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In American universities from 1985 to 2005, the number of both students and faculty members went up by about half, the number of full-fledged administrative positions by 85 percent — and the number of administrative staff by 240 percent.
Teacher or not, I regard every school employee as a savage, oblivious careerist until proven otherwise. And should they affirm that their distinctions are too esoteric for my comprehension, all doubt is erased.
Class of '82.
Crid
at May 7, 2018 2:32 AM
New entertainment. The challenge is seen in the preceding tweet.
Some researchers and writers, notably psychologist Anders Ericsson at Florida State University in Tallahassee and author Malcolm Gladwell, have popularized the idea of an ability threshold. This holds that for individuals beyond a certain IQ barrier (120 is often cited), concentrated practice time is much more important than additional intellectual abilities in acquiring expertise. But data from SMPY and the Duke talent programme dispute that hypothesis. A study published this year compared the outcomes of students in the top 1% of childhood intellectual ability with those in the top 0.01%. Whereas the first group gain advanced degrees at about 25 times the rate of the general population, the more elite students earn PhDs at about 50 times the base rate.
How Russia lost WWII. Or: Communism can suck the life out of your country.
In all ways that count, Russia is the sole loser of the Second World War.
So what happened? Why were the hopes and aspirations of those attending the first WWII victory parade so cruelly dashed against the rocks of history? The answer is not hard to come by; all it takes is to ask those Russians who lived through post-war Soviet history and did not belong to the communist or technocratic elites. In the USSR, there was simply no reason for anyone to work hard. It was not possible to make more money, to open a business, to invest for profit. If any disposable income materialized (a rare event indeed), there was nothing to buy, certainly nothing of any quality. The best way to live was to engage in tufta (pretend work) and whenever possible steal from your employer, the government. After all, the government shafted you, so why not shaft it back? As long as extra effort does not produce extra rewards, why bother?
John Kerry and the Logan Act. I'm old enough to remember when the Democrats were opposed to the Logan Act, before they became fans of it, to now being opposed to it. Strange times.
"Some researchers and writers, notably psychologist Anders Ericsson at Florida State University in Tallahassee and author Malcolm Gladwell, have popularized the idea of an ability threshold. This holds that for individuals beyond a certain IQ barrier (120 is often cited), concentrated practice time is much more important than additional intellectual abilities in acquiring expertise."
There's another "ability threshold": below this line, a person is literally incapable of productive work. I wonder what that population is doing.
Radwaste
at May 7, 2018 1:25 PM
Presumably they're getting on your nerves... So I guess everyone has a useful role to play in our civilization.
Crid
at May 7, 2018 1:44 PM
Rosie O'Donnell & campaign finance laws. Will she be Clintonized or D'Souzaized?
13. “Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it.” Cut off the support network and isolate the target from sympathy. Go after people and not institutions; people hurt faster than institutions.
She is pissed Lujlp. She doesn't really have a coherent position. Just pissed off emotions. She clearly isn't reading or responding to what others wrote, just emoting. There really isn't anything you can do in that situation.
Ben
at May 7, 2018 5:28 PM
Honestly while I found the Haidt Peterson talk interesting I also found it rather depressing. Here are two brilliant men. They are extremely good thinkers and deep too. But at the same time they are only able to scratch the surface of what is going on at the universities. And it wasn't that they didn't have time or didn't want to go into detail. It is clear they really didn't understand (or at least Haidt didn't since he did most of the talking). For example they complained about how everyone is afraid of students and how students rule over teachers and administrators today (and other students too).
But lets be honest there is no one more powerless at a university than a student. You are going to leave and take your money elsewhere, big whoop. None of the protesting students actually pay enough to impact the bottom line of any of these universities. You are going to call people names. Once again big whoop. Going to 'occupy' some space, call security and remove them, then expel them. The key thing is students are disposable. One gets too out of line you kick them out. Even in the best case all of those students will graduate and be gone in a few years. So faculty and administrators use students to point out who is blaspheming, who is crossing the line. If the student is wrong you just get rid of them. But if they are right you use them as a pretext for everyone else to pile on. You want proof? Look at all the schools that shut these protest down instantly by telling the students if they didn't get out they would be expelled. Notice that not all student protests are the same. Those that match with the administration's politics are successful. And those they don't like get squashed. No one is afraid of 'students'. They are afraid of select groups of students that have support from management.
So it is good that Haidt and Peterson are looking into these things. But they have an incredibly long distance to go.
