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?
This song I agree with what others wrote it is an innocent song nothing more. I love watching James Bond this time of year the old ones (I am sure these will be a topic too to get rid of). Oh my what next are they going to be verboten (not allowed)? Too offensive? Same with Red Nose Reindeer...to sexist?
We are losing reality here people. You cannot please all, heck I am afraid to just say hello and smile at someone walking down the street anymore just because I may get sued for being me.
My spouse tells me it is people want their 15 mins fame. When you click on these articles it is money in their pocket so to speak each time a person reads the truth or untruth that person gets moneys, same with like buttons. I do not believe what I see or read in the print any more. Life is just a show and everywhere I go I am part of the audience watching things unfold staged or not. My spouse says there are people out there who write untruthful articles just to get paid. We are suppose to write the truth for historical value, 50 years from now no one will know the truth if it bit them in the bottom...just like now.
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
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
A lot of people look for things to be offended/become outraged over. That being said...
I see and hear a lot of people saying things that don't meet the (low) bar for basic, common decency. Then they rebuff any criticisms or expectations of appropriate behavior by playing the "PC" card.
Yes, there are "triggered snowflakes" in our society that need to suck it up, but there are also vulgar pigs that need some serious limit-setting/public shaming as well...
A lot of people look for things to be offended/become outraged over. That being said...
I see and hear a lot of people saying things that don't meet the (low) bar for basic, common decency. Then they rebuff any criticisms or expectations of appropriate behavior by playing the "PC" card.
Yes, there are "triggered snowflakes" in our society that need to suck it up, but there are also vulgar pigs that need some serious limit-setting/public shaming as well...
This. I feel like complaints about society being "too PC" generally come from people who want to be able to be rude and nasty with no consequences, and blame the people they are being nasty to as "snowflakes." Just my opinion.
At the time this song was first released there was no such thing as a "roofie"....
you could "slip someone a mickey" (a.k.a. choral hydrate)... Of course, that did make them sleepy, although relatively slowly. It also didn't have the amnesiac effect of a date rape drug.
"What's in this drink?" is more likely related to the fact that it was expected that women's drinks were typically made weaker... most people believed that a dainty woman wouldn't like a strong "man's" drink, and if she did it was implied that she was an alcoholic. So I would take the line to mean: "what are you trying to do, get me drunk?"
{just an fyi: My grandmother owned a bar, and she said that there was a time when even women who hung out in bars wouldn't be caught dead doing shots, or even drinking things that were considered masculine, like a whiskey sour or a martini. The novelty martinis were invented so women would feel more comfortable ordering them.}
I've been date raped, and believe me, there was no playful banter, no flirtaceous fun, no asking, really, at all. He didn't try to talk me into it, or convince me that we should. He simply made up his mind that we would be having sex, and from that point on, nothing I said mattered. There were no cute comebacks, or witty retorts. Actually, he said very little- "stop fighting... it'll feel good if you stop fighting it" (it didn't) ... "Every woman I'm with says I'm like a god..." (he wasn't) .... and a few other similar self-aggrandizing comments. And I guarantee you, I wasn't making any cute quips either. I sure as h**l wasn't smiling.
I think one part of the problem comes from trying to frame things from the past in the context of today's world. The "Deck the Halls" example is perfect: Instead of using the opportunity to explain to kids that the word "gay" has changed in meaning, somehow it is preferable to let children misunderstand the word by using today's common definition. We sell our children short if we don't believe that they can comprehend that language can (and does) evolve.
We should use these cultural artifacts to understand the past. Once we understand how society has evolved, we can use that knowledge to make our future better.
I do find it funny how many people abhor politics and politicians... but those same people will jump right on to the "Political correctness" bandwagon. Apparently, no one thinks about where the term comes from... The idea being that politicians have to be able to speak in euphemisms and use vocabulary that will avoid possibly offending anyone at all. How's that for irony.
And one other point- - there no such thing as "a little rapey" ... it's like being a little bit of a virgin.... It either is rape or it's not. Period. Full stop.
