Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

ProfessorGAC

(75,032 posts)
Wed Sep 24, 2025, 03:51 PM Sep 24

Today I Went To The Dentist

Haven't been there for a while so I stopped in to make an appointment for a check-up.
The receptionist was wearing a "Justice For Charlie Kirk" t-shirt.
I told them I expected a dental office to show more professionalism than yo make political statements in front of patients.
Then, I told her to expect a call for my records from whatever dentist I will now be going to.
On Edit: I forgot to mention how ironic I thought it was that she's honoring a guy who thinks women should not be in the workplace while she's at work!

55 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Today I Went To The Dentist (Original Post) ProfessorGAC Sep 24 OP
Good for you... 3catwoman3 Sep 24 #1
Good on you and good luck finding someone. ms liberty Sep 24 #2
There's Another Dental Office 2 Blocks Away ProfessorGAC Sep 24 #6
Better check their T-shirt propaganda first MorbidButterflyTat Sep 24 #18
Should have played purr-rat beauty Sep 24 #3
OK. But also maybe talk to the dentist(s) who hired her? NoRethugFriends Sep 24 #4
He Was Standing Right There ProfessorGAC Sep 24 #5
Wow. No response? NoRethugFriends Sep 24 #11
Mahalo for sharing this, Prof GAC... did Cha Sep 24 #27
To Be Honest, I Didn't Really Wait ProfessorGAC Sep 24 #28
Ah... I see, TY. I would have thought Cha Sep 24 #33
For All I Know... ProfessorGAC Sep 24 #34
lol Right? Cha Sep 24 #35
Justice? Someone misspelled "Retribution" usonian Sep 24 #7
Wow, very unprofessional fujiyamasan Sep 24 #8
I Don't Even Care What Their Politics Are ProfessorGAC Sep 24 #9
Especially a place like the dentist's office fujiyamasan Sep 24 #10
I really hate dentists, but consider them.. ananda Sep 24 #17
Why such hate for dentists? Gimpyknee Sep 25 #52
Just the way dentistry works. ananda Sep 25 #55
Amateur Hour Dentist NJCher Sep 24 #12
Good for you!!! AverageOldGuy Sep 24 #13
Would like to see tsf pronounce "endocrinologist" right after butchering "ass-eed-o-men-a-den"... rubbersole Sep 24 #14
Good for you. niyad Sep 24 #15
I hear that Christian Szell has some openings. erronis Sep 24 #16
Marathon Man mountain grammy Sep 24 #21
Dentists joho260 Sep 25 #40
Heck, back when I was a kid the drill was powered by the dentist pushing on a treadle.... erronis Sep 25 #42
With the exception of our own dear mountain grammy Sep 24 #19
I've wondered that as well (regarding dentists) Abolishinist Sep 24 #22
So interesting.. mountain grammy Sep 24 #31
You're probably right about dentists nuxvomica Sep 24 #23
Fascinating! mountain grammy Sep 24 #30
I think readers would be shocked popsdenver Sep 25 #43
I saw charlie kirk t shirts being sold on Etsy IcyPeas Sep 24 #20
My dentist is the nephew of our 42nd Vice President (Fritz) Nanuke Sep 24 #24
I can't think of any job I've had in my long life PatSeg Sep 24 #25
Precisely My Thinking ProfessorGAC Sep 24 #26
You rock! raccoon Sep 24 #29
Inappropriate Wifes husband Sep 24 #32
Good for you. That was so unprofessional no matter her "side". LoisB Sep 24 #36
We need to make a stand. They need to know we're out here. Good for you!! marble falls Sep 24 #37
They have tee shirts politizing this murder, omg. Emile Sep 24 #38
Flea-brained people for Kirk! Nt BootinUp Sep 25 #39
Hear Hear! OldBaldy1701E Sep 25 #41
You may have saved yourself some actual physical pain BWdem4life Sep 25 #44
I Saw That ProfessorGAC Sep 25 #48
Good for you! PCIntern Sep 25 #45
Find the glorification of Charlie Kirk weird and contrived. PufPuf23 Sep 25 #46
Good for you! Martin68 Sep 25 #47
I have a big mouth Warpy Sep 25 #49
I Thought Of That ProfessorGAC Sep 25 #53
Stupid move on her part; smart move on yours. Totally Tunsie Sep 25 #50
Charlie who? Gimpyknee Sep 25 #51
"I don't think I've ever seen a funeral with fireworks before" struggle4progress Sep 25 #54

ms liberty

(10,754 posts)
2. Good on you and good luck finding someone.
Wed Sep 24, 2025, 03:54 PM
Sep 24

I'm surprised to hear that, I have never seen my dental people in anything but some version of scrubs.

