BAN HBO and other PORN from EMS/Fire Stations

[iamyourgod]

As long as we continue to allow this porn in the workplace, we can never claim to be professionals. You dont find porn playing in the lobby at IBM or any other professional workplace. Imagine your teenage daughter going to work at wendy's, and being forced to watch porn on the tv set in the back -- you would be outraged. It is not only a sexual harassment issue, but it is also offensive to those who are religous. Remember the old sayig, "If you cant do it in front of your momma (when you were a teen) you shouldnt be doing it. The same is true in fire/ems, if you wouldnt watch porn in front of the county commissioners or the department's chaplain, you shouldnt be doing it. Get your porn at home, be professional at work.

[DwayneEMTP]

Well....first off, I'm having trouble taking professional advice from someone who's screen name shows them to claim to be my God. Just sayin'...

And it's difficult to discuss this with you as you've decided to lecture instead of debate. What is your history in EMS? I'm in no way trying to make you feel that you don't belong, but it helps put your thoughts into context if we know what your background is, as I seriously doubt that you've been in a fire of EMS stating and seen porn playing. Of course, depending on your definition of porn.

So what makes you think this is an issue? If you've been here long you know I'm not a big fan of firemen, and I've been in a fire/EMS house or two, yet have never seen porn playing, by my definition.

And lastly, the vast majority of the things I do for pleasure I wouldn't do in front of my mother...again, just sayin'...

Dwayne

[iamyourgod]

My background, which has nothing to do with the subject, is 24 years in EMS -- 22 as a paramedic, working in 911, urban, rural, hospital, critical care, and convalescent services. Right is right, and wrong is wrong. I probably shouldnt have used the term "porn" but instead said anything "R rated or worse". As you are aware, after about 10pm, you basically have soft porn playing on HBO and Skinimax. Nude bodies and foul language have no place in a professional workplace. I know many will be offended by my post, but when you ask them to let their teenage daughter come over and sit with the guys on the couch to watch their favorite late night show, the opinion then changes. I would love to see a "justification" for allowing such shows to be shown in a public/professional workplace.

[Eydawn]

Is it that you would prefer a V-chip to ensure proper station environment? Or is there a discipline problem and improper treatment of women occurring in your workplace, and you feel that this is contributing to it/emblematic of it?

I agree that inappropriate materials have no place in the work environment... but I'm curious as to where this particular outburst came from, as it's not been a problem where I've ridden/worked.

Wendy

CO EMT-B

[iamyourgod]

Really, that is interesting, nice to hear there are some professional workplaces out there. Almost every fire station in the major cities of my state have these stations as part of their cable package. Sometimes it is donated by the cable supplier, sometimes individual stations are allowed to purchase whatever cable level they want as long as they pay for it. I remember vividly walking into a station we were posted at one night with a new female rookie -- the guys were watching the show OZ on HBO, and the F word was dropped about every 40 seconds, and there was a graphic homo rape scene. I have never been so embarassed in all my life === and what was worse, was that no one saw anything wrong with it, so we just went back to the truck. This scenario plays out every night in a fire station somewhere.

[reaper]

I see nothing wrong with HBO, yes cinimax does show some bad shows at night.

You mention R rated movies. If they are being watched at night, then there is no problem. Family should not be at the station late at night, as you said, it is a work place. After 2200 all family should be gone. All are adults there and have the right to watch a R rated movie. If it bothers you only, then don't watch it. You have the right to leave the room. If it bothers more then you, then it should be brought up to the higher ups.

This has nothing to do with a public work place or being a professional. After 2200 no public should be at the station, so it has no affect on them. There is nothing unprofessional about watching a R rated movie.

From your posts, I gather you are very religious. Nothing wrong with that, as long as you don't push your values on other people. If you don't like it personally, then don't watch it. Go to the bunk room and read, or find something watch on another TV. Why is it right for you to stop 3-4 others from doing what they want, because you don't like it?

[Eydawn]

Are you part of the fire department? Or do you just share the house a bit? If you just share quarters, might be time for you to approach your management and theirs in an attempt to negotiate for workplace appropriateness.

I don't know if this is a universal, and it sounds like a FD problem, not necessarily an EMS problem. Sorry to hear that your workplace is like that!

Wendy

CO EMT-B

[iamyourgod]

Actually i am atheist. I am sorry, but right or wrong doesnt go by a clock. If something is not professional at 3pm when the school kids are touring the station, then it is not appropriate at 3am when no school kids are around. That is like saying it is ok to use the N word as long as no african-americans are around.

[Eydawn]

HUH? I'm confused. And why muddle a perfectly good thread about workplace appropriateness by dragging the whole race issue in?

Never mind. I had hopes that you would be a productive poster, but you're well on your way to establishing yourself as a troll. Good luck with that.

Wendy

CO EMT-B

[iamyourgod]

You do not see the coorelation between having a professional workplace part of the time, and being racist only some of the time ? You are either a professional department or you are not. Being professional half of the day doesnt count.