Guard Dog Posted November 9, 2009 Posted November 9, 2009 I stopped at Costcos on the way home today. It's a warehouse/price club type place where you can buy stuff in bulk. So anyway, I bought five forty pound (a little over 18 Kg) bags of premium dog food. Thats it, nothing else. So I'm waiting to check out and the doofy guy at the register says "you must have a lot of dogs!" I looked at him with a dead straight face and told him "No, I don't have a dog." He looked at me a little funny so I told him, again with a dead straight face, that I ran the Chili concession over at the fairgrounds. Then I took the receipt, and walked away. You should have seen the look on his face!I laughed all the way to the truck! I bet thet guy never eats at that chili stand again! "While it is true you learn with age, the down side is what you often learn is what a damn fool you were before" Thomas Sowell
Aristes Posted November 9, 2009 Posted November 9, 2009 You're a right swinehearted wretch, Gaurd Dog. I bought a 40 pound bag of rice at Costco yesterday. No one asked me if I had any dogs.
alanschu Posted November 9, 2009 Posted November 9, 2009 Ultimately I put in "I'd do XXXXX, and I find this question wholly inappropriate". Will I use points? Yes, but I also think that if I did what alan suggested I'd end up flunking simply because she doesn't like somebody fighting her views. If you're at a post-secondary institution, you should have reprieve for this type of inappropriate action. I'd almost write the paper explicitly to challenge her. Honestly, if she doesn't she's a discredit to the University. And when you go to her to discuss the poor mark, say to her "I plan on combating racism by not standing by and accepting your discriminatory marking because I disagree with how you see the world." Which, given your previous examples of what happened in the class, is probably quite valid. It'd be a lot of work, but I honestly think that your professor is performing a disservice to her students, in addition to blemishing the school's reputation. What's the professor's name? I'm curious about her publishing history.
Walsingham Posted November 9, 2009 Posted November 9, 2009 Do NOT try to take on professors head-on. I did that at school in an essay on the House of Lords. I tried to argue that despite it being theoretically unworkable and unjust it mysteriously continued to give good value for money compared with the House of Commons, which tends to just go with the party whip. My socialist tutor marked it 'N' for unmarkable, which was lower than the guy who handed in crumpled stained sheets of notepaper copied wholesale from the textbook, proving it wasn't just normal marking of a crap essay. "It wasn't lies. It was just... bull****"." -Elwood Blues tarna's dead; processing... complete. Disappointed by Universe. RIP Hades/Sand/etc. Here's hoping your next alt has a harp.
Calax Posted November 9, 2009 Posted November 9, 2009 Well I'm at a community which means that the teachers aren't published. And often the teachers aren't that fantastic. Sometimes you get one or two who know what they're doing (my business teacher for example used to be an exec who would come in, clean up somebodies mess, and then go to the next mess). This teacher at least knows how to teach but she also will start to preach on subjects (particularly inequalities). My philosophy teacher doesn't know how to teach and doesn't really let us discuss philosophy. Victor of the 5 year fan fic competition! Kevin Butler will awesome your face off.
Aristes Posted November 9, 2009 Posted November 9, 2009 I hate to say this, super Cal, but I'd try to think of something reasonable to do that will get you through the course. I'm with Walsh on that one. I agree with Allan, and it would piss me off to no end, but I've taken on professors and you can certainly do it, but for someone like this professor, you have to be ready to hit the mattresses. I mean, this is an ordeal and I couldn't advise doing it. However, if you do, I would certainly follow Allan's advice about writing an excellent paper with even better research than if you'd just done it her way. Then, get a faculty advisor to review your paper before you turn it in, maybe even the head of the department. Incorporate his suggestions and tighten it up. Have at least one peer review from a friend. Make sure that you have taken the explicit instructions from the professor, preferably written, and hit every requirement. Then, ask yourself, "Do I want to die on this hill?" If it's a fight worth having, then charge it! Maybe you'll even see make out my corpse when you get to the top. You might actually win, although as likely not. I'm fool enough to have done this, but there is no slave or servitude in just passing the class and washing your hands of this professor. Today, I'm catching up with some stuff that I need to finish and then it's Dragon Age for the win.
