Does anyone actually like to work anymore?

[Misterioso]

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all i hear at the hospital is complaining. and if they're not complaining they're fawning over when they'll get off work. did they realize being a doctor means having to actually work? if you're always this down at work then obviously you're in the WRONG profession. you got your little 80 hour thing, and you're still whining.

 

[DarksideAllstar]

No.

Edit: I forgot to mention that I think you are ultra-cool for having a superior work ethic than everybody else in the world. You, quite possibly, could be my hero, and I think that I might be your greatest fan. Thanks for stopping by.

 

[Solideliquid]

Are you in residency, have you done an intern year?

 

[DebDynamite]

you got your little 80 hour thing, and you're still whining.

Riiiiiiight.

 

[Hard24Get]

all i hear at the hospital is complaining. and if they're not complaining they're fawning over when they'll get off work. did they realize being a doctor means having to actually work? if you're always this down at work then obviously you're in the WRONG profession. you got your little 80 hour thing, and you're still whining.

oh booh hooh, no one else wants to work more than 80 hours. they are not without a life like i want everyone to be. oh woes me.

please.




(turnabout is fair play, sir/madam)

 

[8744]

all i hear at the hospital is complaining. and if they're not complaining they're fawning over when they'll get off work. did they realize being a doctor means having to actually work? if you're always this down at work then obviously you're in the WRONG profession. you got your little 80 hour thing, and you're still whining.

Oh man! You almost had me going again! I was going to launch into my usual diatribe about how "you are still a little wet behind the ears to have an opinion" or "wait until you stop crapping college chow" but then I realized that you are just pulling our legs.

har har. Good one! You almost had me!

 

[EctopicFetus]

ahh what a winner.. anyways he is a med student who clearly is single and has no friends cause if he did he would understand why people no longer want to live at the hospital.

 

[Hard24Get]

ahh what a winner.. anyways he is a med student who clearly is single and has no friends cause if he did he would understand why people no longer want to live at the hospital.

Second year, eh? Not accumulating the best karma for the clinics, is he?

 

[EctopicFetus]

Hell get his.. someone needs to help him understand the difference between work and abuse..

 

[turkleton]

No.

Edit: I forgot to mention that I think you are ultra-cool for having a superior work ethic than everybody else in the world. You, quite possibly, could be my hero, and I think that I might be your greatest fan. Thanks for stopping by.

HAHA!

I'm sorry I didn't reply to this sooner. I was too busy being lazy and spending time with friends and family which I hardly get to see. As penance, I'm going to read the entirety of Harrison's backwards while doing a 48 hour ICU shift... I bow meekly in the presence of your awesomeness.

 

[DarksideAllstar]

HAHA!

I'm sorry I didn't reply to this sooner. I was too busy being lazy and spending time with friends and family which I hardly get to see. As penance, I'm going to read the entirety of Harrison's backwards while doing a 48 hour ICU shift... I bow meekly in the presence of your awesomeness.

You lazy b@stard--next time read my post!

 

[Misterioso]

well done missing the point. the point being that it's a waste to spend 8 years in school + 3 or more years in residency + hundreds of thousands of dollars only to constantly be thinking of when you'll get off work or how you can work less like a lot of people on here and the hospital always seem to be doing. this is after all your career, and it's a shame if you spent all that time, energy and money to enter a career that you're always trying to minimize being at.

