Comments for Worst Professor Ever http://worstprofessorever.com Alternative Adult Edutainment Sun, 13 May 2012 00:35:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on A Day in The Good Life by Tanya http://worstprofessorever.com/2012/05/08/a-day-in-the-good-life/#comment-4297 Tanya Sun, 13 May 2012 00:35:48 +0000 http://worstprofessorever.com/?p=5167#comment-4297 It's not "Teenage Wasteland" (you are referring to The Who song, right?). It's called "Baba O'Reilly." It’s not “Teenage Wasteland” (you are referring to The Who song, right?). It’s called “Baba O’Reilly.”

]]> Comment on Guest Post: Death of a Soul (On Campus) by Academics, External Validation, and Entrepeneurialism: Autobiographical Reflections | The Professor Is In http://worstprofessorever.com/2011/07/18/guest-post-death-of-a-soul-on-campus/#comment-4296 Academics, External Validation, and Entrepeneurialism: Autobiographical Reflections | The Professor Is In Sat, 12 May 2012 17:29:26 +0000 http://worstprofessorever.com/?p=4067#comment-4296 [...] were other reasons I left of course, all explained in my column, Death of a Soul on Campus. And I had two terrific long-term research projects prepared and ready to act on—on the postwar [...] [...] were other reasons I left of course, all explained in my column, Death of a Soul on Campus. And I had two terrific long-term research projects prepared and ready to act on—on the postwar [...]

]]> Comment on A Day in The Good Life by wopro http://worstprofessorever.com/2012/05/08/a-day-in-the-good-life/#comment-4294 wopro Thu, 10 May 2012 18:29:45 +0000 http://worstprofessorever.com/?p=5167#comment-4294 It's a better question than you might think! It was inspired by Tina Fey. She writes about how, during the anthrax scare at 30 Rock, she would have been glad to go down with her crew. I never felt that way in academia, but I sure do now, and I highly recommend it. It’s a better question than you might think! It was inspired by Tina Fey. She writes about how, during the anthrax scare at 30 Rock, she would have been glad to go down with her crew. I never felt that way in academia, but I sure do now, and I highly recommend it.

]]> Comment on A Day in The Good Life by wopro http://worstprofessorever.com/2012/05/08/a-day-in-the-good-life/#comment-4293 wopro Thu, 10 May 2012 18:28:10 +0000 http://worstprofessorever.com/?p=5167#comment-4293 Full disclosure: I had to look that reference up (anything past 300 BCE, really). But too true. And I'm glad, too! Full disclosure: I had to look that reference up (anything past 300 BCE, really). But too true. And I’m glad, too!

]]> Comment on A Day in The Good Life by wopro http://worstprofessorever.com/2012/05/08/a-day-in-the-good-life/#comment-4292 wopro Thu, 10 May 2012 18:26:43 +0000 http://worstprofessorever.com/?p=5167#comment-4292 I hear, you, Caroline! That article about grad students and food stamps, a friend declaring bankruptcy...it's been a depressing week. But I just keep thinking: GET THE HELL OUT, PEOPLE! Even the worst job prospects I've had outside the academy pay a livable wage, and academic jobs just don't. It comes back to that question of why supposedly "smart" people are doing this to themselves :/ But, glad it made you feel better :-) I hear, you, Caroline! That article about grad students and food stamps, a friend declaring bankruptcy…it’s been a depressing week. But I just keep thinking: GET THE HELL OUT, PEOPLE! Even the worst job prospects I’ve had outside the academy pay a livable wage, and academic jobs just don’t. It comes back to that question of why supposedly “smart” people are doing this to themselves :/

But, glad it made you feel better :-)

]]> Comment on Guest Post: Death of a Soul (On Campus) by Visiting PhD http://worstprofessorever.com/2011/07/18/guest-post-death-of-a-soul-on-campus/#comment-4291 Visiting PhD Thu, 10 May 2012 18:01:49 +0000 http://worstprofessorever.com/?p=4067#comment-4291 I think if I sold anything my mother would be much happier too. I think if I sold anything my mother would be much happier too.

]]> Comment on A Day in The Good Life by B http://worstprofessorever.com/2012/05/08/a-day-in-the-good-life/#comment-4290 B Thu, 10 May 2012 14:41:43 +0000 http://worstprofessorever.com/?p=5167#comment-4290 Your articles usually get me thinking a lot about the nature of jobs and how they're perceived, and what they're really like day by day. This is the first one that got me thinking about where I'd want to live out the robot apocalypse. Your articles usually get me thinking a lot about the nature of jobs and how they’re perceived, and what they’re really like day by day. This is the first one that got me thinking about where I’d want to live out the robot apocalypse.

