Rules & Practices
Over the years the PRP Survival Guide has developed Editorial Standards. For example, I always try to put the PRP Survival Guide and pityriasis rubra pilaris in italics.
A recent post i the Land of Hope seemed to be a perfect place to start listing the editorial standards that help explain PRP.
Disease versus Condition versus Disorder
Is PRP a disease, a condition or a disorder. And consider the audience and what we want them to know and appreciate. What’s in our name?
In Act 2, Scene 2, William Shakespeare’s Romeo overhears Juliet speaking to herself: “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” From Juliet’s perspective, both “Montague” and “Capulet” have equal value. She cares not?
I agree with those who find the DISEASE to be too jarring or inflammatory (pardon the pun). Even the National Organization of Rare DISORDERS reserved DISEASES for their less prominent website address, e.g., rare diseases.org.
I disagree with those who would advocate the word CONDITION. While accurate, CONDITION seems to lack the gravitas of a DISORDER that egregiously impacts the quality of our lives.
However, the word DISORDER neither sounds the alarm bells of a DISEASE nor waters down the impact with the blandness of CONDITION.
But whether you use, disorder, disease or condition, it is important to be a PRP advocate. Tell your story!