hey *waves* I hope it's okay to drop in--pingback_bot pinged me when you linked to the meme...
But, clearly, this is something I'm fascinated by, and while I have absolutely no desire to police the content of comment fic fills, I have to say I agree with you!
I am the least fever prone person--I don't think I've run a temperature over 103 in my life (hence the fascination, maybe), so I don't know anything about it personally (and my immediate family is the same) but I do know I've never heard of a real life person actually hallucinating at a temp. under 104.
And since our pediatrician's office basically says not to bother them with anything under 104 (barring other issues, like severe sore throat, etc.), that's the cut off I usually use for fic (though as you say, brain damage won't happen under 105/106). So, I do find it somewhat bewildering when people in fics freak out over a temp of 102 or 103....rush people to the emergency room, etc.
That said, I do think that even a low-grade fever can make you extra emotional or give you crazy dreams. And that's usually how I get around the issue in writing--because I do love it when fever can break down barriers to emotions or memories. But those things can happen through fever dreams you can wake up from (as opposed to delirium, which you can't).
But, of course, the great thing about fever is that it's a symptom, not a disease, and so can effect people in idiosyncratic ways. I get totally weepy with any kind of fever, for example, but my older son can still play a mean game of chess with a temp over 102....
I'm tempted to link the excellent rule-of-thumb chart you have up there to the meme--but, like I said, I hate the idea of policing these mostly super casual fills...
no subject
But, clearly, this is something I'm fascinated by, and while I have absolutely no desire to police the content of comment fic fills, I have to say I agree with you!
I am the least fever prone person--I don't think I've run a temperature over 103 in my life (hence the fascination, maybe), so I don't know anything about it personally (and my immediate family is the same) but I do know I've never heard of a real life person actually hallucinating at a temp. under 104.
And since our pediatrician's office basically says not to bother them with anything under 104 (barring other issues, like severe sore throat, etc.), that's the cut off I usually use for fic (though as you say, brain damage won't happen under 105/106). So, I do find it somewhat bewildering when people in fics freak out over a temp of 102 or 103....rush people to the emergency room, etc.
That said, I do think that even a low-grade fever can make you extra emotional or give you crazy dreams. And that's usually how I get around the issue in writing--because I do love it when fever can break down barriers to emotions or memories. But those things can happen through fever dreams you can wake up from (as opposed to delirium, which you can't).
But, of course, the great thing about fever is that it's a symptom, not a disease, and so can effect people in idiosyncratic ways. I get totally weepy with any kind of fever, for example, but my older son can still play a mean game of chess with a temp over 102....
I'm tempted to link the excellent rule-of-thumb chart you have up there to the meme--but, like I said, I hate the idea of policing these mostly super casual fills...
anyway--great post!