Job Discussion Forums

[eha]

but then again, those who are not unhappy generally don't post about it - I must remember that.[/quote]

Those who are 'not unhappy' are often not unhappy at the expense of those who are. If people acknowledged what was going on around them more often, they might not be so 'not unhappy'.... but that's the secret of happiness in the region, isn't it. As it was in say, Germany in the 30s, or ... well, fill in the blanks. With the bland.

[veiledsentiments]

There is also the fact that we all have different levels of tolerance for both ambiguity and the usual employer foolishness or even unusual foolishness. We are not all the same.

Many of those who have been at UAEU for years are great teachers and it is also unfair of you to slag them off because they chose to stay when they could. It suggests that you were perhaps one of those who got caught up in the mess of a couple years back. Nasty business... highly unfair what happened to so many teachers. But also not fair to accuse those who stayed of being of all things... Nazi appeasers?

VS

[Neutrino Girl]

[eha]

Sounds like an embittered person

Ya don't say. So it's ok for you to extrapolate about people & things you don't know about; but the experience of others isn't to be treated as valid?

It is important in life to learn how to let go, move on, and look ahead.

As the ex-president of Yemen said to the families of those he'd massacred in the Revolution.

'As things stand right now, things look pretty rosy from my perspective, especially compared to other employers in the region. Aside from the occasional negative person (you know the type....nothing will ever make them happy), teachers are generally content and thankful for what they have at UAEU.[/quote]

Or, as the saying goes, I'm all right, Jack. It was ever thus. And no, I don't know the type: what I do know is that the appeasers were always good at labeling anyone who didn't 'go along' with their version, as 'negative'.

Plus ca change, apparently...

[eha]

[veiledsentiments]

[boyscout]

As a recent addition to UAEU, I have to say that the website www.uaeuniversitywatch.net does speak some truth. After all, many of the posts are backed up by local news articles and personal experience.

[Neutrino Girl]

[boyscout]

Absolutely not! There's a lot I disagree with, but there is some I do!

[veiledsentiments]

Of course there is stuff in there that is true... mainly because there is no perfect job anywhere. Same as in the HCT attack blogs. These sorts of sites usually appear because the employer has done something stupid and people - usually innocent - have been caught up in the politics and fall-out. But, I have found that they usually end up going way over the top and end up making the posters on the site look as bad as the employers that they are complaining about... in particular the immature name calling and grammar school insults to individuals that they couldn't get along with... which are usually based more on their looks than anything else.

VS

[merry_prankster]

Look, most of the recent stuff that is on that website can be found through simple web searches on the UAE or even from the university's info pages. There is nothing new as the creator/administrator isn't really privy to anything of any consequence anymore. The creator of that blog mainly uses it as a medium for displaying his rants against Islam, UAEU, the Middle East, former administrators and colleagues, and anyone else who may have looked at him the wrong way in the hallway. He also posts something and then reposts responses to himself via different acronyms. This makes it look like an active blog. One of his favourite tricks is to post fake responses to one of his threads under the names of current or former employees. A previous poster from this thread was correct in that most of the staff don't take it seriously whatsoever. It is also true that the person in question was fired due to insubordination, and mental health issues. It is nearly 3-years removed from the entire episode in which UGRU was to be shut down. The person who does the blog was caught up in all of that. Due to his unstable nature, it was enough to push him over the edge. Very telling that we are several years removed from that incident yet this person persists with his rants. Quite sad and pathetic really. If anything, he needs psychiatric help.

With regards to the original query, UGRU is an okay place to work in this region. It has had some weird times in the past. These were unfortunate, but things have stabilized. Like anyplace, it does have it's advantages and disadvantages. In general, however, I would say that it is a pretty good place to work. Salary is 18-21000 with good housing options, long vacations, etc. Good luck to the original poster.

[boyscout]

Don't get me wrong; he was certainly a weirdo, the creator of that site, I mean. However, I still think he has brought to the fore relevant issues regarding UAEU, the country and work conditions in the Gulf, etc,. Perhaps a site like this was long overdue. Just take what you want from it. Many of the posts appear humorous and I think, not meant to be taken too seriously, even if there is a grain of truth in them.

[merry_prankster]

I would disagree. Many of the posts from L S' blogs are intolerant, mean spirited, unfounded, or even sick. How about the threatening emails and phone calls he persisted with for years? That is rational behaviour? Moreover, the nasty stuff at UGRU happened 3 years ago. To persist with a blog like this when some of the others (e.g. Hctsucks) have lost interest is truly suggestive of deeper issues with this individual. Defend him all you want. We all know what kind of pitiful sod he is.

[nowasta]

The guy is obviously still bitter, jealous, and somewhat disturbed. He will never work in this region again. Come to think of it, he can probably never even transit through a UAE airport again, as a result of some of the stuff he has said. That's his right now as he no longer lives there. Regardless, most of what he writes is generally irrelevant drivel. Everyone knows that.

Like they said, it's been three years. He should really get a grip and move on.

[Neutrino Girl]