# I am infatuated with my German professor **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 12, 2011, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-infatuated-with-my-german-professor/602715 "2011-11-12T19:07:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2011, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-infatuated-with-my-german-professor/602715/21 "2011-11-13T05:54:54Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > I surrender! And I don’t even speak German. You’ve been in Paris too long. Come home. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2011, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-infatuated-with-my-german-professor/602715/22 "2011-11-13T05:54:56Z")
> [@even\_sven](#): > > it’s pretty unethical to go much farther with someone who is in such a different place in their life- the power dynamics are just too much. Come on. There are power dynamics at play in almost every male-female relationship ever. If it feels good, you should try it. _Try_ it. If it doesn’t work out, so what? Most relationships eventually don’t work out. Life is for living. You only get one bite of the apple, as a punk-rock lawyer once told me. > [@](#): > > At 30ish, she is probably thinking pretty hard about starting a family- a 21 year old kid (and you are a kid to her) isn’t not likely to be someone she is going to spend a lot of time on. Maybe. Maybe not. A German teacher who is teaching a basic class to inexperienced students is probably a graduate student, i.e. just another student. Not really much different from PSXer’s social station, and not a huge “power dynamic”. ---
**Author:** ![PSXer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/48db29/32.png) [@PSXer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PSXer)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2011, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-infatuated-with-my-german-professor/602715/23 "2011-11-13T06:10:21Z")
I’m not an experienced student; this is like 5th semester. And for like the 3rd time in this topic I will say she is a professor, not a grad student ---
**Author:** ![festiva76](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8e8cbc/32.png) [@festiva76](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/festiva76)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2011, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-infatuated-with-my-german-professor/602715/24 "2011-11-13T13:11:03Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > “Ich möchte meinem Spitzelilakopfenjoghurtstrahler in Ihrem Torevonhöchsteliebe gesetzt.” > > Sexy! Wow..have you ran this thru Google translate? ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2011, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-infatuated-with-my-german-professor/602715/25 "2011-11-13T14:58:54Z")
IMO if you are serious about this, this is what you should do. Wait until the semester is over. Then, between semesters ask her out (can’ help you on how to do that). And if she is interested DO NOT take her class next semester. And if she isn’t interested, DO NOT take her class next semester. And, when you ask her out make it clear that you are NOT taking her class next semester (and when you say it, mean it and do it no matter what). Or, even better, ask her out AFTER the next semester starts and she knows you are not taking her class. If she’s got half a brain she’s not going to sleep with a current student. If you show her you are considerate and mature and moral enough to realize a student-teacher relationship is a bad idea you might have a small chance (but keep in mind this “relationship” as it stands now is most likely in your mind only). Anything else is grossly unfair to her and for that matter will make both of your lives more complicated and more unpleasant than they need to be. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2011, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-infatuated-with-my-german-professor/602715/26 "2011-11-13T15:33:21Z")
> [@PSXer](#): > > she might be 29. I don’t know Depends on what you mean by “professor”. Prof= someone who teaches the class? Anywhere from a TA of 22 to 65+ year old. Prof= someone who achieved the rank of (full) professor? 40+ most likely, often older. Prof= someone on the tenure track? Asst prof, Asociate prof or full prof could be 28+ on up. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2011, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-infatuated-with-my-german-professor/602715/27 "2011-11-13T15:39:12Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > “Ich möchte meinem Spitzelilakopfenjoghurtstrahler in Ihrem Torevonhöchsteliebe gesetzt.” LOL. It reads so funny because you used the formal possessive pronoun. Well done. ---
**Author:** ![Death\_of\_Rats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2011, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-infatuated-with-my-german-professor/602715/28 "2011-11-13T16:02:43Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > you know who else was in love with his teacher? (sorry couldnt resist). aFDR? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2011, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-infatuated-with-my-german-professor/602715/29 "2011-11-13T16:39:31Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > > [@even\_sven](#): > > > > It’s very unethical to go any farther with a student, and it’s pretty unethical to go much farther with someone who is in such a different place in their life- the power dynamics are just too much. > > Come on. There are power dynamics at play in almost every male-female relationship ever. If it feels good, you should try it. _Try_ it. If it doesn’t work out, so what? Most relationships eventually don’t work out. Life is for living. You only get one bite of the apple, as a punk-rock lawyer once told me. Sure, no problem. What _possible_ consequences could there be for a professor who fools around with a student? It’s not like the professor spent years getting to that position and it’s not like she or he would lose that position and any possibility of another such position. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2011, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-infatuated-with-my-german-professor/602715/30 "2011-11-13T17:59:58Z")
> [@festiva76](#): > > Wow..have you ran this thru Google translate? I get “I would like to put my head in your purple head yogurt spot.” ---
