# So maybe I don't have a new dentist... **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 6, 2004, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-maybe-i-dont-have-a-new-dentist/227840 "2004-02-06T14:19:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2004, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-maybe-i-dont-have-a-new-dentist/227840/41 "2004-02-08T15:30:13Z")
Too late for the “just” part, I reckon. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2004, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-maybe-i-dont-have-a-new-dentist/227840/42 "2004-02-08T15:41:25Z")
**katerina** , for what it’s worth, I’ve got a lot of sympathy for you. I’ve lived in small, conservative towns and have had religion all but shoved down my throat. The good news is, as a member of a DHMO, you have the right to choose another dentist for any, or no, reason. If there are no other local dentists, and this guy really makes you uncomfortable, you may ask for an exception to get a different dentist covered. If asked why you want a different dentist, just tell the insurance company that you went for a visit, and just didn’t like the guy. First, though, I’d talk to the guy about his choice of subject matter. Tell him you’re not comfortable with his discussing religion; you’re there for dental care, period. Be very polite but firm, and let him know that you’re happy to take your mouth (and business) elsewhere. Dentistry is a business like any other, and he’s still got a family (or himself) to support. It’s possible he’s oblivious to his behavior because no one’s confronted him about it. All that said, it is not okay to get someone into what is essentially a captive position and preach at them. It doesn’t matter what’s being preached – be it politics or religion or whatever – it’s still inappropriate and unprofessional behavior. I understand the need for small talk, but religion isn’t small talk. Robin ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Lao](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2bfe46/32.png) [@Dr.Lao](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Lao)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2004, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-maybe-i-dont-have-a-new-dentist/227840/43 "2004-02-08T15:48:04Z")
> [@Captain Amazing](#): > > Which, from her OP, is what she’s planning on doing. In fact, from the thread title you could tell that is what she is planning on doing. > [@MsRobyn](#): > > First, though, I’d talk to the guy about his choice of subject matter. Tell him you’re not comfortable with his discussing religion; you’re there for dental care, period. Be very polite but firm, and let him know that you’re happy to take your mouth (and business) elsewhere. Dentistry is a business like any other, and he’s still got a family (or himself) to support. It’s possible he’s oblivious to his behavior because no one’s confronted him about it. I doubt that he is oblivious if he’s got televangelists’ tapes running in the waiting room. The tapes are clearly being played for his patients and not himself. But bringing it to his attention could be helpful in driving home the point of the actual results his witness is having on people (and his livelyhood). ---
**Author:** ![Jenaroph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Jenaroph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenaroph)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2004, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-maybe-i-dont-have-a-new-dentist/227840/44 "2004-02-08T16:32:25Z")
> [@Libertarian](#): > > I’m not for boxing people into corners either, but for me that includes dentist people. The door leading in leads out. He has come into his office that he owns every day for God knows how long, and every day he has been showing Christian tapes and talking about his church. Then in walks Ms. Comelately whose panties fly up her ass because she cannot endure this man’s beliefs and his manner of expressing them. She drags her world that revolves around her into this man’s private business, and when she sees that he dare have a world of his own, she reacts like a bratty two-year-old who doesn’t like the candy Aunt Martha puts out. That’s how I see it, and I think it’s the dumbest fucking rant I’ve ever seen. She didn’t fly off the handle and berate him in his office, she kept her mouth shut and griped about it here instead. How is this different from so many other rants on this forum? She’s said she’s probably going to look for a new dentist and tell him why she’s leaving; she said she’s aware this isn’t about her right not to be exposed to Benny Hinn over his right to play the tape in the waiting room. Since you’re clearly not suggesting that dammit, she’s obliged to stick with this guy 'cause by golly, he’s got a RIGHT to show what he wants in his office and she should suffer through it despite, nay, BECAUSE OF the fact that she’s uncomfortable with it, I’m not sure what your continued problem with her rant is. What is it that makes this the dumbest fucking rant you’ve ever seen? Style? ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Lao](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2bfe46/32.png) [@Dr.Lao](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Lao)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2004, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-maybe-i-dont-have-a-new-dentist/227840/45 "2004-02-08T20:52:51Z")
Interesting related article: [Pilot suggested passengers discuss Christianity during LA-to-New York flight](http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2004/02/07/state2118EST0136.DTL) > [@](#): > > (02-07) 18:18 PST NEW YORK (AP) – > > An American Airlines pilot flying passengers from Los Angeles to New York asked Christians on board to identify themselves and then suggested that non-Christian passengers discuss the faith with them, the airline confirmed Saturday. ---
