To Confront or not to

[sewcurious]

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Over the past few days the rampant racial bias in the postion on this site has become abundantly aparent as has my single-minded opposition to it (to the point that many are rightly calling me condescending or preachy). TO other URMs? Do you believe it is pointless to confront these issues or just leave them be?

In my personal opinion much of the issues with race in this country come from people's erroneous beliefs that are left unchallenged. But if the last few convos I have had are any indication, it is clear that people hold on to them tightly and are unwilling to let go in the face of evidence.

My biggest annoyance is that despite private support from other SDN URMs no one has ever aplogized or even admitted their misconceptions (as I have multiple times), so is it all pointless?

All Opinions welcome, but I would really appreciate some URM perspectives.

 

[315486]

Just leave it be. Nothing you say will change people's minds on an internet forum. While there are people on the site who are open to thoughtful discussions on the matter, most are way too polarized. They see URMs getting accepted to schools with lower stats and choose to pull out their torches and pitch forks rather than take notice of all the the non URMs gaining admission into schools with similar stats as the URMs. They need to vent their frustrations in some way, and targeting URMs is an easy outlet.

They will never personally understand what it is to be a minority in this country and some will never understand why it's important to have diversity in this field for the sake of our future patients. I think it would be a lost cause to try and reach out to the SDN community as it will just create more headaches and further increase tension at a time in this application process when applicants are bitter, stressed, and even scared in some cases.

 

[sewcurious]

I'm not really sure how defending URMs against biased comments is escalation. I know other people at expressing their views. I would want to know if something I was saying wasn't based on the facts, which racially prejudicial statements aren't.

 

[sewcurious]

I do understand the perspectives you discussed. And I have never denies the lower stats for URMs as a whole but I do think people focus onthat a lot without speaking to the reasonsz And I think the first response is right, these beliefs are sooderply rooted that people are unwilling to change them. Having been raised mainly in white communties my whole life I in fact held the same opinions about URM status until I got to college. I can't post all my evidence in every thread but I believe that your dismissal is inaccurate. It is unfortunate that some are unable to empathize with other groups ( as minorites are constatly forced to) but I can understand it. It is a shamethat so much fear and ignorance persists in our supposedly post-racial society but I am more likely to have constructive conversations when neither party can hide behind anonymity and the Internet. I'm not sure why my request that people consider the feelings of URMs is such an extreme, but clearly it is (I am commenting in the mainy I have seen who believe minorities have "gained something for nothing" or should be forced to serve uncertain areas to justify their accomplsiments. Can't change the world on SDN, and you guys are right it is ridic for me to try esp since I clearly have the bias of an member of minority that has been consistently marginalized in their own nation.

I'm glad that the URMs who have PMed me felt better for having their views a bit mre represented, but clearly that is not wanted or constructive for the majority who post here.

 

[sewcurious]

I cam because I too was ignorant of it at one point. I'm not sure what you are tyig to prove by the stats you are discussing? I thought it had bee established the performance on those tests doesn't necessarily correlate with your success or abilities to heal and comfort throughout your career.

The Aamc has esblished that their URM policy helps expand the diversity of experience in a class and aids in underserved populations. Absent all the other stuff, i think those are valid points.

Clearly u don't and that's fine, but why do you have to take it that step farther and talk about it as a great injustice that needs to be addressed? Don't you think their are other more pertinent when it comes to racial prejudice and healthcare?

 

[sewcurious]

Notto mention, as ihave said many times before, race is a social construction of those in power. White people decided on the one drop rule. If you have seen the range of skin, eye, and hair colors amongst AA it should be clear to you that many AA are 50% or more white. So it is possible (and likely given that the lighter a person was the easier accepted by white society and thus more able to advance in society for the majority of US history) that the majority of AA in med school are white, just not the pureblooded like most whites think they are ( though I read in "One Drop" that 20% of Americans have at least on black ancestor in their lineage.

 

[njbmd]

Over the past few days the rampant racial bias in the postion on this site has become abundantly aparent as has my single-minded opposition to it (to the point that many are rightly calling me condescending or preachy). TO other URMs? Do you believe it is pointless to confront these issues or just leave them be?

In my personal opinion much of the issues with race in this country come from people's erroneous beliefs that are left unchallenged. But if the last few convos I have had are any indication, it is clear that people hold on to them tightly and are unwilling to let go in the face of evidence.

My biggest annoyance is that despite private support from other SDN URMs no one has ever aplogized or even admitted their misconceptions (as I have multiple times), so is it all pointless?

All Opinions welcome, but I would really appreciate some URM perspectives.

OK, I will have at this.

URMs in medicine are inferior and take seats away from more deserving Asians and White students. There, I wrote it and what does it mean?

Do you actually believe that anything you say will change that belief (on this website or any other one for that matter)?

