Letter to the Offended

[nursel56]

Dear offended people of all ages,

We are not talking about you. When you read a "vent" post, please note the use of such words and phrases as "some", "not all" and "exceptions". Based on the posts I read from you detailing your long, hard struggle through life to get where you are today, I can categorically say that without exception YOU are the reason we do not say "all" and "everyone". You are the role models for the "some" who's thoroughly unacceptable behavior we are talking about!!

If a vent contains keywords that grab your attention - it's because it just so happens that a lot of people haven't learned the word "moderation" that you have. If you have a very tasteful piercing or tat, a light spritz of body spray, a bit of blush and mascara, a flattering scrub top, or any other obviously normal thing, there really is no need to rush to the defense of that person who wants to wear 3 pounds of hardware on their body, douse themselves with Axe or Pear/Honeysuckle oil, or do up their eyes like Liza Minnelli in Cabaret., or have a hot pink whale tail thong peeking out the top of her low-risers.

If a vent contains criticism of parents who use their children as an excuse to slack at work, we are not talking about your child that has a 104 temp and is making a hideous rasping noise when he breathes! Go take care of your child! Please! We arent't talking about you!!I really can think of more of these - maybe others can relate to this - Instead of getting Offended on behalf of the people who make you look bad because you happen to share a characteristic with them - a bit of guidance to steer them in the right direction or a "this is how I did it" thread would be a lot more helpful than your story wedged into a thread that is not talking about you.

Lest anyone get offended because the examples above normally apply to younger people - the same applies to the behavior of us oldsters as well. Thank you for reading.

[MassED, BSN, RN]

Yes- Mike it was partially inspired by the

Other examples I was thinking about are almost comical - a post about long acrylic nails with metal studs in them will get an indignant reply from someone who buffs their nails and sports a tasteful French manicure. . . a post about goofy scrub tops gets a reply from someone who wears a small gauge monotone -- stuff like that. Maybe I spend too much time here and should go spring for that Kindle and spend some time reading the collected works of Charles Dickens.

Just as a little aside since you and I share similar amounts of time in our present mortal state, I used to scoff at people who said they were happier when they were older-- who would say that?? Well, it is true and I've just gained a more centered perspective. Most of my earlier neuroses have largely dissipated, and stuff that got me all tied up in knots 10 or 20 years ago barely cause a ripple in my mood. This may appear to others as flippant or cavalier when it really isn't.

Now where the heck is that Hooters thread?? My glorious offendedness is slipping away! Need fuel!!

I think it's rather interesting to have threads evolve into a direction they were never intended to venture. It's fun to see the evolution. Stupid or not, they're all fun to read. I don't take too much seriously, this is a website to escape from the real world. You can say SOME things (lots of oversight, unfortunately) - but there are other websites out there that you can post anything on anonymously.

Enjoy the ride. There's always work tomorrow to *itch about.

[MassED, BSN, RN]

Yes- Mike it was partially inspired by the

Other examples I was thinking about are almost comical - a post about long acrylic nails with metal studs in them will get an indignant reply from someone who buffs their nails and sports a tasteful French manicure. . . a post about goofy scrub tops gets a reply from someone who wears a small gauge monotone -- stuff like that. Maybe I spend too much time here and should go spring for that Kindle and spend some time reading the collected works of Charles Dickens.

Just as a little aside since you and I share similar amounts of time in our present mortal state, I used to scoff at people who said they were happier when they were older-- who would say that?? Well, it is true and I've just gained a more centered perspective. Most of my earlier neuroses have largely dissipated, and stuff that got me all tied up in knots 10 or 20 years ago barely cause a ripple in my mood. This may appear to others as flippant or cavalier when it really isn't.

Now where the heck is that Hooters thread?? My glorious offendedness is slipping away! Need fuel!!

on a sidenote, the Kindle is AWESOME. I would spring for the one with the backlight, in hindsight.

[leslie :-D]

Personally, I wouldn't care. I know I'm neither lazy nor crabby. Why would I care about comments that couldn't possibly be directed toward me?

thank you, thank you, thank you!!

i hang out in an's central mostly...

and for yrs, if i posted something about SOME conservatives, never fails, i would get a response about, "I never did that".

well...duh.

that's why i said "some".

what don't people get?

if it doesn't apply to you, then no big deal.

heck, even if it does apply to me, i still reject it.