**Author:** ![lel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8797f3/32.png) [@lel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lel)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2004, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-maybe-i-dont-have-a-new-dentist/227840/46 "2004-02-08T21:00:17Z")
If you have a choice, then exercise it. Don’t like Benny Hinn in the waiting room, get a new dentist. I don’t recall ever having been to a dentist that didn’t have some type of religious propaganda in their waiting area (I just figured it was a standard part of most dentists that they have religious stuff in the waiting room), but Benny Hinn videos would probably be…interesting. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2004, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-maybe-i-dont-have-a-new-dentist/227840/47 "2004-02-08T21:22:11Z")
I guess I’m the only one who always confuses Benny Hinn with Benny Hill? ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2004, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-maybe-i-dont-have-a-new-dentist/227840/48 "2004-02-08T21:37:16Z")
> [@lel](#): > > \I don’t recall ever having been to a dentist that didn’t have some type of religious propaganda in their waiting area (I just figured it was a standard part of most dentists that they have religious stuff in the waiting room), but Benny Hinn videos would probably be…interesting. I’ve never been to a dentist (or doctor, or other professional) that **did** have religious stuff in his waiting room. In the parts of Canada where I have lived, religion is considered a private thing, and kept separate from professional functions. An airline pilot asking Christians to identify themselves and witness to other passengers?!? That is unheard of…I would be absolutely shocked at such a thing. ---
**Author:** ![lel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8797f3/32.png) [@lel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lel)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2004, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-maybe-i-dont-have-a-new-dentist/227840/49 "2004-02-08T21:52:24Z")
> [@featherlou](#): > > I’ve never been to a dentist (or doctor, or other professional) that **did** have religious stuff in his waiting room. In the parts of Canada where I have lived, religion is considered a private thing, and kept separate from professional functions. Oh, I know there are some who don’t have religious stuff in waiting rooms; I have seen that with many other professionals. However, it’s almost more surprising to me not to see religious items in a waiting room than to see them, given that the person is a sole practitioner or small group. (On the other hand, a Benny Hinn video would be unusually invasive.) ---
**Author:** ![leander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bcef8e/32.png) [@leander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leander)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2004, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-maybe-i-dont-have-a-new-dentist/227840/50 "2004-02-08T23:46:39Z")
> [@Libertarian](#): > > …she reacts like a bratty two-year-old who doesn’t like the candy Aunt Martha puts out. That’s how I see it, and I think it’s the dumbest fucking rant I’ve ever seen. Frankly, the only person I see around here acting like a “bratty two-year-old” is you. Not content with opening a terribly lame parody thread (which, apparently, few found funny and therefore did not properly satisfy your needy ego), you feel it necessary to rip into this girl for a simple rant. About a fucking dentist. Who was a fundy. Are we to have another **Lib** woe-is-me, please-oh-please-won’t-someone-pay-attention-to-me meltdown? ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2004, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-maybe-i-dont-have-a-new-dentist/227840/51 "2004-02-09T00:42:30Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > I guess I’m the only one who always confuses Benny Hinn with Benny Hill? No, no, Benny Hill is funny on purpose. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2004, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-maybe-i-dont-have-a-new-dentist/227840/52 "2004-02-09T00:49:49Z")
> [@Libertarian](#): > > Too late for the “just” part, I reckon. Yeah, but she’s complaining on a message board. It’s not like she’s suing or anything, or trying to prevent him from playing what he wants in his office. She’s choosing, as is her right in a free market, not to patronize a particular place of business, because she doesn’t like one aspect of the service offered. As for her complaining on here, she’s just venting. People complain about all sorts of things on this board, from traffic, to compuiter viruses, to songs. A bad experience at ones dentist office qualifies. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2004, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-maybe-i-dont-have-a-new-dentist/227840/53 "2004-02-09T07:42:26Z")
> [@leander](#): > > Are we to have another **Lib** woe-is-me, please-oh-please-won’t-someone-pay-attention-to-me meltdown? No, but we clearly have yet another woe-is-me, please-oh-please-won’t-someone-pay-attention-to-me, obsessed-with-Libertarian whine-fest from Leander. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2004, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-maybe-i-dont-have-a-new-dentist/227840/54 "2004-02-09T07:50:59Z")
