Has anybody else been pretty shocked by how polarized many of the forums have gotten lately? 'Back in the good ole' days,' people would occasionally have differing view points and get into little spats, but on the whole we were all on the same page and working toward the same common goal (patient and nurse well-being).
These days it feels like at least 1/3 of the trending forums eventually devolve into tirades and personal attacks. Even when the discussions start out fairly civil, they sour pretty quickly.
I realize that highly-polarized, highly-sensationalized news is the nature of our political system these days. I'm also guessing that the polarization is felt more deeply on AN because the two most prominent, polarizing topics right now (covid and 'black lives' protests) are both interrelated with public health. Usually AN members are at least somewhat united on the aims and goals for public health, even if they don't agree with the means. Now, there's just so much bickering.
It's really disheartening. AN is usually my escape from the outside world, where I can commiserate with other nurses on topics that only we understand. Lately, it feels like the lighthearted, feel-good nature of AN has been poisoned by all of this hatred. I hope we get back to the way things were sooner rather than later. ?
Specializes in Clinical Pediatrics; Maternal-Child Educator.
37 minutes ago, LibraSunCNM said:
I appreciate the sentiment of what you're saying, but I'd encourage you to start looking at yourself through a different lens. Instead of waiting for someone to help you see the error of your ways, you can actively seek out ways to increase your knowledge about anti-racism. Indeed, you can view it as your own responsibility, not the responsibility of anyone else. Not trying to pick on you at all---just another way to view things.
In order to look at yourself through a different lens, it requires always first the exposure to a catalyst of change which allows this. Otherwise, you see yourself in the same circles you always have without change because nothing has changed. By someone helping me to 'expand my viewpoint', it could just as easily be active on my part by reading a book, an article, or discussing it first hand with someone. I did not mean to imply that it was someone else's responsibility. I meant that I would never otherwise come to some of this knowledge without that catalyst because my own experience limits my own personal exposure of the topic (the very basis of white privilege) and, therefore, that exposure from others' experiences (at least for me) is important in order for me to better understand.
To clarify, when I say "go back to the way things were," I mean back to AN posters generally treating one another with respect, and forums that tended to be a bit more productive for a longer period of time before spiraling out of control and having to be shut down by the mods.
I absolutely don't mean going back to the way we were before these discussions were brought to the forefront of public consciousness. I don't think we as a country will ever go back to the way things were, nor should we. And we as an AN community should be more open to discussing how racism affects nursing, both for our patients and the nurses in our community. I just hope that we can do so with more empathy and respect, and with less personal attacks.
That is the thing: this board has never been respectful to ALL of its posters, and quite a few black nurses who used to post regularly left for that reason.
Unlike my white counterparts, I don't get the luxury of "differences of opinion", not when those differences ignore or diminish the racism and mistreatment I have faced as a woman of African descent.
It is cute that you as a white woman feel as though AN was once a place where people "generally treating one another with respect." I am here to tell you it never was for many black posters.
My last year of high school I moved in with my father and had to switch schools. The new school was approximately 50% black, 50%white.
I remember, only black girls gathered in the bathrooms to socialize and smoke. When I entered to use one, they would all stop talking, stare at me as I entered the stall, and not a word until I left, only hostile stares.
Is that what is meant by microaggression? It was very uncomfortable for me.
No. Black people being rude to white people isn’t a microaggression and isn’t racism. Kids not wanting to be your friend didn’t make it extra hard for you to get a mortgage, didn’t affect you being seen as professional at work, didn’t make you more likely to have your pain under-medicated, etc, and didn’t exist across all social spheres you existed in.
In order to look at yourself through a different lens, it requires always first the exposure to a catalyst of change which allows this. Otherwise, you see yourself in the same circles you always have without change because nothing has changed. By someone helping me to 'expand my viewpoint', it could just as easily be active on my part by reading a book, an article, or discussing it first hand with someone. I did not mean to imply that it was someone else's responsibility. I meant that I would never otherwise come to some of this knowledge without that catalyst because my own experience limits my own personal exposure of the topic (the very basis of white privilege) and, therefore, that exposure from others' experiences (at least for me) is important in order for me to better understand.
I highly recommend Ijeoma Oluo’s “So You Want To Talk About Race.” She’s also a great follow on facebook and instagram. One thing that I’ve been seeing folks who want to challenge their implicit biases and internalized racism do is form reading groups around this or other similar readings and use the readings as jumping off points for discussion around the ways they (we) have benefited from or been complicit in racism and how to become part of anti-racist work.
No. Black people being rude to white people isn’t a microaggression and isn’t racism. Kids not wanting to be your friend didn’t make it extra hard for you to get a mortgage, didn’t affect you being seen as professional at work, didn’t make you more likely to have your pain under-medicated, etc, and didn’t exist across all social spheres you existed in.
Anyone who treats another person badly because of their race is racism.
Anyone who treats another person badly because of their race is racism.