I am very sorry for what you have endured. No one deserves to be assaulted in that way.
I should not have used the term "rapey". Am I permitted to describe the song as suggestive of someone in a position of power taking advantage of another, in order to have sex with them against their will?
I'm certain I'll offend but here goes. Society is like a person with a borderline personality in that things are black or white and shades of gray do not exist. The pendulum swings too far in one direction and forces exert their effort to bring things in the other direction, which happens, but then things swing too far in the other direction. Then wash, rinse, repeat. I'd contend amongst a few other reasons this is why the US has the POTUS we have...as a counterbalance to extreme shift to the culture of everyone is a victim, they should embrace victim hood, they should rejoice in this, and everyone should be offended. It never ceases to amaze me to see how far virtue signaling SJW's will go. You can never be in full compliance with the pc culture because the goal post is constantly moved. And no this song isn't an isolated incident, it's happening across this planet and sadly it's not even one of the most extreme examples IMO (thinking specifically of the idea of incarcerating an individual for calling a transitioning male to female, a he or some other scientifically correct pronoun as 1 example). I value the US Constitution/Bill of Rights; single most important document to date. It is the foundation of this great nation. Amongst many rights/freedoms it grants us,freedom of speech is included and our courts have determined there is no such thing as hate speech and only restricts that freedom in limited capacity (e.g., yelling fire in a crowded building). Now should we conduct ourselves as civilized human beings by not calling our fellow man (oops I think I committed a micro aggression) any number of derogatory names; of course. But our current course in this country is certainly worthy of concern, not just because of where things are headed present day but because the farther the pendulum swings in its current direction; the more momentum it has to swing the other direction. Terrifying. I'm all about diversity of thought and the uniqueness of every human being in general but this is one instance I wish we were all kinda moderate, common sense oriented.
This. I feel like complaints about society being "too PC" generally come from people who want to be able to be rude and nasty with no consequences, and blame the people they are being nasty to as "snowflakes." Just my opinion.
Exactly.
These are folks who are used to being the majority, in numerous ways, and oh, wait, here comes the shocker, the world is changing and they don't like it.
I refer once again to the NPR/Marsist poll which sadly, points out the the split on, shocker, political, gender, generational, suburban lines.
Reading through comments on his thread, I believe the poll results wholeheartedly.
I should not have used the term "rapey". Am I permitted to describe the song as suggestive of someone in a position of power taking advantage of another, in order to have sex with them against their will?
You could but you'd be wrong. Look, I'm all for people choosing their words carefully and being culturally sensitive but people who are looking to get offended will get offended at anything. Take this song. It isn't about a man forcing his will on a woman at all, it's about SOCIETY forcing its will on women (at the time). It's about a woman having a good time and not wanting to leave but being worried about what others will think of her. And a man who's having an equally good time who wants it to continue too. Two CONSENTING adults hindered by the social mores of the time.
"...set beliefs" That phrase scares me. Who will set them? What happens to those who don't share them? Who will be the judge? (We certainly see HUGE religious hypocrisy all the time)
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PC...get real.
This song I agree with what others wrote it is an innocent song nothing more. I love watching James Bond this time of year the old ones (I am sure these will be a topic too to get rid of). Oh my what next are they going to be verboten (not allowed)? Too offensive? Same with Red Nose Reindeer...to sexist?
We are losing reality here people. You cannot please all, heck I am afraid to just say hello and smile at someone walking down the street anymore just because I may get sued for being me.
My spouse tells me it is people want their 15 mins fame. When you click on these articles it is money in their pocket so to speak each time a person reads the truth or untruth that person gets moneys, same with like buttons. I do not believe what I see or read in the print any more. Life is just a show and everywhere I go I am part of the audience watching things unfold staged or not. My spouse says there are people out there who write untruthful articles just to get paid. We are suppose to write the truth for historical value, 50 years from now no one will know the truth if it bit them in the bottom...just like now.