Noticing a trend here

[AngelfireRN]

Forgive me....I'm kinda bored and when I get bored I dwell on things.

I have been noticing a trend on the boards lately, and I don't like it.

Part of what I love about this site is the fact that you can come here, post thread about what bothers you, and talk about it, get feedback, have people of a like mind get mad right along with you, etc.

And then there are "them".

We all know of which I speak.

Those high-and mighty, self-righteous, know-it-alls that have to come on to every vent thread I have ever seen and tell us that we sound mean, we have offended them, they hope they never have us as a nurse, etc. Then there are those that try to tell you what you SHOULD think , how you SHOULD feel, and what you SHOULD do.

Seems to be getting worse. The splenda packet thread comes to mind more vividly than others, those of you that have read that one will know what I mean.

And another thing I have noticed, it's mostly non-nurses, pre-nurses (that must be new, or else we don't have that where I live, because I have never heard of a pre-nurse before here), or student nurses that want to start the rumpus.

My questions are:

1) Why? Do they just thrive on causing controversy? Gotta hand it to them, though, they're persistent. They hang on and will NOT leave.

2) Can we not do something about them? When they hijack a thread, can we mute them? I know we can report them to the mods, but beyond that, can we band together and do something else?

3) This site is called allNURSES. I fail to see why non-nurses would want to be here. I'll defend their right to be here with my last breath, it's a free country, but my hubby can't stand to hear me talk about some of the things I do without getting queasy. What kind of kick could a layperson get out of this site? The things we talk about usually would make no sense to a layperson, unless they have acquantances or family in the medical field, or have spent a lot of time around the field.

Has anyone else noticed the increase in this trend, or is it just me? If so, does it bother you? Just curious. Thanks.

[AngelfireRN, MSN, RN, APRN]

I'm no expert, but I guess when a website is a public forum, you'll get all kinds of folks posting on the threads.

Even old geezers like me who are now retired from nursing!

Interesting thread.

At least you HAVE been there and know of what you speak.

[Grace Oz]

At least you HAVE been there and know of what you speak.

I dunno about that hon, there's some folks would tell you I know nuttin'!!

Oh! Sorry, that's right, those are my KIDS!!!! :chuckle

[XB9S, BSN, MSN, EdD, RN, APN]

I personally value all of the opinions, from what ever background if they are well informed, or genuinely questioning out of a thirst for knowledge.

Unfortunately some of the questions that can be posed may sound like they are being critical when in fact they are only curiousity. It is always difficult to interpret tone and intentions via an internet post and this can result in a very productive and informative thread deteriorating into a spat. If this comes from a member who is maybe a student or not a nurse it can get peoples back up, but the vast majority of members, nurses, students, pre-nurses or non nurses will not post with the intention to anger another member.

Having said that there are a small number of members that do like to get threads heated and can't agree to disagree in a dignified manner

The OP's questions were:

1) Why? Do they just thrive on causing controversy? Gotta hand it to them, though, they're persistent. They hang on and will NOT leave.

As I have said I think it is a minority, it is difficult to let something go especially when it becomes percieved as a personal attack, or if you think that maybe your point is being mis-interpreted. But then there are members who do just like to start a fight. I think that is just the personality of some people

2) Can we not do something about them? When they hijack a thread, can we mute them? I know we can report them to the mods, but beyond that, can we band together and do something else?

There is always the ignore member function if they are irritating you that much, if you go into the user profile of that member there is the option to ignore. Also reporting lets the staff know and we can monitor and intervene if needed. We do try to keep intervention to a minimum and I know there have been cries of overmoderation from some people but honestly I would say thtat things that are edited and removed are truly unnecassary and have been very hurtful or rude and as I have said it is always discussed and decisions are made from that discussion.

3) This site is called allNURSES. I fail to see why non-nurses would want to be here. I'll defend their right to be here with my last breath, it's a free country, but my hubby can't stand to hear me talk about some of the things I do without getting queasy. What kind of kick could a layperson get out of this site? The things we talk about usually would make no sense to a layperson, unless they have acquantances or family in the medical field, or have spent a lot of time around the field.

I am not sure about this one, I love this site and I wish it was around when I was a student, but we didn't even have computers back then I think that getting the perspective of patients, MD's and other people who may be directly influenced by our actions is not neccassarily a bad thing. I am not sure it would be a site I would visit if not a nurse but I really don't know.

I don't think that anyone in this thread has suggested that non-nurses stop posting in the nursing forums but rather it is an attempt to understand the attraction for non nurses.

