So I was at a party at a friend's house here in, um, Richmond. I introduced myself to someone I'd never met--an adjunct prof at a nearby school--and during the course of the conversation, she mentioned that she used to send entries to RYS, some of which were posted. It was the first time I'd met another RYS reader/writer (goodness knows I've recommended the site to people often enough), and we had a great time talking about the glory days of RYS, our favorite posts, our favorite correspondents, and CM (I joined it, she didn't). We even revealed our monikers.
Has this happened to anyone else? Have you randomly met someone, had RYS come up in conversation, and ten minutes later you find our you're talking to Wicked Walter or Compound Cash?
I've met three RYS fans, though I couldn't tell you if they were "correspondents" or not, but I found them all simply by seeing them carrying old RYS merchandise, like the tote.
ReplyDeleteThis probably isn't fair, but I might know about a dozen folks who were a part of RYS, nearly all of them through my role as a moderator. What's been neat is meeting these people in person rather than just through electronic means.
ReplyDeleteI've always felt that that little community - and this new one - has a chance to change the college landscape. If we can just keep our shit together!
I met a guy at the MLA conference 2 years ago who had an RYS travel mug. We struck up a conversation over that and ended up having dinner together and talking about our work. His wife, in fact, presented that year, and it was a paper on one of my favorite authors.
ReplyDeleteI work at one of the largest, most kick ass, universities in the country, so I have a lot of colleagues. I tend to be involved in campus politics, so I know a lot of people on campus. At least four people (one in my department) have asked me point blank if I was Walt.
ReplyDeleteAnd I always said the same thing: "Fucking Ay."
I've used the words "flava" and "please to enjoy" in emails, course handouts, and lectures. The student RYS fans (usually 1-2 per 100 students) always revealed themselves upon hearing these words.
ReplyDeleteGosh, when I use "flava" wit' the kids, they always presume I watch reality TV...which I also do.
ReplyDeleteme, too, poopie... I know I'm probably 20 years behind the curve on these things, but flava, please to enjoy, snowflakes, and smackdown are all things I use all the time. i know RYS didn't originate this stuff, but in my world, they sure popularized them.
ReplyDeleteand, I forgot to mention earlier that I walked in on a colleague last year who quickly swiveled his monitor around so I wouldn't see it. then he laughed and swiveled it back...
"It's just Rate Your Students," he said, "I didn't want you to think I was looking at porn."
And I said, "But to me, RYS IS porn..."
and I made a new friend.
If there are academics at a party, I don't go.
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes to RYS and CM, I follow Fight Club rules.
ReplyDeleteI overheard some colleagues talking about the first post I made, but I didn't out myself to them.
ReplyDeletePicky Historian and I have known each other for several years, long enough to go into side-business together and long before either of us stumbled across CM/RYS. So of course we don't count, but it's still a connection.
ReplyDeleteRevealing my RYS/CM identity is on my list (a top ten list, as you might expect) of Things To Do During The Year Before I Retire.
ReplyDeleteMy older brother told my about RYS -- and I told him that I'd already posted on it a couple of times.
ReplyDelete