Is There a Code of Decorum for Future Doctors?

Discover Your Odds of Getting into Medical School
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HughMyron

HughMyron

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So as you all probably know, I'm a pretty wild, uninhibited guy in social/online settings (in professional ones, I'm about as quiet and composed as it gets). I curse a lot, use internet memes frequently, and say "yolo" and "mirin" more than any sane person should.

About a week ago, I was eating Thai food with a group of 6 people. 5 of them were friends, 1 was someone I had met there for the first time. We went through introductions after about 15 minutes, and he asked me what I was doing after school. I told him the truth: that I was interviewing for medical school. He looked kinda weird at me, and said

"I would never see a doctor who said 'yolo' as much as you do. Would you?"

What I said then was "u mad brah?" and left it at that. But I thought about this for a bit. I mean, on the forums you also see people like this.

ComfortCreature said:
I wish I wouldn't see future physicians seriously using "YOLO" in a sentence.
Click to expand...

Why do people think that just because you're going to be a physician, you have to be some kind of uptight, serious, composed person even in the company of friends? It doesn't make any sense. Doctors are people too!


What do you think?
 
They are expected to be mature, thoughtful, and composed, I'd say.

edit: I realize this doesn't answer your question -- whoops
 
I thought only teenage boys said YOLO 😛

But really, it's just them overreacting. Doctors are people too, however, there is the certain perception that all doctors are one personality type. However, these are the same people that only meet doctors in a professional setting. If they were to meet a med student, resident, or attending out of work hours, they would easily learn that they are similar to the everyday person.

Also, sometimes on forums people overreact due to the anonymous nature. I'm sure if they spewed out random memes(most people won't know what a meme even is), it would get looks just because they never heard of it. The average person won't know what "mirin" is for example.

Everyone knows YOLO thanks to Drake.
 
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knuxnole said:
i thought only teenage boys said yolo 😛

but really, it's just them overreacting. Doctors are people too, however, there is the certain perception that all doctors are one personality type. However, these are the same people that only meet doctors in a professional setting. If they were to meet a med student, resident, or attending out of work hours, they would easily learn that they are similar to the everyday person.

Also, sometimes on forums people overreact due to the anonymous nature. I'm sure if they spewed out random memes(most people won't know what a meme even is), it would get looks just because they never heard of it. The average person won't know what "mirin" is for example.

Everyone knows yolo thanks to drake.
Click to expand...

+ 1
 
I think using phrases like "yolo" and "mirin" conveys a sense of immaturity (though this is obviously highly subjective and varies from person to person). Would you be surprised if you saw an attending/faculty member doing something you perceived as elementary/sophomoric/juvenile? Probably.

I don't think it's a big deal (I have no problem with joking around/acting sarcastically), but I don't think you should be surprised that acting in a way that you described is perceived by most as somewhat immature.

Oh and yeah, it seems like the guy was overreacting.
 
HughMyron said:
So as you all probably know, I'm a pretty wild, uninhibited guy in social/online settings (in professional ones, I'm about as quiet and composed as it gets). I curse a lot, use internet memes frequently, and say "yolo" and "mirin" more than any sane person should.

About a week ago, I was eating Thai food with a group of 6 people. 5 of them were friends, 1 was someone I had met there for the first time. We went through introductions after about 15 minutes, and he asked me what I was doing after school. I told him the truth: that I was interviewing for medical school. He looked kinda weird at me, and said

"I would never see a doctor who said 'yolo' as much as you do. Would you?"

What I said then was "u mad brah?" and left it at that. But I thought about this for a bit. I mean, on the forums you also see people like this.



Why do people think that just because you're going to be a physician, you have to be some kind of uptight, serious, composed person even in the company of friends? It doesn't make any sense. Doctors are people too!


What do you think?
Click to expand...

Your acquaintance probably meant that people generally expect a great deal of maturity in all circumstances from physicians, which your behavior doesn't show?
 
Physicians are held to a higher standard, and medical students thus are held to those same standards. As a future physician that's something you need to be aware of, and get used to it now.

