I am unsure how to handle something I came across on social media and I'm hoping that someone with more wisdom and experience can help guide me.
Today I saw a post on social media where a fellow nurse posted something cruel, racist and embarrassing to make a point of humiliating someone with an opposing political belief to their own. I know this nurse personally though we work at different facilities and are not on friendly enough terms for me to reach out and express my shock at their conduct.
Part of me feels like I should mind my own business and not interfere with someone else's livelihood. Another part of me feels like in this day and age we cannot pretend to not understand the consequences of making remarks on the internet that alienate, marginalize and harm others. FWIW, this nurse shares their job title, facility and nursing related posts on their social media account, so any passerby who saw the remarks would know who made them. I know COVID and quarantine orders have us all on edge so I am trying to not let my anger overcome my good sense. After seeing the posts, I know that I would never feel comfortable receiving care at this facility at the hands of this nurse, and I am sure I'm not the only one.
Agree with others, don't involve yourself. If the nurse provided all that info it will come back to them. Unfriend and be done with it. Although I dont understand why you wouldnt want care at that facility bc of something 1 employee said.
I'm sure there's a busybody out there to there always is. Maybe it's you, but if I were you I would just leave it alone and then unfollow the the person on facebook.
I think everybody doesn't like a certain group of people. If it's not Iranians it's Mexicans or Whites or Blacks or Republicans or Democrats. Then there are Mormons, Jews, Muslims, Born Again Christians, Atheists. There are CEOs, homeless people, drug addicts, immigrants, native-born people. As you can see the list is endless. It is better not to go ballistic online about any of those groups. But people do.
These posts specifically say "f-word" Iranians and goes on to say other terrible, cruel things to the person they were attacking online. Never mentions Trump nor is he relevant to my post. The only person responsible for those words is the person who posted them. I don't excuse or condemn anyone based on political beliefs alone. Everyone is responsible for their own conduct.
I just wanted clarification because there are people that if someone says anything that goes against their political ideology they are automatically racist or promoting hate speech.
I'm sure there's a busybody out there to there always is. Maybe it's you, but if I were you I would just leave it alone and then unfollow the the person on facebook.
I think everybody doesn't like a certain group of people. If it's not Iranians it's Mexicans or Whites or Blacks or Republicans or Democrats. Then there are Mormons, Jews, Muslims, Born Again Christians, Atheists. There are CEOs, homeless people, drug addicts, immigrants, native-born people. As you can see the list is endless. It is better not to go ballistic online about any of those groups. But people do.
Yeah, some brothers don't like their sisters and some sisters don't like their brothers.
Regardless of your political stance, no one should make racist, bigoted, or discriminatory remarks. And I have seen such remarks from people on both sides of the fence.
There are those us who abuse the term "racist" just because they don't like their politics. For example, suggesting the removal of affirmative action will be called "racist" when the goal may have been to promote equality for EVERYONE. Or suggesting that keeping the borders closed is "racist" somehow. And I have seen insults against whites by minorities as well that could be considered racist.
People should be treated as individuals, and race should NEVER be an issue in anyone's behavior towards another.
There is a difference between saying "*** the Iranians" with regard to their antagonizing military actions against our service members, and "*** all Iranians, their culture is ***". Not that I'd post the either to any social media account, and I certainly don't hold the latter as a belief.
The lessons here are that you should mind your own business unless this RN has posted something so vile to the point that it would jeopardize their ability to function as a nurse and do no harm. I.e. - "I hate all Iranians and wouldn't provide good care to anyone from that country". But, it doesn't sound like this was the case.
The other lesson here is that Governments ruin it for the people. The Iranian government is indeed a piece of junk; whereas, I've have nothing but wonderful things to say about the Iranian American's who I know and other Iranians I've met whilst traveling the world.
The other truth is that social media should be for posting pictures of your birthday party or kayaking trip. Oh, facebook circa 2008, those were the days......Now, every unhappy 40-year old working 60-hour weeks with no vacation has to flex their stress and ruin it for us.
Regardless of your political stance, no one should make racist, bigoted, or discriminatory remarks. And I have seen such remarks from people on both sides of the fence.
There are those us who abuse the term "racist" just because they don't like their politics. For example, suggesting the removal of affirmative action will be called "racist" when the goal may have been to promote equality for EVERYONE. Or suggesting that keeping the borders closed is "racist" somehow. And I have seen insults against whites by minorities as well that could be considered racist.