alanschu Posted November 9, 2009 Posted November 9, 2009 (edited) Well that sucks. You might have less reprieve at that institution. At the University of Alberta I could probably turn your professor into a full fledged scandal using just the Student's Union and campus newspaper haha. Though there is proper avenues for getting papers and whatnot regraded through more "diplomatic" type channels haha. Making an argument that your ability to critically assess the material is severely prejudiced by a professor's bias is exactly the type of thing the University of Alberta would prefer to avoid. I guess I just got lucky and never had crusaders as any of my professors. Edited November 9, 2009 by alanschu
LadyCrimson Posted November 9, 2009 Posted November 9, 2009 I stopped at Costcos on the way home today. It's a warehouse/price club type place where you can buy stuff in bulk. So anyway, I bought five forty pound (a little over 18 Kg) bags of premium dog food. Thats it, nothing else. So I'm waiting to check out and the doofy guy at the register says "you must have a lot of dogs!" I looked at him with a dead straight face and told him "No, I don't have a dog." He looked at me a little funny so I told him, again with a dead straight face, that I ran the Chili concession over at the fairgrounds. Then I took the receipt, and walked away. You should have seen the look on his face!I laughed all the way to the truck! I bet thet guy never eats at that chili stand again! You're so mean. When I had 9 cats and when pet food shopping, people would ask/say stuff like that to me too. One even asked me if I ran a pet shelter or something. heh The Costco near us was closed for complete re-building, for months...finally reopened. I need to check it out. I can always use godzilla size bottles of Motrin & mustard etc. “Things are as they are. Looking out into the universe at night, we make no comparisons between right and wrong stars, nor between well and badly arranged constellations.” – Alan Watts
theslug Posted November 9, 2009 Posted November 9, 2009 Do NOT try to take on professors head-on. I did that at school in an essay on the House of Lords. I tried to argue that despite it being theoretically unworkable and unjust it mysteriously continued to give good value for money compared with the House of Commons, which tends to just go with the party whip. My socialist tutor marked it 'N' for unmarkable, which was lower than the guy who handed in crumpled stained sheets of notepaper copied wholesale from the textbook, proving it wasn't just normal marking of a crap essay. Going with Wals on this one. You never, ever, take on a teacher, there is just no outcome in which you "win." It doesn't matter who is right or wrong when you are in the classroom because school is like the military, if you follow orders you'll do great and if you break orders and go outside of the mold you are going to get pounded (against your will, sexually). Which honestly isn't a bad thing. Especially at the community college level, you are most likely dealing with someone who isn't very good at their craft (and likely just being an idiot in general) becuase if they were any good they would be out making actual money or at a university where they would still make substantially more. No offense to hurlshot, he's a cool dude. There was a time when I questioned the ability for the schizoid to ever experience genuine happiness, at the very least for a prolonged segment of time. I am no closer to finding the answer, however, it has become apparent that contentment is certainly a realizable goal. I find these results to be adequate, if not pleasing. Unfortunately, connection is another subject entirely. When one has sufficiently examined the mind and their emotional constructs, connection can be easily imitated. More data must be gleaned and further collated before a sufficient judgment can be reached.
LadyCrimson Posted November 10, 2009 Posted November 10, 2009 (edited) New pets: Winter White dwarf hamsters! (not in white phase, obviously) They're so cuuuuute! Was only going to get one but these two looked like buddies, plus 2 are more entertaining to watch together. They can both fit in the exercise wheel and pretty much haven't stopped running in it since I got home. At least it's a quiet plastic wheel, lol. Edited November 10, 2009 by LadyCrimson “Things are as they are. Looking out into the universe at night, we make no comparisons between right and wrong stars, nor between well and badly arranged constellations.” – Alan Watts
alanschu Posted November 10, 2009 Posted November 10, 2009 What crappy schools did you guys go to haha? My high school allowed more free thinking than what theslug described!
Aristes Posted November 10, 2009 Posted November 10, 2009 Actually, high school wasn't nearly so bad. College can be bad depending on the professor.
