincerely assure you no harm was intended.
Peace on Earth...
Karen :)