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.

[nursel56]

hey whats wrong with thongs under scrubs as long as no one sees em?

Nothing! My daughter told me she wears them to avoid "pantyline" - never thought of that myself but I just think they're uncomfortable. I don't want a string melvin.

[GM2RN]

Had a co-worker just last night bend over and blue thongs popped out.

[greenfiremajick]

Or maybe they're checking out the surroundings before they make a break for it. They sure can't be comfortable.

:hhmth:

[nursemike, ASN, RN]

]

I'm sorry, but I believe you've misundertstood my post. I was using an extreme example to illustrate what I think is wrong with generalization. I may have been guilty of hyperbole, but not racism. Actually, the section that was quoted in bold print technically is an unfounded assumption. I don't actually know that black people cover the same range of intelligence as everyone else, but it's an assumption I'm comfortable with, based on my belief that black people are pretty much like anyone else.

What I was trying to say is the reality is (I assume) that some black people aren't very smart, some black people are very smart, and most are somewhere around average, just like any other racial or ethnic group, or for that matter any religion, political party, or age group. There are some generalizations that do work: I work on a neuro floor, and I've noticed that a lot of neurosurgeons are smart. That implies a connection between being a neurosurgeon and being smart, which is probably too obvious to be interesting. A more controversial observation would be, "Some neurosurgeons are cocky." It's true, as far as it goes--some are--but I believe it hints at more than it actually says, seeming to suggest that cockiness is a typical quality of neurosurgeons. And that isn't really a fair generalization. I may know more neurosurgeons than most people do, but I haven't met anything like a statistically representative sample, and even among those I have met, I'll admit they haven't lacked for confidence, but I wouldn't say most were cocky.

So, in a sense, if you say, "Some white people are allergic to cats," that's undeniably true. Some are. Still, why specify white people? Isn't it just as true that some people are allergic to cats? I'm saying that by specifying that it's a statement about white people--even with the modifier "some," it implies that it's more true of whites than of the general population. Now, if I were to to reply indignantly that I'm white and I'm not allergic to cats, in fact I have four and they love me as much as I love them, I could be proving the OP's point by getting offended inappropriately. But I still say a lot of the generalizations made in vent threads are character attacks in a way that "allergic to cats," isn't. To observe, "Some younger nurses are lazy," is no less true than, "Some older nurses are lazy." But both statements make implications that are untrue, and frankly a bit offensive.

The quoted post begins with the assertion, "You know, I have never met a racist who is not stupid," is also an implied generalization that suggests, without explicitly saying, that racists are stupid. The OP would say I would be wrong to be offended. If I'm not a racist, then it isn't talking about me. Actually, I'm not offended. I'm pretty sure I'm not a racist, and very sure I'm not stupid. But, at the risk of further clouding the discussion, I have to say, I have met some racists who were actually very intelligent. Hmm. Some very intelligent people are stupid.

Oh, dear.

[nursemike, ASN, RN]

sigh..................and here we go...........

I'm sorry.

[nursel56]

[i think you misunderstood Mike's post. I can say with as much certainty as is possible in a place where we aren't face to face with the person we're talking to, he's not a racist.

[OCNRN63, RN]

Nothing! My daughter told me she wears them to avoid "pantyline" - never thought of that myself but I just think they're uncomfortable. I don't want a string melvin.

I had to think long and hard about "string melvin" till I got it, but that was good.

[nursel56]

I had to think long and hard about "string melvin" till I got it, but that was good.

I think in some areas of the country it's called a "wedgie". Like "pop" and "soda", "tag sale" and "garage sale", a regional thing.

[JBudd, MSN]

I think in some areas of the country it's called a "wedgie". Like "pop" and "soda", "tag sale" and "garage sale", a regional thing.

thank you for explaining. Even my Kindle didn't know that one, although it did wonder about throngs of thongs.

[southernbeegirl, BSN, RN]

omg. this whole thread is offensive!

[nursemike, ASN, RN]

thank you for explaining. Even my Kindle didn't know that one, although it did wonder about throngs of thongs.

I saw my first thong swimsuit in Florida a few years ago, and finally understood the meaning of the expression, "butt ugly."

[TDCHIM]

I've been sitting back laughing myself sick while reading the latter half of this thread. :lol2: :yeah:

Of course, now I'm embarrassed by my real reaction, so I'm instead going to announce how mortally offended I am by the comments made here! You should all be ashamed of yourselves for [pick your favorite reason]!!!