Political threads

[deleted109597]

To all. I realize that our jobs have a fair component of politics involved. And that's fine.
But if a thread gets sidetracked to politics, it may be directed into a forum more appropriate than that. We are here to discuss EM topics, and if members are getting disenfranchised with the discussion, then there's a problem. We can discuss politics ad nauseum in other parts of this website. But we need to discuss EM here.

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[GeneralVeers]

To all. I realize that our jobs have a fair component of politics involved. And that's fine.
But if a thread gets sidetracked to politics, it may be directed into a forum more appropriate than that. We are here to discuss EM topics, and if members are getting disenfranchised with the discussion, then there's a problem. We can discuss politics ad nauseum in other parts of this website. But we need to discuss EM here.

It's unfortunate but EM is one of the most political of specialties given how much government funding and regulation is involved. I think it is appropriate to bring up current legislation that affects EM, as well as how different proposed systems would alter our clinical environment as well as our pay. This can be done without getting personal or inflammatory, but if there are snowflakes who are too sensitive to discuss political issues, then EM may not be the best specialty for them.

 

[deleted109597]

It's a very fine line that I'm having to tread. On the one hand, I agree that politics affects us much more than the private practice jobs.
On the other hand, there are plenty of established cog wheel workers that have chosen that they don't want to discuss politics.
There's no right answer, but I'll weigh EM relevant stuff pretty strongly and keep it here. If it's more globally relevant to medicine, then Topics in Healthcare. If not, then out to the hitherlands it goes.

 

[BoardingDoc]

This can be done without getting personal or inflammatory, but if there are snowflakes who are too sensitive to discuss political issues, then EM may not be the best specialty for them.

The issue is that it has not been kept impersonal or professional. Moreover, as of late, both sides of the aisle spend more time complaining about what they perceive the other side doing than they do commenting on the various merits or pitfalls of specific legislation itself.

As to the need for a thick skin in EM, I couldn't agree more. That said, I find the need for the thick skin in EM comes from interactions with my patients, not my colleagues. If your experience runs contrary to that, that's unfortunate.

 

[Birdstrike]

Medicine in general, and EM in particular, is so entangled with politics I don't know how you separate the two. It's kind of like telling an EM resident, "Just focus on the Medicine," and then when they get to the real world they're disillusioned and confused that the Medicine is only 5% of what affects their job satisfaction, and only 5% of that 5%, is actual emergency medicine.

 

[Birdstrike]

Request thread be moved to Political Topics on grounds it's about politics and not EM.

 

[deleted109597]

Maybe I should sticky it.

 

[AlmostAnMD]

Abortions for some

miniature american flags for others

 

[dadaddadaBATMAN]

It's unfortunate but EM is one of the most political of specialties given how much government funding and regulation is involved. I think it is appropriate to bring up current legislation that affects EM, as well as how different proposed systems would alter our clinical environment as well as our pay. This can be done without getting personal or inflammatory, but if there are snowflakes who are too sensitive to discuss political issues, then EM may not be the best specialty for them.

I think the vast majority of us do not care what anyone's political affiliation is.

Watching every thread turn into the same 4-6 people "debate" right/left talking points on global warming, medicare for all, in every thread is almost as worthless as the discussions on residency expansion or np/pa stuff.

Important topics, but not every thread has to be about them.

 

[southerndoc]

I have a feeling without the politics, the EM forum will be much less active.

 

[deleted109597]

That's the thing. EM specific politics are relevant. Making everything an unrelated governmental discussion has already cause vocal condemnation, and that's not what we want.

 

[Birdstrike]

That's the thing. EM specific politics are relevant. Making everything an unrelated governmental discussion has already cause vocal condemnation, and that's not what we want.

Agree that we all should make a better effort to keep any political banter specifically related to EM, or at a minimum Medicine in general, or take it elsewhere. You're correct that politics for politic's sake belongs elsewhere, but political matter that impact Medicine including Emergency Medicine, are relevant and should stay.

 

[deleted547339]

To all. I realize that our jobs have a fair component of politics involved. And that's fine.
But if a thread gets sidetracked to politics, it may be directed into a forum more appropriate than that. We are here to discuss EM topics, and if members are getting disenfranchised with the discussion, then there's a problem. We can discuss politics ad nauseum in other parts of this website. But we need to discuss EM here.

Booooo.

I know/like the EM folks and like hearing their opinion. I don’t really care what joe urologist says in another part of the forum.

 

[GeneralVeers]

Booooo.

I know/like the EM folks and like hearing their opinion. I don’t really care what joe urologist says in another part of the forum.

I agree. Our perspective is unique and I'm much more interested in what my colleagues have to say than the touchy-feely Family Medicine doctors, or some naïve millennial pre-med students.

