According to a search, “the phrase “arrogant twat” is a vulgar British insult combining the adjective “arrogant” (showing an exaggerated sense of one’s own importance) with “twat,” a slang term for a foolish, contemptible, or obnoxious person. It describes a person who is condescending, self-important, and believes they are superior to others, often dismissing anyone who disagrees with them as an idiot.”
In other words, most physicians today.
Okay, that’s probably an overstatement. Or is it? I’ve had appointments with several doctors in the last year and found most of them to be precisely what’s on the tin (to use another British expression). I’ve also watched a lot of videos about medical issues and nutrition, and found some wonderful professionals but also a lot of jerks.
This isn’t anything new. I’ve known many doctors over the years, have several in my family, and believe the stereotype is often right on the money. As bad as it’s been before, things are even worse today. For at least two reasons, I think.
First, doctors have only a few minutes to see patients because insurance companies pay very little per appointment so doctors triple-book patients and see them for only five or ten minutes. They don’t have time for more.
Constant pressure. Overhead. Assembly line medicine.
The second reason? The Internet.
Patients have access to an almost endless supply of information online. They read about their diseases and conditions and treatments, watch endless videos, query their favorite ai bot, and talk to friends who followed a different path than conventional medicine traditionally advises.
And they’re not shy about talking to their doctor about what they’ve heard.
When every other patient tells a doctor they don’t want to take this medication or follow that treatment, when they question the doctor’s advice instead of being a good little patient and doing what they’re told, nobody should be surprised when doctors aren’t patient and understanding, they just want to write script, keep the insurance carrier happy, and get through their day.
They don’t like like the idea that there are other treatments than what they learned about in med school, or never learned about in med school. They don’t want to hear about how a proper diet can cure a lot of ills and that more pills isn’t the answer.
They know better.
The genesis of arrogant twatism.
But surely lawyers aren’t like that?
No. We’re not. Not yet, anyway. But Ai and YouTube are making it more and more likely that this could change. Our clients will start questioning us, if they haven’t started already.
So, lawyers need to be prepared. Because when those doubts and questions come, we need to not only be prepared to address them and patiently explain things to our clients and prospects, we need to scrupulously avoid any hint of arrogance.
I know, it’s hard. But we must.
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