This is really great. And I totally enjoyed it until the pussy comment.
I mean, what is this really saying here? That only pussies send emails? That only pussies expect interaction outside of class? That it is particularly feminine to use twitter? Or bitching in public is something that my vagina (or cat) might do?
As a female (and a) cat lover, I was having a bit of trouble with "pussy" as an insult, too.
Whether the student is, in fact, being a "dumb shit" also depends on what kind of class the student is taking, and what the local expectations for email communication are. My students in both my hybrid and traditional classes have a right to expect me to answer email within a reasonable time (which is defined on the syllabus -- no more than 24 hours during the week, and 48 hours over the weekend -- though I'm having trouble sticking to the latter because my students do so much of their work over the weekend, and because I don't want to spend all of Monday sorting, collating, and answering series of increasingly frantic emails). I don't like the extent to which interactions even with students in traditional classes have moved online, but, realistically, they have. And college proffies are hardly alone in this regard; a lot of people are now available to their bosses and/or customers 24/7. If anything, at least some of us (those with more secure jobs, less dependent on student evals for continued employment) have more opportunity to set boundaries than many workers.
Something that came up recently at a faculty meeting was a request that faculty adopt a moratorium on emails over the weekend. since most of us have email going straight to phones or whatever, the idea is that you should only email someone if it's urgent. Otherwise, let it wait.
I like that. My request or question can indeed usually wait. But students usually can't. (or aren't mature enough to try)
I agree ... there is something viscerally pleasing about the smackdown but troubling in the method.
As a primarily online instructor at this point, I had to break myself of the instant response habit. It was tempting ... I spend the vast majority of my time sitting at the computer. So what's the harm at responding to the EMail when it arrives?
As most of you already know, the harm is that then students believe EMail is the equivalent of texting and I am, well, sitting at my computer most of the time, ready, willing, and able to respond in the moment.
Thank you Outlook for the "Delay response" feature. I get the EMail out of my "to do" box, but the student still has to wait a few hours to get their answer.
LOVE IT! What does it mean when they ignore OUR emails back to them?
ReplyDeleteThis is really great. And I totally enjoyed it until the pussy comment.
ReplyDeleteI mean, what is this really saying here? That only pussies send emails? That only pussies expect interaction outside of class? That it is particularly feminine to use twitter? Or bitching in public is something that my vagina (or cat) might do?
And now I'm confused.
As a female (and a) cat lover, I was having a bit of trouble with "pussy" as an insult, too.
DeleteWhether the student is, in fact, being a "dumb shit" also depends on what kind of class the student is taking, and what the local expectations for email communication are. My students in both my hybrid and traditional classes have a right to expect me to answer email within a reasonable time (which is defined on the syllabus -- no more than 24 hours during the week, and 48 hours over the weekend -- though I'm having trouble sticking to the latter because my students do so much of their work over the weekend, and because I don't want to spend all of Monday sorting, collating, and answering series of increasingly frantic emails). I don't like the extent to which interactions even with students in traditional classes have moved online, but, realistically, they have. And college proffies are hardly alone in this regard; a lot of people are now available to their bosses and/or customers 24/7. If anything, at least some of us (those with more secure jobs, less dependent on student evals for continued employment) have more opportunity to set boundaries than many workers.
I feel you on the Monday morning free-for-all.
DeleteSomething that came up recently at a faculty meeting was a request that faculty adopt a moratorium on emails over the weekend. since most of us have email going straight to phones or whatever, the idea is that you should only email someone if it's urgent. Otherwise, let it wait.
I like that. My request or question can indeed usually wait. But students usually can't. (or aren't mature enough to try)
My mail signature states that mail is dealt with 8-4, M-F. This is aimed at students not colleagues. Sounds like an interesting meeting, AM.
DeleteLet's be clear that Yer Professor is NOT anyone associated with the moderation of the blog. Terry posted the tweets, but he just found them.
ReplyDeleteGood to know. I wondered. Thanks!
DeleteI agree ... there is something viscerally pleasing about the smackdown but troubling in the method.
ReplyDeleteAs a primarily online instructor at this point, I had to break myself of the instant response habit. It was tempting ... I spend the vast majority of my time sitting at the computer. So what's the harm at responding to the EMail when it arrives?
As most of you already know, the harm is that then students believe EMail is the equivalent of texting and I am, well, sitting at my computer most of the time, ready, willing, and able to respond in the moment.
Thank you Outlook for the "Delay response" feature.
I get the EMail out of my "to do" box, but the student still has to wait a few hours to get their answer.
Ooh. I need to check out that feature. Does it work on the web version of Outlook?
DeleteI was right there, until YerProfessor used a sexist putdown. I know it's not TerryP--it just bugged me.
ReplyDeleteSay "Come to class; don't be an asshole." Problem solved.
...or "snowflake"--that seriously needs to become the vernacular beyond our near-exclusive domain.
ReplyDelete