Things people do that make no sense

[AldaForPresident]

Maybe they should have "Lit for Liberal Arts Majors" which, like the engineering science/math classes, is graded harder and taught more rigorously than the one taken by the general masses.

That would be amazing. I have an Honors literature course this semester that is themed and taught by the dean, but it's just a regular Honors course and everyone in there but me is a nursing or math major.

(I talk a lot of junk to my mom about choosing a major which restricted her to essentially a single profession (I am not counting "wage slave" as a profession), but she loves teaching and has been doing it for almost thirty years now, so I guess if that's your thing then it's great.)

I hear "But what are you going to do with that?" about eight times a day, and I just let people think I want to be a teacher even though I don't, because I don't know what I'm going to do with it any more than the people who ask me all the time.

Like the class where the teacher doesn't want them to turn in any work but just grades them on how well they seize the day, a la Dead Poets Society. (We only find out midway through the episode that it's an accounting class.)

I go to a community college, and my General Sociology professor did this, I'm not joking. He gave no quizzes, no tests, no homework, just a half-assed take-home final with ten questions, and claimed our grades were based on our attitudes. I pissed him off the first night by saying I found Sarah Palin ridiculous, and so when he announced our final grades aloud, I got a B and everyone else- including a girl who showed up maybe five times- got an A. It's the only B I've ever gotten and when I see that asshole in the halls I want to trip him or throw a copy of the health care bill at him or something (he hated the health care bill).

[murlough23]

Regardless of your feelings on the health care bill, I doubt you'd want it thrown at you. That thing must weigh a ton.

[enemy anemone]

make sure someone has health care before you throw it at them.

wait, what?

[murlough23]

make sure someone has health care before you throw it at them.

wait, what?

if they don't, they're gonna get a hell of a huge bill anyway.

[AldaForPresident]

As he claimed to be a medical doctor as well as a sociology professor, I figure he could provide himself with medical treatment. (But he claimed to have a law degree too, so I guess then he could sue me.)

[murlough23]

As he claimed to be a medical doctor as well as a sociology professor, I figure he could provide himself with medical treatment. (But he claimed to have a law degree too, so I guess then he could sue me.)

I don't know what's sadder - the fact that someone would lie about having both of these degrees, or the fact that someone would truly have both of these degrees and yet be working at a community college.

[AldaForPresident]

Exactly!! But it wasn't just those, it was those PLUS doctorates in sociology, humanities, and political science. Plus he owned some kind of business. (I believe this because he was always trying to sell cases of drinks to people.) If I had ONE of those degrees, I sure as hell wouldn't be teaching at a community college. (I love my community college and I have amazing professors for the most part, but I'm there because it's cheaper.)

[murlough23]

Exactly!! But it wasn't just those, it was those PLUS doctorates in sociology, humanities, and political science. Plus he owned some kind of business. (I believe this because he was always trying to sell cases of drinks to people.) If I had ONE of those degrees, I sure as hell wouldn't be teaching at a community college. (I love my community college and I have amazing professors for the most part, but I'm there because it's cheaper.)

Maybe he got all these degrees from the community college, and he was there for so long and had no other job prospects, so the school figured they might as well let him teach.

[AldaForPresident]

Maybe he got all these degrees from the community college, and he was there for so long and had no other job prospects, so the school figured they might as well let him teach.

That makes more sense than his highly suspicious stories of a thriving medical practice on the side and his one-man pro bono law firm and his private plane (he also had a pilot's license) which would wisk him to New York to have dinner with Laura Ingraham after class.

[murlough23]

That makes more sense than his highly suspicious stories of a thriving medical practice on the side and his one-man pro bono law firm and his private plane (he also had a pilot's license) which would wisk him to New York to have dinner with Laura Ingraham after class.

Seriously, you need to tell the Community writers about this guy.

[bloop]

I don't really get people feeling superior over English skills and literary knowledge anyway. It's one of those subjects where if you can even sort of support it, it's "knowledge". Little is so forgiving in math, so mathematical thinking is, naturally, objectively superior.  

I like reading, too, though.

[murlough23]

I don't really get people feeling superior over English skills and literary knowledge anyway. It's one of those subjects where if you can even sort of support it, it's "knowledge". Little is so forgiving in math, so mathematical thinking is, naturally, objectively superior.  

Somebody needs to tell the Big Bang Theory writers about YOU.

[AldaForPresident]

I don't really get people feeling superior over English skills and literary knowledge anyway. It's one of those subjects where if you can even sort of support it, it's "knowledge". Little is so forgiving in math, so mathematical thinking is, naturally, objectively superior.  

I like reading, too, though.

My main feeling of superiority comes from my (uncommonly strong, or so I have been told- but then I go to a community college) ability to write about literature, but I still feel superior to people who don't read what they're supposed to, or don't understand it when they do read it. The way I think about it is, some people are good at math and can feel superior about it, but they can't write literary analysis as well as I can, and so I get to feel superior about that. Mostly I just like to feel superior.