I agree. However, in the case of not speaking because someone not in your circle coming in and being able to hear your conversation, no matter what race they are, is not racism. They would have more than likely done that had the person been Black too. Not the same.
Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.
4 minutes ago, juniper222 said:
Anyone who treats another person badly because of their race is racism.
OK.
If one group of people are the majority and hold all of the positions of authority and policy making for many generations then that group's racist ideology will also be expressed in policing, education, voting rights, housing, banking, city planning, etc. None of us appreciate feeling singled out for no apparent good reason by an individual or small group. I've been fortunate to grow up white in a country where that is baseline. Dick and Jane were white. Baby Jesus in the manger at Christmas was white. Heck, even the Easter Bunny is white.
That is the thing: this board has never been respectful to ALL of its posters, and quite a few black nurses who used to post regularly left for that reason.
Unlike my white counterparts, I don't get the luxury of "differences of opinion", not when those differences ignore or diminish the racism and mistreatment I have faced as a woman of African descent.
It is cute that you as a white woman feel as though AN was once a place where people "generally treating one another with respect." I am here to tell you it never was for many black posters.
Absolutely this! It's still like that in every thread regarding race in some form or fashion. And don't be offended, it's like you offended them because you're offended. I can't like this post enough!
Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.
Just now, NurseBlaq said:
Absolutely this! It's still like that in every thread regarding race in some form or fashion. And don't be offended, it's like you offended them because you're offended. I can't like this post enough!
I am a black RN and let me tell you: AN has ALWAYS been polarizing and unwelcoming towards black RNs. I have been on this forum for many years and the level of intolerance and acceptance of bigotry has just escalated in the last few years, but it has always been there below the surface.
I also think the whole "respect everyone's opinions" is BS especially when one opinion marginalizes or dismisses a disadvantaged group of people.
I also think it is sad that the BLM movement is considered to be polarizing. It shouldn't be as it is pretty clear that the justice system is skewed against black people and needs a major overhaul.
I literally just went through this in another thread and apparently I "attacked" someone because I was offended? My post expressing why I was offended and how/why the racist tone offended me was removed because it was reported. Let me add other people had the same sentiment as I, even nonBlack posters, but somehow I'm not allowed to be offended. That's one of several examples of the bigotry on this site. I completely get it and it is very real on AN.
Specializes in Clinical Pediatrics; Maternal-Child Educator.
59 minutes ago, HiddencatBSN said:
I highly recommend Ijeoma Oluo’s “So You Want To Talk About Race.” She’s also a great follow on facebook and instagram.
I'm one of the few people who doesn't do facebook or instagram. I think my life is probably better for it. I miss some things, but a lot less stress/drama. ?
I'll get this book to read. Thank you for the recommendation!
99% of cops are good cops. The 1% of bad cops need to be permanently banned (black listed). There are two problems, police unions protecting bad cops and not enough good cops stepping up to force the bad cops out. The culture of "If I say something and the bad cop is not fired, what retaliation can I expect?" I do not agree with tear down a police department and start over. They need better training and leadership that holds all officers accountable for their actions.
The media is also to blame for some of the outrage. Last night a black man was shot in Atlanta by police officers. Every one of the major networks showed only the edited cell phone video of the man running and the sound of gunshots. They don't show the dash cam and body cam footage of the 20 minutes of the officers talking to him and initiating a sobriety test. It wasn't until they started to peaceably handcuff him, that he became violent and started wrestling and punching the officers. He stole one of the officers' Tasers and ran away. It wasn't until he fired the Taser at the officers that they shot him. This guy didn't innocently fall asleep in the drive through and the cops shot him for running away as the media wants to portray.
Not true. 99% of cops aren't good. There are studies and several examples of racist cops. They have infiltrated all levels of law enforcement and are known as ghost cops, or something like that.
Also, he had a taser but was shot in the back, twice. If he was shot in the back, he was not facing the cop. If you see/know of people who look like you being murdered while being arrested and/or in jail, you would run too. Cops don't have to murder Black people. Dylan Roof murdered a state Congressman, shot up a church, killed 9 people, ran across state lines all while armed, and was arrested and fed Burger King. Only when Black men are murdered are there entire thesis statements explaining why their murder was OK. Same with Tamir Rice. He shouldn't have had a gun, the gun looked real, the cop didn't know, etc etc. There is no excuse that is acceptable. NONE! Yet they persists. SMH
LovingPeds, MSN, APRN, NP
108 Posts
In order to look at yourself through a different lens, it requires always first the exposure to a catalyst of change which allows this. Otherwise, you see yourself in the same circles you always have without change because nothing has changed. By someone helping me to 'expand my viewpoint', it could just as easily be active on my part by reading a book, an article, or discussing it first hand with someone. I did not mean to imply that it was someone else's responsibility. I meant that I would never otherwise come to some of this knowledge without that catalyst because my own experience limits my own personal exposure of the topic (the very basis of white privilege) and, therefore, that exposure from others' experiences (at least for me) is important in order for me to better understand.