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selowitch · Apr 10, 2006, 08:20 AM

Has anybody heard of ED caused by prolonged sitting in a position that puts pressure on the perineum (and thus restricts blood flow to the genitals)? I haven't been able to get it up lately and I'm wondering if my recent tendency to slouch forward on my couch while laptopping could be to blame.

Mastrap · Apr 10, 2006, 08:49 AM

Stop drinking, stop smoking. If that doesn't help see your doctor.

selowitch · Apr 10, 2006, 09:06 AM

Originally Posted by Mastrap

Stop drinking, stop smoking. If that doesn't help see your doctor.

I seldom drink and have never smoked. I see my doctor next week. I'm curious if anybody else has experienced something like this, though.

d4nth3m4n · Apr 10, 2006, 09:11 AM

ever put your laptop on your lap? well, the heat's no good for you either.

cjrivera · Apr 10, 2006, 09:52 AM

I know of some men who put pressure to that area for an extended period of time (farmers who ride tractors, truck drivers, men who use bikes/stationary bikes, etc.) who will have this problem.
They recover once they can quit putting the pressure to the area (famers in the off season, truck drivers use the inflatable donuts, using a different bike seat that puts the pressure on the butt rather than the perineal area)

Try using a donut when sitting, but as always, see your doctor.

Dark Helmet · Apr 10, 2006, 10:02 AM

Mine works great

selowitch · 11:20 AM

I have an intuitive feeling that the donut is just the thing. I'm going to try it for sure. Meanwhile, I've made an appointment with my doctor.

BTW, I used to use an AirDesk for posture, but my wife didn't want it in the living room for aesthetic reasons. Of course, she was none too happy when the ED started happening (understandably). I suppose I could go on a temporary "laptop fast" and just use my desktop (an old G4 450mHz) for now. But then, it would be a good argument for a shiny Core Duo Mac mini, now, wouldn't it? :-)

Tuoder · Apr 10, 2006, 11:18 AM

Wow. I don't really have any advice. I just want to express my empathy.

Stradlater · Apr 10, 2006, 11:22 AM

Originally Posted by Tuoder

I just want to express my empathy.

I'm sorry for both your losses.

Salty · Apr 10, 2006, 02:00 PM

I've heard of computers being used to arouse people... not the other way around!

MaxPower2k3 · Apr 10, 2006, 02:21 PM

Originally Posted by Salty

I've heard of computers being used to arouse people... not the other way around!

using people to arouse computers?

either way, i can honestly say i've never been aroused by a computer. something being displayed on it, perhaps, but never the computer itself. i guess i'm weird

Tuoder · Apr 10, 2006, 06:01 PM

Originally Posted by Stradlater

I'm sorry for both your losses.

2 : the action of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to, and vicariously experiencing the feelings, thoughts, and experience of another of either the past or present without having the feelings, thoughts, and experience fully communicated in an objectively explicit manner; also : the capacity for empathy

Empathy means that you haven't been through it personally. Sympathy means that you have.

Salty · Apr 10, 2006, 06:11 PM

Originally Posted by MaxPower2k3

using people to arouse computers?

either way, i can honestly say i've never been aroused by a computer. something being displayed on it, perhaps, but never the computer itself. i guess i'm weird

You've never owned a new PowerBook have you?

Tuoder · Apr 10, 2006, 06:14 PM

Originally Posted by Salty

You've never owned a new PowerBook have you?

I once had a romantic encounter with a computer named Lisa.

Stradlater · Apr 10, 2006, 06:17 PM

Originally Posted by Tuoder

2 : the action of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to, and vicariously experiencing the feelings, thoughts, and experience of another of either the past or present without having the feelings, thoughts, and experience fully communicated in an objectively explicit manner; also : the capacity for empathy

Empathy means that you haven't been through it personally. Sympathy means that you have.

Haha, my head's on askew today. There we go. Thanks.

selowitch · Apr 10, 2006, 09:33 PM

Well, thankfully this has only lasted a day or two. I'm sitting on my new foam doughnut as we speak, and sitting instead of slouching. Let the healing begin! I'm sure this will resolve in a short while.

brassplayersrock² · Apr 10, 2006, 09:36 PM

good luck to you buddy. be sure to keep us updated

Daveecee · Apr 10, 2006, 09:43 PM

sympathy: feelings of pity and sorrow for someone else's misfortune they had great sympathy for the flood victims.
• ( one's sympathies) formal expression of such feelings; condolences all Tony's friends joined in sending their sympathies to his widow Jean.

empathy: direct identification with, understanding of, and vicarious experience of another person's situation, feelings, and motives.

