Quite the sadist, aren't we? Schadenfreude like this always reminds me how lucky I am to have a compassionate girlfriend who doesn't get off on seeing me ill in bed. And vice versa.

Neil S, Glasgow , Scotland

I can't believe I just wasted whole minute reading that. Get a grip on yourself, go out and do something useful.

Mark, Aylesbury,

You took the words from my mouth , Stephen ... pity mine didn't get printed , but the point has been made .

Benzo, Nr Chelmsford,

But what about when she gets sick? When I got sick, my husband of 30 years simply moved on to a younger model . . .

lily, london, uk

re your item"Student putting feet on train seat" well done Mersey rail.i just wish South east trains had the same policy.it is amazing that she and her father dont see anything wrong in what she was doing.This is not helped by the tone of your article..what on earth has the fact that she is a Cub Scout leader got to do with this(unless you are saying she should be showing an example) and she is an A' student..I loved the observation "She just put the tips of her flipflops on the seat.
ask your reporter to travel out of Waterloo and have a look at the tips of flipflops on seats.

geoff murray, hartley wintney, hants

i read twice all above and i agree with Kate.the true test is when she gets sick.when he gets sick,she must take care of him- it is her nature-nursing the weak.but when she gets sick,he knows that she knows what is the best for her .so what for such bother asking her about fever , pill,or tea.it is not a prove of careless of him-it is his way to show her how much he loves her and respects her and her privacy.

bendis, oltenita , romania

Aw, isn't that sweet! Your boyfriend gets ill and it is all about how you feel. Touching.

Stephen, Brussels, Belgium

I agree about the spider in the bath!

Actually, my husband has Parkinson's Disease, and that is not fun to care for. The disease and the medications he takes have made him quite a different person from the man I married 20 years ago. It affects him physically and cognitively. It also causes him to be depressed and to conceal, from himself as well, minor illnesses, so that he will seem "off" and grouchy for several days, insist he is "fine," and only tell me days later that he had a sore throat, an upset stomach, a headache, or whatever, so one has to guess what's really going on.

He is still able to be helpful, however, with spiders in the bath.

Jeanne, Paris, France, France

Please tell me a fee wasn't paid for this piece of fluff. Then consider the many women (like me) that have been turned into carers for their much loved man. Perhaps a dose of real illness, with lifelong consequences might focus this writer's lightweight mind. Angry, me?

Melanie, Farnborough,

My idea of hell would be a slightly sick man. I would have made the world's worst nurse, so it's just as well I never have to act as one. I have no patience whatsoever and after about 24 hours I simply can't be bothered any more. Serious illness of course gives a getout clause since the care will be in the hands of professionals, where it belongs. Fortunately I have never had to deal with more than flu or a sprain in a male partner, which can safely be left to get better on their own. If you have to wait till your boyfriend is too ill to escape you perhaps you are choosing the wrong men.

alexandria, Sheffield, UK

What an exciting piece. I was riveted.

Angus, Sutton,

I am not often ill, but when I am I prefer to be left alone and suffer in solitude. I definitely do not want to be cloyed. My wife knows and understands; she is great.

Hein Maassen, Leidschendam, The Netherlands

No the true test is when "she" gets sick.

Kate, Warwickshire,

Thanks for setting us back 100 years Ariel. I'd prefer my boyfriend to look after me not vice versa.

Marie Borard, Cardiff, UK

Hahaha, I knew this article sounded familiar. My man appreciates me even when he is healthy. Guess I got the only one!

Nicole, Stuttgart, Germany

I think I'd rather just find a healthy man who simply WON'T snap at me for asking the same question twice. Oh wait, I already have. And we take care of each other. And I hate seeing him sick, it makes me hurt inside. If I needed my man to get sick in order for me to feel special, needed and useful, I would DEFINITELY have the wrong guy.

Nicole, Stuttgart, Germany

No, the true test of a relationship is a spider in the bath. I don't care how much love, trust, compassion and understanding there is. If neither of you can get rid of a huge, leggy, eight-eyed spider in the bath, your relationship is doomed.

Rachel, London,

I am a manic depressive and often feel sorry for myself. From my experience this has caused the breakdown of pretty much all of my meaningful relationships.

Johnny, London,

Ooooooooooooh, are you really Annie Wilkes from Misery??????

Kelly, Scotland,