Have we become a nation of slugs, so offended by a simple old-time Christmas song that we want to ban it from the radio? Where does this leave us in real life?
So, with the current controversy about "Baby Its Cold Outside" raging on the radio and social media I got to thinking and thinking and thinking....are we as a country just becoming too PC?
"Baby Its Cold Outside" was originally written in 1944 by Frank Loesser's as a jazz standard. Is it a song about date rape or just a catchy tune? Should it be "banned" from the airwaves? I vote NO! This is just a catchy tune, nothing more, written in a more innocent time in our history. Here is a video that depicts the song first as a man trying to convince a woman to stay a little while longer which has garnered criticism and a second version where its the man that wants to leave and the female is trying to convince him to stay. Do you feel differently about each version? Or again, is it just a catchy tune?
Being PC isn't a new idea. In another life in the 1970's early 1980's, I was a USN broadcaster serving in Japan. We had what was called, "host country sensitivities." For instance, when giving the weather, we were not allowed to say, "there's a nip in the air." Some other issues: we weren't allowed to discuss the nuclear bomb attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. And we couldn't call the Emperor by his first name as this was considered disrespectful. I can see how we need to be sensitive when we serve in the military overseas and need to blend in. However, here in the US nowadays we seem to be resorting to not wishing to offend anyone.
And it seems as though others agree with me. "The most recent national survey from Fairleigh Dickinson University's PublicMind finds that 68 percent agree with the statement: "A big problem this country has is being politically correct."
So, how does this relate to nursing and medicine? "After 25 years, the MCAT is being revised, becoming longer (by three hours) and covering a broader range of topics than simply chemistry, physics and biology. One quarter of the new test covers "psychology, sociology and the biological foundations of behavior." More specifically, students will be tested on "social inequality, class consciousness, racial and ethnic identity, institutionalized racism and discrimination, and power, privilege and prestige." Most of us would agree that widening the scope of physician education is important. There are many more social issues nowadays, more poverty, more people that feel disenfranchised. In this venue, it's important to be inclusive. Can we be inclusive without crossing over into not offending anyone?
And, most of us have had to sit through in-services about cultural awareness, even generational awareness. Has this resulted in stilted communication? Must all our communication be so "aware?" Do you think before you speak? Do you consider generational differences when communication with co-workers, patients?
Where do patients fit in? Should patients expect all of their needs to be met? Where do we draw the line between being PC and enabling? When discharging patients from the hospital nowadays, follow up appointments are made, prescriptions electronically sent to pharmacies, perhaps home health arranged and other case management needs that are met. Then, the patient states, "I need a ride to my appointments." When did this become the responsibility of the healthcare system? While we are all striving to reduce readmission rates, when does the responsibility of transportation become the patients' responsibility? Or is it PC to say, "Oh I can get you a cab voucher"? Are we making healthcare too accessible?
As a nation, shouldn't we "man up" and be responsible for our own lives? That means taking care of ourselves, communicating our needs in a clear manner, being honest in our dealings with others and overall being a worthwhile citizen?
Are we too PC? Nope. In my opinion, the whole anti-PC schtick is just an excuse to be as offensive and intellectually lazy as you want. Thinking begins and ends with language.
The daughter of the man who wrote Baby It's Cold Outside has stated that her dad wrote the song for her mother and that they used to sing it together at Christmas parties for friends. They would no doubt be horrified 75 years later to know it's being called a rape song.
My opinion might be unpopular, but I still feel I got right to voice it.
- If YOU are the one thrown from two jobs in a row for speaking with (apparently) easily understandable accent....
- If YOU are the one whose job suffers from disgusting questions like "is your husband is still the man you hooked up to come here?" (yep, that's what I was asked in my face. The so-called "professional nurse" who spread all over my personal info gave me so-called rationale of "they just wanted to know to whom you are married with"...
- if YOU are maligned just because you happen to be born in certain place, with certain skin color, wear certain clothes, have certain beliefs, have sex with certain people (continue as you please)...
- if YOU are living through discrimination EVERY DAY OF YOUR LIFE in the country where individual freedom is the highest national pride and glory...
- if YOU were even once forced into intimacy against your will because that's what so-called "society" expected from you...
Then, sorry, but YOU will understand people offended by Christmas song.
It is still a bit too much for me, but I get it fully and completely.
BTW, I am absolutely not PC and known for speaking and acting VERY directly when situation demands such actions. But I still get how people get offended by this song. I was, and is, in their shoes - although about different issues.
It is a different world now. It is not how it was 25 years ago. It never will be the same, whether one wants it so or not. Learn how to live in this new world - or there are plenty of countries where things seem to run good old ways.
