Why I hate my students

The BBQ Pit
61

Bio-brat wrote:

“I am happy for the Stats Professor who has never gone through any of this. Do you teach undergrads sir? Will you lower yourself? You’ve BOUGHT your way out of two classes? You have the nerve to think that I degrade Professors and the University?!?!”

Please accept my apology if I offended you, Bio-brat. No offense was intended.

I am also sorry if I gave you the impresion that I have never experienced the behaviors that you described in your OP. Yes, I have had students come to me to get a grade higher than they had earned – most recently because a “C” would increase her car insurance! Naturally, I empathized with her concern and explained that I was not able help her. I have also had students who were completely unmotivated (it is stats, after all), totally unprepared, and seemingly unconcerned with their plight. I fail many of these students (though I try to encourage them to drop if they have earned a 70 or less on the first exam, so that they can avoid failure). Many of my students do not read the textbook, few show up for office hours. Oh, and yes I do teach undergraduate stats – second year, to be exact.

My point to you was that all of our students deserve respect and none of them deserve your hatred.

Yes, I buy my way out of teaching. Yes I think your OP degrades professors and the university. No, I do not believe these two statements are mutally exclusive, as you seem to imply. The fact is that my buying my way out of teaching allows my department to hire a highly motivated professional teacher rather than a researcher like myself. Let me explain:

When I receive a research grant it usually pays some percentage of my salary. I can use that percentage to buy out of a course – each course costs 12.5% of my salary. My chair can turn around and pay an excellent teacher to teach one of my courses for less than 10% of my salary. He keeps the rest to improve the department and hire more teachers. Meanwhile, my grant also brings in indirect costs that keep the university infrastructure going (indirect costs are about 45% of the total award – when we’re talking 500K/award, indirects are not chump change). Also, I think that I may enhance the university by some amount by developing a research program that contributes to the scientific literature and clinical treatment of addictions. Finally, my grants and the time I gain by buying myself out of teaching allow me to train graduate students who earn their Ph.D. in my lab.

Grant-funded university researchers who buy out of courses strengthen the educational enterprise considerably. I would argue that teachers who profess hatred for their students weaken the educational enterprise and, as I said before, degrade their profession, their students, and their university.

If you enjoy research and hate your students, you may want to consider doing a post-doc, learning how to write grants, and enhancing your university and the educational enterprise by becoming a grant-funded scientist.

Eissclam.

62

Hey brat, regarding #6 (I am not a prospective date…), you sure you want to forego the stamina of a bunch of horny 18 year olds? Koo Koo Koo Choo.

Sure, flunk their asses, but be sure you keep your records to document the grades given in case one of them whines.

By all means, take whatever steps will help you spend less time with the chaff, and more with the grain. My wife teaches business law at a community college. When she began, we discussed it and agreed that essay tests and assignments were the best way to test understanding of such a subject. Over the first couple of years in the majority of cases it was impossible to discern the substance through the incomprehensible grammar. So she went to multiple choice take home tests (gotta love that ScanTron!) And guess what? They produce an identical curve. So now she can spend more time preparing her lectures, instead of grading illiterate essays. Find what works for you.

63

Don’t relate yourself to ME, “Chronolicht”. I reject the association utterly. You and I are coming from completely opposite directions on this issue. My respect and admiration for bio-brat is pure, whereas you are a bitter geek and a wanker to boot.

Whether you are just another newbie idiot or merely the newest fake name of a multi-banned troll, does not interest me in the slightest: you are, simply and clearly, garbage.
It doesn’t take an ENGLISH MAJOR (ooh) - and a SENIOR, no less (aah) - at UC BERKELEY, even (oohlala)- to see a cowardliness, a twisted nerdiness, and a hatred and fear of women (women, that is, who exist outside of the pornographic material you obviously spend substantial amounts of time perusing every day) shining out from your every syllable.

