I've been thinking about this a lot lately. It seems to me that whenever there is a debate here on AN, there are three predictable "red herrings" that get tossed into the mix. For those that don't know, a red herring is an element that distracts attention away from the real argument. There may be more, but these top three are the ones I have noticed the most. Perhaps others have more to add to the list! Feel free!
#1) The "Where is Your Compassion" Red Herring. Inevitably, whenever a poster takes an unpopular stance, their compassion is called into question. Questioning a nurse's compassion is like questioning a mechanic's willingness to get their hands dirty. It's such an integral part of nursing that I would give 99.9% of nurses the benefit of the doubt that they give compassionate care, no matter their opinion on a matter.
#2) The "Exception to the Rule" Red Herring. This one is pretty obvious. Whenever someone makes a generalization, no matter how much truth that generalization holds, someone always has to pipe up about their brother's mother in law's cousin who "had x,y, and z, but still managed to do a, b, and c". Know what? There is *always* an exception to the rule. That doesn't make the generalization any less true.
#3) The "Well, if you have never had (fill in the blank), then you couldn't possibly know anything about it" Red Herring. This one assumes that, for example, if I have never had a broken bone, I know nothing about the appropriate assessment, treatment, and follow up for that condition. Unless I have had my arm ripped off in an industrial accident, I couldn't possibly know anything at all about how to treat that patient. Unless I have not personally experienced burns over 50% of my body, I could not possibly know what is the most critical thing that needs to be done with that person.
Well, that's my little rant for the evening. Good night, all!
How about when someone asks a relatively benign question looking for opinions and inevitably someone responds as if it were directed personally at them because they have zero reading comprehension and everything is about them anyway isn't it? :icon_roll
Sometimes I wonder if that is still being taught in the school system!
Specializes in Mental Health, Medical Research, Periop.
How about when someone asks a relatively benign question looking for opinions and inevitably someone responds as if it were directed personally at them because they have zero reading comprehension and everything is about them anyway isn't it? :icon_roll
And how about the one in which the OP asks for an opinion when they really don't want it, but just want people to agree with them. If you disagree with them they get defensive and you're the bad guy.
Shall we not forget the potato/ potahto, tomato/ tomahto red herring... digressing from the original topic of discussion to nit-pick some absolutely insignificant detail to death.
or... student nurses seeing everything through "rose colored glasses" and thinking that EVERY nurse that doesn't smile at them or acknowledge their presence "at clinicals" is guilty of 'eating their young.."????
How about the endless debates about BSNs vs ADNs? That seems to pop up in a large number of threads here no matter how irrelevant.
"Well, my sister's cousin's aunt's brother twice removed says that only ADNs get hired and all BSNs are stupid." "Well, MY brother's uncle's ex-wife's grandmother who was a nurse back in the 1930s says that diploma grads are the only good ones and that all nurses with a degree are stupid." "Well, that's silly - my uncle's daughter's grandfather's nephew says BSNs are the only good educated nurses and the rest are dumb."
And so on, and so forth...everyone's heard something from someone that makes THEIR REASON the only valid one. Sigh.
Specializes in Flight, ER, Transport, ICU/Critical Care.
[color=darkslategray]i'll add -
• i don't get to work in my dream area/can't get a job-tough market herring (though sadly true - not the herring!) because if i did, or had that job, etc - i'd never even complain regardless of the situation, or any issue, or hate my assignment/patient/family/guest/administration/co-workers/schedule, or how much i am paid or well, anything - about whatever the topic cause you, the dear op du jour, are ungrateful/a terrible nurse/burnt out and bitter/sociopath or ______ (use your imagination or just look few a few "hot threads").
and (my favorite!)
• i feel pretty - so very pretty herring! everyone wants me/is jealous/is a hater/and i am supernurse! no matter what the issue is - there are those that add their "logic" to whatever is being discussed. i call it the woe is you - cause you are not me! so, of course, you will have "problems"! herring
caregiver1977
494 Posts
Sometimes I wonder if that is still being taught in the school system!