Poll: Is it toolish to post your numerical Step 1 score on Facebook?

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golfman

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I was struggling to find a way to word this poll, but toolish seems to be the word tossed around on the big long thread on this topic. I think you all should have an idea about what it means in the context of what we are talking about.

If anybody has a better way of phrasing the question, let me know and I'll add it in my first post here as an edit.

I'm sure we'll get a lot of people asking "What does toolish mean?"
 
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i hate to be the guy, but I'm not sure what you mean by toolish...

i think it's okay as long as you don't make a huge fuss about it.
 
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Depends on how tasteful-

ie
286 bishes beet that

probably not....

Broke a 230- all that hard work paid off!

Not so bad.


Then again, who posts their step 1 on facebook?


What'd you get?
 
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hazlet said:
i hate to be the guy, but I'm not sure what you mean by toolish...

i think it's okay as long as you don't make a huge fuss about it.
Click to expand...

If anyone has a definition of toolish, lay it out there.

If you want to, read the long thread about posting Step 1 scores on Facebook.

You will clearly see there are two sides, those that think it's okay to post numerical Step 1 scores on Facebook and those that think it is toolish (I guess you could say not okay) to do so.

After reading the big long thread you should probably have an idea what the poll is about and have an opinion.
 
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hahaha, when the "gunner" crowd of SDN (I say it with love 😍) thinks something is toolish. You know it is.
 
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i kinda want to know how my classmates did so I can have an idea of where i stand.😛
 
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azntxn said:
i kinda want to know how my classmates did so I can have an idea of where i stand.😛
Click to expand...



I totally agree. I get really excited when i hear how well my classmates did as I am getting my degree from a Caribbean school, and i see there success as my success too. I do wonder how other people did and I would much rather them tell me (or broadcast it on twitter or facebook) than to have me ask them and potentially make them feel bad if they arent happy with how they did. I just think it would be better to have a situation were people tell there scores (much like it is done here on SDN) then to have people be asked about there scores.

Maybe I am just trying to justify me being a tool several months from now. I would say out of my 400 facebook friends 350 won't have any idea what the score means, and the other 50 are people from my school who i would hope would be happy for me. I guess if not they will have full right to de-friend me promptly afterward.

If my buddy wins the lottery i would hope he would let me know about it. Those who got great scores, be proud of it, and post it everywhere that feels right... That is just my two cents.
 
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it's toolish if you're a tool and you post it in a toolish manner

it's not toolish if you're not a tool and you don't post it in a toolish manner
 
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I don't know about you guys but I always thought that the word "tool" meant a person that didn't have the mental capacity to understand that they were being used... that person would get used like a tool.. any idea how this came to describe someone who is being arrogant?
 
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Good point there vr123. I'd have to say that it probably has something to do with the general disdain for blue-collar type work among the educated class in america. So being a tool, i.e. something used by people working with their hands, is lame. I've never heard most people I know who aren't in the educated/upper-middle class use the word tool, and f*gg*t is the insult used in its place (not condoning the use of that word, just telling it how it is). Just my theory anyways.
 
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i don't know, i think giving any kind of number on facebook is semi tool ish. a phrase like "i met my goals and am ecstatic!" would be more appropriate. i plan on telling my friends and family but there are a lot of people that i'm "friends" with on facebook but am DEFINITELY not comfortable sharing my score with, good or bad. who cares about what the numerical score, as long as what that score makes you feel right? which i think is okay to post on facebook...

i hope we all though at least have a score legit enough to be put into this situation, lolol
 
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vr123 said:
yeah, i know the meaning, i was just wondering how it went from meaning an implement to someone who acts like an implement to someone who tries to impress people...
Click to expand...

What is the proper word for someone who posts their score?

Tool? Braggart? Jack ass?

WE NEED A POLL!
 
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Encephalectomy said:
Good point there vr123. I'd have to say that it probably has something to do with the general disdain for blue-collar type work among the educated class in america. So being a tool, i.e. something used by people working with their hands, is lame. I've never heard most people I know who aren't in the educated/upper-middle class use the word tool, and f*gg*t is the insult used in its place (not condoning the use of that word, just telling it how it is). Just my theory anyways.
Click to expand...

Very interesting. So by calling someone a tool, you're essentially calling someone average and replaceable, which means that you think you're much better than average. So, in other words, you called someone a tool because they posted their score and tried to show everyone they're better than average, and then you called them "average" which basically means you're saying you're better than average.... meaning that the people who call other people tools are tools themselves?
 
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DocDanny said:
What if I think using 'IMHO' is toolish? 😎
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Did you post that on facebook?

I have a new important Q for this thread in your step 1 prep!!! How often do you evaluate if your fellow humans are tools? I do it very often, like always. Every time someone does an action I ask myself 'what would psychforme' do - and if I would nt do it... TOOOL!

I also have a tiny book where I write if people are tools.
 
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Do you know why any of this matters? Because when we're all competing against each other any action that seemingly knocks you down can be perceived as "toolish." The truth is I will do whatever the **** I like and worry about appeasing those who are actually in a position to help me.
 
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thepoopologist said:
Do you know why any of this matters? Because when we're all competing against each other any action that seemingly knocks you down can be perceived as "toolish." The truth is I will do whatever the **** I like and worry about appeasing those who are actually in a position to help me.
Click to expand...

