Exiled in America...Pearl Jam compass

gimmesometruth27

MK106165 wrote:

gimmesometruth27 wrote:

my apologies to the OP for the initial response. your first post should not have been greeted like that. we are not all that combative and aggressive. some people just seek attention and can't help themselves i guess...

the book sounds interesting. good luck with it.

No worries and thanks for the post! I am kind of used to it happening sometimes on these forums, especially when new. I posted to the Iron Maiden board on the last tour mentioning the ONE new song they were playing (which was highly advertised by the band itself) and you would have thought I broke in their house and killed their dog and set fire to it. It's all good. Thanks again.

yeah my advice to you is don't feed the trolls...

polaris_x

cincybearcat wrote:

I'm really not sure how much clearer I can be...someone passionate enough to write a book about something would have a hard time keeping that out of their teaching I would think. Not impossible, but difficult. Hence why some teacher do present their opinions as facts without realizing it. The subject matter makes a big difference. A right wing nutjob math professor would have a hard time presenting his political points as fact to students or in his papers about Differential Equations. Now, a rightwing nutjob that is teaching history...political science...journalism...etc. is much tougher.

People tend to simply disregard this issue and I think it's wrong.

I'm not even addressing this individual at all as I have no idea how he teaches.

uhhh ... like i said ... most professors publish ... it's part of their job ... it's part of being in academia ...

MK106165

maj4e wrote:

On a side note... I teach (although at a tech school) and occasionally I play devils advocate just so that my students hear the other side of an issue. I'm in Alabama so I'm usually explaining that Obama isn't a muslim and no one wants to truly take their guns..

On another note, I think the liberal brain washing done by professors is WAY over blown. Most of us who went through University will attest that a majority of our professors didn't even know our names and barely addressed the class. Mostly it was GA's until more advanced classes.

Now in your history style classes maybe.. but even then it's sortof the topic.

I think those that take the opportunity to promote carrying guns in classes after a shooting somewhere are more insidious than anything I've ever done. We've got about 27 students in each our classes and I really make the effort to get to know each and every one of my students. I know ALL their names by the end of the second week. I try to engage them as people. And they are smart enough to figure out for themselves where I stand and that I am not out to indoctrinate or hurt them. Hey, we've got Alabama here too...as they say about PA between Pitt and Philly...lol. I've had students like that too...and I direct them to several sources on the issues and they usually see they've been socialized more than they've been educated. Seems like EVERYTHING that doesn't jibe with ideology these days is labeled as indoctrination. I saw a great bumper sticker when I first got here that said "Liberal or just well educated?" Please don't flame me for that..lol.

MK106165

gimmesometruth27 wrote:

MK106165 wrote:

gimmesometruth27 wrote:

my apologies to the OP for the initial response. your first post should not have been greeted like that. we are not all that combative and aggressive. some people just seek attention and can't help themselves i guess...

the book sounds interesting. good luck with it.

No worries and thanks for the post! I am kind of used to it happening sometimes on these forums, especially when new. I posted to the Iron Maiden board on the last tour mentioning the ONE new song they were playing (which was highly advertised by the band itself) and you would have thought I broke in their house and killed their dog and set fire to it. It's all good. Thanks again.

yeah my advice to you is don't feed the trolls...

LOL...seems like I may have a moth like attraction to the flame though. Thanks.

Best of Times

One post from the mean guy and your thread takes off.....

See there, you probably just sold 100 books on here simply b/c I said I wouldn't buy it.

You're welcome.

MK106165

cincybearcat wrote:

MK106165 wrote:

Well, I don't promote my book in class if that's what you are wondering. And as I said, a course that's all about interpreting rhetoric , the views of others and how it's constructed so one can learn the critical thinking skills to make up one's own mind about what others say is THE class to do this. But again, I really stick to the content of the course. Any opinions of mine are kept to a minimum, I just point them in the right direction to learn how to get a better understanding of an issue from a variety of sources and how to assess credibility on them. So far, I've gotten overwhelmingly positive feedback from my students all different political persuasions.

Look, you certainly don't have to prove yourself to me. Your class sounds outstanding, even if you were injecting your own beliefs I'd be able to see through that.

Seriously though, sounds like a great class and good luck with your book. Takes a lot of effort to do something like that and it's great to have that kind of passion. I was trying to talk about the topic in general, your post and the first response made me think of it. Perhaps I've derailed your thread...but at least you have gotten a bunch of bumps out of it.

