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. ?
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.
Explain.
Let me tell you from my viewpoint, and I'm not right or left, I vote my best interests and not along party or racial lines. That is part of the problem. Anytime someone Black has an issue, it's automatically labeled Democrat or leftist. Why can't it just be what it is: a valid problem that needs addressing? Why does it have to be political at all?
It is dismissive and gaslighting.
Why does it have to be in the breakroom?
Because it makes you uncomfortable, doesn't affect you, or you have no concern to discuss this topic doesn't mean it should be put in the back alley, or in this case, the breakroom which many seldom visit or are unaware exist. Do you not understand what you've just projected?
Does the issues we've outlined not affect Black people on the right, Republican Black people, etc?
They do. Many are speaking against it but Fox News and the like choose to air Candance Owens and the few Black people who pacify their stance while dismissing millions. This isn't just an American Black topic, people nationwide are also protesting in support of the racism going here, or is that also irrelevant?
These issues/feelings/belittlements aren't new, they've been going on since the inception of this country and colonizers pulling up to the American shores. This whole country was founded on racism, none of this new. We're saying it's time to readdress some things and put it to an end.
Serious question: Why does this topic bother you so much that you feel it should be thrown in the breakroom and silenced?
We're having a legitimate discussion here and, for the first time, people are honest, listening, and speaking candidly about feelings, that includes you. I'm not saying you're wrong, but these are questions I'm genuinely interested in hearing the answers to because until there's honesty on both sides, we'll stay at a standstill. Also, you can't start out a POV with politics and biases then turn around and say they affect nursing. Guess what, my skin tone affects EVERYTHING Black people do outside of our homes, and as we've seen, even in our homes when we're murdered in our home by no-knock warrants, racists claiming to have the wrong address, arresting/killing us in front of our children even when made aware they're wrong, etc. Not to be condescending, but it must really be nice to not have to worry about simply existing because of the color of your skin. We don't have that luxury.
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.
Not to mention the BLM movement was started by LGBTQ men and women. Feminism and queerness intersects with Black issues they're not exclusive. Black people are in every part of society, there is no separation. Why some people feel the need to separate the two confuses me. Can you not have other issues at play when Black? Is Blackness the only issue allowed? I legit don't get it.
Not to mention the BLM movement was started by LGBTQ men and women. Feminism and queerness intersects with Black issues they're not exclusive. Black people are in every part of society, there is no separation. Why some people feel the need to separate the two confuses me. Can you not have other issues at play when Black? Is Blackness the only issue allowed? I legit don't get it
Apparently you must pick one issue and one issue only to be told is not relevant to general nursing discussion.
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....
Are you aware the BLM protests have been peaceful and riots/looting started by alt-right perpetrators pretending to be BLM affiliates to start a race war? Literally, all the violators on video/arrested are in fact WHITE! They've also been linked to alt-right movements, including the Boogaloo Boys, or whatever their name is, being the ones who murdered the police on the West Coast. The woman who recently set the Wendy's on fire in Atlanta was in fact WHITE! These are just a couple examples. BLM aren't the ones those business owners need to be worried about.
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.
They still exist. I see them and interact all the time. Informational threads too. None of them went away. Matter of fact, there are people I disagree with in threads like these and agree within other threads. It is possible to compartmentalize. There is no rule saying you can't disagree on one topic and agree and laugh about others. I'm not understanding the doom and gloom sentiments. People act like discussions like these are the cause of Armageddon. I'm legitimately asking you why is that?
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.
I don’t know about you, but I got into nursing for the money. But hey, I’ll take my gold star and halo if you’re handing them out.
I do think you’re reading the wrong threads, or you are going into them with the attitude that you’re not going to gain anything by them. Are you merely speaking of yourself when you state that others are so deeply entrenched in their narrative? I’ve seen a great many eloquent posts written by posters (macawake, adventureRN and NurseBlaq come to mind), and discourse that has indeed been respectful. Look at this thread alone. Nothing deleted, edited. Some narratives changing.
Nah, politics shouldn’t be “cornered,” or hidden in the break room, for so many of the reasons other posters provided. If you truly think they’re that vapid, don’t click on the thread.
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.
So in other words, you would rather be complacent than be a part of the change.
Jesus certainly wouldn't want people to be silent in the face of injustice.