In social settings, you can still have fun, be yourself with friends, etc. But in online settings, yes, you are expected to be professional. Get used to the idea of people finding your Facebook (even if everything is private), looking at all of your posts/pictures, and being offended. Once in medical school, or after graduation, you can very quickly tarnish your reputation, your school's reputation, or even end up in a lawsuit over something you post online. For instance, it is easy to get caught up in telling a story about this awesome patient and accidentally give too much personally identifiable information. If it ends up online, whether you posted it or whether the person you were telling the story to posted it, you will find yourself in a lawsuit faster than you can say "settlement."

It's a very good idea for all pre-meds to take a serious look at their facebook, twitter, etc. accounts and clean out anything that could even remotely be seen as offensive. And do it before you submit your applications.

No-one is going to fault you for going out and having fun during your undergrad, but you do need to be careful. That does not mean you have to be "uptight."
 
NeuroSpeed said:
Physicians are held to a higher standard, and medical students thus are held to those same standards. As a future physician that's something you need to be aware of, and get used to it now.

In social settings, you can still have fun, be yourself with friends, etc. But in online settings, yes, you are expected to be professional. Get used to the idea of people finding your Facebook (even if everything is private), looking at all of your posts/pictures, and being offended. Once in medical school, or after graduation, you can very quickly tarnish your reputation, your school's reputation, or even end up in a lawsuit over something you post online. For instance, it is easy to get caught up in telling a story about this awesome patient and accidentally give too much personally identifiable information. If it ends up online, whether you posted it or whether the person you were telling the story to posted it, you will find yourself in a lawsuit faster than you can say "settlement."

It's a very good idea for all pre-meds to take a serious look at their facebook, twitter, etc. accounts and clean out anything that could even remotely be seen as offensive. And do it before you submit your applications.

No-one is going to fault you for going out and having fun during your undergrad, but you do need to be careful. That does not mean you have to be "uptight."
Click to expand...

I don't have a facebook or a twitter...
 
I wouldn't worry about it. How I act around my friends is extremely different than my interactions with patients. If I acted around my medical school friends and high school/college friends how I present myself around patients I wouldn't have any friends, probably.

Regardless, I think the "standard" you're held to fluctuates depending on where you practice. Work in a small town where everyone knows you? They'll probably let you get away with a lot more. This has been my experience. Work in a city where no one recognizes you on the street? I bet you'll be held to a higher standard because you're a physician.

I don't see the harm in either situation if a patient sees you out and about as long as you never cross the line.
 
"Better eat healthy and workout regularly. YOLO."
 
armybound said:
just go in to emergency med or ortho, you'll be fine.
Click to expand...

...One does not simply "go into ortho" when it's one of the top specialties.

Also, what makes you think EM Docs would be more friendly/relaxed than other people, or be involved in bodybuilding/club subcultures? Is there something I don't know?
 
Because people who say "YOLO" before jumping off a 3 story building will end up in the ED and break their bones. :naughty:
 
HughMyron said:
...One does not simply "go into ortho" when it's one of the top specialties.

Also, what makes you think EM Docs would be more friendly/relaxed than other people, or be involved in bodybuilding/club subcultures? Is there something I don't know?
Click to expand...

what, is med school hard or something?

EM docs are very laid back for the most part.
 
armybound said:
what, is med school hard or something?

EM docs are very laid back for the most part.
Click to expand...

It's a meme hehe.

And hmmm, well, that makes sense. Worth looking into then.
 
HughMyron said:
So as you all probably know, I'm a pretty wild, uninhibited guy in social/online settings (in professional ones, I'm about as quiet and composed as it gets). I curse a lot, use internet memes frequently, and say "yolo" and "mirin" more than any sane person should.

About a week ago, I was eating Thai food with a group of 6 people. 5 of them were friends, 1 was someone I had met there for the first time. We went through introductions after about 15 minutes, and he asked me what I was doing after school. I told him the truth: that I was interviewing for medical school. He looked kinda weird at me, and said

"I would never see a doctor who said 'yolo' as much as you do. Would you?"

What I said then was "u mad brah?" and left it at that. But I thought about this for a bit. I mean, on the forums you also see people like this.


Why do people think that just because you're going to be a physician, you have to be some kind of uptight, serious, composed person even in the company of friends? It doesn't make any sense. Doctors are people too!