 

[mlw03]

well done missing the point. the point being that it's a waste to spend 8 years in school + 3 or more years in residency + hundreds of thousands of dollars only to constantly be thinking of when you'll get off work or how you can work less like a lot of people on here and the hospital always seem to be doing. this is after all your career, and it's a shame if you spent all that time, energy and money to enter a career that you're always trying to minimize being at.

i think it's you that's missing the point. young doctors today want balance - there's time for work and then time for one's own life. there's no crime in wanting to actually go to your kid's little league game or enjoy a sunday afternoon football game with your buddies. i also think you overstate the situation - i don't think most doctors "constantly" think about when they're getting off, however i do think doctors today want to have a set schedule of work hours that they're comfortable with (be in 30 hours per week or 60), so they can arrange to do things they enjoy without interfering with their work.

these desires, which are totally reasonable in my opinion, are reflected in recent specialty choices - more people going into EM, derm, radiology, and path, and fewer going into OB/gyn and gen surg. even among internal medicine, we're seeing a trend towards hospitalist (set work hours, pretty good pay) OR outpatient (again, set hours and decent pay). at the end of the day you cannot force people to sacrifice their entire lives to their work, no matter what their work is or how much time, money, and effort has gone into it. people just won't do it and will gladly take less money in exchange for a life they're happy with. the solution will be to train more doctors, such that the total doctor-hours worked remains constant, which is ultimately what matters in terms of providing proper patient care.

you may feel it's noble and magnanimous to work 75 hours per week, but some of us want to be around our families more than the time it takes to impregnate our wives. balanced lives - it's where medicine is moving, and people like you and the 60 year old white men who used to run medicine can kick and scream and whine all you want, but nobody can force us to work more than we want post-residency, and the longer certain fields fight the wishes of the masses, the more they'll struggle to recruit quality american medical graduates.

 

[DarksideAllstar]

well done missing the point. the point being that it's a waste to spend 8 years in school + 3 or more years in residency + hundreds of thousands of dollars only to constantly be thinking of when you'll get off work or how you can work less like a lot of people on here and the hospital always seem to be doing. this is after all your career, and it's a shame if you spent all that time, energy and money to enter a career that you're always trying to minimize being at.

Guess what? My job doesn't define me. I wanted to work in a field that I find mentally challenging and one that I enjoy--but its still work. I could name you about 100 other things that I would rather do on a day-to-day basis rather than being AT ANY JOB. So, yeah, I do look forward for my workday to end and I don't think its a crime to do so.

BTW, the only point that you succeeded in making was berating others for wanting a life outside of medicine--if that was your goal, well, mission accomplished. I suggest that if you want to have a meaningful conversation about something in the future, maybe try not to be so godd@mned inflammatory--you will get less sarcastic posts. Are you even on the wards yet? F'in poser. Oh yeah, you're still my hero.

 

[Misterioso]

Guess what? My job doesn't define me. I wanted to work in a field that I find mentally challenging and one that I enjoy--but its still work. I could name you about 100 other things that I would rather do on a day-to-day basis rather than being AT ANY JOB. So, yeah, I do look forward for my workday to end and I don't think its a crime to do so.

BTW, the only point that you succeeded in making was berating others for wanting a life outside of medicine--if that was your goal, well, mission accomplished. I suggest that if you want to have a meaningful conversation about something in the future, maybe try not to be so godd@mned inflammatory--you will get less sarcastic posts. Are you even on the wards yet? F'in poser. Oh yeah, you're still my hero.

whoa, chill dude. sounds like you'll need all the time off you can get to work on some of those anger issues.

anyways, my point was not to berate others as you put. but there definetly seems to be this attitude by a lot of people as if their career in medicine is getting in the way of their "life". thus my assertion that you prolly messed up and picked the wrong line of work if you feel that way.

 

[dutchman]

all i hear at the hospital is complaining. and if they're not complaining they're fawning over when they'll get off work. did they realize being a doctor means having to actually work? if you're always this down at work then obviously you're in the WRONG profession. you got your little 80 hour thing, and you're still whining.

Let me guess, you also like it from the back.

 

[cdql]

No.

Edit: I forgot to mention that I think you are ultra-cool for having a superior work ethic than everybody else in the world. You, quite possibly, could be my hero, and I think that I might be your greatest fan. Thanks for stopping by.

heh heh heh

awesome just awesome

as for the OP, my answer is also no.

