I know what it's like to be on the receiving end of flakery, and I know how annoying it can be, so I do my best not to be a Grad-flake. For the most part, I do my work, contribute when I think I might have something of value to add to a discussion, and don't bother my Professors or adviser.
I know that most often, we can rely on technology to work the way it is supposed to. I don't allow my own students breaks when they tell me a printer didn't work (there are nearly 100 printers on campus, so go use a different one!), and things of that nature.
Having said that, when the entire class can't access an electronic resource, and they've taken steps on their own to resolve the issue (browser configuration, cookie settings, contacting IT, speaking with a librarian, etc), it might actually be that we aren't all idiots who can't follow directions.
So, I will trudge my way to the local university library. Luckily, the sources are available there in print. If I weren't fortunate enough to live nearby, I'd be up the creek without a paddle this week. I wonder what some of my classmates in remote locations will do to get by. In the meantime, I'll hope that the IT Library guy gets to campus and works on resolving the issue for the future.
As much as I hate when my own students whine and complain about their profs, I'm just the same this week.
See all of that pro-active stuff you did? To me, this suggests a departure from flakery. Flakes are passive, except when they are whining.
ReplyDeleteI agree with BlackDog.
ReplyDeleteThis is also another case of:
Die, IT Dept, die!
I second both BlackDog and Dr D. If you hadn't tried all that and just whined directly to the professor, you'd be a flake. But, you aren't a flake. By the way, the tattoo across Dr D's chest says (said as it's pronounced) "Dee, IT Department, dee." and we know that nobody who speaks German can be bad, right?
ReplyDeleteMathsquatch out.
Mathsquatch, we would have preferred that you called it a pee-pee soaked heck hole....
ReplyDelete