Oct 15, 2022·edited Oct 15, 2022Liked by David McCune, MD, MPH
A most compelling point of view, albeit a bit old fashioned Dr. McCune.
Much of what you are suggesting regarding how our society and culture should treat freedom of speech was the norm when I was growing up in the 40s and 50s; a time when children sat through sometimes boring civics classes.
The most powerful rule about freedom of speech that I learned came from from my parents and grandparents who often said "if you can't say anything nice about a person, say nothing at all."
The aphorism was also applied to religion, politics, and education.
Granted, as I ungracefully matured during my preteen years I came to learn that all good ideas can, at times, become temporarily bad ideas.
My grandfather fled Bohemia to avoid being forced to fight for the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which during the late 1800s ruled with a heavy fist.
He lived long enough to explain to me why it was okay to break the "be nice" rule when it came to talking about Hitler or our home grown Senator Joseph McCarty.
Thank you for taking the time to create your essay, Dr. McCune. Many of your fellow citizens share your views.
I am but a simple old man, but I have always attributed my typing errors to my large fingers which often fumble to find the correct key, which may be appropriate for one meaning of leitmotif 🤔
Oh thank goodness. I was definitely recognizing the face but got the association wrong. I ended up retiring from there. Did a stint in tech in Seattle, now part time oncologist and occasional writer. Where did you land?
I was general IM in Seoul for 3 years then served my last year at WBAMC. Got a great job at Texas Tech El Paso after that, became clerkship director, loved it and am now PD of a newish IM program in Las Cruces that got started in 2017 and accredited in 2018. So much fun! Lemme know if you ever wanna give a grand rounds!
24 hours after you posted this excellent article the California Legislature passed a bill that would delicense physicians who spread dis and misinformation about all things COVID-19. This is government sanctioned censorship as the language in the bill is vague: “Misinformation” means false information that is contradicted by contemporary scientific consensus contrary to the standard of care.” There is a lot of misinformation being flung on all sides but what will be caught up in the mud is scientific discourse. How far we have fallen.
Yes I almost added that to the mix. I don’t see how that does get abused. There is often consensus that turns out to be wrong, and criminalizing dissent from orthodoxy is counterproductive (and probably illegal).
Good article sir. Thank-you. It's not often these days you can find someone who says it is civil and normal to be a good listener, even if you don't agree with the person.
Here's what I came out with as I reflected on your piece:
I find it very hard to listen to bullies. I don't want to. I don't even try to listen to bullies. (By bullies I mean people who think they know all about me and who I am and what motivates me, without knowing me at all, and then they try to prescribe how I should think or feel or act. Another form of bullying is attacking an institution because of what people think it represents. The error they make is not in the desiring of change, it is in the assumptions made which is directly related to not being willing to listen and learn).
If I follow your downstream/upstream analogy then I could say that trying to listen to a bully, or engaging with a bully on "their terms" is akin to running downstream in order to bring the future we don't want into the present.
Excellent. Strong writing. Please continue!
Thanks, Tedd!
A most compelling point of view, albeit a bit old fashioned Dr. McCune.
Much of what you are suggesting regarding how our society and culture should treat freedom of speech was the norm when I was growing up in the 40s and 50s; a time when children sat through sometimes boring civics classes.
The most powerful rule about freedom of speech that I learned came from from my parents and grandparents who often said "if you can't say anything nice about a person, say nothing at all."
The aphorism was also applied to religion, politics, and education.
Granted, as I ungracefully matured during my preteen years I came to learn that all good ideas can, at times, become temporarily bad ideas.
My grandfather fled Bohemia to avoid being forced to fight for the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which during the late 1800s ruled with a heavy fist.
He lived long enough to explain to me why it was okay to break the "be nice" rule when it came to talking about Hitler or our home grown Senator Joseph McCarty.
Thank you for taking the time to create your essay, Dr. McCune. Many of your fellow citizens share your views.
Thank you!!! This is a message that our country so desperately needs right now.
Very persuasive, David! Thanks for sharing.
This is great! Keep writing! Not sure if you remember me from residency :)
Didn’t you loan me a Star Trek video that I shamelessly never returned? My load what is the late fee now?
*my Lord
(Typos are not inattention to detail; they are my leitmotif.)
I am but a simple old man, but I have always attributed my typing errors to my large fingers which often fumble to find the correct key, which may be appropriate for one meaning of leitmotif 🤔
Ha! I dunno how to answer that. I'd love the late fee but that definitely wasn't me! You were my attending at MAMC. Think aplastic anemia.
Someone posted something you wrote here in a FB group I'm in and I was like "holy crap I know him!"
Oh thank goodness. I was definitely recognizing the face but got the association wrong. I ended up retiring from there. Did a stint in tech in Seattle, now part time oncologist and occasional writer. Where did you land?
I was general IM in Seoul for 3 years then served my last year at WBAMC. Got a great job at Texas Tech El Paso after that, became clerkship director, loved it and am now PD of a newish IM program in Las Cruces that got started in 2017 and accredited in 2018. So much fun! Lemme know if you ever wanna give a grand rounds!
Always open, tho intro of “well, he’s this guy with a substack...” I will defer to you getting that approved.
24 hours after you posted this excellent article the California Legislature passed a bill that would delicense physicians who spread dis and misinformation about all things COVID-19. This is government sanctioned censorship as the language in the bill is vague: “Misinformation” means false information that is contradicted by contemporary scientific consensus contrary to the standard of care.” There is a lot of misinformation being flung on all sides but what will be caught up in the mud is scientific discourse. How far we have fallen.
Yes I almost added that to the mix. I don’t see how that does get abused. There is often consensus that turns out to be wrong, and criminalizing dissent from orthodoxy is counterproductive (and probably illegal).
💯
Good article sir. Thank-you. It's not often these days you can find someone who says it is civil and normal to be a good listener, even if you don't agree with the person.
Here's what I came out with as I reflected on your piece:
I find it very hard to listen to bullies. I don't want to. I don't even try to listen to bullies. (By bullies I mean people who think they know all about me and who I am and what motivates me, without knowing me at all, and then they try to prescribe how I should think or feel or act. Another form of bullying is attacking an institution because of what people think it represents. The error they make is not in the desiring of change, it is in the assumptions made which is directly related to not being willing to listen and learn).
If I follow your downstream/upstream analogy then I could say that trying to listen to a bully, or engaging with a bully on "their terms" is akin to running downstream in order to bring the future we don't want into the present.
And that would be foolish.