You see, I enjoy making large sums of money while working as little as possible. And God forbid someone mentions something like the 80 hour work week to me. 40 is more my cup of tea. When legislation is eventually passed limiting my work week to 20 hours, then I might close my mouth for a little bit.

Let me tell you a little bit more about my day: when I am working, I like to whine loudly until my superiors tell me to go home and get out of their hair. I do it at the hospital and when they eventually lay me off, I'll go over to the local Shop-Rite and do the same thing. You see, whining about work is a very normal/natural human act. Much like sex. You should try it sometime 👍

 

[DebDynamite]

May God Bless and keep the OP Q2-Q3, for months on end...in a VA.🙂

 

[EctopicFetus]

So let me summarize..

1) the op is prob pre-clinical
2) he has NO idea what it is really like to work 80+hours
3) he is someone who hates other people and as such has few if any meaningful relationships
4) due to #3 the OP's whole life is defined by his "career"


I previously has a discussion with the OP where he basically said that a G Surgeon could do ANYTHING that an EM doc (my specialty) could do including a septic work-up on a 10 day old, resus a 75 yr old in asystole, deal with a Vag Bleeder at 22 weeks. Not only did he think G Surgeons could do it but they would be better than EM people.. anyways he needs to find his place.

 

[EctopicFetus]

He would love q3 at the VA.. maybe on the medicine ward where he could be blessed with rounding for 6 hours on his teams patients.

 

[8744]

whoa, chill dude. sounds like you'll need all the time off you can get to work on some of those anger issues.

anyways, my point was not to berate others as you put. but there definetly seems to be this attitude by a lot of people as if their career in medicine is getting in the way of their "life". thus my assertion that you prolly messed up and picked the wrong line of work if you feel that way.

Hey, no argument here. I like medicine but I don't like it that much. 12 hours a day is about all I can stand although I do like reading Tintinalli when I can get time. Call, for me, except in the ICU which I like, is like torture...well...considering I am sleep deprived q4 it is actually torture according to Amnesty International.

I just got done doing an OB month and other than the fact that the residents were some of the nicest and most professional people I have ever worked with, I disliked it intensely and, while not being a slacker, wasn't exactly leaping at every opportunity to get close up on a woman passing stool while an alien life form squirted out of her vagina.

The best thing about the rotation? I got three weekends off including a long weekend for Christmas and one for New Years.

 

[turkleton]

While I'm not defending the manner in which the OP mouthed off to hard working physicians, I will agree with him that I don't like whiners too much either. As a MS1 when I was whining to my mom about the work load (which I felt was justified and I had earned) she pointed out that I had chose to do it and no one put a gun to my head. I shut up after that. Now I'm not saying that I didn't complain ever again, but I was always conscious of the fact that I knew what I was getting into (though the extent to which you never really appreciate till you get to med school) and did it anyway. Not being a resident yet, I don't think I could ever take away the right of the housestaff to justifiably express how tired they are after their grueling schedules... and truthfully, I rarely found a resident even doing that as an MS3/4. However, the one time (in 2 years and countless rotations) I met someone who was incessently complaining, I have to admit it was a tad annoying, and I thought "well you did choose this field"

As for the 80 hours rule, the OP is I think quite misinformed. You CANNOT compare the nature of a contemporary residency to one during the 60's, 70's 80's and probably even early 90's. While those guys did log in 110 hrs a week, every attending will tell you that there was an enormous amount of downtime. Labs were not drawn and returned in an hour, acute MI pts were in the hospital for 3 weeks on avg, there wasn't nearly as much knowledge that had to be mastered, there was no IR/cath/EGD available to get procedures done quickly etc etc. It's was an entirely different experience. Not to take away anything from the old timers- they paid their dues and earned their respect- but the residents on the floor these days, when they're on THEY WORK... constantly running around, getting paged, etc w/o the benefit of the downtime. 80 hrs is less than 110 to be sure, but its no picnic, especially since you work every minute of them. These guys earned the right to go home mumble 'residency sucks' and pass the hell out.

