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?
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.
You are exactly right.
The NPR/Marist poll that just asked this question found the answer defined by race, age, political party affiliation, generation, gender and whether the respondent lived in suburbs or not.
You have to consider the time it was written - this was during the tail end of WWII - its an okay song for its day.
But it is being played today, when we are teaching youth that no means no, alcohol loosens ones inhibitions, and that you should not leave your drink unattended.
How would you feel if an adult man and a 12 year old girl sang this as a duo?
Or how about an man and 12 year old boy?
No, I don't have to consider the time it was written. In fact, I don't have to listen to it at all.
I don't even know that you call it PC. It's insanity.
People that are up in arms over a flipping Christmas song don't understand the culture from back then. I'm not talking about a rape culture either. I'm talking about one where women didn't stay at a mans house without a reputation being ruined. No matter how much she would have loved to.
Today, you can have a one night stand, nobody bats eye, but you couldn't in 1944.
It irks me that the same people who refuse to learn about a song from the 40's want us to know absolutely everything about every culture in our world today.
I'm convinced that these are just internet trolls stirring the pot because people in real life can't actually be offended by every single, little thing.
It's a song for crying out loud! It's more of "I would but what will everyone think?" Easily offended is the reason for this thread to begin with. Based on my age I am a millennial snowflake but based on my actions and words I like to say I'm a bit of an "old soul". I am very difficult to offend and say merry Christmas to everyone and happy Hanukkah to people I know who are Jewish. If someone says happy Hanukkah to me I would just say merry Christmas back and appreciate the kind words.
I always thought my mom was insentive and mean when I'd cry "so and so doesn't like me/hurt my feelings" and she would respond with "you can't cry every time you get your feelings hurt you'll never last in the real world as an adult. People are going to not like you for no reason. Life's not fair, get used to it".
Now I am forever grateful for the dose of reality and blunt honesty. I've developed a much thicker skin that many of my peers and its really gotten me/will continue to get me far in life. End rant :)
I would also like to add, ive been date raped. This song does not offend me or scream rape to me.
Maybe, just maybe we should as a society put our time and effort into educating women on rape, and giving support to those that have experienced rape and maybe get it reported more.
Being outraged by a Christmas song from the 40's actually makes a complete mockery of date rape.
My goal one day is to be a forensics nurse so I can actually help our victims.
PC makes me wretch. There is no end game and no solution because it is a self perpetuating manifestation of emotion; like trying to nail jello to a tree. Patient feelings of entitlement run on this same track.
If you bring food to the lioness every day she'll stop going out to hunt.
Yes, as a nation we should "man up" - totally agree. Excellent article!
Every person I have heard bi&$@ and moan about the world being too PC has things that they themselves take offense to that other people are baffled as to why. They think that their offence to something is the acception to the rule because if it offends THEM, then it MUST be objectively offensive.
I find it ironic when I see anti-PC fb posters post "It's not Happy Holidays, It's Merry Christmas." Soooo.... you're admitting you're offended by someone wishing you genuine good cheer by choosing the words "Happy Holidays." Insert eyeroll.
That being said, yes. Things are too PC in general. But every single one of us is guilty of being offended by SOMETHING others would not be offended by. It's how we choose to react.
Baby It's Cold Outside IS a tad rapey. That being said I love the song and enjoy the flirtatious banter. I simply remember years ago listening to it and thinking...hmmm he's a little too pushy. I held the thought for a brief moment then continued enjoying the song.
I'm guilty of getting offended easily. But that's MY problem. If it's worthy of taking a stance, do so. If not...go ahead, be offended, maybe say your piece quickly or hold it in and move along. Shrug.
But it is being played today, when we are teaching youth that no means no, alcohol loosens ones inhibitions, and that you should not leave your drink unattended.
How would you feel if an adult man and a 12 year old girl sang this as a duo?
Or how about an man and 12 year old boy?
No, I don't have to consider the time it was written. In fact, I don't have to listen to it at all.
Your post makes no sense. You can not compare this to pedophilia. Pedophilia was not ok back then either.
Yeah, you do need to understand the time, and you prove my point exactly.
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.
"If thought corrupts language, language can also corrupt thought".
But it is being played today, when we are teaching youth that no means no, alcohol loosens ones inhibitions, and that you should not leave your drink unattended.
How would you feel if an adult man and a 12 year old girl sang this as a duo?
Or how about an man and 12 year old boy?
No, I don't have to consider the time it was written. In fact, I don't have to listen to it at all.
And that too is YOUR choice - we should have the choice to listen or not listen. However, to censure it and say its offensive to EVERYONE and NO ONE should listen to it is ridiculous - IMHO its simply a cute song from many years ago
PC makes me wretch. There is no end game and no solution because it is a self perpetuating manifestation of emotion; like trying to nail jello to a tree. Patient feelings of entitlement run on this same track.
If you bring food to the lioness every day she'll stop going out to hunt.
Yes, as a nation we should "man up" - totally agree. Excellent article!
Baby, It's Cold Outside, was written during a time in which women had no right to their own sexuality.
I dispute that it is 'rapey.'
What does that even mean? It is either rape, or it isn't. How is anything rapey? Is that even a word?
Let's take a look at another song; My Old Kentucky Home.
Written by Stephen Foster, it is sung each first Saturday in May, prior to the Kentucky Derby, by some 150,000 people.
Check out those lyrics!
They reference "darkies."
Should those lyrics be changed?
Absolutely!
Nobody, in modern times should be singing such lyrics.
Everybody should be offended.
Please stop. You are making all millenials (myself included) look bad.
And that too is YOUR choice - we should have the choice to listen or not listen. However, to censure it and say its offensive to EVERYONE and NO ONE should listen to it is ridiculous - IMHO its simply a cute song from many years ago
Trauma it's people like Lil Nel who make your thread so (unfortunately) true.
guest52816
473 Posts
You are exactly right.
The NPR/Marist poll that just asked this question found the answer defined by race, age, political party affiliation, generation, gender and whether the respondent lived in suburbs or not.