I am a grouchy old woman.

[eurydicebound]

I'm so incredibly annoyed at the people in my class. Between the group claiming that it's the right and good thing to eliminate social services because it encourages independence and empowerment and falling back on the whole "oh, people are just choosing not to work so they can get money for free." On the other hand, you've got another group deciding that anything and everything they read and hear is perfectly right and everything we know and do is so inferior to whatever they've just read about last chapter as though they've suddenly had some degree of enlightenment...

I hate this. I can't not post because the number of posts I make figures into my grade. We're not supposed to start fights, though, so conflict isn't really encouraged though discussion is... in theory. All I want to do, though, is rip off their heads one by one. My tried and true method for avoiding conflict online is just to not post. I can't do that here. And I can't even just post my thoughts and move on and try to ignore them... I have to interact with them, and I have to do it without starting a fight or telling them what blithering spoiled self-indulgent shallow privileged assholes they are.

Fuck.

Comments

[oldmangrumpus.livejournal.com]

You have my complete sympathies. I'm in the same bind, though in my case it's trying not to scream "this is all horse manure" when listening to people natter on about metatheories of information behavior. But I too have to post.

[anaka.livejournal.com]

I'll think happy thoughts for you, too.

[notthebuddha.livejournal.com]

Time to put those role-playing skills to use! If you can construct a suitably diplomatic and conciliatory persona for a sympathetic NPC in a face-to-face game, you can do it on a class message board.

[anaka.livejournal.com]

I could, but I honestly think that would be more stressful than what I'm dealing with right now. As it is, I'm not venting my spleen in the class forums. I'm bein good. I'm instead savng that for here, as LJ is its right and proper home.

[thatcash.livejournal.com]

Ahhh, the idealism of youth and inexperience.

[exilesletter.livejournal.com]

Can you talk to your teacher about this, either in person or via email? I feel like there is NO WAY he (she?) won't be sympathetic.

[anaka.livejournal.com]

In person is out, since the teacher lives in Cali. But really, what would I say? "They're stupid and I feel my brain bleeding out my ears when I speak to them" is not likely to engender a lot of sympathy, no matter how nicely I phrase it. It's just that it's like a flame thread on Tangency that I must post to with meaningful content! Repeatedly! *gah* And there is no Ignore List.

[amanofhats.livejournal.com]

I feel, almost, as if there is a lesson within those restrictions.

Odd.


;)

[anaka.livejournal.com]

See, I think the lesson is "don't take anthropology courses over the internet at the community college located in the wealthiest, least diverse suburb," but maybe that's just me.

[amanofhats.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I...I don't think that's the lesson, Michelle. BUT YOU'RE CLOSE!

[brannonb.livejournal.com]

 
Simply begin all your replies with "Jane, you ignorant slut..."

[anaka.livejournal.com]

Now that's an awesome idea. :)