Oh and 80 hrs a week still means 11 hrs a day Mon-Sun. Or if you want Sunday off, 7am to 7pm Mon to Sat. Wimps.

 

[colbgw02]

all i hear at the hospital is complaining. and if they're not complaining they're fawning over when they'll get off work. did they realize being a doctor means having to actually work? if you're always this down at work then obviously you're in the WRONG profession. you got your little 80 hour thing, and you're still whining.

i'm sorry, but i don't really know where to start, so i thought i'd just...

 

[EctopicFetus]

I hate whiners but dont hate me if i dont want to live in the hospital. I dont whine about being there but I do cheer when i get to go home.

 

[wook]

So let me summarize..

1) the op is prob pre-clinical
2) he has NO idea what it is really like to work 80+hours
3) he is someone who hates other people and as such has few if any meaningful relationships
4) due to #3 the OP's whole life is defined by his "career"


I previously has a discussion with the OP where he basically said that a G Surgeon could do ANYTHING that an EM doc (my specialty) could do including a septic work-up on a 10 day old, resus a 75 yr old in asystole, deal with a Vag Bleeder at 22 weeks. Not only did he think G Surgeons could do it but they would be better than EM people.. anyways he needs to find his place.

Hopefully the OP will understand PRIOR to residency/clinical experience so as to be a better team player when it comes to the clinical experience.


Wook

 

[markneil]

the OP is a troll.

 

[da8s0859q]

all i hear at the hospital is complaining. and if they're not complaining they're fawning over when they'll get off work. did they realize being a doctor means having to actually work? if you're always this down at work then obviously you're in the WRONG profession. you got your little 80 hour thing, and you're still whining.

i'm sorry, but i don't really know where to start, so i thought i'd just...

You too, huh?

 

[toofache32]

all i hear at the hospital is complaining. and if they're not complaining they're fawning over when they'll get off work. did they realize being a doctor means having to actually work? if you're always this down at work then obviously you're in the WRONG profession. you got your little 80 hour thing, and you're still whining.

You must be at the VA right now....😀

 

[Faebinder]

We should put the OP on Q2 for a year in some sort of trauma service. Measure his weight, BP, sperm count and color of his hair before and after... it would make a cool case presentation.

 

[docB]

well done missing the point. the point being that it's a waste to spend 8 years in school + 3 or more years in residency + hundreds of thousands of dollars only to constantly be thinking of when you'll get off work or how you can work less like a lot of people on here and the hospital always seem to be doing. this is after all your career, and it's a shame if you spent all that time, energy and money to enter a career that you're always trying to minimize being at.

Well, clearly you did annoy a lot of people because your original post did have a "suck it up, quit whining" tone to it. The thing about medicine is that it very easily becomes an all consuming entity. There are always more patients, family members, nurses, paperwork, education and other stuff that will suck up an infinite amount of time. Residents have no shield against this (except the 80 hour deal which is problematic) and that's why residency teaches bitterness, resentment and tenacious self preservation in addition to all the medical stuff. As an attending you have to learn to draw the line and leave the hospital at some point but this is difficult because of all the aforementioned stuff.

Bottom line: We're not trying to "minimize" our time at our profession. We're trying to keep it from consuming us. It will if you let it. Just ask a few of my partner's divorce lawyers.

 

[Faebinder]

Well, clearly you did annoy a lot of people because your original post did have a "suck it up, quit whining" tone to it. The thing about medicine is that it very easily becomes an all consuming entity. There are always more patients, family members, nurses, paperwork, education and other stuff that will suck up an infinite amount of time. Residents have no shield against this (except the 80 hour deal which is problematic) and that's why residency teaches bitterness, resentment and tenacious self preservation in addition to all the medical stuff. As an attending you have to learn to draw the line and leave the hospital at some point but this is difficult because of all the aforementioned stuff.