Ben
at May 7, 2018 6:10 PM
Luj,
Not only are you correct, but I suspect her statement that her son has some sort of significant disability is a lie. I have worked with adult disabled people and when you do that, you understand how important work is to them for more than just the money. It gives them a sense of purpose and keeps them engaged in the world. So important. But, they can not jeopardize their benefits and this limits their access to this very valuable activity. A mother with a truly disabled son would be aware of this limitation and wouldn’t want to take it from others. I can’t imagine what condition her son has that would keep him off benefits, but leave him unable to work or at risk from discrimination. Perhaps she has elevated a learning disability to the level of a permanent handicap.
Sheep Mom
at May 7, 2018 6:36 PM
> But at the same time they are
> only able to scratch the surface
In an hour and a half of casual conversation.
> Haidt and Peterson are looking into
> these things. But they have an
> incredibly long distance to go.
Incredibly! We must always be reminded that our world is a rainbow of compelling truths to which all others are blind. Every day this condescension seems a little more characterological.
> You want proof?
We'll ask our own questions... Thanks though.
Crid
at May 7, 2018 7:07 PM
> Haidt and Peterson are looking into
> these things.
Crid
at May 7, 2018 7:07 PM
It was fun to hear Bret & Heather affirm Haidt's theses in last week's 'Column. They have, um, field experience.
Is this a feminist thing Crid? Micro-aggressions, micro-condensations, hidden patriarchy. You just have to have an enemies list and you get so emotional reading anything they wrote you wander off to crazy town?
Via Cosh
Teacher or not, I regard every school employee as a savage, oblivious careerist until proven otherwise. And should they affirm that their distinctions are too esoteric for my comprehension, all doubt is erased.Class of '82.
Crid at May 7, 2018 2:32 AM
New entertainment. The challenge is seen in the preceding tweet.
Crid at May 7, 2018 2:35 AM
Baghdad.
Crid at May 7, 2018 2:36 AM
The Disloyal Boyfriend has been going on for like a year now, right? I think this is its finest deployment.
Crid at May 7, 2018 2:40 AM
Brain talk from Peterson.
And from Nature:
Crid at May 7, 2018 3:36 AM
Big names having a big talk.
Length but brisk, it explains how the assholes got to be that way.
Crid at May 7, 2018 5:37 AM
The Disloyal Boyfriend has been going on for like a year now, right? I think this is its finest deployment.
True Marxism has never been deployed.
Except maybe here https://youtu.be/G_Sy6oiJbEk
Duplicates...
I R A Darth Aggie at May 7, 2018 6:56 AM
The little car that could
https://twitter.com/sakuya_ghool1/status/989886548857389059
Sixclaws at May 7, 2018 8:48 AM
Sexual differences in superheroic asses.
https://twitter.com/ife_luv12/status/992789058857422848
Sixclaws at May 7, 2018 9:10 AM
How Russia lost WWII. Or: Communism can suck the life out of your country.
https://tsarizm.com/analysis/2018/05/01/a-tale-of-two-cities-how-russia-lost-wwii/
I R A Darth Aggie at May 7, 2018 9:55 AM
> Sexual differences in superheroic asses.
First ladies edition -
https://twitter.com/TheRalphRetort/status/989964962729746432/photo/1
Snoopy at May 7, 2018 9:56 AM
John Kerry and the Logan Act. I'm old enough to remember when the Democrats were opposed to the Logan Act, before they became fans of it, to now being opposed to it. Strange times.
http://victorygirlsblog.com/lock-him-up-if-anyone-is-violating-the-logan-act-its-john-kerry/
I R A Darth Aggie at May 7, 2018 9:59 AM
Oy.
https://twitter.com/seanmdav/status/992588448140800003
I R A Darth Aggie at May 7, 2018 10:04 AM
That'll get you a yellow card in soccer match.
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/hero-grandfather-trips-up-armed-12489800
Good work.
I R A Darth Aggie at May 7, 2018 10:10 AM
Parenting done right -
https://twitter.com/_Kendalljones_/status/992915100083343364
Snoopy at May 7, 2018 11:18 AM
BREAKING: Comey and Yates had at least 5 members of Trump's team under secret federal surveillance during the 2016 campaign, including Gen. Flynn
https://twitter.com/paulsperry_/status/993525888418500608
Snoopy at May 7, 2018 11:20 AM
"Some researchers and writers, notably psychologist Anders Ericsson at Florida State University in Tallahassee and author Malcolm Gladwell, have popularized the idea of an ability threshold. This holds that for individuals beyond a certain IQ barrier (120 is often cited), concentrated practice time is much more important than additional intellectual abilities in acquiring expertise."
