I recently finished reading the most decadent, fun, brain rotting book that I've read in a while. It's called The Bachelorette Party, by Karen McCullah Lutz. I stayed up until 5am Sunday night finishing it. Once I was done, it left me pondering (what? Brain cells were left!!?) something I've often wondered about, but have purposely pushed out of my mind. In the book, Zadie is a 31 year old high school teacher, who is in lust with one of her students. Her and her colleagues would often stand around in the break room, talking about how hot he is.
As inappropriate as it obviously is, it made me wonder, do professionals really do that? It makes me wonder about teachers (men and women alike) and also, doctors. I've always forced myself to believe that when I'm in the hands of a trained professional *whatever*, they keep all human thoughts at bay. But then I thought about one of my best friends (my cousin) who is a nurse, and has shared countless horror stories about the things she's had to do, or see. I for one could not handle being in a position where I had to turn naughty thoughts, off. Not because I'm smutty, tyvm, but because I'm just too human, I guess. When I was talking to DD's teacher recently, I couldn't help but think a couple of inappropriate thoughts. Not because I wanted to um, do him or anything, but because, well, that's what I do. He is a man, after all. *blush*
So, while your doctor is delicately inserting one or more fingers, what are the chances he's NOT thinking something kind of indecent (indecent includes thoughts like, "eww" and "mmmm")? When my gym teacher stared at the girls as we did jumping jacks, was he being a man, or just a teacher? I guess there are not really that many careers where you have to constantly disregard your natural carnal instincts, but for those that do, how do you/they, do it? And what if they don't? I think this book will have me feeling paranoid now, that the people I've always assumed are not allowed to "judge" us, may in fact, be doing just that.
Your thoughts or experiences??
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10 comments:
Well, I'm a teacher and I don't have those thoughts at all. The mere thought of being attracted to an 18 or 19 y.o. (or younger) creeps me out... but then again, I am a prude! *grin*
I think the "professionals" who think that way are just horndogs.
I think some do and some don't.
We had a teacher in our high school who we all knew liked to look at the girls - in that way. He was quite a playboy.
I think it's probably natural to think that way, but as a professional, it's wrong to cross that line.
Having a passing thought about a student? -human.
Talking about it with other teachers in the breakroom? Completly unprofessional.
Ditto for doctors.
I figure as long as I don't need to know what they are thinking, I'm happy. It's not their job to turn off all their thoughts, but it is their job to make sure no-one else can tell what they are thinking.
Basically, I don't believe that thoughts are crimes. Indulging or acting on some thoughts? yes?
I think lots of professional people have 2 tracks running in their mind now and then. Some probably have 2 tracks going all the time.
When I worked in the Pediatrics Dept at the local medical school the pediatricians were always happy to see a GLM - their code for "good looking mom". I don't remember any gossip, just the GLM heads-up, and most people knew which kids had GLMs.
I don't remember any pediatrician ever expressing lustful thoughts about their teenage patients. I can remember internists complaining about people they thought were gross--poor hygeine, extremely over-weight, etc. Maybe negative thoughts over marginalized people are more acceptible to express than sexual thoughts about attractive people?
I have never worked in an OB/gyn dept so I have no idea what passes for idle conversation around there.
And like Bob said - thoughts are not crimes.
Gobble gobble
Have a happy Thanksgiving, MM!!!
Just what I wanted to read about prior to my appointment next week. Thanks mm! *grin*
Just so you know, I always feel silly when I stuff the turkey, especially "sewing" the ass shut so the stuffing can't poop out. I mean pop out.
Oh yeah - Happy Thanksgiving!
OMG LOL@ Swami and the stuffing poop.
I would hope that professionals like teachers and doctors would be able to keep that kind of thing separate. But obviously not all do. Frankly I think it's pretty disgusting when anyone with authority or in an official capacity of any kind starts carrying on with a student/patient or whatever.
Thanks for the comments, everyone. I am relieved to hear that as professionals, you seem to be able to draw a line, and not cross it.
Swami, you had an interesting point about people feeling more comfortable expressing negative thoughts, as opposed to sexual attraction. Doesn't make me feel any more comfortable going to the doctor's, though. ;-)
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