Bottom line: We're not trying to "minimize" our time at our profession. We're trying to keep it from consuming us. It will if you let it. Just ask a few of my partner's divorce lawyers.

Well said. 👍

 

[deleted128562]

To the OP -

I don't mind working hard. I work my butt off in school, and I almost always give 100% to my job (I say almost always because I'm human and we all have our moments). I plan to work hard in medical school (if I'm fortunate enough to get there), and I'll do whatever it takes to be successful in internship and residency.

That being said, I gotta tell you - I have an intelligent, fun, gorgeous wife and two energetic, amazing little boys. And they are worth my time and energy. For that reason, I will do everything possible to choose a "lifestyle" specialty so that after residency I'm not working 80 hours a week (hopefully 50 or 55 at most). Does that make me lazy? I don't think it does. When I'm at work, I will work hard and give 100% to my patients. I won't even complain about being there. But I'll be darned if I'm going to let my career ruin my family. My full time job is in the medical field and I love it. I love my patients. I can't think of anything I'd rather do career-wise than be a physician. But I'm not going to let it consume my whole life. Sorry if that offends you, but so be it. Caring about your family and friends, and giving them some importance does not make you a bad doctor.

 

[wook]

there definetly seems to be this attitude by a lot of people as if their career in medicine is getting in the way of their "life". thus my assertion that you prolly messed up and picked the wrong line of work if you feel that way.

I agree with the post prior to this one by Mr. Hat.

The OP will hopefully learn with more life experience the importance of having a balanced life, otherwise he/she will probably be one of the more bitter folks in medicine when he/she realizes all the missed opportunities with family/friends.


Wook

 

[Misterioso]

you may feel it's noble and magnanimous to work 75 hours per week, but some of us want to be around our families more than the time it takes to impregnate our wives. balanced lives - it's where medicine is moving, and people like you and the 60 year old white men who used to run medicine can kick and scream and whine all you want, but nobody can force us to work more than we want post-residency, and the longer certain fields fight the wishes of the masses, the more they'll struggle to recruit quality american medical graduates.

puhleaze. every other sucker I know from high school/college has a wife who's popped out a few kids, has their house in the 'burbs, and does the stuff normal people do. it's called being average. they've given up their dreams to achieve mediocrity (or as they like to call it to make themselves feel better: "changed their priorities"). have fun shopping for a minivan.

 

[da8s0859q]

puhleaze. every other sucker I know from high school/college has a wife who's popped out a few kids, has their house in the 'burbs, and does the stuff normal people do. it's called being average. they've given up their dreams to achieve mediocrity (or as they like to call it to make themselves feel better: "changed their priorities"). have fun shopping for a minivan.

You know, in a small way, I agree with what you're saying.

In a small way, and in a much less condescending way.

Thing is, you're no better than said "average" people, so remove that planet-sized chip from your shoulder or whatever it is that's making you behave like a tool and realize that medicine, like everything else in this world, is subject to the usual different-strokes-for-different-folks theory.

 

[EctopicFetus]

puhleaze. every other sucker I know from high school/college has a wife who's popped out a few kids, has their house in the 'burbs, and does the stuff normal people do. it's called being average. they've given up their dreams to achieve mediocrity (or as they like to call it to make themselves feel better: "changed their priorities"). have fun shopping for a minivan.

LOL.. your condescending tone will surely serve you well in 3rd yr. Good luck with the scramble..

Ohh and let me do you a favor and impart some much needed advice.. Change your attitude or you will die a lonely, unhappy old fart.. Those "average" and "mediocore" people will be your patients.. Dont think you are above them because you know a little anatomy or know how to use some medical instrument.