 

[VA Hopeful Dr]

I agree. Our perspective is unique and I'm much more interested in what my colleagues have to say than the touchy-feely Family Medicine doctors, or some naïve millennial pre-med students.

Ha, I've been called many things but touchy feely isn't one of them

 

[GeneralVeers]

Ha, I've been called many things but touchy feely isn't one of them

Maybe you are the exception. The FPs and the AMA en-masse supported the ACA because many of them genuinely wanted to expand coverage (not insurance) to the poor.

 

[Birdstrike]

Ha, I've been called many things but touchy feely isn't one of them

In 2019, the last thing you want to be accused of is being "touchy feely," so consider yourself fortunate.

 

[Birdstrike]

... I'm much more interested in what my colleagues have to say than ...some naïve millennial pre-med students.

Awe come on. They can be some of the most fun.

 

[deleted109597]

Awe come on. They can be some of the most fun.

Yeah, I don't send things to Pre-Med. Although Topics in Healthcare isn't well trafficked.
My other choices it to have to monitor and delete posts and give warnings.

 

[ski89]

To second what others have said, this is basically the only thread I follow on SDN as I very much appreciate hearing the perspectives of those in my specialty on a wide range of topics, of course those related to EM but also more generally. Certainly comments should remain respectful and should be monitored for deterioration on that front. But otherwise I say all topics should be game.

 

[TooMuchResearch]

Ha, I've been called many things but touchy feely isn't one of them

Not you. You're "cool" around this neighborhood as far as I'm concerned. Not that my opinion means much. I mostly lurk and make minimally (or less) useful comments

 

[Birdstrike]

To second what others have said, this is basically the only thread I follow on SDN as I very much appreciate hearing the perspectives of those in my specialty on a wide range of topics, of course those related to EM but also more generally. Certainly comments should remain respectful and should be monitored for deterioration on that front. But otherwise I say all topics should be game.

I tend to like it better when it's more of a Wild West type forum, also. Most of the others are a total bore.

 

[RustedFox]

Yep. I posted political threads during the last election and wrote at the end: "Mods: don't move this thread; I don't care what the proles in gen pop have to say."

 

[The Knife & Gun Club]

Yep. I posted political threads during the last election and wrote at the end: "Mods: don't move this thread; I don't care what the proles in gen pop have to say."

Yea as a mostly lurker I like the political threads about politics.

What gets boring is when it’s a thread about something totally non-political which inevitably gets hijacked. Like when people are venting about Anti-Vaxxers and someone comes in with a “yea but the libs want to take all your taxes and give it to antivax moms because George Soros”. Then all the fun posts go away and it ends up with Veers having the same argument with some AOC supporting pre-med for 5 pages x 5 different threads

 

[deleted547339]

Yep. I posted political threads during the last election and wrote at the end: "Mods: don't move this thread; I don't care what the proles in gen pop have to say."

Good use of the term proles.

 

[GeneralVeers]

Yea as a mostly lurker I like the political threads about politics.

What gets boring is when it’s a thread about something totally non-political which inevitably gets hijacked. Like when people are venting about Anti-Vaxxers and someone comes in with a “yea but the libs want to take all your taxes and give it to antivax moms because George Soros”. Then all the fun posts go away and it ends up with Veers having the same argument with some AOC supporting pre-med for 5 pages x 5 different threads

It's always funny when people with a college education and no job/work experience try to lecture me on the wonders of socialism. Go make 6 figures, pay 37% in taxes, and then we can have that discussion.

 

[Birdstrike]

It's always funny when people with a college education and no job/work experience try to lecture me on the wonders of socialism. Go make 6 figures, pay 37% in taxes, and then we can have that discussion.

Hell, why pay 37% when you can pay 47% or 57%?

 

[deleted109597]

Hell, why pay 37% when you can pay 47% or 57%?

I choose not to live in those states

 

[GeneralVeers]

Hell, why pay 37% when you can pay 47% or 57%?

The SALT deduction reduction is fantastic. Makes people realize what a ripoff living in CA, HI, NJ or NY is.

 

[Brigade4Radiant]

The thing is I only go to this site for EM opinions . I don’t care to venture to the other parts of this site. This is one of the more active forums on this site. It would be better to just create an off topic forum sub forum.

Most threads delve into the same NP/PA threat threads and the sky is falling threads. The new layout of SDN also has made me browse here less.

It’s not like we discuss the Annals of Emergency medicine on this forum.

 

[d2305]

It's always the leftist who complain to the mods, but it's fine for them to proclaim the wonders of Marxist/Leninism. If they ever succeed to majority, you will be making what school teachers make. "From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs." Karl Marx