Have fun with that big bad bachelor’s degree in English Lit, kid. (Remember: fries are the straight ones, onion rings are the round ones … and be careful, I hear that fryer gets pretty hot.)

64

“Disclaimer: The contents of this page are marked by a high degree of selectivity and my personal opinion of things I may not have seen myself.”

I found this rather odd statement on your web page and it gave your vapid ill-informed vituperative little harangue
some logic. Without this contextualizing gem, I could only arrive at a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder with predominant features of narcissism and paranoia. You spout off very knowledgeably about things which you know nothing about.

“Don’t relate yourself to ME, “Chronolicht”. I reject the association utterly. You and I are coming from completely opposite directions on this issue. My respect and admiration for bio-brat is pure, whereas you are a bitter geek and a wanker to boot.”

Your pure respect and admiration? You respect and admire a person (her equipment has nothing to do with it) who worked for years to be trained for a difficult job which she hates? Do you suppose she should have done a little more research about what the job entails before she went into teaching? You purely respect and admire a misanthropic and whining jerk who probably flaunts her sexuality to those equally moronic 18 year olds and then complains about how they hit on her. Yes, I have met that type, too. They are the worst kind. Inarticulate, pedagogic strategies taken from "Managing Inmate Populations" and given to extreme favoritism, they are the cause of much undeserved unhappiness. Her behavior can be ruinous to students who are having a hard time. For many it is the first time they are away from home. She is clearly superficial; "I have been known to give an extra point if you make me laugh." In science? This vacuous hypereducated twit wants it a lot better than she has it, and that is fine, but she should direct herself toward getting out of teaching and let someone who has at least a shred of compassion take over. I have seen Professors light the students on fire and I have seen Bio-Brats, too. The simple difference is that the former have a basic positive regard for others and the latter don't.

“Whether you are just another newbie idiot or merely the newest fake name of a multi-banned troll, does not interest me in the slightest: you are, simply and clearly, garbage.”

Actually it does or you wouldn't have mentioned it. Yes, I am so new to the board that it took me a moment to figure out what this meant. You are paranoid. How many of your other 700 posts (two a day on average for the last year) were spent arguing with other mentally diseased people?

“It doesn’t take an ENGLISH MAJOR (ooh) - and a SENIOR, no less (aah) - at UC BERKELEY, even (oohlala)- to see a cowardliness, a twisted nerdiness, and a hatred and fear of women (women, that is, who exist outside of the pornographic material you obviously spend substantial amounts of time perusing every day) shining out from your every syllable. Have fun with that big bad bachelor’s degree in English Lit, kid.”

Hmm. How to address this massive cognitive disortion. Surely a person whose website deals with art appreciation could see the value of an undergrad in English Literature. Yet, your final comment about the fryolator means that you are just another shortfingered vulgarian who prostates himself to the almighty dollar. It is how you define yourself. You probably wear a lot of gold and dye your greying hair or use Rogaine and drive an expensive car. Am I right? All the while you fancy yourself a "Pure" and "respectful" white knight who, even after your third divorce, "truly respects women." You own several revolvers and push away any thoughts which might cause discomfort about the real meaning of your relationship with the guns. You are always willing to think the best about yourself, even when your behavior repeatedly contradicts your elevated estimation.You think that God is going to save you and not others because of their beliefs. But you see, I don't know. I, unlike you, don't have an opinion about things which I have not experienced.

I chuckled when I read your remark about the fryolator. I made over a quarter million dollars on two white table cloth restaurants last year that I started from scratch. I quit high school in the ninth grade because of people like Bio-Brat. Pursuing a degree is a lifelong dream I have made manifest by hard work. Now three women run my restaurants. The only thing you got right was that the fryolator gets hot. I suggest you get diagnosed before you hurt yourself or someone else.

65

If you teach college you are an indirect servent of the classmembers. They pay your salary. If they are immature it’s their problem, but don’t act similar to the people you consider inferior.

Being well read or over 21 doesn’t exclude you from just being an ass. Grow up.

