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 NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.
White, conservative male voices have historically been the predominant voices in our media representation. All of the Sunday morning news programming have historically aired white men with conservative ideology more than any other group. Maybe the struggle is coming from conservatives feeling marginalized if their POV is not front and center.
After almost losing my job over my perspective and feelings on what is going on. My statement I value all life drives some people to become hateful, call me a racist, and many more unflattering names. Trying to make me take a "stance" as they say. I have made a decision that anytime I am unable to value life above political ideology it is time for me to get out of Nursing.
I stand firm in my faith in God, his word and commandments on life and how we treat each other.
When the truth and facts get lost in the conversation and only emotions are important then I know it is time for me to get out of this profession.
I called today to see about retiring from my job and will do so by the end of the year or sooner. Being able to have a civil dialog with people has been hard. As I have said to a few of my fellow Nurses, any of us that has taken Sociology and Psychology certainly know everyone's attitude, perspective, and thoughts are different and we should be able to have controversial discussions without it leading to costing someone their job.
I have decided to take someone's advise.
Life is easier if you mind your own business. Also, silence is often misinterpreted, but never misquoted.
We should all learn to just to be quiet at times.
Good luck to everyone as I will be remaining silent until I leave my job.
Shove it all in the breakroom, problem solved. When leftist opinions aren't allowed to be front and center in any aspect of life though, outcry ensues. Mind you, I'm saying this as someone who typically votes democrat but I can't help acknowledging the obvious. If you treat "black lives matter" posts as you would every other post and categorize them appropriately, you're racist and not acknowledging a "public health crisis." Politics/biases affect nursing, be it misogyny, homophobia, etc. None are more deserving of attention. Honestly, it's just another way to twist people's arms into broadcasting certain views and certain views only.
I’m sorry, I just don’t buy that anyone actually believes that when we say Black Lives Matter we mean only Black lives matter.
Or that responding to the crisis facing Black people in America right now is somehow in competition with fighting homophobia and sexism (particularly when the movement was started and is largely led by Black women, particularly when LGBTQ folks have been super vocal about owing a debt to Black trans women for leading the queer liberation movement).
Mainstream feminism and queer culture has been very white centric but what I’ve been seeing is white feminists and queer activists realizing that racism compounds oppression based on gender and sexuality and that we have to address our own complicity in order to seek our own liberation.
Please share the work you’re doing against homophobia and sexism that’s been derailed by the BLM movement. Because that just sounds like concern trolling to me.
Nursing has always had a virtue signalling laden agenda ( "look at me I am a hero". etc.) with a holier than though attitude to boot. It took me transferring from the bedside position to the provider role to realize this. Mixing politics on here is a fire waiting to happen.
These issues were bound to happen. Personally, I think politics threads should be cornered into one area and not leaked to the main page but that's just me.
With regards to issues, I have seen 0 thought provoking discourse when it comes to these threads. People are deeply entrenched in their narrative, regardless of what side it is.
What's more concerning is those that are fervent in those beliefs are completely ignorant to actual statistical analyses done on the various subjects at hand (or they selectively hold on to studies). Some people just like being obtuse and petulant in their discourse. But hey, it is what it is.
she244, I don’t understand. Are you saying that people turned hateful and called you a racist for just saying that all lives matter? And that you almost lost your job because of that simple sentence? I’d think most of us here agree that all lives matter.
I feel like we’re missing some context here. Did you say that all lives matter in response to something someone else said? Was it a comment directed at the Black Lives Matter movement? If it was, I can understand how it could upset people. It could sound like you’re attempting to deny the legitimacy and need for a movement and like denial of the fact that there are indeed people in society who are treated differently based solely on the color of their skin. The problem is real.
What are the truths and the facts that you feel have been lost in conversation? If the discussion you had at work, involved the protests against police violence and other inequalities in society I can understand if it turned emotional. It is an emotional question. Actually it’s an existential one. Based on many years of very real/factual events and discrimination.
After almost losing my job over my perspective and feelings on what is going on. I have made a decision that anytime I am unable to value life above political ideology it is time for me to get out of Nursing. And am unable to
state facts and the truth, then I know it is time for me to get out of this profession.
I called today to see about retiring from my job and will do so by the end of the year or sooner. Being able to have a civil dialog with people has been hard. As I have said to a few of my fellow Nurses, any of us that has taken
Sociology and Psychology certainly know everyone's attitude, perspective, and thoughts are different and we all should be able to handle controversial discussions. I have decided to take someone's advise.
Life is easier if you mind your own business. Also, silence is often misinterpreted, but never misquoted. We should all learn to just to be quiet at times.
After almost losing my job over my perspective and feelings on what is going on. I have made a decision that anytime I am unable to value life above political ideology it is time for me to get out of Nursing. And am unable to
state facts and the truth, then I know it is time for me to get out of this profession.
I called today to see about retiring from my job and will do so by the end of the year or sooner. Being able to have a civil dialog with people has been hard. As I have said to a few of my fellow Nurses, any of us that has taken
Sociology and Psychology certainly know everyone's attitude, perspective, and thoughts are different and we all should be able to handle controversial discussions. I have decided to take someone's advise.
Life is easier if you mind your own business. Also, silence is often misinterpreted, but never misquoted. We should all learn to just to be quiet at times.
Soon that won't be an option, remember white silence is violence. That silence is a privilege! Confess you sins and repent by joining the movement. You better put that BLM sign in your lawn. You are either with us or against us, "bigot".
Sarcasm people ,sarcasm...
But really I live in a city that has had its fair share of damage and its pretty sad to see obviously token gestures in the windows or doors of businesses hoping that will spare them from graffiti or damage. Such is the times....
The issue made was I refused to take a Stance one way or the other. I agree that Black Lives Matter. I also agree that the physical harm being done to people of all races mattered also. That is where some of the issues are. I have decided already reading some of the replies to certain post I have nothing to add and will log off. I will let God help me with this matter. Good luck to all of you.
Joined in 2013. Site and topics were much more enjoyable back then. Fun contributors and interesting topics galore. Those posters have been driven off now. I avoid most threads here due to many already stated reasons. Wish the old AN would come back. Not likely.
It was great to see people asking a wide variety of questions/discussing all kinds of things that related to nursing in some way (not necessarily clinical topics, job concerns/problems, and career development), and expressing diverse views, including humor! Some contributors were so smart and so funny. There were some great discussions.
I see my feelings of being intimidated as a 17 yr old girl are irrelevant to my colleagues here.
Yes, I was afraid to complain to the school for fear of being belittled as a racist. They obviously weren't monitoring the restrooms, nor cared to enforce the rules.
When I was 18, I left the city forever. That whole intense scene was definitely not for me...
Let me ask you an honest question. Had the girls in the bathroom not been Black and had the same reaction, would you have considered it a racist act or just them not wanting you to hear their conversation because you weren't apart of their clique?
toomuchbaloney
16,101 Posts
White, conservative male voices have historically been the predominant voices in our media representation. All of the Sunday morning news programming have historically aired white men with conservative ideology more than any other group. Maybe the struggle is coming from conservatives feeling marginalized if their POV is not front and center.
The phenomenon has been examined and written about. https://www.vox.com/2016/3/15/11233102/white-conservative-men-Sunday-shows