Job Discussion Forums

Teacher in Rome · Joined: 09 Jul 2003 Posts: 1286

I've been reading some of the comments (esp. on the sexpats from Hell thread) about what is / isn't acceptable to discuss on this forum.

I'd be interested to know what people think - Dave himself (no less!) said he'd delete the thread because it wasn't about jobs - but do people enjoy reading or contributing to non-teaching related threads?

I thought that people's comments on teacher ethics were interesting - even if I didn't agree with them all. I also think that this must surely be the only board where teachers are free to discuss all sorts of topics, even if only loosely related to the nuts and bolts of our jobs.

I can understand bandwidth concerns, but do you all think that we should limit ourselves strictly to teaching? Naming no names, but this might be difficult for some of us!

Happy weekend to you all...

guest of Japan · Joined: 28 Feb 2003 Posts: 1601 Location: Japan

Variety is the spice of life.

Laura C · Joined: 14 Oct 2003 Posts: 211 Location: Saitama

I like discussing non-teaching topics. But what I think Dave was getting at, and what gets on my nerves, is topics which seem to be started deliberately to cause a reaction. Eg, which country has the women with the biggest b*reasts. What is then even more annoying is then being accused of having no sense of humour if you say that you find the topic offensive.

I can't speak for Dave obviously, but I'm sure that non-teaching topics are still OK, as long as they are not blatantly trying to push buttons just for the hell of it.

L

schely10 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 38 Location: Guadalajara, Mx

I enjoy that one can discuss almost any issue here. It makes the forum more interesting. No one wants to talk about work ALL the time! It seems to me that this is not only a place to help those with specific questions, but also a place where friends can get "together" and just talk as if they were really in a cafe. This aspect of the forum keeps me coming back daily to see what other folks are discussing. It seems that friendships (and adversaries Wink

) have developed across the miles because people's personalities are exposed here; I really like that about Dave's.

So, I think that having a multitude of topics adds spice and makes for very interesting reading! Keep it up!!

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

I am in agreement with Laura that I see the problem is not that it's off-topic, but is meant to get others angry or offended. Discussing whether or not we should sleep with our students in half a dozen threads on 10 pages or more is going over the line.
One problem is there are a number of trolls here which are difficult if not impossible to control. They've popped up under a number of pseudonyms and then when they get banned, they invent a new name. These people just post messages for the sake of getting others riled up and try to offend anyone they can. It does wreck things for the 99% of us who would like to discuss topics. Solutions anyone? I'm not advocating some kind of morality police, but perhaps a better system of moderation.

Atlas · Joined: 09 Jun 2003 Posts: 662 Location: By-the-Sea PRC

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

Ditto.

(The responses already posted say pretty much everything I feel about the topic.)

d

Shaman · Joined: 06 Apr 2003 Posts: 446 Location: Hammertown

This is the first thread I've seen in a long time that hasn't been beset by:

- Character assassination
- Name-calling (ad hominem attack Wink

)
- Trolling
- Circular argument
- Waffling
- Hijacking

How refreshing... how fleeting.

Shaman

khmerhit · Posted: Sat May 22, 2004 1:08 am Post subject:

How boring.

I'm going to kick some Trafalmador butt. I hate them. Bye.

latefordinner · Joined: 19 Aug 2003 Posts: 973

Khmerhit:
>How boring.

Yup, it's boring when we all agree to be civil. I tend to have a thick skin, and usually expect others to as well, so I can endure a lot of the garbage for the sake of hearing what others think. Going back to Don Cherry <putting on my all-season asbestos undies here>, sometimes it takes an outspoken SOB to make a valid point. I suspect that many of us enjoy the theatre aspect of lively debate.
Sometimes however I make a point of not replying to a thread when it's going in a specific direction. I find that the trolls leave well enough alone if you don't feed them. Other times I refrain because I just know I'm going to offend someone.
I respect those who can post clear thoughts and stimulate debate without being offensive.

Will. · Joined: 02 May 2003 Posts: 783 Location: London Uk

This is 'General Discussion' isn't it? as long as you can relate it to a 'teaching' theme, however tenuous it should be ok. I think of this place as like the staffroom or the group that gathers around the coffee pot or the photocopier if you would have a discussion on the topic in your place of employment why worry about having the same conversation here.
we are people first, teachers second and as people we discuss teaching things, as teachers we discuss 'general' things...here.

Boy Wonder · Joined: 29 Mar 2004 Posts: 453 Location: Clacton on sea

cleanliness is next to godliness...!
Daves users...clean up your act...and get on good terms with the bigGuy!!!!

Boy Wonder · Joined: 29 Mar 2004 Posts: 453 Location: Clacton on sea

Civility costs nothing....I too deplore all these richardheads who feel they need to unload their emotional dirty linen and aggression on such a fine site like this.
I hate people who can't be polite...and those who treat our noble profession like it's some sort of joke.....and if i see them anywhere i'll kick their heads in!!!!!!
Come on you bumfaces....get outta here....before the EFL thought police get you!!!!

Now who's gonna vote first on the 'Best Page 3 girl of all time' survey!
me...i vote for Maria Whittaker.....everytime!!!

The Great Wall of Whiner · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 4946 Location: Blabbing

Many of these so-called "off-topic" posts are anything but off-topic.

How teachers interact with students and how they behave in and around their school is very much an important topic for discussion.

Let's face it: There are teachers here right now in China who obviously came here for reasons other than to make money, do some travelling, or learn Chinese.

If we see something that in our opinion crosses the line, it is our duty to say something at the very least to the individual in question.

"Excuse me little Miss Canadian (or Irish or whatever) college grad, but why are you flirting with your 14 year-old students?" is not a taboo question to confront someone with.

If I saw a fellow foreign teacher doing something questionable, I would for sure ask him or her about it. And we should have a reasonable discussion as to what constitutes appropriate and inappropriate behaivour.

Many of us disagee with the "to date or not to date" students idea. Many of us even have different ideas as to what is an age-appropriate girlfriend/boyfriend.

Anyways, jiao for your thoughts?

struelle · Joined: 16 May 2003 Posts: 2372 Location: Shanghai