It's all good...you do raise an important issue though. There are a lot of teachers who don't know where the line is or even if they've crossed it.

MK106165

Best of Times wrote:

One post from the mean guy and your thread takes off.....

See there, you probably just sold 100 books on here simply b/c I said I wouldn't buy it.

You're welcome.

LOL...thanks! Just curious, if Pearl Jam recommended it, would you buy it then? But really it's all good. Everyone is entitled to say, like and buy whatever they want. It's a "free" country right?

yahamita

We used to be such a lovin bunch, its a shame how much politics have seperated us in the past several years.

Best of Times

MK106165 wrote:

Best of Times wrote:

One post from the mean guy and your thread takes off.....

See there, you probably just sold 100 books on here simply b/c I said I wouldn't buy it.

You're welcome.

LOL...thanks! Just curious, if Pearl Jam recommended it, would you buy it then? But really it's all good. Everyone is entitled to say, like and buy whatever they want. It's a "free" country right?

I hear you and it's all good. Like you, I am a longtime fan, but fairly new at posting here (and as you can tell, I have quite a band of "enemies' already- probably b/c I disagree like an asshole.)

I know that in the academic world, my professors were constantly struggling to publish their work. That's who I heard the phrase, "Publish or Perish" from. Quite a competitive field w/ so many people vying for tenure, etc...
You're right, I did not read your book, but several words that you said were in it would keep me from doing so; much like the comments from the last publisher you spoke of.
-Right-wing whack job, Teabagger, etc... It's not personal, but when an author uses these words, he/she is already alienating half of their potential audience. (Potential publishers see that- and there's not a lot of money in publishing left-leaning books right now anyways- not that your's is- but the catch words make it seem that way).
I'm sure your book has a lot to offer- maybe you can make the same points w/ the use of words like "tea-partiers" instead of "teabaggers". (Let's be honest-Teabagger is intended to insult: Not gonna sell.)

And if you can get ED to endorse it, I'll buy 2 copies. Deal?

No hard feelings and good luck w/ the book.

(The kids in the hall are gonna have field day w/ this one: Me advising someone to tone down the rhetoric)

chadwick

.

chadwick

,

eyedclaar

yahamita wrote:

We used to be such a lovin bunch, its a shame how much politics have seperated us in the past several years.

That's not true, I never liked any of you motherfuckers. To the OP, good luck with your book. Pay no attention to the swine.

cincybearcat

polaris_x wrote:

cincybearcat wrote:

I'm really not sure how much clearer I can be...someone passionate enough to write a book about something would have a hard time keeping that out of their teaching I would think. Not impossible, but difficult. Hence why some teacher do present their opinions as facts without realizing it. The subject matter makes a big difference. A right wing nutjob math professor would have a hard time presenting his political points as fact to students or in his papers about Differential Equations. Now, a rightwing nutjob that is teaching history...political science...journalism...etc. is much tougher.

People tend to simply disregard this issue and I think it's wrong.

I'm not even addressing this individual at all as I have no idea how he teaches.

uhhh ... like i said ... most professors publish ... it's part of their job ... it's part of being in academia ...

No kidding...we must be having a bit of a communication failure here.

polaris_x

cincybearcat wrote:

uhhh ... like i said ... most professors publish ... it's part of their job ... it's part of being in academia ...

No kidding...we must be having a bit of a communication failure here.[/quote]

haha ... what else is new?

cincybearcat

polaris_x wrote:

cincybearcat wrote:

uhhh ... like i said ... most professors publish ... it's part of their job ... it's part of being in academia ...

No kidding...we must be having a bit of a communication failure here.

haha ... what else is new?[/quote]


We are wired differently that's for sure.

Jason P

Welcome to the board!

Good luck with your book, but I would agree with Best of TImes that certain language such as "Teabaggers" instantly stopped me from considering its purchase on Amazon. Say what you want about the nuts that align themselves with the tea party, but I consider their three core values (fiscal responsibility, limited government, and free markets) to be good issues to focus on to help turn the country around.

That said, I have an open mind but I also want to make sure that whatever I'm reading or watching is presented with an open mind (sorry Mr. Beck). I wouldn't get a conservative-minded book if they used terms like left-wing tree-hugging environmentalist wackos and the such to describe those who share different views.