66

For all of those that give two hoots, I had a very informal meeting with my students.

In other words, I invited them to the local bar with the promise that I would pay for the food and buy the fist round (for those over 21). This was enormously successful. I got feedback both negative and positive on my teaching style, and methods. Many of the criticisms and comments brought up here were mentioned.

Overall a very informative and successful meeting.

Now for specifics:

Eissclam I’d realized my mistake as soon as I’d posted, but like my students, I was hoping I wouldn’t get busted.

I’m not quite sure how "…Bio-brat. No offense was intended " was supposed to be “intended” when you clearly stated that I “degrade” both my profession and my employers.

I KNOW what a grant is, thank you. I have had the AA of the biochem Dept dogging me for a month to finish the application for my non-competitive grant. I’m not sure if it’s a bid deal, but I’m stalling anyway. I hate those things. I’d rather be on a corner with a cane and a cup.

BTW if we’re sharing research, mine is on sel 12. It’s a gene that causes uterine defects in nematodes. Not impressed? Neither am I.

I am grateful for the acknowledgement of the universality of the charges I have levied against the students.

I AM SO SORRY ABOUT THAT. I’ve just read Chronolicht’s post and inane words keep popping into my head!!

Chronolicht You’d get a maybe a 2.0 in my class for that last post. You’d only get that for your command of the English language. However I have read more than one paper where the grammar was beautiful but the point was absent. I think it’s wonderful that you are obtaining your degree, however, I had nothing to do with your quitting school High School.

Furthermore, it’s wonderful that you have been successful in your chosen profession. Unfortunately this is totally irrelevant. There are many High school/College dropouts who have gone on to be a success. Big deal. I didn’t tell you to quit, in fact, I would have advised you against it. Come to think about if you were in my high school class (see earlier post) I probably would have been successful in talking you out of it.

(now for the rant part. English Majors beware!!)

(if you majored in English DO NOT PROCEED!)

(Gratuitous swearing, and self-affirmation coming up)

(I’ve Warned you!)

[sarcasm]
I’ve never really cared for English majors. It’s your MOTHER TONGUE for gods sake. Big FUCKING deal!! So you can speak and write. I’m a scientist…curing cancer coming up with a vaccine for AIDS, solving the Yeast infection problem. What the FUCK do you do that’s a boon to society? All you’ll ever end up doing is writing a tech manual for me.
[/sarcasm]

mentally diseased"? WHAT THE FUCK?!?! RTA never said that.

Fuck you AND the horse, stallion, mare, gelding, colt, filly or foal (thesaurus) you rode in on (dangling participle). See how easy it is? HEY now I’M a ENGLISH major!!

RTA. You said it better than I ever could.
I think I have a crush on you too.

67

“For all of those that give two hoots, I had a very informal meeting with my students.
In other words, I invited them to the local bar with the promise that I would pay for the food and buy the fist round (for those over 21). This was enormously successful. I got feedback both negative and positive on my teaching style, and methods.Many of the criticisms and comments brought up here were mentioned.
Overall a very informative and successful meeting.”

Good for you! I am impresssed! You are notably more introspective than I at first thought. Perhaps there is hope for you after all.

“BTW if we’re sharing research, mine is on sel 12. It’s a gene that causes uterine defects in nematodes. Not impressed? Neither am I.”

Don’t be hard on yourself. Your nematode work should be crucial for the fight against AIDS and cancer as well as that nagging candida problem. I am beginning to see you in a whole new way and I regret the insults I hurled at you before. The little bug thing could help with gardening, too. Just try to introduce it in the BAD nematodes only, OK? Maybe you could work for Dow Chemical. They are really nice people.

I’ve just read Chronolicht’s post and inane words keep popping into my head!!

That’s OK. Try to organize your thoughts.

Chronolicht You’d get a maybe a 2.0 in my class for that last post. You’d only get that for your command of the English language. However I have read more than one paper where the grammar was beautiful but the point was absent.