What do you think?
Click to expand...


Hahaha dude I'm the same way. I'm not really uptight at all, don't take TOO many things very seriously and I don't have that stereotypical rich kid dress code that people think future doctors dress like.

When people find out that I'm going to medical school they are pretty shocked because I have a lot of tattoos, dress like a hobo and do things that typical pre-med students don't (amateur motorcycle racing etc). However, there is that "switch" that I can turn on in the right setting and turn into a pretty respectful dude. I think that once I actually start medical school that I will need to change the way I act though because you are expected to be a professional most of the time.:meanie:
 
Spend some time in the OR, I think you will find you fit right in, LOL, At least thats how I felt
 
What does yolo mean?

I assume mirin is short for "admiring"?

For those saying to go into EM or ortho, those docs do tend to be laid back but they aren't into the "urban" culture usually.
 
HughMyron said:
So as you all probably know, I'm a pretty wild, uninhibited guy in social/online settings (in professional ones, I'm about as quiet and composed as it gets). I curse a lot, use internet memes frequently, and say "yolo" and "mirin" more than any sane person should.

About a week ago, I was eating Thai food with a group of 6 people. 5 of them were friends, 1 was someone I had met there for the first time. We went through introductions after about 15 minutes, and he asked me what I was doing after school. I told him the truth: that I was interviewing for medical school. He looked kinda weird at me, and said

"I would never see a doctor who said 'yolo' as much as you do. Would you?"

What I said then was "u mad brah?" and left it at that. But I thought about this for a bit. I mean, on the forums you also see people like this.

Why do people think that just because you're going to be a physician, you have to be some kind of uptight, serious, composed person even in the company of friends? It doesn't make any sense. Doctors are people too!

What do you think?
Click to expand...

You talk like that because (warning: assumption ahead), you're a ~20 year old undergrad that does a lot of interacting on Misc.

Your "vernacular"/mannerisms (
emot-smug.gif
) will likely change by the time you're a doc at ~30.
 
HughMyron said:
So as you all probably know, I'm a pretty wild, uninhibited guy in social/online settings (in professional ones, I'm about as quiet and composed as it gets). I curse a lot, use internet memes frequently, and say "yolo" and "mirin" more than any sane person should.

About a week ago, I was eating Thai food with a group of 6 people. 5 of them were friends, 1 was someone I had met there for the first time. We went through introductions after about 15 minutes, and he asked me what I was doing after school. I told him the truth: that I was interviewing for medical school. He looked kinda weird at me, and said

"I would never see a doctor who said 'yolo' as much as you do. Would you?"

What I said then was "u mad brah?" and left it at that. But I thought about this for a bit. I mean, on the forums you also see people like this.



Why do people think that just because you're going to be a physician, you have to be some kind of uptight, serious, composed person even in the company of friends? It doesn't make any sense. Doctors are people too!


What do you think?
Click to expand...

Currently in my first year of med school, and from what I have seen with with residents and attendings you can do whatever you want. Certain residents are very loose and chill as long as they are around people who will not be offended, likewise for attendings. You really do develop two different personalities. For example, I volunteer in a student run clinic, and when we are in the patient area or presenting everyone is always very serious and respectful, with very calm tones and precise language. But as soon as we are back in the staff section away from patients we start acting like normal 20 somethings.

The key is being able to maintain a professional persona when needed, and being able to understand when it is ok to be relaxed. I think attendings come across as being super serious because in most cases they are dealing with either A) A patient, or B) Training a resident/student, in which case they have to be professional.
 
Blais said:
You talk like that because (warning: assumption ahead), you're a ~20 year old undergrad that does a lot of interacting on Misc.

Your "vernacular"/mannerisms (
emot-smug.gif
) will likely change by the time you're a doc at ~30.
Click to expand...

Perhaps.

Wilf said:
What does yolo mean?

I assume mirin is short for "admiring"?

For those saying to go into EM or ortho, those docs do tend to be laid back but they aren't into the "urban" culture usually.
Click to expand...

Medical school is so time consuming and difficult that you never got the chance to hear about "yolo"? Ok now I'm really worried for my future.

