General Griping

Here are some random things that annoy me today:

1) Professors who, when they don't like the way something at the college works, say, "this would never happen in the 'real world' or business." You know what, dude? If the "real world" or business is so much superior, then what does it say about you that you are here?

2) Anyone who refers to college or work as a professor as not being "the real world." Feels real to me. If it is so un-real, then why do so many people seem to want to attack it?

3) When people tell you "I wish I had the time to do all of the [committee, research, overload, service, program planning, whatever-it-is-you-do-in-addition-to-regular-teaching-load] that you do." Sure, they think it is a compliment, but it feels more like an insult. It also feels like they are saying that these other things that you do (committee, research, overload, service, program planning, whatever-it-is-you-do-in-addition-to-regular-teaching-load)are hobbies and not part of our jobs. Seriously, do not get into a pissing contest about being overworked around here because we will all be swimming in a sea of urine.

4) When I spend nearly 25-30 hours a week at the office -- that's in class, office hours, AND up to 7-12 hours above and beyond my regular office hours, with e-mails and postings about any changes in office hours -- and answer e-mails within 48 hours (which is way better than my record for personal e-mails, which end up a tht bottom of the list because I'm answering all of these), and yet there are always those students (and one or two colleagues) who bitch about how I'm "never available" or "ignore" their e-mails.

5) People who think a "real job" means sitting at a desk from 9 to 5 with a receptionist to answer your phone when you are not there.

6) People who treat the administrative assistant like a personal servant.

7) Men at the gym whose conversations with one another involve simultaneous yelling. Then, they slam down the plates. Jeez, dudes! I should not hear your voice above the earbuds sitting an inch away from my eardrums unless you are shouting "FIRE!" or "MAN WITH GUN!" or "HELP! I'M CAUGHT UNDER THIS WEIGHT!"

8) People who think that the Tea Party was an honest-to-god populist protest against serious national problems, but then turn around and say that people like the union protesters in Wisconsin -- people whose actual rights and actual standard of living are actually being threatened by actual legislation actually being voted on -- are lazy and undemocratic.

9) People who start off discussions about that demonstration by saying, "there is bad behavior on both sides." That false equivalency pisses me off because it is feigning the bullshit of "bipartisanship."

10) The bullshit of "bipartisanship."

11) People who think that women's health needs are somehow a special interest, or luxuries. As if a pap smear or a mammogram or pre-natal care or birth control are optional, like a face lift or a vanity-driven boob job.

12) People who have never spent a day of their lives in front of a classroom trying to tell teachers of any sort how to do their jobs.

13) Anyone who says, "why does it have to be 'women's history' or 'black history'? Isn't it all just history?" They aren't asking an honest question, they just think that they are being clever, and they really don't think that anything other than wars and elections are important -- and only the major actors in wars and elections, too. Because, you know, as I've heard it put on more than one occasion, "slaves/women didn't really DO anything." Yeah, well, based on the criteria for that assessment, neither did you, d00d.

14) PMS grouchy time -- which seems to be a feature of perimenopause. Also, the fact that menopause is still not bursting into bloom. In fact, now that I think of it, there should be an Are You There God? It's Me Margaret for menopause. Margret couldn't wait to get her period. Some of us can't wait to get rid of it.

15) Traffic. Just because. When I get to my deathbed, if there is a benevolent and just god, that god shall return to me all of the hours I have spent parked in traffic, and return with them the youth and vitality that were wasted along with them.

16) That I desperately desperately want to enter the Peeps Diorama contest again this year, but know that my creativity is needed elsewhere. Damn! And I have a really good idea, too, to honor the Wisconsin demonstrators: "Power to the Peeple!"

17) When I say things and say things and say them again, and yet people still don't seem to comprehend my actual words. THEN, they say exactly what I said and act like it is a brand new idea that they just came up with.

18) PITA colleagues. Especially when they put you on a "need-to-know" basis and treat you like a servant to their vanity projects, then try to convince you that you are "such a big help" and that they are doing you such a big favor. I know the smell of bullshit.

19) The fact that I am making this list and not getting down to business.

20) The fact that I can't think up a decent #20 but actually worked to come up with the last several items so that I could round the list out to 20.

The End.