"not my problem...that's on them".

seriously, i seldom get offended....even when i should.

heh.

let it go, people.

life's too damn short.

leslie

[HeartsOpenWide, RN]

Those that are posting their offense are only reinforcing the OPs point of the post, and kicking them selves in the teeth so to speak. Oxymoron much?

[aKyRN81]

rn/writer

I have, for years, referred to the perpetually petulant as "offendinistas"

Oh, how I LOVE this line......perpetually petulant.......offendinistas...... How cool!!! thanks!!

[Not_A_Hat_Person, RN]

Older folks have always thought younger folks were lazy, spoiled, and disrespectful. Their older co-workers thought the same when the older nurses were newbies. The newbie nurses will think that way about newbie nurses in 20 years.

[pockunit, ADN, RN]

I have always thought the very fact that we even have to discuss the thong issue speaks volumes about nursing, and not in a good way. I cannot picture a bunch of circuit court judges sitting around debating thongs under judicial robes.

But there was a judge who was using a member enlarging pump, so we should probably include that in any complaints of inappropriate judge-y behavior.

Just sayin'.

[pockunit, ADN, RN]

Maybe I spend too much time here and should go spring for that Kindle and spend some time reading the collected works of Charles Dickens.

You totally should. Dickens should even be in public domain so all that wordy goodness would be available for freeeeeeeeeee.

[Fiona59]

I dont think the problem is that nurses wear thongs...heck, you could wear butt-less leather chaps under your scrubs for all I care! The problem is when you wear hot-pink whale thongs that ride up over your scrubs pants, or show THROUGH the pants...that is not professional at all...

Pass the brain bleach/eyewash.

I may never get that visual out of my mind. (I did once see an RN that I knew out and about town in assless chaps). Hey, it's Alberta.

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

(I did once see an RN that I knew out and about town in assless chaps). Hey, it's Alberta.

Tell me he/she/it was wearing something under them...

[nursemike, ASN, RN]

Yes- Mike it was partially inspired by the

Other examples I was thinking about are almost comical - a post about long acrylic nails with metal studs in them will get an indignant reply from someone who buffs their nails and sports a tasteful French manicure. . . a post about goofy scrub tops gets a reply from someone who wears a small gauge monotone -- stuff like that. Maybe I spend too much time here and should go spring for that Kindle and spend some time reading the collected works of Charles Dickens.

Just as a little aside since you and I share similar amounts of time in our present mortal state, I used to scoff at people who said they were happier when they were older-- who would say that?? Well, it is true and I've just gained a more centered perspective. Most of my earlier neuroses have largely dissipated, and stuff that got me all tied up in knots 10 or 20 years ago barely cause a ripple in my mood. This may appear to others as flippant or cavalier when it really isn't.

Now where the heck is that Hooters thread?? My glorious offendedness is slipping away! Need fuel!!

At the time I made that entirely complimentary post, I didn't know how to go back and delete a post. I was taught, and gently encouraged (ahem) to do so. So that gem of wisdom is sadly lost...

OVER THE YEARS, I THINK I'VE DONE EVERY OBNOXIOUS THING THAT CAN BE DONE ON THESE BOARDS. Well, now I have, or if not, I soon will. Except the invisible pink font. I'm a civilized human being, after all. I think that's probably true of anyone who has been posting awhile. I know I can be in the Amen Corner on one topic and an offendanista (cool term) on another. Most of us, after all, are nurses, and crap gets on our nerves. It's really just a question of which nerve. And I have to agree, it can get as ridiculous one way as another.

That said, re: your aside, it is amazing that the more my knees hurt, the happier I am. I spent too much of my youth bored and depressed. Confused is much better. And it doesn't cost money to get that way, now. I'm rarely bored, and if I ever have time to get depressed, maybe I'll use it to get around to all the stuff I should be doing, instead of this. Probably not, though, because I have all this procrastination I need to do.

[hiddencatRN, BSN, RN]

Sure, some people seemingly look for ways to be offended. But when you post on a public message board, you open yourself up to the reactions of those who respond to you. And when those posts are making generalizations about a group of people, it's kind of foolish to expect that people won't be offended, or won't call out assumptions being made.