What’s a Crusty Old Bat?

[Hannahbanana, BSN, MSN]

I found this quote from a 2014 @Rose_Queen ::wavey:: post, but it bespeaks an older origin. Many familiar names if you go searching around using the bug search window. Be sure to check the box for “all terms” in your returns, or you’ll drown in unrelated stuff.

“The self-proclaimed crusty old bats are some of the posters I have learned the most from here at allnurses. And it may help to know the back story of the crusty old bat phrase- it came about after a newbie showed up, showing an attitude of extreme entitlement, and used it in a derogatory manner. Rather than get offended, us crusty old bats and future crusty old bats claimed the phrase and turnED it into an inside joke.”

Likewise, the term “old biter nurses” was a likely typo for “bitter,” but we embraced it in its absurdity and peripheral connection to NETY, “nurses eat their young.” Which we don’t, because somehow we survived our callow years of being corrected and now, older and wiser as the old ones before us were, are living proof of not having been eaten in the process and now seek only to make current newbies too tough to chew on. 

This blast from the past is brought to you by …. well, you know. 

[Davey Do]

The slang term bat has a tendency to be gender specific: "If someone refers to an old person, especially an old woman, as an old bat, they think that person is silly, annoying, or unpleasant".

Since I am a crusty old (retired) male nurse, henceforth, I make a move that male nurses also be allowed to be COBs, specifically, Crusty Old Bass-Turds.

[TriciaJ, RN]

Do we even get as many posts anymore from entitled newbies taking us to task?  I must admit I got a perverse charge watching the bat-a-ball game that ensued.  I totally embrace crusty old bathood.

 

[Emergent, RN]

RubyVee was the head of the old bat society.  She's rarely posting any more. She could definitely be quite blunt and really offend the snowflake contingent. It made for entertaining reading...?

[Davey Do]

10 hours ago, TriciaJ said:

Do we even get as many posts anymore from entitled newbies taking us to task?  I must admit I got a perverse charge watching the bat-a-ball game that ensued.  I totally embrace crusty old bathood.

In the dynamics of newbies taking COBs to task, the drama is usually a predictably systematic process. 

It's all about power.

I, too, enjoyed the power plays, until they became personal attacks, on both parties accounts, and then it became pathetic.

I did get inspiration for some good comics, however.

Here's an old cartoon from several years ago where an allnurses member set up the scenario:

 

[NurseBlaq]

I don't know about old bat but it's just some plain ole crusty folks in these AN streets lately. Messy for no damn reason!

[Davey Do]

24 minutes ago, NurseBlaq said:

I don't know about old bat but it's just some plain ole crusty folks in these AN streets lately.

From 2017:

[sevensonnets]

You're exactly right, NurseBlaq. For no other reason but to be mean.

[Davey Do]

2 hours ago, NurseBlaq said:

I don't know about old bat but it's just some plain ole crusty folks in these AN streets lately. Messy for no damn reason!

 

2 hours ago, sevensonnets said:

You're exactly right, NurseBlaq. For no other reason but to be mean.

Am I missing something?

Or are you talking about me?

[Davey Do]

2 hours ago, sevensonnets said:

 For no other reason but to be mean.

With all due respect, sevensonnets, there is always a reason behind all behaviors.

Truism: People will use whatever tact they have learned that works best- for them- in order to get what they want.

Usually people are mean because they are in some pretty deep emotional pain. Their goal is to hurt others in an endeavor to relieve, or decrease their own  pain. It's a kind of distraction from their pain.

"Loving Indifference" is a process that's therapeutic to all. When one in pain has inflicted pain, or attempts to, we need to respond indifferently to them; show no emotions. The loving part is the result of us not throwing stones. 

We act as individuals of integrity and the one attempting to inflict pain does not get their monkey fed.

Tried and true tested process!

 

[NurseBlaq]

3 hours ago, Davey Do said:

 

Am I missing something?

Or are you talking about me?

No, Dave. Just keep making your toons and I'll keep eating my ?. ?

[NurseBlaq]

3 hours ago, Davey Do said:

With all due respect, sevensonnets, there is always a reason behind all behaviors.

Truism: People will use whatever tact they have learned that works best- for them- in order to get what they want.

Usually people are mean because they are in some pretty deep emotional pain. Their goal is to hurt others in an endeavor to relieve, or decrease their own  pain. It's a kind of distraction from their pain.

"Loving Indifference" is a process that's therapeutic to all. When one in pain has inflicted pain, or attempts to, we need to respond indifferently to them; show no emotions. The loving part is the result of us not throwing stones. 

We act as individuals of integrity and the one attempting to inflict pain does not get their monkey fed.

Tried and true tested process!

 

So the hurt people, hurt other people approach? Hmmmm

I can't show love to people who try to hurt me. Ignore their existence, yes. Love, nope. I've had intensive experiences with an abusive narcissistic ex. My levels of giving a damn are exhausted.