Can you actually change anyone's thoughts except your own?

This debate/belief has been discussed to death every year (and I have been on this website since 2000 so I predate most people on this site). Each year, some one decides that they are going to be the "champion" for URMs and take care of all of the "rampant racists" out there. What happens, nothing and the statements come back again the next year.

Chill out and don't give credence to these types of people by getting your knickers in a knot. You won't change anything but you will increase your frustration level which get you nowhere. What another person writes says volumes about them and nothing about you.

Anyone can write, as I did above, anything on a message board. Does that mean that it's true? You can't provide any evidence that will change the mind of someone who isn't open to having their beliefs changed. If you are looking for an apology from anyone, keep in mind that people who perpetuate the above are not mature or rational enough to provide one. Ignore them and move on.

I certainly hope that you will be a rational person and ignore the jerks, make your own decisions and keep moving forward in a positive manner. This speaks to your true character more than trying to confront juveniles who have erroneous thinking. You only go to their level which is not your intention.

Living well is always the best revenge and so is success. Do excellent work, become successful and let the naysayers stay in their little world.

That's my URM perspective.

 

[sewcurious]

OK, I will have at this.

URMs in medicine are inferior and take seats away from more deserving Asians and White students. There, I wrote it and what does it mean?

Do you actually believe that anything you say will change that belief (on this website or any other one for that matter)?

Can you actually change anyone's thoughts except your own?

This debate/belief has been discussed to death every year (and I have been on this website since 2000 so I predate most people on this site). Each year, some one decides that they are going to be the "champion" for URMs and take care of all of the "rampant racists" out there. What happens, nothing and the statements come back again the next year.

Chill out and don't give credence to these types of people by getting your knickers in a knot. You won't change anything but you will increase your frustration level which get you nowhere. What another person writes says volumes about them and nothing about you.

Anyone can write, as I did above, anything on a message board. Does that mean that it's true? You can't provide any evidence that will change the mind of someone who isn't open to having their beliefs changed. If you are looking for an apology from anyone, keep in mind that people who perpetuate the above are not mature or rational enough to provide one. Ignore them and move on.

I certainly hope that you will be a rational person and ignore the jerks, make your own decisions and keep moving forward in a positive manner. This speaks to your true character more than trying to confront juveniles who have erroneous thinking. You only go to their level which is not your intention.

Living well is always the best revenge and so is success. Do excellent work, become successful and let the naysayers stay in their little world.

That's my URM perspective.

Thank you. I appreciate it. U are absolutely right.

 

[VOP]

OK, I will have at this.

URMs in medicine are inferior and take seats away from more deserving Asians and White students. There, I wrote it and what does it mean?

Do you actually believe that anything you say will change that belief (on this website or any other one for that matter)?

Can you actually change anyone's thoughts except your own?

This debate/belief has been discussed to death every year (and I have been on this website since 2000 so I predate most people on this site). Each year, some one decides that they are going to be the "champion" for URMs and take care of all of the "rampant racists" out there. What happens, nothing and the statements come back again the next year.

Chill out and don't give credence to these types of people by getting your knickers in a knot. You won't change anything but you will increase your frustration level which get you nowhere. What another person writes says volumes about them and nothing about you.

Anyone can write, as I did above, anything on a message board. Does that mean that it's true? You can't provide any evidence that will change the mind of someone who isn't open to having their beliefs changed. If you are looking for an apology from anyone, keep in mind that people who perpetuate the above are not mature or rational enough to provide one. Ignore them and move on.

I certainly hope that you will be a rational person and ignore the jerks, make your own decisions and keep moving forward in a positive manner. This speaks to your true character more than trying to confront juveniles who have erroneous thinking. You only go to their level which is not your intention.

Living well is always the best revenge and so is success. Do excellent work, become successful and let the naysayers stay in their little world.

That's my URM perspective.

👍.

 

[ucsfstudents]

Sewcurious, I would prefer to have you in my medical school over a URM who doesn't care about these issues. I believe that actions speak louder than race.

Now, I would recommend you save yourself the time and energy and take NJBMD's advice. It's really not worth it. You're wasting your time.

 

[sewcurious]

Sewcurious, I would prefer to have you in my medical school over a URM who doesn't care about these issues. I believe that actions speak louder than race.

Now, I would recommend you save yourself the time and energy and take NJBMD's advice. It's really not worth it. You're wasting your time.

haha thanks, u r so right. This is one of the reasons I am getting out of the South and heading back to CA

 

[FriendlyFace]

haha thanks, u r so right. This is one of the reasons I am getting out of the South and heading back to CA

CA is just as racist as anywhere else, only difference is in CA they won't say it to your face. Stop worrying about racism and worry about working hard to get what you want. you are your own worst enemy