Saturday, May 3, 2025

remotely professional

  Yesterday I noticed an advertisement on Facebook for online psychiatry services. Having read one of those ads a multitude soon appeared. I found it amusing that anyone would seriously consider that. I guess it would be the same people using an online physic advisor. I'm old enough to remember when they used to do that on the telephone, the first minute was free, a set amount for every minute after that. I never called one of them. My first thought was, you'd have to be nuts to use an online shrink. It's probably some guy eating Cheetos in his underwear. Just what assurance do you have that the person you are talking with is qualified in any way? It only takes a person with the proper credentials to apply for a permit or license or whatever is required to gain the initial business. After that, I can simply hire anyone I want to answer the phone. 
  Now I've heard about telemedicine and how that can be very convenient for the disabled and the elderly. I quite certain in certain situations and scenarios there is nothing wrong with that. People use online "medical" advice sites all the time. I know I have looked things up on them and followed the advice given. I believe there is a place for that as long as it is used with discretion. Ask the expert is a fine thing as long as you are getting the expert. When I want to make absolutely sure of that I insist on meeting them in person. I admit I have never asked any doctor to see their credentials, just figuring if they have their own office and belong to a medical group, they are real doctors. But psychiatrists are different. I know they are also medical doctors, they have to go to medical school, but their specialty is talking. That's how I view it anyway.
 I'm not a big believer in this psychiatry stuff. All they are doing is talking to you and perhaps giving you some good advice. In my view their only advantage is the one you give them, believing they are somehow smarter than your friends, family or the local bartender. In that belief you will listen to them when they tell you how stupid you are acting. You also believe that they will not tell anyone else what it is you're telling them about. I suspect the profession may be on the decline as so many are now willing to tell the world about their "abnormalities" while insisting they should be included in the sane world. Yeah, identifying as a cat is crazy! Believing your gender identity is dependent upon your sexual desires is also a bit crazy. 
 I firmly believe if you are willing to listen and take the advice of those around you, you will be just fine. Well, that depends on those others being fine as well. But the issue I have is in this defining of what is the normal and expected thing. That is something that is in a constant state of flux. It has become quite fluid, I'd say in the last decade or so. The role of religion is to establish a set of behaviors and boundaries. What we might call dogma. The constitution and the bill of rights attempt to establish that as well. In fact, that is what civil law is all about, establishing those behaviors acceptable in society. Criminal law is concerned with correcting those behaviors. And that is something that has also become quite fluid under the banner of empathy. I can understand how you feel, but that doesn't make you right, or obligate me to forgive you for that. 
  Look I'm just saying if you expect me to send you money for talking to me on the computer I would have to be a little nuts. I get "friend requests" every single day from those saying how attractive, brilliant, entertaining, insightful, wise, handsome and they really want to be my friend. Yeah, I'm just the best thing on the internet! I don't need a professional to tell me that's a lie, I have friends for that, friends that I listen to and admire. Real friends aren't afraid to tell you stuff like that, you can talk to them, free of charge, and they will set you straight. It's up to you to listen, not get your feelings hurt and to weigh their advice against whatever it is that you have learned in life. 
 As part of the process to become a Navy recruiter I had to be interviewed by a psychiatrist. As I recall he asked a bunch of questions. I don't remember the questions but I'm guessing the answers were "correct" as I got the job. When he asked me if I had any questions for him I replied, who decides if you are alright? Well, he got a bit huffy at that point and assured me he was peer reviewed periodically. So I said, you mean you just talk with the other doctors and they tell you if you're alright? He said yes, that's how it works. I was dismissed following that remark, I think he was triggered and went to seek some help from another doctor. I'm thinking had it been a phone call, or internet chat, he would have hung up  or blocked me.   

                                                                            

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