ProfessorGAC

(75,032 posts)
6. There's Another Dental Office 2 Blocks Away
Wed Sep 24, 2025, 04:09 PM
Sep 24

They're newer so looking for patients.
One office is 2 blocks from our house. The other 4.
Not exactly inconvenient. I can walk to either one.

purr-rat beauty

(797 posts)
3. Should have played
Wed Sep 24, 2025, 03:57 PM
Sep 24

Unsavory clips of him spewing his hate in the waiting room on speaker

And ask her repeatedly....this charlie? this guy?

Cha

(315,389 posts)
27. Mahalo for sharing this, Prof GAC... did
Wed Sep 24, 2025, 06:28 PM
Sep 24

either of them have anything to say back to you?

I think it's incredibly Dense to wear a tee shirt like that to a Professional job like a Dentist office..

ProfessorGAC

(75,032 posts)
28. To Be Honest, I Didn't Really Wait
Wed Sep 24, 2025, 06:32 PM
Sep 24

I said what I said & turned to the door.
As I walked there from home, they could easily have come after me to respond. But, they didn't.
I have to be over 100 yards away for them not to see me. And uphill, ay my age, that was no 15 second walk.

Cha

(315,389 posts)
33. Ah... I see, TY. I would have thought
Wed Sep 24, 2025, 06:43 PM
Sep 24

the Dentist wouldn't have wanted to lose you as a Patient over a tee shirt with a RW gaslit incendiary political statement.. but it looks like I'd be wrong.

Actually the dentist should have been smart enough to disallow it in the first place.

Good Luck in finding the Best Dentist!

fujiyamasan

(827 posts)
8. Wow, very unprofessional
Wed Sep 24, 2025, 04:19 PM
Sep 24

You did well by calling it out. I just don’t understand why people feel they have to advertise their politics even at work.

ProfessorGAC

(75,032 posts)
9. I Don't Even Care What Their Politics Are
Wed Sep 24, 2025, 04:22 PM
Sep 24

Yeah, being a Kirk disciple is especially galling, but that shouldn't happen, from either side, at a workplace.

fujiyamasan

(827 posts)
10. Especially a place like the dentist's office
Wed Sep 24, 2025, 04:27 PM
Sep 24

I would assume you would want to provide a fairly calm and relaxing environment. People don’t exactly go to the dentist for a good time!

Somehow I don’t think in your face politics are conducive to that.

ananda

(33,824 posts)
17. I really hate dentists, but consider them..
Wed Sep 24, 2025, 05:32 PM
Sep 24

a necessary evil.

However, being in Austin, politics is not
an issue.

ananda

(33,824 posts)
55. Just the way dentistry works.
Thu Sep 25, 2025, 04:15 PM
Sep 25

I tolerate it because it's necessary.

I had to learn that the hard way.

AverageOldGuy

(3,116 posts)
13. Good for you!!!
Wed Sep 24, 2025, 04:55 PM
Sep 24

My wife is insulin dependent TYpe II diabetic. Her endocrinologist's office has a sign on the front desk "No Political Discussions. Thank you."

rubbersole

(10,810 posts)
14. Would like to see tsf pronounce "endocrinologist" right after butchering "ass-eed-o-men-a-den"...
Wed Sep 24, 2025, 05:10 PM
Sep 24

erronis

(21,801 posts)
16. I hear that Christian Szell has some openings.
Wed Sep 24, 2025, 05:22 PM
Sep 24
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marathon_Man_(film)

Dr. Szell was ranked as villain #34 on its American Film Institute's "100 Years... 100 Heroes and Villains" list. The film was ranked #50 on the "100 Years...100 Thrills" list. Dr. Szell was also ranked in Time as one of the 25 greatest movie villains. Both the novel and film contain a graphic depiction in which Szell tortures Babe by first probing a cavity in one of Babe's teeth with a curette, and later drilling into another tooth, without anesthetic, while repeatedly asking the question, "Is it safe?". The quote, "Is it safe?", was ranked #70 on the "100 Years...100 Movie Quotes" list. The dental torture scene placed #66 on Bravo's 100 Scariest Movie Moments. The torture scene has been described as one of the most frightening sequences in film.[5] Critics have remarked on the high level of talent and class.[34]

mountain grammy

(28,389 posts)
21. Marathon Man
Wed Sep 24, 2025, 05:47 PM
Sep 24

the only thing scarier than the movie was the book!

