If you went for a informational seminar on one of the "top doctors" in your area (say, Atlanta...) but there practice and the hospital they perform in was in a bad area, would you still consider them for your surgery?

My response? No.

This happened to me. I went for a seminar for Dr. Titus Duncan/Dr. Hobson Peachtree Surgical Center & Bariatrics. I didn't even go to the seminar. I missed the turn into his office (which the seminar was actually at a different location, but I didn't realize that until I already went to his office building). I went down two blocks and there were housing projects and all kinds of scandalous looking folks walking down the street. There were homeless people (which isn't unusual for Downtown Atlanta regardless of whether the area is nice or not). It just looked so... uuh... ghetto.

I thought to myself "Do I really want to come here for appointments, surgery, fills, etc???" I thought about it then I decided that honestly I never wanted to come back to that area again in my life. I'm sure the doc was great and all... but there are like 70 bariatric surgeons in the Atlanta area... way too many to choose one where I feel the need to lay a gun in the passenger seat before getting off the highway.

What are your thoughts?

<sorry if this should have gone under the docs and hospitals section, that section appears to be more area/doctor specific versus general discussion.

Yes, you defined "ghetto" for us, but you haven't told me what she should have used to paint her picture for us? How should she have described the area. What could she have said that would not have been so offensive/classless?

While I do understand and know that some ethnic groups seem to inhabit lower income areas more than others, not one ethnicity is exempt. Every race has seen hard times, and they all live in lower income housing/neighborhoods.

Define it all you want, from whatever dictionary you would like, my two cents is my opinion, and will not change. That does NOT necessarily make me correct, but from my experience of several years ago, all walks of life resided in the "ghetto" then, and I am almost positive, they do now. I do not think of one race over another when the term is brought to mind.

Kaytie, perhaps you do not know why some were offered with your word " ghetto". Webster defines it as "any section of a city in which members of a minority group lives or which they are restricted by social discrimination". That is the true meaning. I hope what you wanted to say was you feared it was in a high crime neighborhood and not meant to point fingers at a race. That being said you should go where you are comfortable. Good luck.

I do not think of one race over another when the term is brought to mind.

For those of us that knew and understood the term from 30 years ago, it was simply unnecessary. There were more polite words one could have used.

Such as... I'm better than that and I want a crappier doctor that is in a better part of town. That would have been acceptable.

Look, this is fat surgery. It's not a social climbing issue. Go where the medical care is the best. That's my message, nothing more and nothing less. I'm not about to defend a dictionary definition.

Agreed, go where YOU are comfortable. It is your decision and if you don't like that part of town don't go. Only you can decide where your most comfortable at.

the original poster used the general and non-specific term, "ghetto". She/he did NOT refer to any one person, race or gender in particular. She did not single any one person out, or insult them personally. However, we had one poster who called him/her classless for the use of the term, and DID INDEED attack him/her personally and specifically. In my opinion, that in and of itself was "classless". Far more so than anything the original poster wrote.

the original poster used the general and non-specific term, "ghetto". She/he did NOT refer to any one person, race or gender in particular. She did not single any one person out, or insult them personally. However, we had one poster who called him/her classless for the use of the term, and DID INDEED attack him/her personally and specifically. In my opinion, that in and of itself was "classless". Far more so than anything the original poster wrote.

I must have missed that post. I didn't see where anyone said the OP was classless. However, I wrote something about class, here is what I wrote:

You are also 20 years old. Just 20 years ago Ghetto may have had a bit different meaning than it does today. I can't say I was insulted when I read the OP, but I did think it lacked in taste or class. I can assure you, I am not overly sensitive. I have a hunch your meaning of the word may be a bit different from the meaning just 20 years ago. I just don't like the word, personally. I think there are much better words to use that are not without class or dignity one may use.

A far cry from saying someone is classless.

Hello, I was offended by the post. It is really sad to hear things such as this.As a child I spent a lot of time on that part of town; my mom always told us not to judge and stereotype people . The word ghetto is negative it means exactly what comes to mind when it is heard.That is exactly what the author of that post meant for it to mean. Also Ma'am if something was meant to happen to you it would happen in a High income neighborhood or a Low income one.You all stay blessed and have a nice one.

I think you should use a hospital that you feel comfortable attending. While I was treated at Mass General (Boston) for a stroke last year (World Class hospital); I chose Lahey Clinic (Burlington, MA) for the Lap Band because getting to the City is a hassle (Rt 93 South is just a major headache). Since I knew from research about all the presurgery meetings and post surgery fills I knew I would need to go to the hospital alot.

Last year I changed Orthopedic Surgeons because the one at the slick "Ladies Who Lunch" office was a huge jerk. I now go to a doctor in Lowell, MA (some parts are better than others; including UMASS Lowell) because I like him.

I do think that the tone of your post was offensive. Being poor does'nt make you a bad person it just means you are poor. My family was what they call today "working class poor". Meaning my dad worked two jobs (one full time as civilian employee of the Navy); and my mother worked. We missed getting reduced lunches by $100 every year. So we were pretty close to poverty level. My parents had a house and a car; but we had neighbors that lived literally in tar paper shacks (in NE!).

This thread has laid dormant for 2 and a half years until this morning.

I agree whole-heartedly with the original poster.

Poor people are not all bad but they live in very unsafe neighborhoods.

I grew up in Brockton, MA which is arguably only a tiny step up from Lowell as far as crime goes. Neither of which compares to some of the inner city neighborhoods in Atlanta that the original poster was referring to or any other large metropolitan area.

I don't agree with the LDS religion. I had my surgery by an LDS surgeon at an LDS hospital a few blocks from the main LDS temple in the state. A good surgeon is a good surgeon.

I completely understand you not wanting to go to a hospital and aftercare where you aren't comfortable. On a more sensitive note, our economy has fallen on hard times and I think if people would take time out of their personal more fortunate lives to volunteer....they may find some amazing, wonderful, talented, loving and educated people that are trying to pick themselves back up. You can't always judge a book by its cover. I personally was a single mother of 3 children, escaping an abusive husband...who found myself living in a housing project. I fought my way back up, and met some amazing people along the way...teaching my children to appreciate the little things in life, LOVE being the most important. Most people are literally 2 paychecks away from being able to fall homeless, this does not make them bad people. I also agree with one of the other comments, you find "scandalous" people in every neighborhood.

Very sensitive subject for me personally...I did not chose the life I was thrown into! I also wouldn't change a thing, my children are better adults for the struggles we had to overcome as a family. Especially now through the Holidays, we take time in our more fortunate lives to "Pay it Forward"....reminding ourselves that someone once helped us.