Job Discussion Forums

MoltenBean · Joined: 05 Feb 2013 Posts: 7

Oh please.

Why are ESL teachers armed with an Internet connection so clever?

Because anonymous posting is free.

I've been looking around in here at all the hearsay as teachers attempt to decipher the conditions of their situations, inferring from incomplete details, and transforming their frustrations into moral high ground.

You can really feel postmodern after reading the 'truths' contained here.

BTW, I don't so much mean those in the situation that is the subject of this thread, but those that troll this forum looking for ways to validate their self-inflicted misery by being disgruntled for anyone and everyone.

Go hang out with some non-native-English workers and learn a little humility, you entitled creeps. Or better, go homeland, and leave expatriation to those with the gumption for it.

Grendel is the worst. GET A LIFE.

robbie_davies · Joined: 13 Jun 2013 Posts: 133

robbie_davies · Joined: 13 Jun 2013 Posts: 133

johnslat · Posted: Mon Jul 29, 2013 8:53 pm Post subject:

Dear MoltenBean,

Why are posters who like to hurl insults from safety and anonymously so common? Is it because there are so many cowards in the world who cringe at the idea of saying something to someone else's in person but who glory in being long-distance heroes?

Yes, I believe that's it.

Can't say I blame you, though. Face-to-face, Grendal would make you wish you didn't have a life.

Regards,
John

MoltenBean · Joined: 05 Feb 2013 Posts: 7

johnslat · Posted: Mon Jul 29, 2013 10:52 pm Post subject:

Dear MoltenBean,

"What is it with this troll?"

An excellent question, but I'm asking it about you, not Grendal. Trolls don't usually last to make over 700 posts. Let's see how many you reach.

Regards,
John

intrepid traveler · Joined: 06 Feb 2013 Posts: 48

On this forum it's quantity, not quality, that counts. Rolling Eyes

fledex · Joined: 05 Jun 2011 Posts: 342

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

robbie_davies · Joined: 13 Jun 2013 Posts: 133

MoltenBean · Joined: 05 Feb 2013 Posts: 7

Dear John

Conventional letter writing formats are only used on forums to indicate a smug sense of predominance. This connotation is easily read by the forum participants, so don't think you're being quietly self-assured. Anyway, you're right that I am being purposefully argumentative and may never post again after this occasion when for some reason I am compelled, however, fly-by-night commenting does not define trolls, there have been numerous infamous personalities who spent years as a negative force in their online communities. They defined this behaviour. They tend to avoid answering direct questions, preferring to respond with rhetorical banter and straw man points, such as, enticing arguments about who in fact is the troll, and placing statements with intentionally obfuscated meaning.

I do like your point about those distance heroes. I'm not trying to pick a fight with you.

Yours faithfully

MBA

johnslat · Posted: Tue Jul 30, 2013 12:55 pm Post subject:

Dear MoltenBean,

"Conventional letter writing formats are only used on forums to indicate a smug sense of predominance."

That, I take it, is your opinion - although if you have the research to back it up, I'd appreciate a link to it.

I use "conventional letter-writing format" as I see no reason to dispense with politeness or good manners just because I'm posting on a forum.

I can see how that might escape the attention of someone who, on a thread, insults other posters ("e.g. "entitled creeps").

A straw-man argument "about who is a troll" would mean that there is, in fact, no troll. So, are you retracting your insult?

Regards,
John

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

I personally define a "troll" as someone who suddenly appears on a discussion board merely to attack other posters... for no obvious reason... but has never added one bit of useful (or even useless) information for the posters who come here with questions.

VS

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Over on another forum

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=799684

a poster is pleading with people to tell him that all is A-OK with EDEX. Desperate to get someone to pay for his pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina, he has fooled himself into thinking that EdEx are great guys to work for.

MoltenBean · Joined: 05 Feb 2013 Posts: 7

Fair enough. Guess I'm bored with cynicism. My sponsor is really pretty good, albeit terribly unproductive in most of the operations surrounding our work, which as I understand is typical. I imagine that this would be amplified if the contracting was done on a large scale. He even expressed concern to me about it, saying that he has been offered the chance to expand but didn't to avoid the kinds of problems that edex faces.

No doubt the surface administration, both screw up and enact policies that hurt staff. I see and hear about it all the time. An Egyptian engineer I was talking to says that a lot of the problems stem from institutional short-term thinking from the top down. Saudi companies are looking for immediate gains and plan only on the next meal.

Furthermore, I wonder if this itself can be attributed to an idiosyncrasy of Saudi mentality or lifestyle. Too much time spent engaging in formal greeting? Laughing

Salam

MBA

John, *yawn* go write your dissertation.