Grade 5, Baby!

Look what turned up at the AAOMPT Student Special Interest Group Blog!  I have a feeling this year's AAOMPT conference in Seattle is going to be a lot of fun...and incredibly important!

Good Work, University of Puget Sound Students!

ERIC

Comments

[PT man]

Of course they had it changed and edited because you complained. But that's the whole point of the conversation, like Georgia Boy said, you can't look past the acts of these two girls to see the good in it. I sure hope in your practice and your efforts to promote yourself as a therapist, people can try and find the good in you despite any mistakes in judgement and decisions we make a long the way. That finger you are pointing is getting longer and longer and hopefully it won't come back to bit you.

Got it?

[John Ware]

Hey, Georgia boy,
I was wondering when the moral relativists would come out.

Last I checked, in America showing someone the middle digit is likely to get you into a pretty good scrap, particularly in the South.

Regarding what I do for the profession (not that it's relevant or any of your business): first of all, I use my own name when posting at PT blog sites, so I can't hide behind anonymity when I make a stupid statement.

[John Ware]

Thanks for looking out for me PTMan, but no thanks.

You're factually incorrect. The Webmaster indicated that the original poster of the video missed the offending material, and said if they had seen it, it wouldn't have been posted.

Now maybe their lying just to appease one little-old prudish PT, who somehow was somehow able all by his lonesome to get a video edited and removed from a webblog viewed by thousands of PTs

Wow, I'm powerful!!

[PT man]

Missed it huh? Sounds like its a pretty big deal to miss something like that don't you? Well it sounds like you heard what you wanted to hear. But we can just let you remain naive that "you have made a difference in your profession." Well done, you have successfully pointed out to them that pointing the middle finger and sticking your butt in the air is wrong and unprofessional. I might have to start sending my videos to you so you can pass on that wonderful judgment and power of yours.

Wow, you're powerful!!

[PaulS]

Make more videos... here is a thought or two:

the Offspring, Come Out and Play… a song to teach how to apply electrode pads for E-stim (You gotta keep ‘em separated)

That song ‘Snoop Doggy Do-og’ can be changed to ‘Fibromyalgia’ and itemize some of the latest research on helping people with this disease

[Georgia Boy]

My name is Ben. You can check out my blog at http://georgiaboyviews.blogspot.com/. Trust me, I don't hide behind screen names. I do feel that what you do for our profession is relevant and shouldn't be brushed off. It's generally easier to put down the efforts of others than to make your own effort. The students called into question are trying to make a difference in their state and that should be applauded.
I'm glad you see yourself as powerful, you've made about as much progress with your rants for the PT profession as Jesse Jackson has for African Americans. Go have a "cold one" and pat yourself on the back. (Hopefully drinking beer isn't bad for the PT profession either.)
O and by the way, running your mouth gets you into more scraps than "the finger" here in the South.

[Jon Newman]

Shame on you John Ware. Don't you know you should keep your opinions to yourself and go along with someone else's plan? It doesn't even matter that you stated that you enjoyed all of the video except that one segment. You must enjoy the whole thing. What do you hate Physical Therapy?

[Chris]

Georgia Boy states that he hates that the discussion has gotten away from the video and its message on the effectiveness of manipulation...well, I think John and others agree that it is great to see students making efforts for the profession and that it is unfortunate that the intended message was lost. But, can we really think that if this was seen by legislators, payors, or anyone else we may want to influence that there would not be those who are offended and totally miss the message of the video (or, even worse, develop a less favorable view of the profession). I think, with the new video edit, the video keeps its good attributes (fun, attention grabbing, and still sends the message)without offending others. There is a difference between fun and attention grabbing which will have a positive effect on others receiving the message and unprofessional/offensive will not help the profession one bit.

[John Ware]

G-boy:

So, what you're saying is, unless I'm out making videos to advance some PT cause or some such activism, then I'm not allowed to voice my opinion of something that I find may offend the viewing public?