Tigranes Posted November 10, 2009 Posted November 10, 2009 Got to pick your fights Calax - sometimes there are enough people in a given institution who will see right when you present the evidence in their face, sometimes there aren't and you're best of getting what you need and getting out of the sordid affair. I must say, though, I've been regularly successful at challenging teachers on their policies because even if a few teachers are anally retentive about a few issues, the schools in general have been fairly conscientious about taking criticism on board. Lucky me. Interesting crisis going on at our local church where I've been for ten years - turns out our pastor was in fact sent as a missionary to New Zealand from this Korean church, which seems very suspicious; a tiny congregation with no rich members but goes in lavish 'prayer trips' to US, Europe and more frequently, and generally seem somewhat freakish. Pastor appears to have taken tens of thousands of $ in 'no conditions' gift from them to buy his new flash house, except on their website the hosts keep calling it 'our house'. I'm hardly surprised and not really disappointed, since I couldn't care less, but I take issue with participating in any organisation where the leader lies, hides, and then uses the sermons as an opportunity to defend his lies. Current plan is to be outspoken, uncompromising and inevitably blow everyone's top. But like what I told Calax - I could do all taht and people might still prefer to cover things up, pretend nothing happened and have the status quo back. Let's Play: Icewind Dale Ironman (Complete) Let's Play: Icewind Dale II Ironman (Complete) Let's Play: Divinity II (Complete) Let's Play: Baldur's Gate Trilogy Ironman - BG1 (Complete) Let's Play: Baldur's Gate Trilogy Ironman - BG2 (In Progress)
Hurlshort Posted November 10, 2009 Posted November 10, 2009 I teach middle school, and I make it very clear it is not a democracy But as I said earlier, at the primary levels of education it is supposed to be strictly informative teaching, no biases or opinions, present every side of the argument. At the secondary level, teachers are given a lot more leeway to dispense personal opinions. It makes sense because hopefully as an adult you are no longer as impressionable, but it can lead to difficult scenarios when you disagree with the professor. But honestly, are you for racism? Because it should not be too difficult to come up with some hypothetical situations where you combat racism. It's not like you have to follow through with them, but I don't see hoe it hurts you to think about it and write it down. This is pretty standard stuff for sociology classes (in fact I knew it was going to be a sociology teacher :D ) so it's better to just make her happy and move on with your life.
Calax Posted November 10, 2009 Posted November 10, 2009 But honestly, are you for racism? Because it should not be too difficult to come up with some hypothetical situations where you combat racism. It's not like you have to follow through with them, but I don't see hoe it hurts you to think about it and write it down. This is pretty standard stuff for sociology classes (in fact I knew it was going to be a sociology teacher :D ) so it's better to just make her happy and move on with your life. I'm not pro-racism, But it just bugs me that she expects me to go out of my way to do something or lie about it simply to satisfy her need to feel like she made a difference on her crusade against all inequalities. I mean, if I see blatant racism I'm gonna stand up, but she was basically telling us that when we lived our lives, if we were good people who wanted to fight racism, we had to move into a less homogeneous neighborhood, put our kids in a diverse school, and all around change our overall lifestyle to be around those who aren't like ourselves in terms of melanin levels. Like i said, she showed us the video (skin deep) and everyone in the class thought that one of the characters was being hypocritical (a latina was essentially saying "treat me like an individual you white jerk who's oppressed me in the past!"), and when we mentioned it in class (about half the class mentioned it and said something) the teacher attacked us. We also said that her idea of racism seemed to be overblown, given that we haven't seen things on the levels she was describing for a long time. She turned around and said "ok give me proof". One student mentioned that minorities will get jobs over the "majority" if all the applicants are qualified simply to prevent lawsuits, this was dismissed as an anecdote and we were told that proof was studies that were done that showed what we were saying. Similarly her proof that it existed was a few studies from 5+ years ago, and then a personal story from 10 years ago about one of her jobs. Basically we did take her on verbally but she ended up turning herself into a rock that wouldn't move for any reason from her position and DEMANDED that we feel angry about injustices that none of us ever experienced and that we do our best to rectify things simply because we had the gall to be born white and thus benefit from the inequalities/racism that she perceived. Today in class she's going over institutions, and one of the questions she asked was "Is america an oligarchy" because of the fact that 50 senators are millionaires (at least according to her data... which included the fact that only 4 are female), you basically require millions to become a leader in our system etc etc. Which struck me as simply taking her crusade from where it should have stayed (in the previous unit) and simply dragging it along kicking and screaming into the next unit. Victor of the 5 year fan fic competition! Kevin Butler will awesome your face off.