]]> Comment on A Day in The Good Life by universityoflies http://worstprofessorever.com/2012/05/08/a-day-in-the-good-life/#comment-4289 universityoflies Wed, 09 May 2012 21:22:02 +0000 http://worstprofessorever.com/?p=5167#comment-4289 what an awesome story.. it's ironic because when you're immersed in academia and 'the life of the mind' and all, you're also removed from so many opportunities to learn and interact in the real world. very grammarian's funeral. glad you are taking time to see the stars and sky now :) what an awesome story.. it’s ironic because when you’re immersed in academia and ‘the life of the mind’ and all, you’re also removed from so many opportunities to learn and interact in the real world. very grammarian’s funeral.

glad you are taking time to see the stars and sky now :)

]]> Comment on A Day in The Good Life by Caroline http://worstprofessorever.com/2012/05/08/a-day-in-the-good-life/#comment-4288 Caroline Wed, 09 May 2012 19:42:25 +0000 http://worstprofessorever.com/?p=5167#comment-4288 Now that sounds like a great way to celebrate two years of leaving academia! Your whole post made me feel much better after I read far too many articles about academics struggling to make ends meet because they still believe in the system. You can always learn cool things, whether you're in academia or not. Now that sounds like a great way to celebrate two years of leaving academia! Your whole post made me feel much better after I read far too many articles about academics struggling to make ends meet because they still believe in the system. You can always learn cool things, whether you’re in academia or not.

]]> Comment on Guest Post: Death of a Soul (On Campus) by Andrew http://worstprofessorever.com/2011/07/18/guest-post-death-of-a-soul-on-campus/#comment-4287 Andrew Wed, 09 May 2012 11:58:27 +0000 http://worstprofessorever.com/?p=4067#comment-4287 Dear Karen -- I am presently a faculty member at UIUC and feel compelled to respond to some of your points about my (and your former) institution. (I arrived here via the Chronicle where you were recently quoted concerning academics on welfare.) A brief few words of background about myself: I work on "your" side of Green, but have never met you. You mention that you were "one generation" away from steelworkers. I don't know what that means exactly, but I was the child of blue collar, college uneducated immigrants (read: not a trace of white). I hate bullshit like you. I have two kids. I agree with many of your claims about UIUC, but not your conclusions! First, yes, professors are busy -- working, raising kids, teaching, going to conferences, etc etc? So what? I don't see how that makes people here believe they are *so* special. Indeed, the academic totem pole (not to mention comparative salary) already makes it clear where one is on the external prestige ladder. I for one work in the way you criticize because I like my research and job and want to progress my field and represent the common community of striving at UIUC. If I heard you playing music loudly in the department, I'd be pissed too. The department isn't a dance club. In fact, at another big 10 school, I was confronted when speaking to an academic visitor "too loudly". (I don't condone the latter.) If you really hated bullshit, you would have never attended church as a fully grown and educated adult. From your own remarks, UIUC treated you well from what I can see. They made you department head after all! This usually comes with a good salary bump. From your CV, it seems that you were not promoted to full professor. You don't mention this point in your synopsis either here or on your own website. Did this contribute to your anger towards the school? (It would for me.) Was it that people who seemed to have no time to hang out were being promoted to full? Summarizing, having worked at a bunch of institutions (both in the midwest and on the coast) I think of UIUC as a place where what you see is what you get. People come here to work hard, not to dick around. Dear Karen — I am presently a faculty member at UIUC and feel compelled to respond to some of your points about my (and your former) institution. (I arrived here via the Chronicle where you were recently quoted concerning
academics on welfare.)

A brief few words of background about myself: I work on “your” side of Green, but have never met you. You mention that you were “one generation” away from steelworkers. I don’t know what that means exactly, but I was the child of blue collar, college uneducated immigrants (read: not a trace of white). I hate bullshit like you. I have two kids.

I agree with many of your claims about UIUC, but not your conclusions! First, yes, professors are busy — working, raising kids, teaching, going to conferences, etc etc? So what? I don’t see how that makes people here believe they are *so* special. Indeed, the academic totem pole (not to mention comparative salary) already makes it clear where one is on the external prestige ladder. I for one work in the way you criticize because I like my research and job and want to progress my field and represent the common community of striving at UIUC.

If I heard you playing music loudly in the department, I’d be pissed too. The department isn’t a dance club. In fact, at another big 10 school, I was confronted when speaking to an academic visitor “too loudly”. (I don’t condone the latter.)

If you really hated bullshit, you would have never attended church as a fully grown and educated adult.

From your own remarks, UIUC treated you well from what I can see. They made you department head after all! This usually comes with a good salary bump. From your CV, it seems that you were not promoted to full professor. You don’t mention this point in your synopsis either here or on your own website. Did this contribute to your anger towards the school? (It would for me.) Was it that people who seemed to have no time to hang out were being promoted to full?

Summarizing, having worked at a bunch of institutions (both in the midwest and on the coast) I think of UIUC as a place where what you see is what you get. People come here to work hard, not to dick around.

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