**Author:** ![EvilTOJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2011, 8:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-infatuated-with-my-german-professor/602715/31 "2011-11-14T08:21:15Z")
I get " I would like to put my head in your purple head yogurt spot Torevonhöchsteliebe." the only reference I find for Torevonhöchsteliebe is this thread. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2011, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-infatuated-with-my-german-professor/602715/32 "2011-11-14T10:33:27Z")
They’re fake portmanteau words run through Google Translate then amalgamated. “I would like to put my great purple headed yogurt extruder into your gates of heavenly love.” ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2011, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-infatuated-with-my-german-professor/602715/33 "2011-11-14T12:10:17Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Sure, no problem. What _possible_ consequences could there be for a professor who fools around with a student? It’s not like the professor spent years getting to that position and it’s not like she or he would lose that position and any possibility of another such position. And don’t forget that, even without that, a breakup means you are going to have to deal with your ex for a long time afterwards, and she’s going to be in a position of power over you. Even without meaning to, it’s really hard for that not to affect how she teaches you. I had a cousin (not first cousin) who was convicted for having consensual sex with a student, even though he was of age. There’s a special part of the law that made it a crime for two years longer. It makes sense–one of the main arguments for pedophilia laws going past puberty is the idea that the adult has power over the kid due to their greater experience. And, no, there aren’t inherent external power dynamics in nearly all relationships. Most relationships are amongst social equals. There’s even a big thing about how bad it is for your friend to be your boss, let alone your lover. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2011, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-infatuated-with-my-german-professor/602715/34 "2011-11-14T12:29:03Z")
I am astonished at the absence of “child-raper” accusations aimed at this predatory woman in this scenario. Oh, that’s right. This is a 30 year old FEMALE professor and a 21 y.o. MALE student–alles gut. never mind. ---
**Author:** ![SCSimmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e495f1/32.png) [@SCSimmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCSimmons)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2011, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-infatuated-with-my-german-professor/602715/35 "2011-11-14T17:36:05Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > They’re fake portmanteau words run through Google Translate then amalgamated. > > “I would like to put my great purple headed yogurt extruder into your gates of heavenly love.” Amazingly, it sounds even _less_ romantic in German. Wait, that’s not amazing. _Everything_ sounds less romantic in German. I’m entirely puzzled how German men get German women to have sex with them. Maybe they do all their romancing in French or Italian. ---
**Author:** ![SeaCanary](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@SeaCanary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaCanary)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2011, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-infatuated-with-my-german-professor/602715/36 "2011-11-14T21:27:53Z")
> [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > I am astonished at the absence of “child-raper” accusations aimed at this predatory woman in this scenario. Oh, that’s right. This is a 30 year old FEMALE professor and a 21 y.o. MALE student–alles gut. never mind. If I’m missing something please tell me, but[ol] [li]the female hasn’t done anything and[/li][li]I believe the male is above the age of consent.[/li][/ol] Please tell me how the issue of rape – and I’m assuming you are using the term “rape” as defined by law – enters into this discussion. Is it because she is 9 years his senior? Because if that’s the issue, I don’t see how that necessarily indicates some kind of moral outrage is afoot let alone legal. Please explain. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2011, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-infatuated-with-my-german-professor/602715/37 "2011-11-14T22:05:44Z")
Whatever you do, don’t mention the war. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2011, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-infatuated-with-my-german-professor/602715/38 "2011-11-14T22:18:16Z")
I’m sure prr is satirizing something about his perception of jumping to accusations of statutory rape or something. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2011, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-infatuated-with-my-german-professor/602715/39 "2011-11-14T22:19:38Z")
> [@SeaCanary](#): > > > [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > > > I am astonished at the absence of “child-raper” accusations aimed at this predatory woman in this scenario. Oh, that’s right. This is a 30 year old FEMALE professor and a 21 y.o. MALE student–alles gut. never mind. > > If I’m missing something please tell me, but[ol] > [li]the female hasn’t done anything and[/li][li]I believe the male is above the age of consent.[/li][/ol] > Please tell me how the issue of rape – and I’m assuming you are using the term “rape” as defined by law – enters into this discussion. Is it because she is 9 years his senior? Because if that’s the issue, I don’t see how that necessarily indicates some kind of moral outrage is afoot let alone legal. > > Please explain. Even the male (i.e., **PSXer** ) has done nothing except for engaging in an infatuation. No idea why **pseudotriton ruber ruber** is getting upset. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2011, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-infatuated-with-my-german-professor/602715/40 "2011-11-15T00:24:47Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > I’m sure prr is satirizing something about his perception of jumping to accusations of statutory rape or something. Yeah, I was going to respond to this initially, but refrained. It seems **prr** is intimating some sort of double standard here, but it’s completely non-sensical. Even if the genders were reversed, I doubt anybody here would comment on it. For chrissake, it’s a possibly 30-year-old and 21-year-old. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-infatuated-with-my-german-professor/602715.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-infatuated-with-my-german-professor/602715.md?page=3)