Best way to break the bad news...

[Sevre]

Search Bar Approved.

So anyway, after watching House I went over to my mother and asked her (who is a physician)questions about her job. After a while we got to the topic about breaking bad news to folks such as "You are terminally ill, I'm sorry there's nothing we can do." So I got to thinking what would be the best way to break bad news such as this to someone.

Would you sugarcoat it? Get it over and done with? Have an emotional conversation before doing it? Doesn't have to be terminally ill, just how would you break any bad news to a person?

 

[The Rockerfly]

Through song and dance

EDIT: on a serious note I would just tell her the truth and not sugar coat it, people need to face the harsh truth

 

[Jedoro]

I just tell people straight-up, no sugarcoating or anything. One of the side effects of being too honest, and people tend to think I'm a jerk or something for being so blunt, but I don't care. My goal was to get the message across, so I did.

 

[Beltom]

A barbershop quartet singing the bad news.

 

[PurpleLeafRave]

Through song and dance

I can't see you have cancer being in a song. But dancing whilst saying it would be good.

 

[The Maddest March Hare]

Through song and dance

No no, Interpretive Dance. Do things like choking and rolling around on the floor before melodramatically dying.

Although I'd probably just come outright, I'm usually blunt so it's not exactly a break of character.

 

[Radeonx]

Does anyone remember that part in Robin Men In Tights, where King John asks the Sheriff to tell him the bad news but in a funny way. That way it wont seem so bad? That right there, wins.

Hmm...I was originally going to have my answer be "Just tell them", but, your idea is pure awesome. I change my answer to yours.

 

[Cpt_Oblivious]

I'd pretty much just spit it out, but I'd be there to comfort them instead of just wandering off.

 

[Dorian]

I tried to spit it out once. Didn't turn over so well on my end.

Now I end up trying to get them to connect the dots. As in, I make a metaphor and they ask if that's right.

*Drinks* Yup.

 

[The Rockerfly]

Through song and dance

I can't see you have cancer being in a song. But dancing whilst saying it would be good.

Well lots of people have made songs about aids, can't see how cancer can't be made into a song

Through song and dance

No no, Interpretive Dance. Do things like choking and rolling around on the floor before melodramatically dying.

Although I'd probably just come outright, I'm usually blunt so it's not exactly a break of character.

Hmm I'm not sure what you mean, I don't suppose you have a video showing how thats done?

 

[bob-2000]

Say it quickly and then comfort them.

 

[Zer_]

I'm sorry, but you've contracted HIV. The best thing to do is to think positive, man. *Friendly tap on shoulders*

 

[Sevre]

I'm sorry, but you've contracted HIV. The best thing to do is to think positive, man. *Friendly tap on shoulders*

I love the pun. Song and Dance sounds more fun though.

 

[Marcus Attell]

"Who in this Room Doesn't Have Cancer, step forward...Not so fast {Insert name here}!"

 

[crudus]

"Ma'am (or Sir) I don't say this often enough but you are going to die...from {terminal illness}...in {time scale}. There is nothing we can do about it. So, I suggest you go home instead of paying us all this money, so you can use it to pay for your funeral. Trust me, making your loved ones pay for it sucks. dammit Roger! Damn you!!"

"Who in this Room Doesn't Have Cancer, step forward...Not so fast {Insert name here}!"

did you take that from Fresh Prince? (not exactly quoted but the same idea)

 

[Rascarin]

As someone who recently received some pretty shitty news in a pretty shitty manner, I would say the best way is to try and be as sensitive as possible. Not sugar-coating, but not as callous as, for example; "By the way, your dad and I are splitting up."

 

[Kuchinawa212]

Straight up and no dancing around the point. Make it clear. Make it simple. Always works for me.

*House fan hi-five*

 

[SnowCold]

With a sledge-hammer.

*badum tish*