Job Discussion Forums

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

"Negativety" is a common word thrown about on this board. I could accept "cynical," or "condescending," but I don't think we are really so negative. "Realistic" might be the appropriate word.

Perhaps I'm just too negative to know any better.

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

A lot of the personal attacks and flames seem to have died out recently, but I do think there is still a bit of (insert word of your choice here: negativity, cynicism, hostility, etc) floating around.

d

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

I see two kinds of newbies posting here. One is someone who sees themselves as newbies and are asking for and open to advice. The second type of newbie asks for advice but often see themselves as overqualified because they have a degree. When we respond saying a degree does not make someone a teacher, they get very defensive and heed little of our advice. Newbie #2 with a chip on their shoulder is what gets me and many others here a tad disgruntled and they get dumped on quickly.

It is rare that newbie #1 gets ripped to shreds and I think they get helped a lot here. Who likes it when a new person with no experience tells you how it is?

khmerhit · Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2004 3:00 am Post subject:

http://www.google.ca/search?q=cache:I7YfUkuhJCkJ:www.psych-books.com/The_Positive_Power_of_Negative_Thinking_Using_Defensive_Pessimism_to_Harness_Anxiety_and_Perform_at_Your_Peak_0465051391.html+dont+be+so+negative&hl=en&ie=UTF-8

Alitas · Joined: 19 May 2003 Posts: 187 Location: Maine

Unless you're selling vacation packages, message boards tend to collect a lot of negative posts. First, you have complete idiots posting. Second, you have regulars who are so past the "I want to teach Abroad!" stage, it just gets old. Then, you have legitimate problems posted, usually because someone is in some sort of pickle or just needs advice. The lack of positive posts has to do with the fact that when everything is hunky-dory, you presumably are enjoying life and don't need to go into great detail on a public message board. Unless, of course, you are selling vacation packages.

"No news is good news."

khmerhit · Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2004 4:14 am Post subject:

http://www.sunfinder-vacations.com/ Cool

Wolf · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 1245 Location: Middle Earth

Meh, I post negative stuff. But, it's also true stuff. I also post positive stuff when it's both pertenant and true. I have an as-yet-unshaken faith in the future of EFL in Asia for example. Very Happy

If that doesn't put me in the starry eyed optomist camp, then nothing will.

Many of us work and live in difficult enviornments. I think that it's no great suprise that, say, the China forum has complaints of schools that cheat teachers, EFLers not feeling welcome even after years of living in the same place, etc.

One can appriciate the wonderful things in life but not post like Pollyanna.

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

I know that some people are anti-Dave's because they say that people here only complain or that it's not organised.
I think that there is a lot of good info here and something for everyone. Jobs, Lesson plans, discussion, info about people's experiecnes working for certain companies.
I think that they should come here and see what it's like.

shmooj · Joined: 11 Sep 2003 Posts: 1758 Location: Seoul, ROK