Thanks for the passing grade, but I think that my dissection of RTA’s post was succinct and the logic was quite easy to follow. I am sure that if I was in your class, I could charm you and make you laugh and that would be quite enough to slip by with a B.

I think it’s wonderful that you are obtaining your degree, however, I had nothing to do with your quitting school High School.

No, you didn’t. I am sorry that you mistakenly inferred that you had anything to do with it.

Furthermore, it’s wonderful that you have been successful in your chosen profession. Unfortunately this is totally irrelevant. There are many High school/College dropouts who have gone on to be a success. Big deal. I didn’t tell you to quit, in fact, I would have advised you against it. Come to think about if you were in my high school class (see earlier post) I probably would have been successful in talking you out of it.

What I failed to mention is that quitting high school was the best thing I could have done. It saved me a great deal of time and frustration. Petite nonconsequentialist fascists were only part of the problem.

(now for the rant part. English Majors beware!!)

(if you majored in English DO NOT PROCEED!)

(Gratuitous swearing, and self-affirmation coming up)

I’ve never really cared for English majors. It’s your MOTHER TONGUE for gods sake. Big FUCKING deal!! So you can speak and write. I’m a scientist…curing cancer coming up with a vaccine for AIDS, solving the Yeast infection problem. What the FUCK do you do that’s a boon to society? All you’ll ever end up doing is writing a tech manual for me. [/sarcasm]
mentally diseased"? WHAT THE FUCK?!?! RTA never said that.
Fuck you AND the horse, stallion, mare, gelding, colt, filly or foal (thesaurus) you rode in on (dangling participle). See how easy it is? HEY now I’M a ENGLISH major!!

Come now. Don’t you like to read? Can humanity live solely on the uterine mutations of nematodes? If she could, would she? No! She would create Art! Now quit being so childish and come up with some better slags. I can’t help but say it. The preceding rant was not only irrational, it was riddled with errors in spelling and grammar. But I can see that you have talent and small promise. For that reason you get a C-.

“RTA. You said it better than I ever could.
I think I have a crush on you too.”

Awww. I’m feelin’ kinda gooey now. Bio-Brat propped your ass up there, RTA. Well, she tried.

P.S. Bio, if you apply a weak boric acid solution to your kitty twice a day it will curb those yeast beasties. Also eat yoghurt with the bran flakes. Fibre and good intestinal flora to start your day!

68

If you must know ass-hole, my research is on a gene that produces an intracellular protein that has been implicated in Alzheimer’s disease. We are working on a way to turn it off. I suppose that’s not important to you, but having seen my Grandfather deteriorate so badly from this disease that a once wonderful, bright, funny man could no longer differentiate a razor from a toothbrush, it was my determination research for a cure.

Nematodes aren’t “bugs” idiot, they’re more like worms.

Since you obviously don’t recognize sarcasm even when it is clearly marked, I must tell you that my “kitty” is just fine.

Furthermore you sanctimonious prick, Candida is a Genus name and should be capitalized, and italicized or underlined.

69

Well bio-brat i ust finished college after ten years of back breaking labor to get me through it…it wasnt the studying that made we take so long…it was the financing…i studied to be a high school history teacher and i hope that i dont get caught up in the malaise that you seem to have about teacing…actually i will be teaching inner city kids in a city that has a 70 percent drop out rate…so you might wonder why bother? it is for the 30 percent that care and the 70 percent who might remember the teacher who tried with them…:smiley:

70

bio-brat, I majored in English, I proceeded with your post in spite of warnings, and I now offer you a heartfelt KISS MY CORN-FED MISSOURI ASS!!!

It happens to be my firm belief that without literature, civilization as we know it would collapse and we’d all revert back to grunting at each other and swinging clubs around.