"Baby Its Cold Outside" was originally written in 1944 by Frank Loesser's as a jazz standard. Is it a song about date rape or just a catchy tune? Should it be "banned" from the airwaves?
I've never heard that song before now and I must admit that listening to it annoyed the **** out of me. Mostly because it was painfully repetitious. Should it be banned though? No. I can change stations.
This is just a catchy tune, nothing more, written in a more innocent time in our history. Here is a video that depicts the song first as a man trying to convince a woman to stay a little while longer which has garnered criticism and a second version where its the man that wants to leave and the female is trying to convince him to stay. Do you feel differently about each version?
It's interesting how differently we perceive things. I don't really see it as more "innocent" than today. I just find whatever games those two couples are playing, irksome and repressed. For ***** sake, if you're attracted to someone, just come out and say it. That's the easiest way to find out if the attraction is mutual. First couple I see a man who's dense as a log. The second couple I see a woman who's equally dense. If someone keeps trying to put on their jacket and leave, chances are they aren't that into you.
People who beat around the bush annoy me. A lot. And as far as I'm concerned, people who keep pulling your arm in order to stop you from leaving when you've made your intent clear, have earned themselves a no, a swat and a smack (in that order, as needed). While I'm semi jesting here, it should be noted that physically preventing a person from going where they're trying to go, is in most cases a criminal offense. (Well, unless you keep on singing at/to them in a jolly manner, in which case I guess it's okay )
I still don't think the song should be banned, but I guess it's safe to say that I won't be downloading that tune any time soon
What are your thoughts? Are we too PC?
Before I can even begin to answer that, we'd have to agree on what "PC" even is.
I have a feeling that if you asked ten posters to try to actually define what PC means, we'd get ten different versions.
I also think that in some instances, some people stick the label PC on others, as a lazy copout when they don't want to or aren't able to support their own viewpoint in a rational and cogent manner. It's easy to just dismiss someone's position as being "PC", instead of accepting that the other person feels differently than oneself, based on their own opinions and personal values/convictions, rather then being "politically correct".
And it seems as though others agree with me. "The most recent national survey from Fairleigh Dickinson University's PublicMind finds that 68 percent agree with the statement: "A big problem this country has is being politically correct."
Was there a clear definition of the term PC provided in this survey, or were respondents answering with their own personal/individual definition in mind?
*** Could someone here who thinks we are too PC, give me ten clear examples (even five will do :)) of things they would like to be able to say, but feel they aren't able to, without being struck down be the "PC brigade"?
I genuinely don't understand what PC means. Because I never feel curtailed or hemmed in. I feel that I can speak my mind and if someone objects it's usually because they have a different opinon than I, which is fine. It's not normally for the way I way it. I can't identify with this feeling of being restricted by what's PC, so I'd really appreciate if someone could give concrete examples.
Personally, when I do manage to offend, it's normally because I intended to offend (or at a minimum, didn't care if I did). It doesn't just, oops, just happen... I can't blame that on anyone else, or hide beind that I don't like this "PC nonsense". I always try to own the insults I deliver. I'm responsible for them.
I can see how we need to be sensitive when we serve in the military overseas and need to blend in. However, here in the US nowadays we seem to be resorting to not wishing to offend anyone.
@traumaRUs. I've never seen you be anything but well-mannered and civilized on this board. I assume that you're not habitually offensive to others in real life as well? I guess that just as with the term PC, we have to find a common definition for what's offending to others, cause I simply don't see being offensive as being something you do.
Must all our communication be so "aware?" Do you think before you speak? Do you consider generational differences when communication with co-workers, patients?
Personally and generally speaking, I find it's always a good idea to think before I/one speak/s :)
Specializes in 25 years exp: NICU, Mat/Child, ICU, MedSurg, Exec.
Yes we are! Thanks for writing an article that is well needed. The drama club is on overdrive with people being easily offended by conversation. Some of us have been around for a long time. Things that were enjoyed by many of us are being tramped, labeled, and littered by what I can only assume to be individuals with nothing better to do with themselves.
It is in itself a form of passive aggressiveness and a stressor for many. There is no logical way to have a healthy work environment, or provide well needed education when you are always wondering if your information is being dissected and misconstrued. How confident is a person that feels like they are walking on eggshells? Are we not creating an environment that discourages conversation? What will be the outcome in a nursing environment when we only feel "safe" and comfortable speaking to each other by texting a smiley face emoji?
I'm left thinking of the similarities of an assignment I took in Okinawa Japan. On a daily basis there were small trucks with mega horns on the roof, blasting propaganda that was not to be questioned. I was never so glad to be back in the USA where we didn't need "policing" of our thoughts and opinions. People seemed to be able to communicate and understand each other much better. We are headed in a very worrisome direction with the level of PC in this country. Thanks for listening and not judging.