There was an NPR interview on the subject. Surely even the older crowd must have at least heard the term once.


No offense or anything, but I'm actually really surprised at this.
 
HughMyron said:
Why do people think that just because you're going to be a physician, you have to be some kind of uptight, serious, composed person even in the company of friends? It doesn't make any sense. Doctors are people too!


What do you think?
Click to expand...

Be alpha.

That is all.

BlackSwan said:
👍 U mad bru?

Lotta frat bros in EM and surg. Specialty of peace

Sent from mobile
Click to expand...

I lol'ed
 
Last edited:
Just don't say "fuk" in front of the dean of admissions and you'll be good... I'm still really hoping he didn't actually hear me.
 
read the thread, still dont know that those words mean....

😕
peace.
 
JoshuaGuit said:
Just don't say "fuk" in front of the dean of admissions and you'll be good... I'm still really hoping he didn't actually hear me.
Click to expand...

We have a recording of one of our classmates who said 'f-ing a' during class, on the microphone, one day because he was having trouble controlling the mic. There was at least one dean in the room at the time, in addition to the instructor and other administration.

We also had a class where we tried to see how many quotes from Rebecca Black's "Friday" we could integrate into the discussion without the professors realizing.

Good times.

But yeah, you are expected to have a certain level of maturity even outside the professional realm as a physician and med student. That doesn't mean you can't ride dirt bikes, but you probably shouldn't be cursing up a storm in restaurants or frequently blacking out from drinking. You never know who you're going to run into in the community.

Translation said:
read the thread, still dont know that those words mean....

😕
peace.
Click to expand...

YOLO: You Only Live Once. See http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/yolo
Mirin, I've never heard before.
 
Last edited:
mvenus929 said:
We have a recording of one of our classmates who said 'f-ing a' during class, on the microphone, one day because he was having trouble controlling the mic. There was at least one dean in the room at the time, in addition to the instructor and other administration.

We also had a class where we tried to see how many quotes from Rebecca Black's "Friday" we could integrate into the discussion without the professors realizing.

Good times.

But yeah, you are expected to have a certain level of maturity even outside the professional realm as a physician and med student. That doesn't mean you can't ride dirt bikes, but you probably shouldn't be cursing up a storm in restaurants or frequently blacking out from drinking. You never know who you're going to run into in the community.



YOLO: You Only Live Once. See http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/yolo
Mirin, I've never heard before.
Click to expand...

At least they were already accepted and it wasn't during the orientation of an interview! lol
 
Thanks for quoting me, Hugh.

TBH, I couldn't care less about people saying yolo. I'm not into it, but whatever- I still talk like an eighteen year old skateboarder/punk rocker.

Anecdote: I had a roommate that was a resident in anesthesiology and he lived like the stereotype of a frat guy during his time off- would go out drinking, partied really hard, always got loud, slept around, drove a Jaguar, etc etc etc. Though we had little in common, we got along really well. The important part of this story is that he took his job seriously and was very good at it.

Not much else matters after that.
 
ComfortCreature said:
Thanks for quoting me, Hugh.

TBH, I couldn't care less about people saying yolo. I'm not into it, but whatever- I still talk like an eighteen year old skateboarder/punk rocker.

Anecdote: I had a roommate that was a resident in anesthesiology and he lived like the stereotype of a frat guy during his time off- would go out drinking, partied really hard, always got loud, slept around, drove a Jaguar, etc etc etc. Though we had little in common, we got along really well. The important part of this story is that he took his job seriously and was very good at it.

Not much else matters after that.
Click to expand...

Little murked by those two together.... 😡



well just in general... but definitely those two together.
 
Doctors have it bad. But I think pilots probably have it worse, the judgement out on the air fields is really bad.

I have actually seen a lot of criticism of doctor pilots, mainly they get hassled for "flying airplanes they shouldn't be flying". I wonder if me being pre-med had anything to do with me being criticized over inconsequential crap when I was working on my flight training. It's that tone you get like "if you're so smart [presumably because you are pre-med] then why can't you use the radio the right way" or some crap like that.
 
Last edited:
Well, I'm in med school now, so I guess I'll tell my grad school friend.

