Staying after class every single day to discuss what we did in class is not helping your grade, or my attitude. In fact, asking me to repeat what I just lectured on does not endear me to you. I know you think we're having deep philosophical discussions about the material we just covered, but essentially, you're just repeating what everyone else said in class. The fact that you do not participate, and merely remain after class to repeat what everyone else has said is so annoying that I'd rather listen to Sinead O'Connor wail for 18 hours straight than hear another "insight" that you've JUST come up with.
That comment you made about soldiers being viewed as commodities? Brandon said that.
That insight you had about the fact that soldiers had more than physical burdens? That's from the story.
Your paper topic idea? Desiree already wrote that on the board.
Your notion that your peers are "not up to your standards," and therefore aren't worth talking to? Bullshit.
Nothing you are talking about with me after class warrants holding me up for 18 minutes every single day. So, for the love of grilled cheese, just participate in the class discussion so you don't feel the need to 'discuss' it with me after class. Leave me the fuck alone and go away.
I have never understood (or believed) this statement: "I don't contribute because the discussion is not up to my level."
ReplyDeleteYou would think someone so openly aware of his/her own brilliance would be eager to show up the rest of us dumbasses with some of those high-level comments.
And the other side of this coin is that WE avoid those conversations for the same reason, simply because they are too dumb to be shown up for anything!
Delete"For the love of grilled cheese..." followed by "leave me the fuck alone.."
ReplyDeleteI salute you, sir or madame!
"For the love of grilled cheese" is, indeed, wonderful -- all the more so because I do, indeed, love grilled cheese (or, for that matter, melted cheese in pretty much any form).
DeleteHeh, heh. I every time I think about "for the love of..." I think about what I really do love and is sacred to me... and grilled cheese about comes close to a spiritual experience.
DeleteI high school there were three super-keeners in our English class. We used to place bets which of them would reach the teacher's desk when class was over. The bell for the end of class was like the gun in a race - ZOOOOM! they all went, up to the front to ask important follow-up questions.
ReplyDeleteWell, we made fun of them then. They're all doing famously now, of course.
I never know exactly how to handle these people. When I give them poor participation scores, they come up to me and say "but professor brown-cowwwwwwwwwwww. You know I come up after class". When I point out that it is an in-class grade, they act as though I just killed their puppy. Ugh.
ReplyDeleteThe puppy probably had it coming.
DeleteI say dissolve all puppies in diesel fuel and use the resulting concoction to run Strelnikov's T-34s.
DeleteYeah, I hate these upsuckers. They think that the way to achieve a decent grade is by creating a relationship with the teacher. Who the hell tells them this? Is this a "business" thing?
ReplyDeleteThe problem is that they are not creating a relationship; they are feigning enthusiasm for and knowledge of your field for an entirely self-serving purpose. And it's both obvious and incredibly disrespectful.
I had one of these types this semester. And I was so delighted that he ended up with a D.
"The problem is that they are not creating a relationship; they are feigning enthusiasm for and knowledge of your field for an entirely self-serving purpose."
DeleteYup. Sounds like a business worldview. Politics too, come to think of it.
Bible thumpy alpha-hole colleague did this in grad school. It worked, and he got all kinds of freebies and bragged about being friends with his teachers. He then went on to a prestigious uni where he attempted his PhD, but flunked out because he didn't know anything. He was accepted into this uni because one of his "friends" was a world renowned topologist who wrote a letter of recommendation for him.
DeleteI'd like to think he flunked out because he couldn't make friends with his teachers at the uni.
EMH: I hate to think that his professors were so taken in by him and didn't read through his sleaze.
DeleteBuster: for a while, the fraternities on our campus were actually requiring their members to visit office hours and ask a question. This sounds like a good idea until you find your first few office hours, when you were hoping to get a head start on various things essential to the semester, invaded by a bunch of young men in ill-fitting coats and ties who ask you some inane question that is clearly and unequivocally answered on the syllabus, and then ask you to sign a piece of paper saying they've been there.
DeleteBut but but... sometimes it works! I had a couple of professors who love to hear themselves talk and WANT that little gathering as a testament to their brilliance.
ReplyDeleteAnd, yes, I did get a higher grade for laughing at their jokes.
Now that I think of it, you are right! I have a few colleagues exactly like that. Must be where these upsuckers learn it.
Delete