A 16-year-old kid was in the waiting room with me at my doctor's office and he started asking me questions about my arm and how I do various things. I usually am happy to answer questions to curious people (usually it's young kids). His questions got more bizarre until he asked how long it would take for my arm to grow back. He said he saw on TV that lizards could re-grow tails and limbs. I just gave him a and went back to reading my Economist.

Our society is becoming dumber.

3/9/2009 8:54:37 PM

what a dick

3/9/2009 8:55:40 PM

so you met rymnNgarfnkl?

3/9/2009 8:56:07 PM

that punk was asking for it dawg

3/9/2009 8:56:14 PM

are there really 16 year old kids that stupid?

3/9/2009 8:56:34 PM

Quote :

"I just gave him a and went back to reading my Economist."

3/9/2009 8:57:08 PM

maybe he looked older since he had grown both of his arms

3/9/2009 8:57:24 PM

I thought he was being a dick or trying to make fun of me, but I honestly think he was being serious. He had that confused look in his eyes. It's hard to fake that.

3/9/2009 8:57:24 PM

i blame hannah montana

[Edited on March 9, 2009 at 8:58 PM. Reason : blama]

3/9/2009 8:58:30 PM

he was asking an honest question. sure he's 16 and should have know this at least 10 years ago, but why not at least tell him humans aren't reptiles.

3/9/2009 8:58:42 PM

or tell him it was a salamander (i think?), not a lizard, and that humans aren't amphibians

3/9/2009 9:01:01 PM

10/10

3/9/2009 9:28:44 PM

either of the two possible options make me

3/9/2009 9:51:44 PM

trolled

3/9/2009 9:57:52 PM

how do you know it was a 16-year old kid, anyway?

3/9/2009 10:00:51 PM

karl pilkington talked about this once. he's not a teenager but he has a head like a fucking orange.

3/9/2009 10:20:40 PM

Quote :

"how do you know it was a 16-year old kid, anyway? "

somewhere in his constant random babble he mentioned that he had recently turned 16 and how he was hoping his mom would buy him a car.

3/9/2009 10:21:42 PM

tell him that if he believes in God and in miracles that he should pray for you.
You know..... since God heals other problems like cancer and heart disease.

3/9/2009 10:23:31 PM

one day, it will be possible.

and i hope that day is within your lifetime, joe137182746912

3/9/2009 10:25:34 PM

sounds like you might also need to grow some balls

3/9/2009 10:45:10 PM

you mean your arm WON'T grow back?!?

sorry dude

3/9/2009 10:55:50 PM

so, how did you lose your arm???

3/9/2009 11:11:50 PM

I, too, was wondering when joe17669's arm would grow back

3/9/2009 11:13:54 PM

Quote :

"so, how did you lose your arm???"

he wanted to see if it would grow back.

3/9/2009 11:17:09 PM

Quote :

"or tell him it was a salamander (i think?), not a lizard, and that humans aren't amphibians"

it's not just salamanders -- these little lizards (red or blue heads&tails) that I used to see all the time as a kid would grow their tails back. My mom said it was some sort of defense mechanism...like if a predator got hold of one of these lizards its tail would just fall off and distract long enough so the lizard could get away.

3/9/2009 11:21:08 PM

skinks?

3/9/2009 11:21:39 PM

planaria regenerate too

3/9/2009 11:27:01 PM

more like skanks, always growing a new attitude, amirite?

3/9/2009 11:27:11 PM

hey jessiejepp.... thanks for stating the obvious


u r smart

3/9/2009 11:31:12 PM

Pics of nub, or it didn't happen.

Seriously though, how did you lose it?

3/9/2009 11:51:51 PM

he was wrestling a bear who tore it off

3/9/2009 11:52:41 PM

he talked back to me. it was hte last time anyone ever did.

3/9/2009 11:54:57 PM

you shouldve told him that his mom has seen your penis grow before she put it in her mouth

3/9/2009 11:57:59 PM

trolled

3/10/2009 7:59:12 AM

how did you open the paper to read it?

3/10/2009 8:04:23 AM

Quote :

"so, how did you lose your arm???"

He got hit buy a drunk driver.

3/10/2009 8:39:31 AM

he tried to take Stallone over the top

it did not work

3/10/2009 8:40:22 AM

You shouldve smacked his forehead with your nub.

3/10/2009 8:44:02 AM

Actually, you might be surprised to learn that the idea of regrowing body parts is not so crazy after all.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/12/22/army.technology/index.html

Quote :

"ORLANDO, Florida (CNN) -- Regrowing a fingertip cut off in an accident sounds like something from a futuristic movie. But with innovative technology developed by the U.S. Army, such regrowth is possible today. This research project and a hundred others were on display this month at the 26th Army Science Convention. Some the greatest minds in science from around the world gathered at the four-day conference to exchange ideas and showcase collaborative projects between the Army's research laboratories, universities and partner industries. The main goal is to develop technology to make soldiers safer and more effective, said Thomas H. Killion, the Army's chief scientist. The Army's regenerative medicine study combined properties from the intestinal lining and the urinary bladder to create a regenerative substance called Extracellular Matrix. The cream-colored crystallized powder, called "magic dust," boosts the body's natural tendency to repair itself, said U.S. Army Biological Scientist Sgt. Glen Rossman. When the matrix is applied to a missing digit or limb, "the body thinks it's back in the womb," Rossman said. One civilian participated in the regenerative-medicine study after cutting off the tip of his finger in a model plane's propeller. Researchers continually applied the matrix to the wound, and after four weeks, the body grew skin and tissue to replenish the damaged area. The U.S. military branches have begun a consortium with private institutions to develop treatments for severely injured troops. With the help of grants, the Armed Forces Institute of Regenerative Medicine is studying nerve and vein transplantation, treating burns without scarring and regeneration of tissue, skin and even bone. Through both animal studies and civilian clinical trials, the institute is developing therapies for the large number of soldiers injured by improvised explosive devices and other explosives in Afghanistan and Iraq. "We are working on trying to regenerate limbs, to repair limbs and to keep them from being amputated," institute Project Director Col. Bob Vandre said. Cont."

3/10/2009 8:47:20 AM

16... he has time to learn



ive seen adults ask if brain transplants were possible for their brain dead loved ones....

3/10/2009 8:51:16 AM

^ cool.

Quote :

"it's not just salamanders -- these little lizards (red or blue heads&tails) that I used to see all the time as a kid would grow their tails back. My mom said it was some sort of defense mechanism...like if a predator got hold of one of these lizards its tail would just fall off and distract long enough so the lizard could get away."

yep. your mom is right.

3/10/2009 8:54:33 AM

i, too, subscribe to the economist

3/10/2009 8:59:04 AM

Quote :

"I just gave him a and went back to reading my Economist."

you should've taken out your eye THEN given him a

3/10/2009 9:02:14 AM

Quote :

"so, how did you lose your arm???"

epic battle with Darth Vader

3/10/2009 9:05:30 AM

maybe he was from the future...

3/10/2009 9:11:38 AM

Well, then Joe is just being a Futurist, now isn't he?

3/10/2009 9:27:41 AM

Quote :

"epic battle with Darth Vader"

winnar

3/10/2009 9:35:06 AM

lol

3/10/2009 11:16:29 AM

maybe he was watcing too much spiderman



and assumed you were going to turn in to a lizard

3/10/2009 2:13:29 PM

it could have been worse, like a sexual question

3/10/2009 2:24:48 PM