I have waffled on for far too long now so there you go, that's my opinion :typing

[queenjean]

Thanks.

Maybe I'm reading it wrong? She said she thinks it's mainly pre-nurses, nursing students, etc. causing problems and also seems to say that this site is meant as "allnurses" for NURSES. Apparently we come in waves, the non-nurses. Further, I read that pre-nursing students, the term, is not one that she's aware of as being used in her area. Though I'm a nursing student, from what I read, it said to me that as a non-nurse, I'm part of the "wave". And my point, well, just that there's a student, even pre-nursing student, forum area as part of allnurses. And that I will stick there if that's the appropriate thing. That's all!

Sorry if I read it wrong??? Anyway, no biggie, I suppose. I'm not a nurse yet, but I appreciate the site. Thanks.

Did you read beyond that post? I can see how the initial post could be read that way, but if you read further I believe it was made exquisitely clear by the OP and other posters, including myself, that nursing students are considered a pretty invaluable aspect of this site. Once again, I think the OP was mainly referring to nonnurses who get self-righteous on the vent threads. Try reading a few of those threads and I'll bet you see what she means. My only disagreement with the OP's original statement is that I don't see it being exclusive to nursing students and nonnurses--I think other nurses (who usually (but not always) aren't in that area) are just as guilty.

[squeakykitty]

It's funny how people get accused of being uncaring and having no compassion by the self righteous in a vent thread where nurses are venting about the selfish entitled peoples lack of compassion and caring.

[AngelfireRN, MSN, RN, APRN]

It's funny how people get accused of being uncaring and having no compassion by the self righteous in a vent thread where nurses are venting about the selfish entitled peoples lack of compassion and caring.

Isn't it, though.

And Sharrie was exactly on target about the attempt to understand what the fascination is for non-nurses with this site. Thank you to her for putting that into words for me.

I must say, I did not expect such a response to this, but I like the debate. I guess I struck a nerve.

[RN1982]

There's nothing wrong with strikin' a nerve every now and then.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Some posts were deleted in keeping with the Terms of Service and trying to keep the thread friendly. Please let it go and carry on with the original topic. Thanks.

[AngelfireRN, MSN, RN, APRN]

Thank you , Tweety.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

mose-

let me clarify. by "layperson" i mean someone like my husband, who thinks you can liposuction out cellulitis. someone with no medical knowledge whatsoever who comes on here and bashes us for what we think and how we vent when they have no earthly what we go through.

congrats on your chosen career. i would most definitely not call you a layperson. you are in the field, as a student. my problem is with non-medical people who are not in the field whatsoever and/or who have no medical knowledge who come on here and bash us, when they have no idea what really goes on.

i hope that helps clear that part up.

as to the griping, sometimes that's just what we need to do.

while i too am glad we have students participating, it is really irksome to have a student who has never walked a mile in my shoes or the shoes of any of the nurses posting on a vent thread tell us what horrible people we must be to be venting. vent threads have their place, and students have their place. but students participating in vent threads to tell the experienced nurses how horrible they are to need to vent is just plain inappropriate.

[Grace Oz]

understand the attraction for non nurses.

In the 1960's there were people who weren't actually in a pop band, but they hung around the band, were interested in what the bands did, clothes worn, topics spoken about in the discussions between the bands etc etc.

Those folk were called: "groupies".

Maybe there's such a thing today as nursing "groupies?!" :chair:

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

while i too am glad we have students participating, it is really irksome to have a student who has never walked a mile in my shoes or the shoes of any of the nurses posting on a vent thread tell us what horrible people we must be to be venting. vent threads have their place, and students have their place. but students participating in vent threads to tell the experienced nurses how horrible they are to need to vent is just plain inappropriate.

exactly.

after a 12 hour day that really was a 14 hour day with a 20 minute so-called lunch break, with aching feet and a tired beat up old body when i come to vent about "that lady that just wouldn't stay off the call llight and the jerk that called for pain medicine every 30 minutes", the last thing i need is a "you're a horrible nurse for saying that, i hope you're never my nurse, how dare you judge, i was that patient once.....and when i become a nurse i'm going to be perfect".

as i said before, i strongly believe that pre-nursing and others are welcome here because we're friendly that way and invaluable service, and they have much to offer us and to support one another as well, but sometimes i want to say "how dare you judge....let me just process this day, get it off my chest with people who know exactly what i'm talking about, so i can cope with it again tomorrow".

fortunately those kinds of posters are few when you look at the big picture here.