(And then there are the people who do everything well, and I hate them on principle.)

[bloop]

In all seriousness, I think it's best (and likely more consistent with Christianity) to abandon thoughts of superiority altogether, but you first. 

Jacks of all trades are, indeed, infuriating. I find they aren't usually as good as I am where I specialize, though.

[murlough23]

In all seriousness, I think it's best (and likely more consistent with Christianity) to abandon thoughts of superiority altogether, but you first. 

Y'know, I was gonna make some sort of comment along those lines, but I didn't want to risk being the Mary Sue.

Plus, we're all totally superior at horsing around.

[enemy anemone]

the only thing I know is that I know nothing. 

[AldaForPresident]

In all seriousness, I think it's best (and likely more consistent with Christianity) to abandon thoughts of superiority altogether, but you first.  

I've been trying very hard to stop caring how well other people do or don't do, after I had a wake-up call early this semester. My World Lit professor had asked to use one of my essays as a sample on our course site, and when she accidentally posted it under a different title, I was MORTIFIED AND OFFENDED that anyone could possibly write a better essay than I could. Then after I read it and saw it was mine after all, I was incredibly ashamed of myself and decided to be a better person. It's not going so well, obviously.

Jacks of all trades are, indeed, infuriating. I find they aren't usually as good as I am where I specialize, though.

I always say I'd rather be really good at one thing than just good at everything, but I think I only say that because there's no danger of my being good at everything. I do think people who are really good at one thing are more interesting.

[Vlad!]

I've been trying very hard to stop caring how well other people do or don't do, after I had a wake-up call early this semester. My World Lit professor had asked to use one of my essays as a sample on our course site, and when she accidentally posted it under a different title, I was MORTIFIED AND OFFENDED that anyone could possibly write a better essay than I could. Then after I read it and saw it was mine after all, I was incredibly ashamed of myself and decided to be a better person. It's not going so well, obviously.

I had a similar experience. The professor had this huge rant about how all the essays he got were horrible except two that got As. I assumed (correctly, as it turns out) that I was one of the two A essays. The teacher asked me if he could post mine to the website as an example. Afterward, I looked at the other one which also got an A. Mine was (in my humble opinion) well-researched, well-written, and well-cited. The other one cited a single source--wikipedia--and was written very poorly. Rather than being proud of myself, I was offended that this other person's essay could even be compared with mine.

(I wish I could say that I learned a valuable life lesson from this, but no, I'm still a bit peeved that this other person got any props whatsoever).

I always say I'd rather be really good at one thing than just good at everything, but I think I only say that because there's no danger of my being good at everything. I do think people who are really good at one thing are more interesting.

My brother and I have this dynamic where I always start off better than him at everything, but then he buckles down and gets better at it while I don't care and stay the same, and then he gets better at me than it.

[AldaForPresident]

I had a similar experience. The professor had this huge rant about how all the essays he got were horrible except two that got As. I assumed (correctly, as it turns out) that I was one of the two A essays. The teacher asked me if he could post mine to the website as an example. Afterward, I looked at the other one which also got an A. Mine was (in my humble opinion) well-researched, well-written, and well-cited. The other one cited a single source--wikipedia--and was written very poorly. Rather than being proud of myself, I was offended that this other person's essay could even be compared with mine.

Wikipedia as a source. Sheesh!

I have a ongoing war with the sample papers professors provide that borders on some sort of personality disorder. It almost always becomes my mission in life to be the person who writes the paper that they replace the old sample paper with. I have a friend who seems seriously disturbed by this whenever I mention to her that I've read a sample paper "but mine will be better, HAHAHA!" She's become fond of saying that I don't care how well other people do, as long I as I do better.

[NewDimension]

I have a ongoing war with the sample papers professors provide that borders on some sort of personality disorder.

Recently, I helped my cousin write an essay for his psychology class and had the opportunity to peruse some of the "sample" papers on his professor's website. The samples were a mix between ludicrous and appalling. I found it hard to believe that these were college papers and that the professor actually used them as samples for the kind of writing he wanted to see. Then again, my cousin does go to a community college also; although I'm not sure how much of a difference that makes.

Oh, and the essay was about personality disorders. 

[enemy anemone]

A: I would like 2 cinnamon rolls please.
B: 2 buns?
A: yes, 2 cinnamon rolls please.
B: buns? 2 buns?
A: ...uh, yes, 2 buns.

???

is this a regional thing? or a makes-no-sense thing? if someone just says "bun" I would wonder what kind of bun. sesame seed bun? hot cross bun? hot dog bun? hair bun? rabbit? none of these other sorts of buns were available for purchase, but still, it seems odd to me to call a cinnamon roll simply a bun. even if you call it a cinnamon bun rather than a cinnamon roll, you still say cinnamon bun. yes, no, maybe? and even if you did call a cinnamon roll simply a bun, surely you would know that "cinnamon roll" is the same thing, wouldn't you?

the interaction made no sense. but it ended up delicious anyway.