And did you hear that Seattle doesn't call Easter eggs Easter eggs, instead they are "spring spheres"? Unbelievable.
I live near Seattle and had never heard this. A quick internet search showed a story from 2011, where a 16 year old volunteer at a private school claimed to have been instructed to use the term "Spring sphere". This is hardly equates an entire city changing the name of Easter eggs. After 7 years, this rumor needs to just go away.
And how about the line, " say what's in this drink?" Is that not a reference to being rufied?
?? Uh, no. It fairly clearly represents that false-modesty that, by numerous depictions, was a common (and socially necessary?) component of women flirting in the past. A woman actively engaged in flirting but having been brought up to think flirting isn't proper would say such a thing to excuse the behavior. A woman needing to make socially proper excuses for her own desires and actions.
The related themes are the song: I can't, I shouldn't, Oh but this is so fun and nice, but I really shouldn't...I can't be acting this way, I'll 'blame it on the wine...'
Sad that women were ever socialized to act this way? Yes. Sad that they were never empowered to be very clear about what they wanted or didn't want? Yes.
But, no, I most certainly do not think the intent was to imply a rufie/roofie situation or that the drink was even spiked beyond just the fact that it was an alcoholic beverage (of which someone was going to drink only "a half a drink more").
How about an outcry for the theme/lines (paraphrased) - I am quite enjoying myself but since other people will be harshly judging my own actions and desires, instead I will do/say these things to make it look like I tried to say no
Uh oh.
Either consider the song in the context of its day or else admit both "perspectives" represented are a disaster by today's standards.
I live near Seattle and had never heard this. A quick internet search showed a story from 2011, where a 16 year old volunteer at a private school claimed to have been instructed to use the term "Spring sphere". This is hardly equates an entire city changing the name of Easter eggs. After 7 years, this rumor needs to just go away.
I agree.
I'm quite convinced that I could fly to Sea-Tac International and run around all the terminals yelling Easter egg at the top of my lungs and not have to worry about being scolded and flogged by a huge angry PC mob :) Airport police/security might be a different matter... They might disapprove of my behavior, but hardly based on my being PC-illiterate
One can always find a small amount of people who object to basically any silly thing, but as long as they aren't a significant/majority portion of the population or those who wield absolute power over you, their little idiosyncracies don't really have any meaningful bearing on your or my life. I doubt that this spring sphere has spread sufficiently to actually impact/restrict anyone else's life. Personally I think it's pretty silly to focus on weird outliers and try to magnify the phenomenon into something of relevance. Let that person call it a spring sphere if it floats their boat :) I think it's a perfect example of a non-issue that doesn't affect me whatsoever.
Is anyone here seriously genuinely afraid to utter the words Easter egg out loud to the point that they'll refrain from it out of concern for the negative consequences? Somehow I doubt it.
Well that's funny because I heard that geometricians (or whoever they are, who oversee such sensitive topics) were highly offended by eggs being called spheres, because geometrically speaking they're ovals, so that offensive idea got stomped out pretty quick. And let's not forget egg producers worldwide who may have lost revenue when people everywhere heard that eggs were now only available in the springtime.
WASPS over 30 will agree. Most minorities including sexual minorities will say no. The demographics of power are changing in this nation. The PC complainers are typically the ones who feel as if they're "losing ground" on the cultural identity of America. Debating things such as PC is what makes us great. Eventually we'll find a happy medium that works for everyone.
This is probably an unpopular opinion but here we go.
Every time an article or talking head complains about PC culture all I can hear is "I'm too self-absorbed to learn about other people" and/or its a red flag the person likely is too intellectually/emotionally lazy to understand another person's perspective.
No, I don't think everything is worth having a heart-attack over, but people do make errors in judgement and in their culture which is worth picking apart to understand. This is what makes us better human beings.
With that said, I think it's important to be selective over our so-called outrage since it can be counterproductive.
Just wanted to clear this up: I'm extremely well travelled, have served in the military, practiced nursing in multiple countries and settings with multiple cultures. The US is TOO PC
I actually do not like that song, and as a pp said, it's a little rapey.
What do we teach young people, No means no, unless it's in a catchy little tune?
And how about the line, " say what's in this drink?" Is that not a reference to being rufied?
As for being banned, whatever. I don't think this song has a message about peace, love and joy, unless you are referring to forced intimacy. When I hear it, I change stations.
I continue to strive to say things that don't hurt others and take their feelings into consideration.
So sue me.
You have to consider the time it was written - this was during the tail end of WWII - its an okay song for its day.
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heron, ASN, RN
4,641 Posts
Are we too PC? Nope. In my opinion, the whole anti-PC schtick is just an excuse to be as offensive and intellectually lazy as you want. Thinking begins and ends with language.