Are you aware the BLM protests have been peaceful and riots/looting started by alt-right perpetrators pretending to be BLM affiliates to start a race war? Literally, all the violators on video/arrested are in fact WHITE! They've also been linked to alt-right movements, including the Boogaloo Boys, or whatever their name is, being the ones who murdered the police on the West Coast. The woman who recently set the Wendy's on fire in Atlanta was in fact WHITE! These are just a couple examples. BLM aren't the ones those business owners need to be worried about.
Exactly. And people who complain about looting seem to forget one small little fact: windows and buildings can be replaced, but those innocent human lives taken by the police can't be.
Because the discussions are making a lot of people uncomfortable and challenging deep-rooted assumptions about the world.
Agreed. That's all the more reason to have a real discussion. We're medical professionals. If no one else, we need to hold these discussions because we take care of patients from all walks of life. This is apart of our annual cultural training. I'm not sure why this makes others uncomfortable.
They still exist. I see them and interact all the time. Informational threads too. None of them went away. Matter of fact, there are people I disagree with in threads like these and agree within other threads. It is possible to compartmentalize. There is no rule saying you can't disagree on one topic and agree and laugh about others. I'm not understanding the doom and gloom sentiments. People act like discussions like these are the cause of Armageddon. I'm legitimately asking you why is that?
I was directing my comments to the topic of the thread: "Allnurses Has Become So Politicized," not to the discussion on this thread, and referenced ICUman's post. He mentioned he joined in 2013; I joined prior to that. ICUman and I have a frame of reference here of 7+ years and we are both speaking from that point of view in regard to our comments.
Are you aware the BLM protests have been peaceful and riots/looting started by alt-right perpetrators pretending to be BLM affiliates to start a race war? Literally, all the violators on video/arrested are in fact WHITE! They've also been linked to alt-right movements, including the Boogaloo Boys, or whatever their name is, being the ones who murdered the police on the West Coast. The woman who recently set the Wendy's on fire in Atlanta was in fact WHITE! These are just a couple examples. BLM aren't the ones those business owners need to be worried about.
Except they aren't. Unfortunately for you a live in a protest hot spot and have seen the instigators with my own eyes. The instigators were rather diverse actually, so I guess that's a positive? Try again.
2 hours ago, ThePrincessBride said:
Exactly. And people who complain about looting seem to forget one small little fact: windows and buildings can be replaced, but those innocent human lives taken by the police can't be.
Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. I have been around the violent protests and have seen the damage first hand. It was more than just petty windows as well.
2 hours ago, ThePrincessBride said:
So in other words, you would rather be complacent than be a part of the change.
Jesus certainly wouldn't want people to be silent in the face of injustice.
Gaslight harder. Jesus wouldn't appreciate low tier manipulation either.
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NurseBlaq
1,756 Posts
Explain.
Let me tell you from my viewpoint, and I'm not right or left, I vote my best interests and not along party or racial lines. That is part of the problem. Anytime someone Black has an issue, it's automatically labeled Democrat or leftist. Why can't it just be what it is: a valid problem that needs addressing? Why does it have to be political at all?
It is dismissive and gaslighting.
Why does it have to be in the breakroom?
Because it makes you uncomfortable, doesn't affect you, or you have no concern to discuss this topic doesn't mean it should be put in the back alley, or in this case, the breakroom which many seldom visit or are unaware exist. Do you not understand what you've just projected?
Does the issues we've outlined not affect Black people on the right, Republican Black people, etc?
They do. Many are speaking against it but Fox News and the like choose to air Candance Owens and the few Black people who pacify their stance while dismissing millions. This isn't just an American Black topic, people nationwide are also protesting in support of the racism going here, or is that also irrelevant?
These issues/feelings/belittlements aren't new, they've been going on since the inception of this country and colonizers pulling up to the American shores. This whole country was founded on racism, none of this new. We're saying it's time to readdress some things and put it to an end.
Serious question: Why does this topic bother you so much that you feel it should be thrown in the breakroom and silenced?
We're having a legitimate discussion here and, for the first time, people are honest, listening, and speaking candidly about feelings, that includes you. I'm not saying you're wrong, but these are questions I'm genuinely interested in hearing the answers to because until there's honesty on both sides, we'll stay at a standstill. Also, you can't start out a POV with politics and biases then turn around and say they affect nursing. Guess what, my skin tone affects EVERYTHING Black people do outside of our homes, and as we've seen, even in our homes when we're murdered in our home by no-knock warrants, racists claiming to have the wrong address, arresting/killing us in front of our children even when made aware they're wrong, etc. Not to be condescending, but it must really be nice to not have to worry about simply existing because of the color of your skin. We don't have that luxury.