Why can't we all just get along?

[sprinkibrio]

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Whenever I talk to someone at my school now, there's always a reference to "this group" or "that group" or "weird kids" or "cool/fun people". When did people who are supposed to be learning to be doctors get so childish? Don't they realize they are going to come into contact with all types of people when they practice, so they'd better get used to accepting everyone or at least being professional with all types of people? Who on earth wants to stick with their own little "club" anyway when for the next four years we're more or less exclusively going to be interacting with 235 people? We barely even know each other yet, we might as well try a little with everyone. We have a good deal in common with everyone else, and when we don't we should take advantage of the opportunity to learn.

It mostly bothers me because it's distracting me, making me feel bad about myself, and making me afraid to be my crazy self when I know a bunch of people will not only think I'm *insert here* but talk about me being *insert here*.

Is everyone just being childishly insecure about being new to a place and not knowing a lot of people? Does this ever end?

 

[medhacker]

Just be *insert here* without worrying about the people who will think you are *insert here* instead.

There will always be someone in life who will think you are *insert here* don't lose part of your precious life over it.

 

[ZagDoc]

It will happen your entire career. People will always try to pigeonhole you as an "orthopod" or "IM" or "radiologist," etc. The brain is wired to stereotype, it helps us make connections more readily.

 

[Ashers]

It will happen your entire career. People will always try to pigeonhole you as an "orthopod" or "IM" or "radiologist," etc. The brain is wired to stereotype, it helps us make connections more readily.

Those designations are already happening in my class based on what we want to go into (or sometimes even the broader classifications), but it's generally all in fun. =) I'm usually referred to as the "orthopod" or a "cutter" or "the Hawaiian." I think the cutter designation is funny.

 

[Northerner]

Those designations are already happening in my class based on what we want to go into (or sometimes even the broader classifications), but it's generally all in fun. =) I'm usually referred to as the "orthopod" or a "cutter" or "the Hawaiian." I think the cutter designation is funny.

Then you're deluded & easily amused.

 

[Sol Rosenberg]

Is everyone just being childishly insecure about being new to a place and not knowing a lot of people? Does this ever end?

Unfortunately not. Most people naturally segregate based on common beliefs/personality traits. Some people take this more seriously than others <shrug> I wouldn't worry about it too much....that's just life....

 

[Ashers]

Then you're deluded & easily amused.

Why am I deluded? The "all in fun" bit? With my friends it is.

I completely agree with the easily amused part.

 

[sprinkibrio]

General life, of course, is like this. Thank goodness for that. But when 200 people are thrown into a large box where even their paucity of free time is usually spent with each other I expected everyone would walk a little softer on each other's toes. End rant, I'll just make the best of it. I do plan to be my crazy self eventually 🙂 I need to stop looking out for the toes. Thank everyone for bringing me back down to reality. I just need to move on! Not that big a deal, right?

 

[PeepshowJohnny]

It will happen your entire career. People will always try to pigeonhole you as an "orthopod" or "IM" or "radiologist," etc. The brain is wired to stereotype, it helps us make connections more readily.

I want to second this thought. Everything you see in medical school right now will continue into your career. There are going to be political battle within specialties, between two specialties, within private practice groups, between private practice groups, between doctors and administration, etc. all through your career.

 

[TRAMD]

I hung out a lot with 3 other guys in my class and we were referred to as the "Penis Posse". We all thought it was hilarious. Oh, and no pun intended when I said "hung out".

 

[Law2Doc]

Does this ever end?

Third year, when everyone gets broken up into different rotations. That pretty effectively dampens all the cliques.

 

[LifetimeDoc]

Third year, when everyone gets broken up into different rotations. That pretty effectively dampens all the cliques.

Except the SDN clique, due to its virtual nature! 😆

 

[Ashers]

Except the SDN clique, due to its virtual nature! 😆

The SDN clique is actually a real one at my school.

 

[nightowl]

I agree that the clique thing is pretty extreme. I think it's because you and your classmates are pretty much cut off from the rest of the world. I know in undergrad there were lots of different kinds of people in the honors college, and we all had fun and hung out, and this was at a "Greek school" where people were generally stereotyped for being Greek or not. I remember hanging out with all kinds of people doing all sorts of things and had lots of different stuff to talk about. It was a lot more interesting than now, when everyone is doing the same thing, and it's either complaining about the work or gossiping about the girl that always sits on the fourth row dating the stud that sits towards the back right of the auditorium. We should just embrace it and elect "Mr. and Ms. Med school" along with "biggest flirt", "class favorite", and "most school spirited" 🙄

 

[njbmd]

I hung out a lot with 3 other guys in my class and we were referred to as the "Penis Posse". We all thought it was hilarious. Oh, and no pun intended when I said "hung out".