I didn’t just read while in college. I studied history, because books have to be set in some time. I studied arts; the same theories of analysis that are applied to the written word can also be applied to music, art, and sculpture, thus giving me a much greater appreciation of the world around me. I studied philosophy, psychology, and politics. I think of English as the big liberal-arts generic; you can’t understand War and Peace without an understanding of history, you can’t read The Magic Mountain without a grasp of philosophy and politics, and you damn sure can’t read anything written in the fifties without a basic knowledge of Freudian theory.

It is important to study science and biology and try to find cures for hideous diseases. Life is important, and more power to you for wanting to help people live longer and healthier. But life without beauty in it would, quite frankly, suck donkey dong. The printed word has served mankind for thousands of years; it has instructed, elevated, enraptured, and provided some good giggles along the way. So don’t even presume to look down your nose at me because I chose to study a subject that I firmly believe in and that interests me deeply, bitch. Literature has changed the world in ways science could only dream about. Yeah, science put men into space. But writers thought of it first.

None of this has made me rich by any means. Check my profile, you’ll see I work as a cashier in a truck stop. I write in my spare time. I didn’t study English to get rich, and if that’s how you measure a person’s worth, then you can go fuck yourself. I didn’t like the person I was before I went to college; a tenth grade drop-out with 2 jobs and a son. I like myself a whole hell of a lot better now, because I feel I can more knowledgeably devote my time to a subject I find more than worthy.

And I haven’t been near a deep-fat fryer since I was 15 and worked at Hardee’s, so piss off.

71

Jesus, Bio-Brat, you are just batting a thousand here. Where are your allies?
This last post has all the marks of haste. It is riddled with errors, which leads me to believe that you are quite emotionally invested in this drivel. I suggest you calm down and try to craft more literate diatribes. Note the even, well thought out structure of Marlitharn’s essay. Please note how she dispensed with your lopsided argument in concrete language while acknowledging your side. Just try to emulate her and you will be fine.

“If you must know ass-hole, my research is on a gene that produces an intracellular protein that has been implicated in
Alzheimer’s disease. We are working on a way to turn it off. I suppose that’s not important to you, but having seen my Grandfather deteriorate so badly from this disease that a once wonderful, bright, funny man could no longer differentiate a razor from a toothbrush, it was my determination research for a cure.”

That is not at all what you said though, was it? You said you were working on a gene which produced urinary tract malformations in nematodes. My condolences about your Gran’dad. (This I truly mean). Try to avoid hyphenating asshole. It is commonly spelled as one word.

“Nematodes aren’t “bugs” idiot, they’re more like worms.Since you obviously don’t recognize sarcasm even when it is clearly marked, I must tell you that my “kitty” is just fine.Furthermore you sanctimonious prick, Candida is a Genus name and should be capitalized, and italicized or underlined.”

I know what nematodes are. “Bugs” is the lay persons term for such things. I release beneficial 'todes in my garden.The bit about the sarcasm is bitterly ironic and riotously funny at once. Reread my last post and note that not a word of it is said seriously.We’ll cut you some slack on this one. Scientists aren’t known for perceiving subtle nuances in social discourse, especially the written word. (As if my post was subtle. Do you see? That is sarcasm. Now you’re getting it! There you go!) You are such a bloody, rigid literalist.

RTA, the white knight!, where the hell are you? Bio is gettin’ pretty bashed up here. We need your quaint and atavisitic brutishness to level the field.

72

bio-brat, you may have some valid points to make, but you are making a big deal out of a fact of life. Those that make a big deal out of a fact of life end up with stress disorders because they cannot change the situation and they refuse to extricate themselves from the situation. Kind of traps one, does it not? Humans will be humans, and those who work in jobs that serve humans directly must know that. Teaching is a profession that does serve humans, believe it or not. Teachers don’t get up there for their health, as you well know. They get up there to teach a class. If you feel that teaching a class is not what you wish to do, or that you cannot teach the classes you have, perhaps it is time to reconsider your choice of career. And remember, someone just as concerned about today’s youth once said: “Our grandparents had a word for menial labor. They called it opportunity.” Give that sentiment thought as you are abused by the knuckle-draggers you seem to see so often. I am concerned about you, bio-brat, and I wish to see you successful. And getting angry about something you cannot change is hardly an adaptive trait. And, in regards to your sentiments regarding English Majors, fine literature is that which seperates people like us from people who refuse to even try. The philosophy, the pathos, the artistry, and the depth of thought gives us pleasure while it confuses and angers lesser minds. I am certain you can appreciate that.