So, Jon N's right? How dare I have an opinion or feel strongly about an issue? How dare I question the conduct of these poor, defenseless young ladies? How dare I "run my mouth" like this?

I dare because I care.

Feel free to provide a link to the original video at your site as well. That's another one I'll put a block on, so when my 14 year old nephew who wants to be a PT someday goes online and google "physical therapy" and "universities", your site won't come up to accost him with the original version of this video.

[Toni]

I heart PTs. (As I continue to watch the new drama series entitled "Grade 5, Baby.") I may have to break out the bag of popcorn.

[Truehelper]

Honestly people, if this is considered good "fun" and a useful way to "make a difference in their state" its no wonder PT's suffer from a branding issue.

Yes, the entire video is goofy, unprofessional and certainly not something we would want any other credible healthcare provider to see.

Get a grip.

[John Ware]

"Wow. Is our profession that boring to be spending so much time worrying over this matter?"

Wow, are members of our profession so gutless that they have to place the word "obscenity" in quotation marks because they're afraid that they'll be accused of making a moral distinction?

The reaction I've seen here is much more worrisome than anything I saw on that video. At least the kids a UPS have seen the error in their ways. Some here continue to minimize and excuse bad behavior.

I suspect-and hope for our profession- that they are a vocal, yet small, minority.

[Jon Newman]

A few of my PT classmates and I produced a nutty video for one of our classes. It's target audience was my classmates, not for prime time promotion of the profession-- even if it was a hilarious (according to me) production.

I'm not offended or morally outraged by this video and I'm sure it was a welcomed change for the students from their usual studies.

I agree with John that using the video as promotional material for the general public probably isn't putting our best foot forward. Was it always the intent to get this video in the public spotlight? I didn't get that impression from Brent N's post.

By the way, I wish the admins would enable the "edit" feature of this blog. Any chance that might happen?

[SHUMASTER]

Keep the PT creativity AliVE!!

[Eric Robertson]

When you say, "edit feature," what exactly are you referring to? I hated to even replace the initial version of the video, b/c blogs should be a chronicle of events in time. Once something is down, it is sent around the world and that's that...so what would you like to edit? Tell me and perhaps I can help.

As for branding? At least this class was referencing evidence and showing the world their rapido manipulation skills. BUT, not everything is branding. Some things are just fun. This video was/is hilarious. We should all remember that what is funny to one, is not funny to another, and it's ok to disagree about that.
I think more harm comes from one patient going to a PT who treats their back with hot packs and ultrasound than could ever come from a million viewings of this video...

[Jon Newman]

Hi Eric,

The edit feature I was referring to was the ability to edit one's own post. This blog may not have that feature available or it may simply be turned off. The MySpace site, for example, has the edit feature enabled.

I don't know why I see my typos better after they're posted than when I proof read my post in the comments block. Maybe I just need to make better use of the preview button.

[Eric Robertson]

No worries on the typos...its almost expected with this medium. Once you post...its chronicled forever!

[truehelper]

Shumaster,

Creativity is one thing. Goofy, juvenile video's such as this and others I have seen here quite another. Grow up.

Eric,

I agree with you that the one positive that comes from this is the fact that these students are aware of important evidence based manual therapy. I have no doubt many of them will become very good clinicians.

It's not that the video is not funny.....it is. But we have to be very carefulwith how we are represented to the public. Very careful indeed.

This video truly does serve to lower our professional profile. The fact that you fail to see that is very worrisome. especially since I understand you are in a position to teach students?

Reading your comments here at EIM, I certainly do not doubt your clinical proficency. I am however starting to doubt your judgement and branding saavy however.

That has been my experience with many PT's unfortunately. A significant disconnect between acedemic saavy and "real world" saavy. This video is prime example of that.

[PT man]

Truehelper,

That's ridiculous to say that the mistakes of those 2 girls in this hilarious video, which by the way wasn't even seen when showed to a group of 30 students, has lowered our professional profile. The video was a huge hit with students. How could you be so naive to say that this little video has lowered the profile of our profession? Don't you think you are going a little overboard with being concerned about a teacher that showed this to his class?