[Vlad!]

Did this conversation happen to take place at a Cinnabon? Because that's the only venue where I can see it making sense, given the name and all.

[enemy anemone]

nope, it was Ikea.

[murlough23]

A: I would like 2 cinnamon rolls please.
B: 2 buns?
A: yes, 2 cinnamon rolls please.
B: buns? 2 buns?
A: ...uh, yes, 2 buns.

???

is this a regional thing? or a makes-no-sense thing? if someone just says "bun" I would wonder what kind of bun. sesame seed bun? hot cross bun? hot dog bun? hair bun? rabbit? none of these other sorts of buns were available for purchase, but still, it seems odd to me to call a cinnamon roll simply a bun. even if you call it a cinnamon bun rather than a cinnamon roll, you still say cinnamon bun. yes, no, maybe? and even if you did call a cinnamon roll simply a bun, surely you would know that "cinnamon roll" is the same thing, wouldn't you?

This experience sounds similar to my experience of ordering boba in a locality where it's more commonly referred to as bubble tea. (Could be potentially embarrassing, as I've been told "boba" in some Chinese-speaking places is slang for "boobs". But that could just be my friends trying to yank my chain.)

[enemy anemone]

This experience sounds similar to my experience of ordering boba in a locality where it's more commonly referred to as bubble tea. (Could be potentially embarrassing, as I've been told "boba" in some Chinese-speaking places is slang for "boobs". But that could just be my friends trying to yank my chain.)

apparently it is Cantonese slang, and the reference is intentional.

and suddenly an awkward conversation that I had heard makes sense.

[murlough23]

apparently it is Cantonese slang, and the reference is intentional.

and suddenly an awkward conversation that I had heard makes sense.

Just imagine me, a clueless white guy, asking a young female employee at a bubble tea shop somewhere in Hawaii if could have some boba.

[enemy anemone]

oh dear! it was probably not the first (or last) time though.

[Vlad!]

Just imagine me, a clueless white guy

No imagination required.

[murlough23]

No imagination required.

Good observation, Mr. Pot.

[enemy anemone]

I thought that was his point.

[bloop]

But so many R's, some prominent, others we're well-acquainted with here, have been acting like total d-bags for the last 24 hours (really. check their twitters).

Apparently, we're well-read if not well-attended here at the phorum. One person thought the above post (found in the NC election thread) was about him, and His Holiness decided to call it out. Never mind that it's probably not about him (and if it was, it's obvious that I at least have plausible deniability). I'm pretty surprised by it all, especially given that we're dealing with an absolute paragon of Grace and Truth here. I can't claim the aforementioned plausible deniability for this paragraph, but he's reading into the original (if it doesn't apply to you, then don't apply it to yourself). Meh.

(So, being so self-absorbed and ego-driven that one lurks, but doesn't participate, on internet message boards in order to check on what, if anything, is about him makes no sense.)

np: Carly Simon - "You're So Vain" (I bet you think this song is about you, don't you?)
^this song doesn't make any sense, either

[Vlad!]

At this point, he's probably just using a heuristic model to determine whether you're making fun of him or not.

[murlough23]

I just always assume that bloop is making fun of everyone. That way I'm less offended when I happen to be the target.

[enemy anemone]

lol. ridiculous people are ridiculous.

(the Carly Simon song makes me laugh. I like it a lot.)

[Vlad!]

I just always assume that bloop is making fun of everyone.

That's sort of what I was trying to imply

[bloop]

lol. ridiculous people are ridiculous.

Hey, stop talking about me behind my back! Oh wait, I'm reading this, so it's not that. Well, whatever, who's being ridiculous?! [/comicalrighteousindignation]

Seriously, do I really make fun of people that much?

(I don't really consider the original quote "making fun". Playfully referring to the fat guy as "Stay-Puft" is making fun. Saying a group of people are acting like d-bags when they are is something else entirely.)

[murlough23]

Seriously, do I really make fun of people that much?

No, but exaggerating is part of the fun of making fun of someone.

[Vlad!]

Seriously, do I really make fun of people that much?

Depends on the person. For certain people, the entirety of your interaction involves mockery.

[bloop]

Oh, Vlad, you know I have nothing but affection for you, and especially your Old Spice guy riding a duck.  

I must disagree, though, if only because I can't think of a single person for whom this is true.

[Vlad!]

Probably because these people are no longer active on the Phorum. Not trying to imply that it was you who drove them away (or indeed that they were driven away by anyone or any thing in particular).

I only interact with you in this one facet of your online existence, though, so this might not be true in general.

(Also, my interaction with most people online primarily involves mockery, so I'm not throwing any stones...merely observing).