73

This is my last post to this thread.

I am sorry to the English Majors of this world. Yes literature is important, yes the World loves art, yes, yes, yes. There… validation from me. Do you feel better?

I have repeatedly said that despite the title, I do not “hate” my students. However this being the BBQ Pit “why I am annoyed on occasion by my students” seemed a bit mild. Have you never had a simply horrible day, and thought “Good Lord I hate my boss”. That was me on that particular day.

**Christina25 ** I taught High School Chemistry in the inner city. I’ve mentioned that before. I really loved it. However, I was teaching in MI and despite my BS they wanted to me to go back to college and take two years of teaching certification classes. I figured that if I had to go back (at my own expense) I might well get my Masters. So no, I don’t wonder why you bother. I could give you some tips, but my advice doesn’t seem to be going over so well. One thing I will say is STAY STRONG. In the year I taught we went through three teachers. The kids just found the weakest person and picked on them until they quit.
Oh, and congratulations on your degree!

Marlitharn I warned you, you proceeded, what can I say? I EVEN had it clearly marked as sarcasm.

Where did you ever see me bring up money? I really don’t care how much you make. In fact, you probably make more than I do when you figure in the $100,000+ in debt I have from student loans.

Chronolicht Let me explain something to you. First of all if you’d like to make an accusation of a post “riddled with …l errors” (twice) you’d best come up with an example better than " Try to avoid hyphenating asshole. It is commonly spelled as one word." Since I’d INTENTIONALLY hyphenated it. We call that poetic license. It creates greater impact.

“You said you were working on a gene which produced urinary tract malformations in nematodes” No that’s not what I said. In fact I said sel12 causes UTERINE DEFECTS in nematodes. Now let me explain this REALLY slow for your tiny little brain.

Without going into the entire genome (do you know what that is?) of the nematode, there is a gene called sel12. Humans also have this gene. In nematodes a sel12 het mutant will have a very obvious UTERINE defect and will not lay eggs. This is caused by the lack of production of a certain intracellular protein.
Now, the sel12 protein in humans seems to have implications in brain deterioration. They’re not exactly how it works, it may be a protein cascade.

So if we learn how to control the expression of the gene in nematodes, we can hopefully extrapolate that to mammals, and eventually humans. The reason we use nematodes is the obvious phenotypic differences between sel12+/sel12- make them easily sorted.

Now what have we learn today Chronolicht ? I would say it should be "never ask a scientist about their research. NEVER ask them to elaborate!

SO IN SUMMARY:
I do NOT hate ALL of my students.
I am a good teacher.
I really care enough to still let their silliness bother me.
I do not hate English majors, but I will not be denigrated by one.
I will not be posting in this thread again.
-KAT

74

WAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!

Here I go to all the trouble of being the sleaziest punk slutazoid I can dredge up, and you bail out of here without even kicking my ass? Don’t go! I crave abuse! Whatta I gotta do, line up the whips & hot wax for you?

But seriously bio-brat, I read your OP with all the humor you intended, it was fine. Chronolicht’s just a sweaty 13 year old mouth breather with his dick in his hand, don’t waste another breath on him.