There's another "ability threshold": below this line, a person is literally incapable of productive work. I wonder what that population is doing.
Radwaste at May 7, 2018 1:25 PM
Presumably they're getting on your nerves... So I guess everyone has a useful role to play in our civilization.
Crid at May 7, 2018 1:44 PM
Rosie O'Donnell & campaign finance laws. Will she be Clintonized or D'Souzaized?
https://twitter.com/ARmastrangelo/status/993446473495990278
I R A Darth Aggie at May 7, 2018 2:17 PM
https://twitter.com/_HelenDale/status/993605546065432576
Sixclaws at May 7, 2018 4:08 PM
Again, the scope of this discussion is remarkable.
Crid at May 7, 2018 5:05 PM
Do me a favor, follow this thread upstream and let me know if my analysis of her position was worng
https://twitter.com/lujlp/status/993640309828468736
lujlp at May 7, 2018 5:13 PM
She is pissed Lujlp. She doesn't really have a coherent position. Just pissed off emotions. She clearly isn't reading or responding to what others wrote, just emoting. There really isn't anything you can do in that situation.
Ben at May 7, 2018 5:28 PM
Honestly while I found the Haidt Peterson talk interesting I also found it rather depressing. Here are two brilliant men. They are extremely good thinkers and deep too. But at the same time they are only able to scratch the surface of what is going on at the universities. And it wasn't that they didn't have time or didn't want to go into detail. It is clear they really didn't understand (or at least Haidt didn't since he did most of the talking). For example they complained about how everyone is afraid of students and how students rule over teachers and administrators today (and other students too).
But lets be honest there is no one more powerless at a university than a student. You are going to leave and take your money elsewhere, big whoop. None of the protesting students actually pay enough to impact the bottom line of any of these universities. You are going to call people names. Once again big whoop. Going to 'occupy' some space, call security and remove them, then expel them. The key thing is students are disposable. One gets too out of line you kick them out. Even in the best case all of those students will graduate and be gone in a few years. So faculty and administrators use students to point out who is blaspheming, who is crossing the line. If the student is wrong you just get rid of them. But if they are right you use them as a pretext for everyone else to pile on. You want proof? Look at all the schools that shut these protest down instantly by telling the students if they didn't get out they would be expelled. Notice that not all student protests are the same. Those that match with the administration's politics are successful. And those they don't like get squashed. No one is afraid of 'students'. They are afraid of select groups of students that have support from management.
So it is good that Haidt and Peterson are looking into these things. But they have an incredibly long distance to go.
Ben at May 7, 2018 6:10 PM
Luj,
Not only are you correct, but I suspect her statement that her son has some sort of significant disability is a lie. I have worked with adult disabled people and when you do that, you understand how important work is to them for more than just the money. It gives them a sense of purpose and keeps them engaged in the world. So important. But, they can not jeopardize their benefits and this limits their access to this very valuable activity. A mother with a truly disabled son would be aware of this limitation and wouldn’t want to take it from others. I can’t imagine what condition her son has that would keep him off benefits, but leave him unable to work or at risk from discrimination. Perhaps she has elevated a learning disability to the level of a permanent handicap.
Sheep Mom at May 7, 2018 6:36 PM
> But at the same time they are
> only able to scratch the surface
In an hour and a half of casual conversation.
> Haidt and Peterson are looking into
> these things. But they have an
> incredibly long distance to go.
Incredibly! We must always be reminded that our world is a rainbow of compelling truths to which all others are blind. Every day this condescension seems a little more characterological.
> You want proof?
We'll ask our own questions... Thanks though.
Crid at May 7, 2018 7:07 PM
> Haidt and Peterson are looking into
> these things.
Crid at May 7, 2018 7:07 PM
It was fun to hear Bret & Heather affirm Haidt's theses in last week's 'Column. They have, um, field experience.
Also, Welch has a gentle tickle for JP.
Crid at May 7, 2018 7:19 PM
My safe word is "resign" -
https://twitter.com/Schneiderman/status/993631884054814720
Snoopy at May 7, 2018 7:55 PM
Trump knows his peeps -
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DcowhAWW0AAOH33.jpg
Snoopy at May 7, 2018 7:58 PM
Is this a feminist thing Crid? Micro-aggressions, micro-condensations, hidden patriarchy. You just have to have an enemies list and you get so emotional reading anything they wrote you wander off to crazy town?
Oh well. Let us know when you return to sanity.
Ben at May 8, 2018 10:20 AM
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