I'm pretty sure this topic has been brought up before, but why does it seem like so many first time posters get nasty when they don't hear what they want?
If they don't hear what they want they start calling you names and saying you are being mean.
If you point out they are violating TOS by having "nurse" in their username (and they are not a nurse) they get defensive and make it seem like we are being unreasonable.
Is the solution to just not respond to first time posters who obviously have no idea what nursing actually entails? The posters that seem to want the stars AND the moon... but if we did that then we'd probably get lashback for not responding. Are we just darned if we do and darned if we don't?
I agree with you. I think a lot of these are snowflakes who are just now encountering some harsh realities. They come to AN as the last bastion of fluffiness and they are not yet used to disappointment.
The method and the tone in which an enquiry is answered is also congruent to the reaction. Many replies to questions are curt and demeaning, so a defensive reaction is easily understood.
While very true, Davey, I believe the method and tone in which the inquiry is made is the main driver for the manner in which it is answered. Lots of first time posters have asked rather inane questions and not received snarky answers at all because they are constructed in a manner that makes the responder feel it comes from a genuine place. I've also seen first time posters who take a little heat for whatever verbal faux pas they might have committed with a great deal of grace which usually results in the subsequent responses being toned down. And then there's the other side where the most minor disagreement with a poster's platform is met with vile language and judgment of the responder's character and ability to be a nurse. Frankly, those people deserve what they get.
Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.
AN: The Last Bastion of Fluffiness...or IS it??!
Well, it isn't. But it seems there are some who expect it to be. And then become instantly enraged and start going for jugulars when they didn't get the confirmation they expected.
As nurses, at one time or another, we probably have all been put in our place. Sometimes appropriately, and sometimes not.
As a group, I hope that we can continue to guide newcomers to the profession, or newcomers to the various facets. Nursing encompasses an extremely broad field.
For example, as a long-time PMHNP, I am almost as ignorant about ICU nursing as any random person off the streets.
Everyone has had a first day on the job. 99% of the people have had multiple such first days.
That being said, truly inane questions are annoying, but I hope we continue to welcome questions from sincere newcomers.
I lurked for a long time before joining AN. My first new thread was, and remains, untouched. I figured maybe I was in the wrong neighborhood so I made the exact same post in another neighborhood and had a few people answer with genuine responses. I still lurk for the most part with a few replies here and there. For the most part, it's get what you give type thing with me. If I read through a thread and see it's some back and forth or hateful responses I keep going and don't even bother. Sometimes it's best to avoid the drama altogether.
And then there was the "Will deers come out of the bushes and attack me as I walk through campus my first semester of nursing school???" threads...
which are hilarious, as long as the OP is a good sport.
Oh deers, that was a fun thread.
Totally off topic so sorry about this. I'd love to see a "Best of AN" section to revisit some of those great threads. You are right saying that when the new poster has a good sense of humor all sorts of fun can be had.
On to topic, I also agree there is a current glut of quite confrontational new posters. Too many threads going from zero to sixty in record time. I've read a few lately that had me going "Huh! That response sure came out of left field." Super over-the-top reactions to rather tame responses. I'll usually read through those threads without responding just to see how long they go before a mod inevitably shuts it down.
Farawyn
12,646 Posts
AN: The Last Bastion of Fluffiness...or IS it??!