 

[Misterioso]

Thing is, you're no better than said "average" people, so remove that planet-sized chip from your shoulder or whatever it is that's making you behave like a tool and realize that medicine, like everything else in this world, is subject to the usual different-strokes-for-different-folks theory.

see that's what you've been conditioned to believe...that certain people aren't better than others...that we're all the same no matter what. but i don't buy that. there definetly are people who are better than the rest. one pioneer in medicine...one guy who really got something amazing done...a Salk, a Starzl, a Shumway, a DeBakey etc is better than your average 9-5, suburbinite with 2.5 kids type of person. The difference is that these people didn't give up their dreams and got it done, whereas average people did give up somewhere along the way ("changed their priorities" as they like to delude themselves into thinking) and thus settled for mediocrity. I know it's not P.C. to say so...But the truth hurts sometimes.

 

[Misterioso]

Change your attitude or you will die a lonely, unhappy old fart..

we all die alone. having someone there to hold your hand as you pass away doesn't change that.

you still have much to learn about life.

 

[Faebinder]

see that's what you've been conditioned to believe...that certain people aren't better than others...that we're all the same no matter what. but i don't buy that. there definetly are people who are better than the rest. one pioneer in medicine...one guy who really got something amazing done...a Salk, a Starzl, a Shumway, a DeBakey etc is better than your average 9-5, suburbinite with 2.5 kids type of person. The difference is that these people didn't give up their dreams and got it done, whereas average people did give up somewhere along the way ("changed their priorities" as they like to delude themselves into thinking) and thus settled for mediocrity. I know it's not P.C. to say so...But the truth hurts sometimes.

Wow, this statment just made me agree with EctopicFetus about you. You have much to learn grasshopper.... I hope for your sake it doesn't sink in after it's too late.

 

[mlw03]

puhleaze. every other sucker I know from high school/college has a wife who's popped out a few kids, has their house in the 'burbs, and does the stuff normal people do. it's called being average. they've given up their dreams to achieve mediocrity (or as they like to call it to make themselves feel better: "changed their priorities"). have fun shopping for a minivan.

anyone else think this guy/gal is just a troll trying to mess with us? i hope that's the case because if someone really is this deluded it's more sad than annoying.

if the OP is serious and wants to work 70+ hours a week while the rest of us "average folks" help patients for only 45 hours a week, well then that's his dream and so be it. to try and convince him he's wrong is as silly as him trying to convince us. because he seems to believe the only way he can be happy is to sacrifice his life to medicine. that's his choice, however his error lies not in his attitude so much as his desire to berate us for our desire for balance.

to the OP: if working non-stop is what makes you happy, then feel free to do so. after residency work 80, 90, 100 hours per week if you want and can do so effectively. but don't look down on the rest of us that want to have hobbies, friends, and families that take up some of our time also. we're as entitled to make that choice as you are. just shut up and keep working.

 

[da8s0859q]

anyone else think this guy/gal is just a troll trying to mess with us?

Wondering.

see that's what you've been conditioned to believe...that certain people aren't better than others...that we're all the same no matter what. but i don't buy that. there definetly are people who are better than the rest. one pioneer in medicine...one guy who really got something amazing done...a Salk, a Starzl, a Shumway, a DeBakey etc is better than your average 9-5, suburbinite with 2.5 kids type of person. The difference is that these people didn't give up their dreams and got it done, whereas average people did give up somewhere along the way ("changed their priorities" as they like to delude themselves into thinking) and thus settled for mediocrity. I know it's not P.C. to say so...But the truth hurts sometimes.

Well, this is why I said I agree with a small bit of what you're saying. I don't give a damn about what is PC and what isn't, but at some point, all these people to which you're apparently superior have their own merits. Their names might not ever wear doctoral degrees, and they might not be budding workaholics who sacrifice self for the greater good of their career as it impacts others, but that does not make them mediocre, nor does it mean they actually gave up on their dreams.

But otherwise, I do agree with mlw. If 80+ hour weeks and working yourself to the bone is what you feel is best, then hey, more power to you, and may you have a disease, device, or procedure with your last name on it one day as your contribution to generations following you.

