tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post6535470768362167799..comments2023-10-15T04:23:50.187-04:00Comments on College Misery: Oh hell noUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-10056485197067904482013-01-02T11:04:23.774-05:002013-01-02T11:04:23.774-05:00@CC and others - requests to "link" at L...@CC and others - requests to "link" at LinkedIn or Xing or other such sites are often sent automatically, without the requester actually doing anything. Those sites figure out who knows or might know who and, depending on your settings, might send out link requests. That is why 90% of the link-up requests I get are not accompanied by any other communication - just the standardized &AdjunctSlavehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17025851491072402087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-28207708302077446292012-12-31T14:07:03.618-05:002012-12-31T14:07:03.618-05:00If it's a letter of *reference* rather than re...If it's a letter of *reference* rather than recommendation, well...<br /><br />I'm with "mad scientist" Froderick. First thing that occurred to me, too. (I wouldn't follow through, but a few moments of delicious imagination to be had.)Stewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08152778218277191283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-81419863125227921462012-12-31T12:40:43.909-05:002012-12-31T12:40:43.909-05:00I was in no position to say no to the department h...I was in no position to say no to the department head, so I wrote the letter. It was a well-known uni and truly one of the worst places I've ever worked. Great Lakes Gretahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08101613060478193833noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-37432850437901884362012-12-30T16:58:42.235-05:002012-12-30T16:58:42.235-05:00I know! I have that happen occasionally. Asshole w...I know! I have that happen occasionally. Asshole wants to link to MY network? Hell no! <br />The Contemplative Cynichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02088570661592922436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-55726968905115738132012-12-30T16:58:13.685-05:002012-12-30T16:58:13.685-05:00I'm stuck on the idea that you were ordered to...I'm stuck on the idea that you were ordered to do this, too! WHAT? I wouldn't have even bothered trying to craft a well worded letter; I'd have just been blatantly honest about how I felt if it were something I were doing under duress.The Contemplative Cynichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02088570661592922436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-26930140808394556112012-12-30T13:53:28.580-05:002012-12-30T13:53:28.580-05:00You are way too damn nice. If a cheater asked me f...You are way too damn nice. If a cheater asked me for a reference, I would jolly well give one, and it would be FRANK.WhatLadderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11603489349164511704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-7072837833426150222012-12-30T08:58:18.037-05:002012-12-30T08:58:18.037-05:00Um, your department head ORDERED you to write a le...Um, your department head ORDERED you to write a letter of recommendation, at the request of a crappy student? Jeez, and I thought I had it bad when I was an Accursed Visiting Assistant Professor!<br /><br />Come to think of it, though, if that had happened to me, it wouldn't have taken long for me to start giggling like a proper mad scientist, my grin a fatuous thing, dreadful to behold. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-77652460094073654142012-12-30T08:55:55.596-05:002012-12-30T08:55:55.596-05:00Um, your department head ORDERED you to write a le...Um, your department head ORDERED you to write a letter of recommendation, at the request of a crappy student? Jeez, and I thought I had it bad when I was an Accursed Visiting Assistant Professor!<br /><br />Come to think of it, though, if that had happened to me, it wouldn't have taken long for me to start giggling like a proper mad scientist, my grin a fatuous thing, dreadful to behold. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-31510380868229171132012-12-30T06:07:30.337-05:002012-12-30T06:07:30.337-05:00Totally agree with Proffie Galore that students eq...Totally agree with Proffie Galore that students equate asking for reference letters with just another box to check off the list of Stuff To Attempt before leaving campus to do whatever internship/job/grad program they aim to do next. They clearly don't put a whole lot of thought into this -- and even the good ones lack strategy. <br /><br />To wit: This week I had a better-than-average Edna Expathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11438002061912782295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-44623868777663916502012-12-30T00:43:30.936-05:002012-12-30T00:43:30.936-05:00If I ever get a request for Hell Student, I will t...If I ever get a request for Hell Student, I will tell the truth: more interested in sport than study, cheats repeatedly on exams, takes 20 minute smoke breaks in the middle of classes, arrives late, belligerent, disrespectful to female authority, and generally very rude.Maybellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01470091893270064951noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-85346167186275046212012-12-29T23:15:54.163-05:002012-12-29T23:15:54.163-05:00I always state to any student who asks for a refer...I always state to any student who asks for a reference letter, who shouldn't be asking, that "I'd be writing a letter that probably won't be of assistance to you." So far, they've always politely ceased all requests for letters after that.Prof Poopieheadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00997969128824319914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-37436597296962495422012-12-29T22:44:49.346-05:002012-12-29T22:44:49.346-05:00Hooray for Maybelle!
But perhaps Hell Student h...Hooray for Maybelle! <br /><br />But perhaps Hell Student has already listed Maybelle as a reference on an application, thinking (as one of mine once did) that asking a professor to serve as a reference is just a formality. Wouldn't it be sweet to be contacted by a potential employer about Hell Student and to simply state, "I cannot recommend this student"?<br /><br />Why would weAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02906546940408742913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-80550671380596428572012-12-29T20:59:02.779-05:002012-12-29T20:59:02.779-05:00Once upon a time, I had a terrible, horrible perso...Once upon a time, I had a terrible, horrible person passing herself off as a student ask me for a letter of recommendation after she'd caused me no small amount of trouble with my own department head.<br /><br />I declined.<br /><br />She sent right back to the department head, who told me that I should write the letter.<br /><br />I wrote the letter. It was not enthusiastic. I did what I Great Lakes Gretahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08101613060478193833noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-17337239467649466532012-12-29T20:20:40.371-05:002012-12-29T20:20:40.371-05:00What I like (and yes, I'm being sarcastic) is ...What I like (and yes, I'm being sarcastic) is when students or former colleagues list me as a reference without my knowledge. My set response is - I'm sorry, I don't know this person well enough to provide the information you request.<br /><br />On occasion, I'll get a request for a reference from a student, like the one I received recently from a student who I caught cheating. Karen Ackoffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01527412523732265688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-5304804049743956092012-12-29T20:06:05.294-05:002012-12-29T20:06:05.294-05:00I have had simalar students try to network with me...I have had simalar students try to network with me on Linked In and on FB. No way in hell. Not even curiousity about how crazy and delusional they really are will let me open up my personal life to them!Nicolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12653265363298375065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-70450977363760569922012-12-29T19:49:45.450-05:002012-12-29T19:49:45.450-05:00Since Hell Student probably lived up to his or her...Since Hell Student probably lived up to his or her name, deleting the request may be justifiable. I'm not aware of a professor or instructor being legally obligated to give their name to a student as a reference.<br /><br />On the other hand, it's perfectly legitimate to decline such a request either verbally or in writing. I've had people turn me down when I asked them for referencesAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-46059194179415740432012-12-29T19:47:31.197-05:002012-12-29T19:47:31.197-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com