He'll prob be mad cause he mirin'.

But maybe I should tone down the misc lingo, it almost came out at one of my interviews this week...
 
HughMyron said:
Well, I'm in med school now, so I guess I'll tell my grad school friend.

He'll prob be mad cause he mirin'.

But maybe I should tone down the misc lingo, it almost came out at one of my interviews this week...
Click to expand...

This won't sound PC, but if your persona on here isn't a joke then you are ******ed.

Same for Venom and his urban "flava". Haha.
 
HughMyron said:
So as you all probably know, I'm a pretty wild, uninhibited guy in social/online settings (in professional ones, I'm about as quiet and composed as it gets). I curse a lot, use internet memes frequently, and say "yolo" and "mirin" more than any sane person should.

About a week ago, I was eating Thai food with a group of 6 people. 5 of them were friends, 1 was someone I had met there for the first time. We went through introductions after about 15 minutes, and he asked me what I was doing after school. I told him the truth: that I was interviewing for medical school. He looked kinda weird at me, and said

"I would never see a doctor who said 'yolo' as much as you do. Would you?"

What I said then was "u mad brah?" and left it at that. But I thought about this for a bit. I mean, on the forums you also see people like this.


Why do people think that just because you're going to be a physician, you have to be some kind of uptight, serious, composed person even in the company of friends? It doesn't make any sense. Doctors are people too!


What do you think?
Click to expand...

This will come off as a bit harsh but, you do not use phrases you use on the internet in real life. It makes you sound immature. I would avoid somebody who used "u mad brah?" in a sentence in real life that actually meant it. Just stop saying "yolo", "u mad brah?", "swag", "lol", "lmao" or anything similar in the real world. Not only is a word like yolo completely overused and overrated, it makes you sound like you are still in high school.
 
op, i just think you need to stop squat rack curling and that is all..do u even lift brah? lol
 
NeuroSpeed said:
Physicians are held to a higher standard, and medical students thus are held to those same standards. As a future physician that's something you need to be aware of, and get used to it now.

In social settings, you can still have fun, be yourself with friends, etc. But in online settings, yes, you are expected to be professional. Get used to the idea of people finding your Facebook (even if everything is private), looking at all of your posts/pictures, and being offended. Once in medical school, or after graduation, you can very quickly tarnish your reputation, your school's reputation, or even end up in a lawsuit over something you post online. For instance, it is easy to get caught up in telling a story about this awesome patient and accidentally give too much personally identifiable information. If it ends up online, whether you posted it or whether the person you were telling the story to posted it, you will find yourself in a lawsuit faster than you can say "settlement."

It's a very good idea for all pre-meds to take a serious look at their facebook, twitter, etc. accounts and clean out anything that could even remotely be seen as offensive. And do it before you submit your applications.

No-one is going to fault you for going out and having fun during your undergrad, but you do need to be careful. That does not mean you have to be "uptight."
Click to expand...

Well said.
 
Wilf said:
This won't sound PC, but if your persona on here isn't a joke then you are ******ed.

Same for Venom and his urban "flava". Haha.
Click to expand...
Medstart108 said:
This will come off as a bit harsh but, you do not use phrases you use on the internet in real life. It makes you sound immature. I would avoid somebody who used "u mad brah?" in a sentence in real life that actually meant it. Just stop saying "yolo", "u mad brah?", "swag", "lol", "lmao" or anything similar in the real world. Not only is a word like yolo completely overused and overrated, it makes you sound like you are still in high school.
Click to expand...

u mud bru?

U_99cbce_2387224.jpg
 
I only talk this way when I am really trying to annoy someone or sound cool. I even use archaisms and neologisms, but no cursing 😉. In professional settings, I sometimes do it because people have told me it's a turn-on when I say things like

"Haterz is mad cuz my achievement scores go ham"
"Haterz be jelly of my toast"
"Breds be betwixt my jays"

and other similar statements that involve self-aggrandizement. I have learned however that one should keep these types of phrases among friends because people WILL hate you and look at you strangely. Now imaging you are a doctor communicating with a patient. One would expect the utmost professionalism because that is your status. Enjoy it while you can and find a balance.
 
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