Myself, I see nothing wrong with Barbara Bush's philosophy: "At the end of your life, you will never regret not having passed one more test, not winning one more verdict, or not closing one more deal. You will regret time not spent with a husband, a friend, a child or a parent."

Changes in priority or main interests don't necessarily mean "settling." Much of the time, they simply mean that someone has realized that there are other important things in life beyond what they have as an occupation.

 

[8744]

puhleaze. every other sucker I know from high school/college has a wife who's popped out a few kids, has their house in the 'burbs, and does the stuff normal people do. it's called being average. they've given up their dreams to achieve mediocrity (or as they like to call it to make themselves feel better: "changed their priorities"). have fun shopping for a minivan.

Dude. I have kids, a wife, live in the suburbs, own a minivan, and am probably a lot smarter than you. "A few kids" indeed. Wait until you have your own and then you will see your true priorities.

Why do people bust down on the suburbs? I have a big house, a big yard, and I can have five dogs, something I couldn't do in some little crappy urban flat. And don't knock minivans. The first time my wife and I drove one we were hooked. They simplify family logistics and are pretty gosh-darned comfortable.

I don't want to ever hear that you went home once you start residency. If I am your attending I'm going to put you on call every other night until you say "Uncle" and admit that everybody has their limit, even of something that is their passion.

 

[Tired]

Dude. I have kids, a wife, live in the suburbs, own a minivan, and am probably a lot smarter than you.

Understatement of the thread . . .

Why do people bust down on the suburbs? I have a big house, a big yard, and I can have five dogs, something I couldn't do in some little crappy urban flat.

Because suburbia represents everything mediocre and dull about America. Long transit times to the city, urban sprawl, strip malls, and no nightlife. Younger people fear suburbia because they see it as the end of excitement, and the beginning of diaper changes, staying up late to watch Nightline, and living in a cookie-cutter house. The suburbs are the death of youth.

And don't knock minivans. The first time my wife and I drove one we were hooked. They simplify family logistics and are pretty gosh-darned comfortable.

Gah. Now you're scaring me. What's next, "Sure, fanny packs aren't the most stylish fashion accessory, but they're so dang useful!" 😀 😉

I don't want to ever hear that you went home once you start residency. If I am your attending I'm going to put you on call every other night until you say "Uncle" and admit that everybody has their limit, even of something that is their passion.

Assuming he can get into a residency. I see him as the kind of student who has mediocre numbers, but will only apply to Neurosurg at top 20 programs, since everything else is "beneath" him.

 

[3dtp]

see that's what you've been conditioned to believe...that certain people aren't better than others...that we're all the same no matter what. but i don't buy that. there definetly are people who are better than the rest. one pioneer in medicine...one guy who really got something amazing done...a Salk, a Starzl, a Shumway, a DeBakey etc is better than your average 9-5, suburbinite with 2.5 kids type of person. The difference is that these people didn't give up their dreams and got it done, whereas average people did give up somewhere along the way ("changed their priorities" as they like to delude themselves into thinking) and thus settled for mediocrity. I know it's not P.C. to say so...But the truth hurts sometimes.

Ya know, I have a couple of patents, lots of papers in my field, one of my pediatric projects made national TV news, and I did it while having a balenced life. I work hard and play hard, and occasionally go to the beach and go fishing. I live in a rural community and commute to the big city. I guess that makes me mediocre. I had the opportunity to be an exec at a major corporation, paying a hell of a lot more than I make/will make in medicine, but I had just taken a bride and thought that she was more important than spending 3 weeks a month on the road in the company Gulfstream visiting plants in North America and Europe. So, I went to work for a local research firm and did really cool things and then at the end of the day went home and played with my wife. Had I not married, I would have taken that job, retired in affluence and not done really cool work, and probably never have gone to medical school, survived the harshness of unrestricted work(110-130 hours/week) as an intern. My institution thought that the rules "were merely advisory and the needs of the hospital came first," and ignored them.

But, then I am clearly not as smart as you as I strive for mediocrity in my daily commute.