Anyway, good luck and have a merry xmas!

MK106165

Best of Times wrote:

MK106165 wrote:

Best of Times wrote:

One post from the mean guy and your thread takes off.....

See there, you probably just sold 100 books on here simply b/c I said I wouldn't buy it.

You're welcome.

LOL...thanks! Just curious, if Pearl Jam recommended it, would you buy it then? But really it's all good. Everyone is entitled to say, like and buy whatever they want. It's a "free" country right?

I hear you and it's all good. Like you, I am a longtime fan, but fairly new at posting here (and as you can tell, I have quite a band of "enemies' already- probably b/c I disagree like an asshole.)

I know that in the academic world, my professors were constantly struggling to publish their work. That's who I heard the phrase, "Publish or Perish" from. Quite a competitive field w/ so many people vying for tenure, etc...
You're right, I did not read your book, but several words that you said were in it would keep me from doing so; much like the comments from the last publisher you spoke of.
-Right-wing whack job, Teabagger, etc... It's not personal, but when an author uses these words, he/she is already alienating half of their potential audience. (Potential publishers see that- and there's not a lot of money in publishing left-leaning books right now anyways- not that your's is- but the catch words make it seem that way).
I'm sure your book has a lot to offer- maybe you can make the same points w/ the use of words like "tea-partiers" instead of "teabaggers". (Let's be honest-Teabagger is intended to insult: Not gonna sell.)

And if you can get ED to endorse it, I'll buy 2 copies. Deal?

No hard feelings and good luck w/ the book.

(The kids in the hall are gonna have field day w/ this one: Me advising someone to tone down the rhetoric)

No hard feelings at all. I would just like to point out a few things though. Tea Baggers is NOT a word I came up with. It's the word they chose to call themselves before they realized how obtuse they were about the term. That doesn't excuse the fact that was the name they came up with for themselves. It's not my fault if I choose to use it. Let's say someone decides to call themselves Rapist, but later realizes it has a negative impact and then goes with Ladies Man. You still called yourself rapist to begin with, so I don't allow for revisionist history. Your point is well taken though. Unfortunately, I don't get a lot of space to explain the contents of the book in spaces provided. Also, it came out just before the elections when feelings were on high. And I don't expect my audience to be Tea Partiers anyway. When I was referring to "right wing whack jobs" in the letter, I was referring to Rush Limbaugh, Sarah Palin, Glenn Beck and the Michelle Bachman ilk. They ARE right wing whack jobs whose rhetoric needs to be answered. Hey Eddie...you listening....need an endorsement man!

Anyway, take care...your points are well taken. However, this is not a book published for academic reasons or to meet a quota. It's a personal mission. If I could figure out a way to explain it ALL in a 60 word blurb I would!

MK106165

Jason P wrote:

Welcome to the board!

Good luck with your book, but I would agree with Best of TImes that certain language such as "Teabaggers" instantly stopped me from considering its purchase on Amazon. Say what you want about the nuts that align themselves with the tea party, but I consider their three core values (fiscal responsibility, limited government, and free markets) to be good issues to focus on to help turn the country around.

That said, I have an open mind but I also want to make sure that whatever I'm reading or watching is presented with an open mind (sorry Mr. Beck). I wouldn't get a conservative-minded book if they used terms like left-wing tree-hugging environmentalist wackos and the such to describe those who share different views.

Anyway, good luck and have a merry xmas!

I understand your position very well and perhaps I can find a way to change that to right wing extermists...see the post below in terms of who I was referring to...the Glenn Becks of the world and that ilk. Issues are my problem, it's those who carry the water for them do so in a way that it's hard to align myself with any group who champions right wing whack jobs like those I mentioned in the post below. Thanks and Merry Christmas to you as well.

cincybearcat

Anything about those leftwing nut jobs...Olbermann, Maddow, etc in that book?

TriumphantAngel

MK106165 wrote:

[I don't care whether you are liberal, conservative, Democrat, Republican or in between....learn the difference between socialization and education. Challenge assumptions, probe, ask questions, do research...get the skills to think for yourself. Don't believe what ANYONE tells you, including me. Check it out for yourself.

if that's what you are teaching your students then high five to you. nice to see you are passionate enough about your job to encourage your students to think outside the square. i love that.

and i wish you all the best with your book.