I agree- this is a competition. In any competition some people win big and other people are going to get knocked down. If you're going to compete you have to understand that. If you are offended by the sight of someone else winning big, then you should either suck it up or not compete in the first place, because it is bound to happen.
 
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thepoopologist said:
Do you know why any of this matters? Because when we're all competing against each other any action that seemingly knocks you down can be perceived as "toolish." The truth is I will do whatever the **** I like and worry about appeasing those who are actually in a position to help me.
Click to expand...

While one should not excessively worry about hurting other ppl's feelings, the "I'll do whatever the f.uck I want and only worry about those who can help me" is a little naive. You never know who can help you down the line and it pays off to be courteous to everyone and I mean everyone you come across in med school, hospital, etc.
 
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psychforme said:
Did you post that on facebook?

I have a new important Q for this thread in your step 1 prep!!! How often do you evaluate if your fellow humans are tools? I do it very often, like always. Every time someone does an action I ask myself 'what would psychforme' do - and if I would nt do it... TOOOL!

I also have a tiny book where I write if people are tools.
Click to expand...

Ha ha!:laugh:
 
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ent ent said:
to those people who answered NO on the poll....would you post non-step1 exam scores on facebook?
Click to expand...

I might if they were a really big deal. I don't feel the need to post about every tiny step of the way, just the big important things- and being that Step 1 is one of the most important exams of our careers, I think that counts. Even residencies don't want to see every exam/quiz/test score you've ever gotten, they only look at your overall grades and Steps because the big ones are the ones that matter.
 
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DocDanny said:
You mean like the score from one of the hundreds of tests we take?
Click to expand...

yeah, or final course grades and stuff like that.

vr123 said:
I might if they were a really big deal. I don't feel the need to post about every tiny step of the way, just the big important things- and being that Step 1 is one of the most important exams of our careers, I think that counts. Even residencies don't want to see every exam/quiz/test score you've ever gotten, they only look at your overall grades and Steps because the big ones are the ones that matter.
Click to expand...

i personally don't care if other people post their high scores. if anything, i can use those number to gauge how i'm doing in relation to some of the highest scorers in the class. i am really competitive and would expect to be close to those people.

but i guess i wouldn't post it simply because of THIS whole situation. if you don't post your scores, people aren't going to dislike you, but if you do post it, there's always someone out there who won't like you for it.

in the end, no one's opinion of me really matters, but i do realize that everyone i'm going to school with is a colleague, and i want to be on as many people's good sides as i can. networking is so important. you never know which friends in med school can one day help you out, and you definitely don't want them to have a 'tool' impression of you...

and plus, i can't help but feel bad if friends score lower. i guess it's the girl in me.
 
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ent ent said:
to those people who answered NO on the poll....would you post non-step1 exam scores on facebook?
Click to expand...

Probably not but i wouldnt think that someone who did was a tool. I wouldnt post my step1 score either, btw. I just dont think its "toolish" or incosiderate if someone does.
This past semester, i was one one of those "woohoo, glad to be finally done with M1" posts on facebook. Then i found out that one of my study partners was going to have to repeat the year.
I didnt take it down and We still went out drinking that night. I dont think he thought i was trying to insult him or anything and i didnt think i was either.
He was happy for the rest of us and we trully sympathised with him.
 
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I didn't post my MCAT score on facebook but indicated I had done reasonably well on it - probably will do the same for USMLE (hoping I do reasonably well) - vast majority of my friends are not in medicine and would have no idea what the score means anyway.
 
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Just wondering- do you guys think that the people who put their various positions in their email signature are being toolish? you know, like Class President or vice chairperson of the student ethics committee, etc.
 
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one of my friends actually took a picture of his score report and put it as his facebook profile, but he also added he didnt pass all his med school classes however with a lot of hardwork he got a 99, so is that toolish too? I guess hes just trying to inspire others!:idea:
 
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DocDanny said:
What is the proper word for someone who posts their score?

Tool? Braggart? Jack ass?

WE NEED A POLL!
Click to expand...



The proper word would be 'douche,' which is pretty similar to how I think of the word 'tool.'


And yes, if you post your score on your FB status, you are a tool. It is inconsiderate in the sense that other people that don't do well are going to feel like ****. If you dont care about how your actions/words affect other people, then thats a different story.

I just had a convo w/ an upperclassmen who recommended not even sharing practice scores while studying. She said that she would lose confidence b/c her classmates were always sharing how well they were doing on practice exams and she was not where she wanted to be....when she stopped the 'sharing' game she said she felt a lot better and studied hard and performed well on her actual exam.
 
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Yup. I've gotten into the habit of asking how people did on an exam differently when scores come out. I've been on both ends of the game (doing crappy and doing well) and understand the effect it has on people. I just leave it open ended and ask if they met THEIR goals for the exam. No details beyond that. If they are happy with that then no reason to rain on their parade. If they are let down by it then I offer to help for the next exam, or just try to be positive and get them to shake it off.

I have certain scores in my head for boards that I will accept, be happy/content with and then my overarching goal/dream score. If I reach that happy number then I will probably just say something along the lines of, "Worked hard and reached my goal. Now its time to move on." Properly vague while still being happy.
 
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Posting your score on facebook is kinda like the old "Stuart" skits from Mad TV: "Look what I can do!"

It's cute and pathetic and hilarious all at the same time.
 
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