Snowflakes

[Davey Do]

Three snows already this season. I needed a snowflake character.

Snowflake as a slang term involves the derogatory usage of the word snowflake to refer to a person... perceived by others to have an inflated sense of uniqueness or an unwarranted sense of entitlement, or to be over-emotional, easily offended, and unable to deal with opposing opinions. Wikipedia

Hence, the Snowflake Song cartoon.

Not directed at anyone in particular.

Just having fun with a concept.

​

[Amethya]

Amethya:

I agree that social media can put a lot of stress in parents. My kids are grown with their own kids and I see that all the time. I keep telling them that what people post is not real life, more like those Christmas letters people send out with only good things. They have started seeing that and cutting back on social media and are happier for it. You are correct, nobody is perfect, even those who are "flaming" you online. Just be yourself and don't worry about what others think, you sound like a great parent!

Thanks! I rarely post things about my kids myself either. I do post pictures but nothing out of the ordinary, like just selfies of us. I rarely get flamed, it's what I usually see on comments when someone posts something about children or vaccines, etc.

[Amethya]

Nothing has changed.

We're merely the same animal with new and different tools and toys.

Thank you for your post, Amethya. It was very thought-provoking.

I agree with this concept.

[Coffee Nurse, BSN, RN]

You can't call every person that feels sensitive about topic x a snowflake. It invalidates genuine crisis and issues.

Agreed wholeheartedly with this. Same goes for mocking people who need "safe spaces." Just because someone is not personally dealing with an issue, doesn't mean it's necessarily not a real problem for someone else.

[Bonstemps, EMT-P]

Agreed. I never have and never will find it funny. The insensitivity is troubling and I'm always surprised by people who brush off concerns so easy when confronted with complaints over the abusive nature of this language and thought process. I would never demean one's woes this way.

You are right about safe spaces, which are often paired with snowflakes. I work in disaster and conflict and I would not want this thought process on my team. Yes. I can tell the difference between anxiety and feelings of inadequacy in a new environment, and genuine crisis, but to belittle that experience ... this behavior is unnecessary.

[Daisy4RN]

Not at all. I think its fatigue with the boomer generation hating their own children? I think there is nothing wrong with people who express sensitivity. Snowflake is an encompassing term when it shouldn't be; people should be direct about what trait they are talking about. You can't call every person that feels sensitive about topic x a snowflake. It invalidates genuine crisis and issues.

I suppose it is used by people who don't want to actually find the root of a given issue? That is how it comes off to me when it is offhanded and blasé.

Edit: Also, it makes me sad to know there are nurse LEADERS who look at hopefuls and young nurses like this. I would never mentor anyone so negatively.

I am a "boomer generation" and I can assure you that not only do I NOT hate my own children I do not hate anyone else's either. I don't think there is necessarily anything wrong with expressing sensitivity (and have done it myself in the workplace at times). The difference is just generational just as it always has been. The generations before the boomers (my parents/grandparents) saw us as being spoiled etc (and I say spoiled bc I heard about the depression, ration books etc.) and they had no problems telling us that we better appreciate that dinner, house etc. and why. I am sure they thought of us as snowflakes even though that term was not yet used. I remember my grandma telling us a story about shooting a rattlesnake in her homestead, I was shocked to think this sweet little old lady was running around her house with a shotgun chasing a rattlesnake. So yea, in that sense we were spoiled. We were brought up in an different era also, you fell down you heard 'get up, you are fine', we played outside in a manner that might get CPS called now, when we started working we were told to leave problems at the door, etc. Is this new expressing sensitivity a good thing, I don't know. But what I do know is that people always will have generational differences. You will be hearing it from people who come up after you as well. Most people don't mean any ill will, just teasing all in good fun. I have heard it from people older than me, and I tease my kids, and now grandkids also (walked to school in the snow all uphill etc). No harm meant.

[Davey Do]

Yikes. Not a fan of the mindset. So passé.

Just having fun with a concept.​

[Bonstemps, EMT-P]

I am a "boomer generation" and I can assure you that not only do I NOT hate my own children I do not hate anyone else's either. I don't think there is necessarily anything wrong with expressing sensitivity (and have done it myself in the workplace at times). The difference is just generational just as it always has been. The generations before the boomers (my parents/grandparents) saw us as being spoiled etc (and I say spoiled bc I heard about the depression, ration books etc.) and they had no problems telling us that we better appreciate that dinner, house etc. and why. I am sure they thought of us as snowflakes even though that term was not yet used. I remember my grandma telling us a story about shooting a rattlesnake in her homestead, I was shocked to think this sweet little old lady was running around her house with a shotgun chasing a rattlesnake. So yea, in that sense we were spoiled. We were brought up in an different era also, you fell down you heard 'get up, you are fine', we played outside in a manner that might get CPS called now, when we started working we were told to leave problems at the door, etc. Is this new expressing sensitivity a good thing, I don't know. But what I do know is that people always will have generational differences. You will be hearing it from people who come up after you as well. Most people don't mean any ill will, just teasing all in good fun. I have heard it from people older than me, and I tease my kids, and now grandkids also (walked to school in the snow all uphill etc). No harm meant.

I often have this issue when talking to boomers about boomer behavior. I don't mean YOU. I don't mean to yell, either, I can't italicize. I never mean the individual. It is interesting to see a boomer get so upset with the accusation, yet feel ire for people who don't want to be called snowflakes. This is what I mean. It is a double standard.

I bet you are a wonderful mother. Of course. BUT. This behavior is a generation being hateful of the one they raised - in essence, their "children". Do you understand? Why not seek to understand the sensitivities, fears and ailments of these people (children, essentially). Your child may one day be called, in disdain, a snowflake. Your child may call others snowflake. Why would we perpetuate what may have harmed us? What may have been used to bury our struggles? If you see it, I don't know why it would be perpetuated.

[Jedrnurse, BSN, RN]

Agreed. I never have and never will find it funny. The insensitivity is troubling and I'm always surprised by people who brush off concerns so easy when confronted with complaints over the abusive nature of this language and thought process. I would never demean one's woes this way.

You are right about safe spaces, which are often paired with snowflakes. I work in disaster and conflict and I would not want this thought process on my team. Yes. I can tell the difference between anxiety and feelings of inadequacy in a new environment, and genuine crisis, but to belittle that experience ... this behavior is unnecessary.

If you work in disaster and conflict I would think that you would be even more fed up with snowflake mentality than the average person. It demeans the experience of people going through real trauma and hardship.

[Bonstemps, EMT-P]

That is fair and I appreciate the idea. I suppose I just don't find it fun as it is mostly used to bury the fears, troubles, crises, and genuine complaints of an entire generation.

[Bonstemps, EMT-P]

If you work in disaster and conflict I would think that you would be even more fed up with snowflake mentality than the average person. It demeans the experience of people going through real trauma and hardship.

Not at all. As someone who has seen ALL sorts of trauma and the way it manifests - from fear of public speaking, fear of going to a doctor's appt, or something "small" or "modern", to fear of losing another child to war or to disaster, or fear of being tortured "again", all fear is valid. All complaints are valid. Yes, some may seem mundane, but I never approach anyone with the attitude of "what a snowflake"; you deserve to be heard, without judgement, when expressing fear. Anything less is not compassionate. I understand burnout happens, of course it does, but I will not make shame or exasperation part of my practice; I have bad days, of course, but I do not make habits out of them (or let habit manifest into my practice because of issues with myself) and certainly do not belittle any form of pain.

[Davey Do]

Yikes. Not a fan of the mindset. So passé.

Uh Oh, somebody got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning.

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[Davey Do]

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