Damn. And you didn’t even slap me around. Must be my technique. Mumble, grumble…

75

Listen you condescending twat. If I had wanted to point out all the errors I would have. There were others. I actually was being gentle.
You didn’t tell me anything I didn’t know about gene manipulation. You have such a high opinion of yourself but you basically do a lot of trial and error shit. Big deal, you little automaton. I have taken a variety of science courses and believe me, it takes less skill to memorize by rote a bunch of dry crap than to apply complex exegetics to complex literature. You couldn’t even get into the University I go to, and you sure as hell couldn’t teach there with your puny little masters degree. If you were a heavy hitter in the world of science, you wouldn’t be stuck at some third rate college in the Midwest, whining about the plight you created for yourself. You are absolutely, fucking pathetic.
Don’t prick yourself with something nastier than yourself (if there is such a thing), you slimy, seething, pus ridden cunt.
Taking your toys and going home? You are a prissy daddy’s little girl and now you have entered the real world. Deal with it. I’m done with you. Run along now.

76

Oooh a place for ranting. :slight_smile:
First of all, I disagree that poor attendance is necessarily a sign of immaturity or not taking the subject matter seriously. I had numerous reasons for skipping classes in college. First, pre-college my parents used to explain during parent-teacher conferences that I get chronic migraines and thus have horrible attendance, in college, I didn’t really think it was any of my teacher’s business. I figured if I learned the material, what did it matter to them how I did it. I do understand losing points for poor attendance in classes that require participation, but most college classes don’t. This is a student’s best defense against bad teachers, they can skip the classes and use the time to learn the material on their own. But yes, teachers have a right to be upset with students who don’t seem to do any work and then want special help or better grades than they deserve.
I do think students should get the grades they deserve, and it doesn’t really matter why they aren’t doing well. I never minded the two teachers who failed me, I fully expected to fail, I couldn’t understand the material (the courses were Calc II and physics II, I couldn’t learn the physics because I didn’t understand the math it was based on. The calc was very poorly taught, but in their defense, they knew that and felt bad and were doing studies to figure out how to teach it better.) And I have sometimes been surprised at how leniently my teachers have graded me (I really hope some of my grades weren’t partly out of pity, I’m guessing it was some sort of shows improvement factor).

77

Dear sweet Lord, the boy visited my website to find out some dirt about me. Whatever will I do … I guess next time I update it, I’ll have to dumb it all down for the benefit of certain college students who find that sort of thing well over their head.

Just to add that the image of me presented above - the gold chains and the 3 divorces, the revolvers, dollar-prostration and whatever etc. it vented my way during that spasm-laden eruption - is, of course, about as far away from the mark as can be imagined. It’s true in 2 ways, though: I AM going grey (& I don’t dye it), and I HAVE spent more time than I oughta, arguing with immature snot-nosed dementia cases on the internet (I’ve been pretty good about this, lately). Other than that, swing & a miss.

I’d also add that this is about the 100th jerky I have seen come around the SDMB and claim that their true-grit attributes have resulted in a fabulously wealthy life of leisurely intellectual pursuits. Needless to say that, to me, all such claims aren’t worth the pixels they are printed with. Especially when they don’t jive with what I can see clearly with my own eyes.

As far as slamming the 700+ posts I have made in the last 15 months or so: I look forward to similar and even more boastfully verbose attacks on the SDMB posters with 2100+++ posts in the same time or less … Perhaps they can find the time to give it the attention and validation it needs. I don’t think I have that long.

78

I hate my students today, too! I teach at the college level, and I am sick of these entitled brats who think I owe them A’s for crappy work that is either plagiarized or so poorly written that I have no clue what they are saying. These kids DO NOT belong in college. I can’t teach them because half of them don’t even know how to write a sentence. Plus, they are too damn busy texting and sending me threatening emails to learn anything. This is college. I shouldn’t have to spoon feed these adults who act like infants! Anyway, this is how I feel today. Tomorrow, I may like them again. However after 20 years teaching at this level, my students’ ability to think and the quality of their writing has gone downhill drastically! Is this their high scools’ fault or their damn addiction to technology? Of course, I’m writing this on my iPad.

79

This thread is 13 years old. I learned to read dates in scool.

80

This thread’s old enough to be trying the patience of a middle-school principal.