[Georgia Boy]

Mr. Ware,
Nowhere in my posts did I say uploading videos was the only way to improve our profession. As much as YouTube as infiltrated my generation, I understand there are plenty of other mediums. Being the evidence based practitioner I know that you are, I was merely wondering how you were getting your vast knowledge out to the masses. You seem to be very active on the comments, so I was wondering if you had a blog yourself, or maybe you were part of a regional or national organization that promoted PT. If not, maybe you should use some of the passion you share in these comments to do something worthwhile. Maybe I'm in the minority with my viewpoints, but they are out there for others to judge. Will everyone agree, hopefully not, b/c the educated discussions I've had with my peers and PTs like Eric are helping me to become a better clinician that will ultimately help me improve the field of PT.
As to you blocking my blog, please do b/c ignoring opinions that differ from yours will make them go way. Maybe your nephew can forego PT school and train solely with you so no new ideas will be introduced to his young, impressionable mind. I hope he his home schooled right now as well, b/c if you haven't been outside recently, I'm pretty sure he has already seen people flash "the finger" and much worse. Props to you for trying to live under rock.

[Truehelper]

PTman,

Let me clarify a couple of things for you:

1. I think the entire video is juvenile. The two girls only highlight the moronic mode of communication.

2. You say: "The video was a huge hit with students". Well...if the video is any indication of the maturity level of the "doctorate" level students, I'm not suprised.

3. The very fact that you have to ask how the video serves to lower our professional profile is indicative of your level of real world savvy.

4.Lastly, a professor, teacher, mentor or whatever that fails to recognize the inherent problem with video's such as these is equally dimwitted in "real world" savvy as the students that created it.

Are you willing to tell me that Felicity Clancy, VP of communications for the APTA would be happy to use that video in front of state legislator's? Maybe I'm wrong but I doubt it. And that being surmised, the video should not be a publicly available piece of media.

[Georgia Boy]

Truehelper, have you heard of the 1st Amendment? Do you live in the US? I understand now why you put quotes around "real world" b/c it's your world. I hear Mr. Ware has a good comfortable rock available for rent. ;-)

[Eric Robertson]

Name calling always signifies to me that the conversation has ended...and that the name caller has usually lost the debate.

I caution all comment authors to maintain their sense of professionalism and refrain from calling names. After all, isn't this what this whole debate has been about? The two people most upset by the video are the two people who have referenced comments to me as "up yours" and "dimwitted". Perhaps I am, but I'm aware enough to comment no further on this post. Good day.

[Truehelper]

Eric,

I do not appreciate the manner in which you insinuate that this debate has been "won" or "lost" by anyone. It's a debate and I think opting out of a debate in that manner is not very collegial.

I think the video is dimwitted, not you. Perhaps I could have used less colloquial terms to express my dismay at how otherwise intelligent individuals could percieve a video such as this is professionally useful.

Again I ask, I wonder if Felicity Clancy, VP of communications for the APTA, would have any use for such a video.

I'd bet not. But it appears we do have opposite opinions on this topic. I suspect there is nothing we could write to change each others mindset.

Regards.

[Viva la Revolution!]

Obviously this video was made in fun, similar to many other goofy videos made previously by PT students. I understand that this is not the type of video to be used in order to move our profession forward, however I believe it has served its purpose by bringing to light the real issue, which is the ridiculous laws against spinal manipulation in Washington State. Perhaps we should cease the petty arguing and turn the discussion to what really matters: giving PT's the right to manipulate in the state of Washington. If even half of the energy that has been spent harping on 2 young ladies and the UPS DPT program was spent on lobbying for spinal manipulation I would venture to say we would have had more accomplished years ago. The video has been edited, an apology has been issued, I say "move it, and move on!" If professionalism is the real issue here then we should UNITE and stand behind the PT's and students in Washington State as they fight for spinal manipulation...