RE: FACTS ABOUT TENNESSEE ILLNESSES

["Grimm, Lawrence" <LGrimm@ADMIN.UCLA.EDU>]

Dear Radsafers:

I wholeheartedly agree with Greg Landry that the initial responses on
Radsafe, to Mr Slavin's posting of Tenessee illnesses, confirmed what Mr.
Slavin is decrying - a general lack of empathy and sympathy when we (as a
profession) deal with the public.  It is why we fail so miserably in our
efforts to educate.  

I definately weigh-in with the anti-LNT theory crowd, but I do not tell
someone (who is scared to death) that they are an idiot for thinking that
low doses of radiation will hurt them. You must empathize and sympathize
with them first, and then gently educate them - gently being the operative
word here.  No arguements, no berating them.  You may not convince them at
first, but they will start thinking.  

It is just plain, simple common sense and human nature that you will not
like someone who immediately jumps down your throat.  I feel that, as a
group, we HP's tend to do that.  It is imperative that you get people to
like you first, then they will listen to you, and you can educate them.
There are very few of us who can get people to like us once the
confrontational stage has been reached (it is a real art to break down the
barriers), but most of us should be able to do it in one-on-one situations.


Go back and read Slavin's posting.  You do not need to agree with every
thing he says, but listen to the words, not just read them.  Hopefully you
will see what the general public sees.  Sense the fear that they feel.  I've
said it before: the whole radiation issue has gotten so messed up, that we
as a group need to be part psychologist to help people get over their
irrational fears.  If we are to succeed, it will be a daunting task.
Remember, we are probably the only ones with the knowledge to educate, but
being a teacher is more than being a reciter of facts.  Think of the best
teacher that you ever had - what were the qualities in that person that made
she/he such a good teacher?  Emulate those qualities.

Larry Grimm
	UCLA Radiation Safety Division
*	On Campus: CHS A6-060 MS 957061
*	Off Campus: UCLA Radiation Safety Div, 2195 West Medical
Building, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1764
*	lgrimm@admin.ucla.edu   Phone:310/206-0712   Fax 310/794-5825
*	If this email is not RSD business, the opinions are mine, not
UCLA's.
   
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