Why are Neurosurgery Forums so Malignant?

[Guest]

Why do you think neurosurgery forums are so malignant?

It appears that everyone on these forums considers themselves to be in the top 1% of applicants. Furthermore, nearly every program, except for a select few, is deemed subpar. According to this perspective, if you’re not in a top 5 program, you have no chance of becoming a competent neurosurgeon.

When someone seeks advice about their application or future, the prevailing attitude is not to assist them but rather to berate them for their perceived lack of intelligence or strength.

Similarly, when discussing specific programs, people readily label them as “garbage,” even if they lack firsthand knowledge. If anyone dares to express positivity about a program, they are promptly dismissed as a disgruntled resident who didn’t match into a “top 5 program.”

The online culture within neurosurgery can be dishearteningly malignant. However, it’s worth noting that when you meet residents face-to-face at conferences and courses, they tend to be friendly and welcoming. They share common concerns and frustrations about their programs, just as you do.

Why can’t we be more collegial toward our current and future colleagues?

[Guest]

Online and faceless, a loud minority of people exert their ugliest selves. These are the losers we seek to keep out of neurosurgery.

Genuine people are out there and you have to meet them in person. Outside of a select few posts by senior residents are attendings, you won’t find much value online.

You’ll find in every competitive field in every profession there’s a group of people who try to make themselves whole with their accomplishments or perceived accomplishments. Pity them and move on.

[Guest]

Bernard is this you again?

[Guest]

Thanks for asking this. My most observation is that residents are very scared to openly say about their program director and Chairman due to fear of retaliation. Though there are measures against retaliation in place, most of the time it is in paper and is by passed by institutions. The Hub being anonymous, lets residents express their concerns. ABNS should consider these views in addition to the surveys which may work for a larger program, are ineffective in smaller ones.

[Focus]

I would point out that the anonymous posting may give the impression of a larger group of surly posters than actually exists. The vast majority of bigoted and nasty posts come from 2-3 individuals who are not residents or attendings. Frankly, most residents are too busy treading water to come on here with any real frequency.

[Guest]

‘Retaliation’ is often mentioned but rarely truly seen. The occasional resident put in probation or dismissed due to purely personality conflicts is quite rare. Far more common are mediocre residents who are permitted to graduate due to their charm or fear of the program being sued by the resident and their union.