The old saying about Religion and Politics

Mary Dover · Mar 24, 2002

"It would be foolish of me to allow people to get angry at me because of my views."

Mario, it's inevitable and OK for people to get angry at you, even though it can leave you feeling a little unsettled at times. And remember we do have free speech in our country.

For the most part, I find that expressing one's views is a very healthy thing to do. I say 'for the most part' however, because it is HOW those views are expressed that is the key. The ability to keep in mind which body orifice opinions are often compared to, may serve you well my friend.

Mary

mario_ragucci · Mar 24, 2002

As Mario develops his "nursing mind" he praises ALL nurses as you glisten in the sun and I bow before you ALL as I travel my path to enter your ranks. I give my deepest thanks to allnurses.com as a place to learn and solidify my OWN views, and I'm glad if it helps anyone else out too.

IF you provide views, there will be those that will disrespect them. It's a risk, but it's not one which should occur publicly like this, for me anyway :-) At a coffeeshop, on a park bench....that's another story. My views represent those of a future nurse, and rightfully should be void of sex, politics, religion, marital status, national origin...and the like, for the sake of professionalism. And that is my enlightened view now. The reason I say this is to avoid becoming a lightning rod in my profession. My number one intention is to help people with learned physical skills. I want to start considering myself as "on the job" when I put down what I think here.

We all share an interconnectedness on this board, and I pledge here, before all great nurses, to blend in your ranks.

pkmom · Mar 24, 2002

Mario,

This isn't a professional building, its a big chat room. There aren't any rules about what topics to discuss, we have the right to free speech. if someone disagrees with you, who cares. People disagree with me all the time, it's not a big deal. This world is a diverse place with so many different opinions and ideas. If we don't discuss, we can't understand, and so much trouble comes from not understanding. I am not saying with all have to agree because we obviously have not been able to and probably never will, but we do have to get along. If discussing religion or politics bothers you, you don't have to discuss.

I am a full-time stay at home mom and part time student. The only people I see daily are my husband and my son. I want more to talk about than "how was your day honey, baby threw up three times today." I can discuss all kinds of things on the BB because we talk about all kinds of things. I especially enjpy the discussions on things I have never thought about.

I know this site is devoted to nursing, but there is more to a nurse than the clinical side, what is wrong with sharing that.

P_RN, ADN, RN · Mar 25, 2002

Something just came to me and I'm probably misinterpreting this due to some personal events.

I have noticed that "we" the generic nurse "we" tend to hold the male nurse/student nurses to a different standard. For example female nurse/ student might say "I will always wear white..."

We might say....well it gets dirty but a lot of people look good in white.....

Conversely the male nurse/student says "I will always wear white..." and SOME not all might reply....you are crazy! White gets dirty and just wait until you have to do all of your own laundry etc etc....."

This is only my opinion, mine and mine alone.

We expect the men to be strong, silent and secretly hope they will be kinda stupid in the real worldly things. I can come on here and cry out....I will get support.

I have yet to see a man receive the same courtesy.

Thank you....a really old, crotchety, senior moment, aged, nurse....but sometimes I am right.

NurseDennie, BSN, RN · Mar 25, 2002

Hi - well, obviously I've missed whatever it is that has engendered this thread. But when has that stopped me from putting in my oar and paddling??

I take it you said something that somebody took issue with and you've decided that this isnt the place for you to put forth your opinions, right? Well.... I think we can all relate to that. I know I've said some things that people have misinterpreted or that I presented poorly enough to BE misinterpreted. But that's just part of it all, isn't it?

So I guess I'd have to say that I don't think it's a big deal. If you don't want to post your political/social/religious/sexual type of opinions, then don't. That's your right, and I know that I have some opinions that I feel need to be protected right now. I don't say EVERYTHING I feel. But on the other hand, if you WANT to post your opinions, then go ahead and do it! Maybe somebody will react in a way that bothers you, and maybe they won't. If they do, then you can decide how to cope with it.

You'd made that other post where you decided you weren't going to post anymore, I have to assume that it's because of something along these lines. But you got a lot of support and encouragement not to leave, and you've been hanging in there with the best of them!

So just don't worry about it. Post if you want to, don't if you don't. There are a lot of important things going on right now, don't you think?

Love

Dennie

SICU Queen · Mar 25, 2002

Oh Mario...

Don't be so down. I love reading your posts, and while I don't always agree with everything you say, I respect your position and your freedom to say it.

This board is for nurses to discuss ALL types of things. It's just nice to know that the folks who respond are in a like profession, that they understand what it means to literally have a shitty night.

You keep on posting whatever strikes you, and we'll all keep reading. For those that don't care for what you have to say, well, they can just go read something else. That's the beauty of the "back" button.

Just my opinion.

mario_ragucci · Mar 25, 2002

I'm gonna keep posting, but just not about sex, politics, religion, marriage, or stuff like that.

Example: If I am in a break room, and there are five ladies and me, and the topic turns to relationships....you know full well that I'd be stifled like a big dog....because I am not married. You know what I'm talking about. Nothing I can say would be valid, and that's uncool.

Example: If in that same break room, if the conversation turned to discussion about "the war", and I asserted an interesting, but different, view from that of mainstream media, it would certainly be to my detriment, you see?

If everyone loves to understand that 2 plus 2 equals 4, then some person says, "well, 2 to the power of 2 is also 4" ....then, thats not so cool if folks like sticking with addition and subtraction. They may take those opinions as a put down, and attack, though the intent was never to harm anyone.

I say, with a sincere and happy face, it is cool to keep my opinions and views to myself, and initiate more conversations about cell phones, new cars, lime sherbert and OTC drugs for dieting.

Mario has a good laugh - don't worry - I'm making a joke about it all :-)

fergus51 · Mar 25, 2002

We've all been blasted at one time or another about our views, I hope you continue to take it with a grain of salt and enjoy the polite discussion on the board:) (there is some...)

lever5 · Mar 25, 2002

Mario,

We need a clearer thought. When you, or any other person on this board posts a message, we can not express our thoughts clearly enough to not be misinterperted. It is not even misinterpretation, we all bring our own burden to every reply we make. Something you said reminds us of something else we went through a few years ago, and puts a different spin on what was said. We reply to your message from a new view and you can't even guess where we are comming from, because we did not share that. When you post it is almost a responsibility to keep correspondance on track. So often, people state, "I don't want to argue about this", What is argument but disscussion without raised voices. If politics or religion are discussed without raised voices or personal insults, and the discussion stays on track, the experience would be the most invigorating growth you could obtain. It would be interesting to start a discussion and stick to rules. You know why it does not happen.....because it is fun to do it the other way. The board and view count confirm that the slightly off discussions, the ones that get into it, are the most interesting. That is why we like your comments. You are fun.

hoolahan, ASN, RN · Mar 25, 2002

Mario, if no one ever talked about religion, and politics here, it would be very boring indeed. In fact, I better log off now b/c I feel an attcak of verbal diarrhea bubbling to the surface right now!

PS Mary, hubba hubba! What a great pic, but still liked the Queen picking her nose, that was sooo funny! And Dennie, another great avatar. Maybe I need to change mine.

micro, RN · Mar 25, 2002

Boy Hoolihan,

like like I like your analogy of verbal diarrhea bubbling over......

not directing that one big guffaw towards anyone else here but me, MSK

from a recent open os and insert both feet up to cracked coccyx.....

love all,

MSK