> [@Captain Amazing](#): > > Yeah, but she’s complaining on a message board. It’s not like she’s suing or anything, or trying to prevent him from playing what he wants in his office. She’s choosing, as is her right in a free market, not to patronize a particular place of business, because she doesn’t like one aspect of the service offered. > > As for her complaining on here, she’s just venting. People complain about all sorts of things on this board, from traffic, to compuiter viruses, to songs. A bad experience at ones dentist office qualifies. That’s just it. She didn’t choose not to patronize it. In fact, she’s going to go back to see if he is still showing his tape. “If that videotape is on again, I will walk out and transfer to another dentist.” She even, bizarrely, called him “discriminatory”. I could have respected seeing the video, being offended, and _leaving_. But when you walk into the gates of what you consider hell, and linger there, offering yourself to a guy with a needle whom you consider to be “slimy” (but who otherwise would have been engaging), and opine generally that Christians are “uneducated folk”, then you’re an idiot. ---
**Author:** ![TeaElle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8491ac/32.png) [@TeaElle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeaElle)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2004, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-maybe-i-dont-have-a-new-dentist/227840/55 "2004-02-09T10:55:36Z")
> [@Rilchiam](#): > > Yeah, but **Lib** , I said that I define “display” to mean “active participation”. Watching someone pray at an altar is like watching them jerk off. Not my business, and I don’t see why I should have to watch. Are you freaking kidding? :rolleyes: And right on, Lib. You go, you find that it’s not to your liking, you decide not to go back. It’s not that hard. When you start an ignorant rant, though, be prepared to be called on it. ---
**Author:** ![katerina2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ce73a5/32.png) [@katerina2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/katerina2)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2004, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-maybe-i-dont-have-a-new-dentist/227840/56 "2004-02-09T14:51:42Z")
Ignorance requires the will to remain in it. I have no problem with being called on my hypersensitivity. With respect to going back again, I want to give the guy a chance, that the tele-evangelism tape was just a fluke. With respect to what he said, the general conversation was about ‘what we did after coming home in the snow from church’. So no, he didn’t start preaching yet. It was the combination of the bible, the videotape, and the mention of church that got to me. I think that considering my options, there are a couple that are fair. I could leave, but that is kind of passive-aggressive and not really going to change things. It’s also bitchy to leave and tell him exactly why. There is a boomerang effect to that. I don’t think it would change his practice. If he is a rational adult worth cultivating a relationship with, professional or otherwise, he would listen to my politely voiced request to not have a videotape on when I am coming for appointments, or could I please turn it off because it offends me, etc. etc. Most professionals would bend over backwards to be accommodating when a concern is voiced. Fuming about it yet never talking to the person doesn’t get one anywhere. Now, as for the community I live in. I am the only PhD around for about 20 miles, and I do sort of look out for the behavior of others in the community with extensive higher education or training. What is important to me is that in this Amish/Mennonite community I have been overwhelmed by how tolerant everyone is, generally speaking, of religious difference. Most of my neighbors are loggers or farmers. And they have a sort of “what you do is your business, I’ll comment but I really am not judging” attitude. I came into the northern tier of the bible belt with this idea that fundies got that way from lack of education. This prejudice comes from the fact that the fundie church that I went to as a child was blue collar. But my dentist proves my prejudice wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2004, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-maybe-i-dont-have-a-new-dentist/227840/57 "2004-02-09T14:58:40Z")
> [@Libertarian](#): > > I could have respected seeing the video, being offended, and _leaving_. But when you walk into the gates of what you consider hell, and linger there, offering yourself to a guy with a needle whom you consider to be “slimy” (but who otherwise would have been engaging), and opine generally that Christians are “uneducated folk”, then you’re an idiot. She didn’t call Christians in general “uneducated folk”. She called the “farmers and rednecks” she lives with uneducated folk (who have more sense to go to the dentist’s church). Now, that’s still insulting, but it’s insulting in a different way. And, it’s possible that the dentist’s office didn’t offend her enough to walk out at the time, but afterwards, she decided not to go back (or to go back to see if anything had changed, and if it hadn’t, not to patronize the place). If the thing that tipped her over was the dentist talking about her church, as she suggests, that would seem to support my theory. It’s kind of hard to leave the office when you’re already in the chair, and the dentist is fooling around in your mouth. As for her comment about it being “discrimnatory”, I agree with you that I don’t see how that applies. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-maybe-i-dont-have-a-new-dentist/227840.md?page=2)