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Are We Too PC?

Nurses Article   (10,491 Views 198 Comments 709 Words)
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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?

Are We Too PC?

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, its 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?

What are your thoughts? Are we too PC?

References

Baby Its Cold Outside: A Brief History of the Holiday Song Controversy

Farleigh Dickinson University Poll, October 2015

Politically Correct Medical Schools

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About traumaRUs, MSN, APRN (Admin)

14 yrs RN experience, ER, ICU, pre-hospital RN, 12+ years experience Nephrology APRN. allnurses Assistant Community Manager. Please let me know how I can help make our site enjoyable.

278 Likes, 12 Followers, 124 Articles, 184,152 Visitors, and 20,390 Posts.

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djh123
by djh123

Yes. I'd have to look up the lyrics to 'Baby, It's Cold Outside' to see what I think exactly, but without having done that, it seems like a bit much. What about the - what is it called? - micro-sensitivities, or something like that, on college campuses these days? Seems way overblown to me. Everyone is walking around with a chip on their shoulder the size of a boulder. My joke to myself, after hearing about the 'Baby...' banning is that next some misunderstanding idiot will complain that "White Christmas" should be banned...

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DallasRN
by DallasRN

"Do you think before you speak? "

PC has gone way too far, IMO. As a result, I find myself NOT speaking or being as friendly as in days gone by. It's just easier to smile and say nothing rather than try to figure out if what I might say or the look on my face or the way my tone is interpreted might be offensive. Even at the grocery or out walking my dog...I just tend to keep to myself now-a-days.

As a society, we are being bullied by a few *noise-makers*...they threaten boycotts, demonstrate. There is no longer room in our society for saying "I'm sorry." If you made a comment 10-20-30 years ago that was considered OK during those days, you are forever held accountable for that comment.

I truly feel sorry for those that will be living in this world in the next 50 years. It's almost as if the current society is trying to make us into clones.

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OldDude
by OldDude Guide

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!

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DallasRN
by DallasRN
that next some misunderstanding idiot will complain that "White Christmas" should be banned...

Well, djh123, what about Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer? After all, those other reindeers were bullying poor ol' Rudolph so perhaps we should insist that song most of us grew up singing should be banned. Makes perfectly good sense to me. :facepalm:

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OldDude
by OldDude Guide
Yes. I'd have to look up the lyrics to 'Baby, It's Cold Outside' to see what I think exactly, but without having done that, it seems like a bit much. What about the - what is it called? - micro-sensitivities, or something like that, on college campuses these days? Seems way overblown to me. Everyone is walking around with a chip on their shoulder the size of a boulder. My joke to myself, after hearing about the 'Baby...' banning is that next some misunderstanding idiot will complain that "White Christmas" should be banned...

I work at a public elementary school, just this year our administration disallowed a banner the office staff wanted to put up, "Wishing for a white Christmas." Snow is unusual in South Texas and we've only had snow one time on Christmas day since I've been alive. But no reference to "white" can be associated with "Christmas." Sorry Bing...

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Hoosier_RN
by Hoosier_RN, MSN Platinum*

Yes, the USA is way overboard PC. If everyone would just use good ol common sense, manners, and good behavior to guide them, they'd be fine. I know some lack this set, but everyone else should not have to dance the dance because of others lack of upbringing! Soapbox is now being put away...

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djh123
by djh123

Oh my ... and I was only kidding about that, Old Dude.

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Lil Nel
by Lil Nel

Well, it all depends on you definition of PC.

If PC behavior means I don't have to listen to my patient use the n-word to describe one of my co-workers, then I am all for it!

I live and work in Kentucky, and during the past year, I have been amazed by the amount and frequency of racist outbursts from patients.

If PC behavior zips shut the mouths of racists, hooray.

One night, I worked with a nurse who was born in Japan, and has a Japanese first name.

The other nurses and techs, call her "Kamikaze." They thought they were being playful, I suppose. I think they were being ignorant.

I told this nurse: I will not call you Kamikaze. I will call you by your name.

She smiled and said: I know. What is wrong with them? They are so ignorant!

She didn't feel comfortable speaking up for herself because she was an agency nurse, and the minority.

Happy to be PC!

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Daisy4RN
by Daisy4RN

I agree that this whole PC thing is completely out of hand. It should be obvious to anyone that this song (Baby, its cold outside) is just 2 adults flirting with each other. I heard that 'Deck the halls' was also banned because of the line "Don we now are gay apparel", do a little research and you will find that gay (in this context) means happy, I know gay people who are not offended at all by this song. Also heard that the "elf on the shelf' was causing problems for some but I cant remember why. Some people are just looking for anything to complain/get offended about.

As someone else stated all we need is common sense, manners, politeness, and a little forgiveness when someone make an honest fauz pas.

As for the patients, I think it is more of a customer satisfaction run a muck thing, but still as ridiculous.

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