People should be treated as individuals, and race should NEVER be an issue in anyone's behavior towards another.
I agree. Some have asked why I would hesitate to receive treatment at aforementioned facility. I said at that facility at the hands of that person. Perhaps it's because I am a "brown" person, but I am sad to think that someone entered a profession to care for other humans when they can have such a blanket disregard for and hatred towards people because of their skin tone or nationality. Can I trust that someone who hates me without knowing me to make decisions that are in my best interest? There are so many other fields one can enter where they don't have power over another's wellbeing. I am not planning to report this person but I also feel like I am doing a disservice to nursing as a whole if I turn a blind eye to it. All it takes for evil to prevail is for good people to remain silent.
I appreciate all of your responses so far. This has been very thought provoking.
There is a difference between saying "*** the Iranians" with regard to their antagonizing military actions against our service members, and "***all Iranians, their culture is ***". Not that I'd post the either to any social media account, and I certainly don't hold the latter as a belief.
The lessons here are that you should mind your own business unless this RN has posted something so vile to the point that it would jeopardize their ability to function as a nurse and do no harm. I.e. - "I hate all Iranians and wouldn't provide good care to anyone from that country". But, it doesn't sound like this was the case.
The other lesson here is that Governments ruin it for the people. The Iranian government is indeed a piece of junk; whereas, I've have nothing but wonderful things to say about the Iranian American's who I know and other Iranians I've met whilst traveling the world.
The other truth is that social media should be for posting pictures of your birthday party or kayaking trip. Oh, facebook circa 2008, those were the days......Now, every unhappy 40-year old working 60-hour weeks with no vacation has to flex their stress and ruin it for us.
That's something I was thinking as well. But the phrasing is is racist because he said "*** Iranians" and not "*** Iran."
I agree. Some have asked why I would hesitate to receive treatment at aforementioned facility. I said at that facility at the hands of that person. Perhaps it's because I am a "brown" person, but I am sad to think that someone entered a profession to care for other humans when they can have such a blanket disregard for and hatred towards people because of their skin tone or nationality. Can I trust that someone who hates me without knowing me to make decisions that are in my best interest? There are so many other fields one can enter where they don't have power over another's wellbeing. I am not planning to report this person but I also feel like I am doing a disservice to nursing as a whole if I turn a blind eye to it. All it takes for evil to prevail is for good people to remain silent.
I appreciate all of your responses so far. This has been very thought provoking.
I apologize OP. I didn't read your post correctly. I thought you didn't want to ever go to the facility. I dont blame you for not wanting to be taken care of by someone you feel is being racist toward you.
I would consider though that the comment may have just been as others have stated, meaning that person didn't like what the Iranian gov was doing. We all are quite capable of misunderstanding each other as I just did with your post.
Either way, I still think your best bet is to steer clear of the situation.
Someone who behaves like this online will eventually get caught and get in trouble. Either a patient will read it, or her supervisor will, or the CEO of her hospital. You don’t need to get involved. Karma, the universe, Jesus— somebody is coming for her. Just ignore it, unfriend her, and try to put it out of your mind.
I am just wondering what would have set this person off to write such things on social media, it wasn't just a spur of the moment thing, especially since the OP stated this was in response to something someone else posted. Someone pushed the person to write this reaction. I would also wonder if there was so personal or family trauma that caused her to have this reaction and to make a social media post.
I would just unfollow or unfriend or even mute the person.
As for having the judgement that you wou;dn't want this nurse to care for you, that might be a bit too far of a reaction based off of one social media post. You had obviously "friended" this co-worker for some reason initially, most people do not just "friend" or "follow" everyone.
If you don't want to unfriend or unfollow, just ignore it and move on.
Specializes in Psychiatric and Mental Health NP (PMHNP).
As others have stated, just unfriend the person and mind your own business.
However, this individual may be in violation of their employer's policies. Many healthcare organizations prohibit posting the organization's name and so forth on social media posts, especially those of an inflammatory nature. At the very least, they would take a very dim view of this. This person will get reported at some point, and they will likely lose their job. I'm surprised this hasn't happened already. Personally, if they posted inflammatory comments about "Purple People" and I happened to be a "Purple Person" or members of my family were, I darn well would report them to HR.
Daisy4RN
2,238 Posts
Agree with others, don't involve yourself. If the nurse provided all that info it will come back to them. Unfriend and be done with it. Although I dont understand why you wouldnt want care at that facility bc of something 1 employee said.