You really want to know who contributes the most to public health in this or any other country? Not you with your name on a paper, device or procedure. It's the people who make sure you have running water to wash your hands and the people who pick up the garbage. Without them, you'd turn the hospital into a disease nidas and you'd go home to flea carrying rat infested neighborhoods spreading the Black Death. Give me mediocre garbagemen as neighbors over arrogant Nobel Laureates with their names on procedures any day of the week.


So,
Your "truth" is not my truth. Much to learn you have, my young, arrogant paduin.

 

[colbgw02]

i will die alone. i won't have someone there to hold my hand as i pass away to change that.

i still have much to learn about life.

fixed for you. 👍

 

[EctopicFetus]

we all die alone. having someone there to hold your hand as you pass away doesn't change that.

you still have much to learn about life.

Wow..

I nominate you to be the first member of the "Virgin for Life" club.. Congrats

 

[deleted128562]

Because suburbia represents everything mediocre and dull about America. Long transit times to the city, urban sprawl, strip malls, and no nightlife. Younger people fear suburbia because they see it as the end of excitement, and the beginning of diaper changes, staying up late to watch Nightline, and living in a cookie-cutter house. The suburbs are the death of youth.

True that. Funny thing is though, now that I'm married with a couple of kids, I really don't miss my youth that much. I'll take the house, the minivan, and the 2.8 kids over the lonliness and angst of youth anyday (not that I didn't have some fun when I was a wee lad).

The OP probably is a troll - BUT - if he's not then I say we all thank him and send him a case of beer. It's guys like him who allow guys like you and me to have a life outside of work. Of course, for a person who is so devoted to medical work he seems to have plenty of time to post condescending drivel on SDN. BAD OP - GET BACK TO WORK YOU LAZY JOKE OF A MEDICAL STUDENT.... YOU COULD BE STUDYING TO BECOME A BETTER DOCTOR, BUT NO - YOU WASTE YOUR TIME POSTING ON SOME ANNONYMOUS FORUM. GEEZ, DOESN'T ANYONE ACTUALLY LIKE TO WORK ANYMORE?? Not studying 120 hours a week? I hope you're never my doctor.... 🙄

 

[EctopicFetus]

It is beyond me if this dude really feels this way or is just messing around. My prior tussle with him was about an equally *****ic topic. For the sake of medicine and patients I hope this dude/gal (im guessing dude though) wakes up..

 

[Misterioso]

Dude. I have kids, a wife, live in the suburbs, own a minivan, and am probably a lot smarter than you.

aren't you the same guy who not too long ago was whining about how he:

-failed out of undergrad
-had to scramble into family med (LOL, even bottom of the barrel FMGs match into FM)
-got kicked out/dropped out of your internship
-had to repeat your internship
-has a kid who's borderline ******ed

not to mention you're like pushing 50 and just starting out while guys your age are already well established in their profession (if not already looking to retirement) while you keep talking about being on "the edge of financial ruin".

yup, you sound real smart to be in the position you put yourself into at your age. nice life.

 

[deleted128562]

Misterioso,

I can't believe you had time to post ANOTHER reply on this thread. Good god man, don't you have any work to do? Don't medical students like to work anymore?!?!

That being said, I hope you recognize what an ass you are. You just told a guy that he has a kid who is "borderline ******ed" and use that to try to demean him. Even if he does have a child with challenges, you of all people (a supposed medical student) should have compassion and know that this is something no one has control over. I have never seen such arrogant bullcrap in all of my life. To go and personally attack a guy and his family like that - wow. Just wow. People like you are a blight on the medical profession and have no business being anywhere within 50 feet of a patient. Fortunately for all of us, I'd guess that there's pretty much no chance that a person like you is actually in medical school. I'd guess you're probably some washed up 40 year old living in your parents' basement, surfing the internet while playing World of Warcraft and waiting for your mom to come give you your weekly sponge bath.