It may only be November, but the modern world moves fast and
Christmas is coming soon, it seems. Therefore now it is timely to wonder what
present you will buy for the hospital porter who seems to have everything.
There is a fashion meme going round at the moment which centres on the slogan:
"It's a porter thing; you wouldn't understand." I'm not sure where this
catchphrase originated or what "porter" refers to. I thought it might
mean Porter ale, but it doesn't specifically. That fount of universal wisdom,
Google AI, cannot identify where it originated. Despite this it has appeared on
a wide variety of merchandize, such as this hat: https://mfamilyhub.com/products/Porter-thing-washed-baseball-cap
and illustrated above. Also this jersey: https://seseable.co.uk/products/its-porter-thing-wouldnt-understand-family-name-women-sweatshirt-g7oj8jM9K9Ie.
The good news also comes from Google AI, because I asked it: "Could it apply to hospital porters?"
and the response was: "Yes, the
phrase could easily apply to hospital porters. While the phrase 'It's a Porter
thing; you wouldn't understand' primarily appears online as a personalized
name-based meme, for people with the surname or first name 'Porter'; it is also
used in a professional context. You can find merchandise such as mugs and
t-shirts featuring this specific slogan aimed at hospital porters, highlighting
the specific, often challenging and varied, duties of the job that other
hospital staff might not fully appreciate; such as moving patients, equipment,
hazardous waste, deceased patients, etc. This is different from other types of
porters, such as hotel porters or baggage porters. In this context, the 'porter
thing' refers to the shared experiences, inside jokes, unique challenges, and
essential role that people in that specific profession understand, which those
outside the role; e.g. doctors, nurses, administration etc, would not. It is a light-hearted
way for a specific group of workers to acknowledge their unique contribution
and camaraderie." What can I say except... copy that! So I think we
have the perfect stocking filler for that wonderful HP in your life who's bored
with getting new pairs of socks or cheap supermarket Scotch every year.
Surprise and delight him in Christmas 2025!