Deadly_Nightshade Posted November 10, 2009 Posted November 10, 2009 I would write something about the professor topic but, seeing as it's about 3:30 in the morning here and I need to get up tomorrow, I think I'll let it wait until later. "Geez. It's like we lost some sort of bet and ended up saddled with a bunch of terrible new posters on this forum." -Hurlshot
Walsingham Posted November 10, 2009 Posted November 10, 2009 I'm going to leave the racism point unless we have a thread for it. I think it's a fine line, standing up to tutors. They like it if you try and then back off, IMO. Army PTIs less so :lol:but contrary to theslug we don't get sexually asaulted for marching out of step. Also, in my experience if you have a REALLY good point that's self-evident then you can get away with it. Sounds strange, but I swear it's true. I've seen people contradict NCOs three times on parade and live. What angers me about this instance is that - unlike the Army - there's no real need for blind obedience EVER in academe. I'm not suggesting positive leadership is out of place. But that's as far as it goes. My advice is to accept that she's wrong, gievn the forum's responses, and just lie to her. Or better still, get someone to crack you in the eye, then claim it happened after your protesting at an inappropriate remark. Should shut her up. Academics love any evidence of physical courage almost as much as businessmen love any evidence of killing people. "It wasn't lies. It was just... bull****"." -Elwood Blues tarna's dead; processing... complete. Disappointed by Universe. RIP Hades/Sand/etc. Here's hoping your next alt has a harp.
Calax Posted November 10, 2009 Posted November 10, 2009 Oh, in other news, I found my new favorite animal http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_bear suckers more unkillable than the ****roach Victor of the 5 year fan fic competition! Kevin Butler will awesome your face off.
Walsingham Posted November 10, 2009 Posted November 10, 2009 Oh, in other news, I found my new favorite animal http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_bear suckers more unkillable than the ****roach Thanks for that. Not only are they awesome, but they just helped me with my work. "It wasn't lies. It was just... bull****"." -Elwood Blues tarna's dead; processing... complete. Disappointed by Universe. RIP Hades/Sand/etc. Here's hoping your next alt has a harp.
Humodour Posted November 10, 2009 Posted November 10, 2009 (edited) I do not care what I did/say/said/posted tonight this drunk pasta is so mother******* awesome it's not funny. SO WORTH IT. ;p.s i made it. Me. Edited November 11, 2009 by Rosbjerg circumventing wordfilter
Humodour Posted November 10, 2009 Posted November 10, 2009 There was Lesbians wrestling in jelly without bras toniught. That was also worth it. I have youtube videos. I shall retruieve them from my mates when i am sober.
alanschu Posted November 10, 2009 Posted November 10, 2009 At the very least Calax, I hope you get a professor evaluation (we were required to have one for every class at my school) sometime toward the end of the semester. That'd be a great time to vent your grievances in a safe and anonymous manner.
Matthew Rorie Posted November 10, 2009 Posted November 10, 2009 I got the new Stephen King novel in the mail. 9 bucks from Amazon for a 1074 page hardback. This thing is huge. Matthew Rorie
Guard Dog Posted November 10, 2009 Posted November 10, 2009 I sold the bumper pool table I restored today. I got $400 for it, with around $150 in it. I'm going on www.newegg.com later to buy parts to build a new PC so in one hand and out the other... "While it is true you learn with age, the down side is what you often learn is what a damn fool you were before" Thomas Sowell
Gorgon Posted November 10, 2009 Posted November 10, 2009 Oh, in other news, I found my new favorite animal http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_bear suckers more unkillable than the ****roach Thanks for that. Not only are they awesome, but they just helped me with my work. Ok, what the hell do you do anyway. If that's not too forward. Na na na na na na ... greg358 from Darksouls 3 PVP is a CHEATER. That is all.
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