Oh how I loved Roy Scheider in that..

joho260

(38 posts)
40. Dentists
Thu Sep 25, 2025, 12:00 PM
Sep 25

As a kid in the 50's, I had several teeth filled without anesthetic. The drill in those days used a belt which connected it to the motor via a series of pulleys. The arm of that chair had permanent indentations from my griping hands.

It's much better these days. My only trepidation in going to the dentist now is the bill which I will receive.

erronis

(21,801 posts)
42. Heck, back when I was a kid the drill was powered by the dentist pushing on a treadle....
Thu Sep 25, 2025, 12:25 PM
Sep 25

Last edited Thu Sep 25, 2025, 01:12 PM - Edit history (1)

He's bouncing up and down while aiming that slow-moving bit into a tooth that already hurts like hell.



mountain grammy

(28,389 posts)
19. With the exception of our own dear
Wed Sep 24, 2025, 05:40 PM
Sep 24

PCIntern, many dentists are maga. Doctors too. It blows my mind..

Anyone who wants to tell me I'm wrong, please feel free. I'd be happy to be wrong.

Abolishinist

(2,813 posts)
22. I've wondered that as well (regarding dentists)
Wed Sep 24, 2025, 05:53 PM
Sep 24

I found this about that.

If you check out contributions for 2024, Heartland Dental, whoever they are, is by far the worst.

Heartland Dental Care
Total - $646,858
To Dems - $15,388
To Repukes - $405,245
To Con Groups - $225,000

On edit, it seems that these contributions are from individual members, not Heartland Dental per se. But still.

https://www.opensecrets.org/industries/indus?cycle=2024&ind=H1400

nuxvomica

(13,731 posts)
23. You're probably right about dentists
Wed Sep 24, 2025, 06:09 PM
Sep 24

Though most of the ones I've seen were Democrats. Here's a page that shows political leaning by occupation:
https://verdantlabs.com/politics_of_professions/

popsdenver

(854 posts)
43. I think readers would be shocked
Thu Sep 25, 2025, 01:06 PM
Sep 25

at the figures if Firefighters/Paramedics/EMT's were shown..............

Nanuke

(872 posts)
24. My dentist is the nephew of our 42nd Vice President (Fritz)
Wed Sep 24, 2025, 06:11 PM
Sep 24

He retired and now his son is my dentist. Strong Minnesota DFLers.

PatSeg

(51,365 posts)
25. I can't think of any job I've had in my long life
Wed Sep 24, 2025, 06:14 PM
Sep 24

that would have allowed wearing a shirt like that or a hat, button, etc. That is very unprofessional regardless of what your political affiliations are.

Wifes husband

(645 posts)
32. Inappropriate
Wed Sep 24, 2025, 06:42 PM
Sep 24

Any political attire is inappropriate in any office. Actually, political discussion is inappropriate, although it is common.
Good idea to change dentist

Emile

(38,723 posts)
38. They have tee shirts politizing this murder, omg.
Wed Sep 24, 2025, 07:14 PM
Sep 24

The murderer was raised in a gun crazy republican family.

ProfessorGAC

(75,032 posts)
48. I Saw That
Thu Sep 25, 2025, 02:57 PM
Sep 25

But, I'm that weirdo who has work done with no nitrous, no novacaine.
I've never needed a root canal, but I've had molars ground down for a crown with zero anesthetic.
Even the dentist are amazed I can just lay there without any wincing.
That dentist would have been disappointed having me as a patient.
Now, my wife is a whole other story.

PCIntern

(27,753 posts)
45. Good for you!
Thu Sep 25, 2025, 01:53 PM
Sep 25

As a dentist, I would only discuss politics if the patient indicated to me that we were of a like mind and I never ever asked any leading questions. I have a million stories along these lines.

I’m glad you said something as well.

PufPuf23

(9,645 posts)
46. Find the glorification of Charlie Kirk weird and contrived.
Thu Sep 25, 2025, 02:03 PM
Sep 25

Like those that push the idea and inflame the masses are better with Charlie dead, more use as a martyr and icon than wha he was in reality.

Warpy

(114,137 posts)
49. I have a big mouth
Thu Sep 25, 2025, 03:23 PM
Sep 25

so I might have mentioned that the little shit was getting justice since the RIGHT WINGER who shot him is sitting in jail and awaiting trial.

These oeople just don't think, not ever, they just keep jerking their knees on command.

Totally Tunsie

(11,387 posts)
50. Stupid move on her part; smart move on yours.
Thu Sep 25, 2025, 03:33 PM
Sep 25

I was going to suggest you make sure her boss knows why you're leaving, but see they were right there. The follow-up conversation after you left must have been interesting!

Hope you have a pain-free experience with your new dental pro.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Today I Went To The Denti...