"You're a Lukewarm Christian." Well, thanks!...Week 47

A TikTok Insult that's a compliment, Zealotry and Lady Whistledown,

Lady Whistledown is about power and being lukewarm is also too.

So this week my kid introduced me to what he says is just one more TikTok insult …being called a “lukewarm christian.” Like that’s a bad thing!?

I recently interviewed a researcher from Mayo Clinic who told me in the course of our convo “but I’m a scientist and a clinician and we tend to be skeptical.” And a few months ago, another person warned “but I’m a doctor and we’re conservative by nature.” Of course, he didn’t mean politically. He meant they are circumspect. In fact, I’d just say they are taught to be circumspect. I’d also say that writers — especially journalists who spend a lot of time interviewing and researching — develop a circumspect nature. You have to be because you can’t keep working unless you learn how to filter a lot information and present it fairly. It doesn’t mean that I’m not REALLY enthusiastic about some things. At the risk of seeming a zealot, I’ll even let you see my essential oil collection.

My adult niece told me that my essential oil collection indicates I’ve joined the cult of Doterra. Yes, I went overboard in my essential oil exploration but don’t worry I’m not ever going to tell you that essential oils cure cancer. I think mixing them is interesting and I like them better than perfume. Kudos to my husband who built this shelf for me.

But, to be honest, even when I love things I keep an open mind. I’m not someone by nature who likes to put an idea or a person on a pedestal as an untouchable. I’m often warm but — dare I admit it? — I come off as lukewarm at times. That doesn’t mean that my loyalty is provisional. If I’m on your side, I’m on your side. But I’ll also tell you if I think you f*&$ed up or if I don’t agree with your assessment (if I can do it in a nice way, that’s how I’ll do it).

I actually prefer people who are circumspect because I think you can count on them more. Why? Because they’re really thinking things through. There’s another word closely related to lukewarm and circumspect that I think we’d all do better to embrace — nuanced. Having a nuanced conversation or deciding something is a nuanced topic means it’s complicated. Almost everything in life is actually complicated. Little to me is black and white. I know this because of so many years of interviewing people and doing research with the aim to write the truth. And with most issues there is a truth. It isn’t a matter of giving all parties an equal say, really. The job of a journo is give adequate airing to the sides but to end up conveying a true assessment of the facts as we know them. Of course, when information comes forth then facts change. And the “truth” could also be altered.

Anyhow, I’ve been thinking about this in relation to one of the speakers I heard at the Association for Health Care Journalist meeting in NYC. If you haven’t already, please check out Katelyn Jetelina, Your Local Epidemilologist. (I gave you links to her FB and Substack, but you can also find her on YouTube.) Jetelina’s newsletter offers real facts about health, mental health, infectious disease, health rumors etc. No matter what side you’re on politically, it will appeal to you with straightforward info presented clearly and often visually. This is essential as we head into an election, which will surely have people’s heads spinning trying to figure out who is lying and who isn’t. Remember, the truth is usually in the details (aka nuance).

Okay, now I just have to mention that Jetelina also said when she first started to publish during the worst of the pandemic she was terrified. “To communicate anything is to take a risk. ” She’s absolutely right. Especially in today’s troll-saturated world. Are you all watching Bridgerton? I’m kind of loving it that they’ve chosen to focus on a woman who is risking communication. Penelope (Pen — get it!) — or shall I say Lady Whistledown? It’s a great reminder that at one point not so long ago women weren’t allowed to communicate much of anything. Shondaland is so smart…way to take the whole romance novel/series thing up a notch! Pen tells her estranged friend Eloise, the Whistledown newsletter isn’t just about gossip. “Whistledown is about power.” So, you know, embrace nuance — while also treasuring your power to say it like it is. Next week I’m going to talk about my religious zealot ancestors!