So... Sympathy is feeling pity for somebody, empathy is directly connecting because of shared experiences, no?

cjrivera · 11:54 PM

Originally Posted by selowitch

Well, thankfully this has only lasted a day or two. I'm sitting on my new foam doughnut as we speak, and sitting instead of slouching. Let the healing begin! I'm sure this will resolve in a short while.

mmmmmmm.....foam donut........aaaaaaarrrrrrrggghhhhhhh.......

Stradlater · Apr 10, 2006, 11:24 PM

Originally Posted by Daveecee

So... Sympathy is feeling pity for somebody, empathy is directly connecting because of shared experiences, no?

It's actually more of a gray area than that. Such is language. Note the "vicarious" of your chosen definition.

Sym- is a prefix, cf. syn-: together, similarly, alike.
Empathy actually derives from Einfühlung, "Ein" simply translating to the neuter, "a," and and "fühlung" meaning "feeling"—together they imply projection, not necessarily meaning that the physical situation was shared.
"-pathy" is of course related to feeling, as well (see "pathos" for another derivative).

The terms overlap in usage all the time. Strictly, empathy would probably be used as a more intense version of sympathy—empathy involving actual effort of adopting the other person's perspective; sympathy merely involving agreeing with the other person's plight.

No one's "wrong" here. Not you, not Tuoder, and certainly not me

Linguistic rules were made to be broken and bent. Although Tuoder's decision to use "sympathy" to imply one has been in that situation before is much rarer than the common "empathy" to imply "I've been there, brother."

ambush · Apr 11, 2006, 10:09 AM

My dick is rock hard, as always.

Don't worry, ED happens to the best of us.

MaxPower2k3 · Apr 11, 2006, 10:12 AM

Originally Posted by ambush

My dick is rock hard, as always.

You know, after four hours, you're supposed to go see a doctor.

Dark Helmet · Apr 11, 2006, 10:35 AM

Originally Posted by MaxPower2k3

You know, after four hours, you're supposed to go see a doctor.

ha ha

brassplayersrock² · Apr 11, 2006, 10:56 AM

Originally Posted by ambush

My dick is rock hard, as always.

Don't worry, ED happens to the best of us.

now we know why his nick is am-bush

ghporter · Apr 11, 2006, 08:55 PM

I have heard of incorrect bicycle seat selection and/or adjustment causing that sort of perineal pressure-mostly on a set of nerves that innervate the whole pudendum-but not any sort of chair position. What kind of chair are you using?

selowitch · 09:26 PM

Originally Posted by ghporter

What kind of chair are you using?

A way-too-soft couch that is a definite ergonomic no-no. But the addition of the foam doughnut has really helped, apparently. See, I like using the laptop in the family room with the TV on and my wife and son nearby, cuz that's cozier and more social than being stuck in the office with the G4 tower. Not only do I feel better, but ... well, let's just say we've noticed an improvement already.

BTW, I've heard that about 80% of impotence cases in men under 45 have no discernable physical cause and are most likely psychologically based. But whatever -- if this helped me regain whatever it was I was missing, then so be it.

Doofy · Apr 11, 2006, 09:19 PM

Originally Posted by ambush

My dick is rock hard, as always.

Well, I should hope so... ...not having a skull can be quite an unfortunate medical condition.

(You walked into that one.

)

selowitch · Jul 20, 2006, 07:43 PM

Originally Posted by MaxPower2k3

You know, after four hours, you're supposed to go see a doctor.

Yeah, it's called priapism. And while you are certainly supposed to see a doctor, it seems more likely to me that the typical guy will be calling up his buddies and saying, "Hey, guess what? You'll never believe what I've got."

nonhuman · Jul 20, 2006, 07:53 PM

Originally Posted by selowitch

I seldom drink and have never smoked. I see my doctor next week. I'm curious if anybody else has experienced something like this, though.

In that case, perhaps you should start drinking and smoking.

Kevin · 08:38 PM

brassplayersrock² · Jul 20, 2006, 08:16 PM

Originally Posted by Kevin

there ya go

Kevin · Jul 20, 2006, 08:31 PM

Thanks! Couldn't find one.

- - e r i k - - · Jul 20, 2006, 09:24 PM

Originally Posted by Daveecee

sympathy: feelings of pity and sorrow for someone else's misfortune they had great sympathy for the flood victims.
• ( one's sympathies) formal expression of such feelings; condolences all Tony's friends joined in sending their sympathies to his widow Jean.

empathy: direct identification with, understanding of, and vicarious experience of another person's situation, feelings, and motives.

So... Sympathy is feeling pity for somebody, empathy is directly connecting because of shared experiences, no?

Yes. That's what my understanding of the two words are too.

The song is called Sympathy for the devil, not Empathy for the devil.