tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944513327283802005.post6381624244735371792..comments2023-08-08T00:37:45.098-07:00Comments on A Philosophy Job Market Blog: I'm Still Not SorryPseudonymous Grad Studenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00627480292942427387noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944513327283802005.post-54895232424974482182008-04-27T20:38:00.000-07:002008-04-27T20:38:00.000-07:00Asstro --Here's your answer. With nine kids, I do...Asstro --<BR/><BR/>Here's your answer. With nine kids, I don't in fact get much work done; that's why I'm a VAP, and not even (blame the nine kids) a C.VAP. I don't even notice until 19 days later that someone has asked me a question on the PJMB.Kalynne Pudnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04804224012895512550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944513327283802005.post-13949392448043784732008-04-14T16:27:00.000-07:002008-04-14T16:27:00.000-07:00Great story-lol.I liked the typical departmental p...Great story-lol.<BR/>I liked the typical departmental personalities intruduced by Anon 6:32, which I'm assuming are faculty-types. <BR/>To get a more complete picture, I'm wondering whether some faculty might like to comment on some of the grad-student-types that one might chance to meet. Here are a few that come to mind:<BR/>the prima donna<BR/>the dreamer<BR/>the lifetime-dissertator<BR/>the supervisor suck-up<BR/>the hack<BR/>the activist<BR/>the undergraduate romeo<BR/>After all, what do you imagine the selection pool for those well-rounded faculty personalities is anyway?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944513327283802005.post-83577990323105385232008-04-13T16:39:00.000-07:002008-04-13T16:39:00.000-07:00I thought Strange European Dude's comment was clea...I thought Strange European Dude's comment was clearly a parody of Anon 1:26.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944513327283802005.post-58697039627292437552008-04-12T11:42:00.000-07:002008-04-12T11:42:00.000-07:00Anon. 2:00 sez,It seems to me that the CVAP may be...Anon. 2:00 sez,<BR/><BR/><I>It seems to me that the CVAP may be partially to blame. If she dressed provocatively it is not a surprise that she received attention from drink-man. I have other thoughts on this, but I shall not continue...</I><BR/><BR/>Seriously? That's <I>really</I> your reaction here?<BR/><BR/>Let's back up and see what's gone on with this comment. <BR/><BR/>Someone reads a story that offers <I>no implication whatsoever</I> that a woman was dressed in any way less than perfectly professionally, but in which she nevertheless had to deal with getting creeped out by the attention of a gross old guy. On the contrary, the story makes it quite clear than the creepy old guy in question was just being inappropriately creepy. What has to be going on in a readers mind to make that person <I>assume, contrary to anything implied in the actual story</I> that the woman was dressed in any way less than perfectly professionally? Why try <I>so hard</I> to read the woman's culpability between the lines, even when it's plainly not there? <BR/><BR/>Then strange eurpoean dude sez,<BR/><BR/><I>He was "focusing well BELOW her face"??!! Oh my God!!<BR/><BR/>Americans are so funny...</I><BR/><BR/>Yes, because unlike their prudish North American sisters, professional European women <I>love</I> having their professional colleagues treat them as less than peers in professional settings. That's why when George Bush gave that creepy, weird massage to Angela Merkel, she responded by giggling and blowing him a kiss.Pseudonymous Grad Studenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00627480292942427387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944513327283802005.post-89706483361757378672008-04-12T06:25:00.000-07:002008-04-12T06:25:00.000-07:00He was "focusing well BELOW her face"??!! Oh my G...He was "focusing well BELOW her face"??!! Oh my God!!<BR/><BR/>Americans are so funny...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944513327283802005.post-17988392047010364132008-04-11T14:00:00.000-07:002008-04-11T14:00:00.000-07:00It seems to me that the CVAP may be partially to b...It seems to me that the CVAP may be partially to blame. If she dressed provocatively it is not a surprise that she received attention from drink-man. I have other thoughts on this, but I shall not continue...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944513327283802005.post-40668180204130528692008-04-11T10:40:00.000-07:002008-04-11T10:40:00.000-07:00To Anonymous 9:28 who asks,Are CVAPs typically wom...To Anonymous 9:28 who asks,<BR/><BR/>Are CVAPs typically women???? Honestly, are they? What does that tell us?<BR/><BR/>Most VAP's, like most TT hires are men., So I assume you're asking about whether most CUTE VAP's are female. Well, hmmm. This might require me to figure out whether there even ARE any cute MALE VAP's. There are so few cute philosophers to begin with that I tend to have my doubts on this score.<BR/><BR/>But I can tell you one thing for sure: between a cute and a non-cute male VAP, I know which one I'd hire. So, brush up your acts, boys. Floss those teeth and tighten those jeans. ;-) <BR/><BR/>AFDCAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944513327283802005.post-28816892265696830572008-04-10T09:28:00.000-07:002008-04-10T09:28:00.000-07:00Are CVAPs typically women???? Honestly, are they? ...Are CVAPs typically women???? Honestly, are they? What does that tell us?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944513327283802005.post-70346785694494207562008-04-09T21:33:00.000-07:002008-04-09T21:33:00.000-07:00Seriously, some of you have interviews or offers f...Seriously, some of you have interviews or offers for VAPs, lectureships, instructor positions, etc, but haven't updated the wiki. Could you do that please, and put the rest of us out of our misery?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944513327283802005.post-90904811965852197292008-04-09T13:19:00.000-07:002008-04-09T13:19:00.000-07:00Speaking of VAPs -- are people updating the wiki? ...Speaking of VAPs -- are people updating the wiki? I thought decisions about these would be quick.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944513327283802005.post-42363684825806406102008-04-09T12:02:00.000-07:002008-04-09T12:02:00.000-07:00what, may I ask, is a C.VAP?Cute Visiting Assistan...<I>what, may I ask, is a C.VAP?</I><BR/><BR/>Cute Visiting Assistant Professor. To obtain such a position, you typically must provide "evidence of cuteness" to the search committee in the form of a cuteness dossier and a cuteness sample. Not to be confused with Acute Visiting Assistant Professor positions, although some enterprising young philosophers have found it possible to hold both positions simultaneously.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944513327283802005.post-9053703541177129162008-04-09T11:11:00.000-07:002008-04-09T11:11:00.000-07:00LOVE this story, but what, may I ask, is a C.VAP? ...LOVE this story, but what, may I ask, is a C.VAP? Answer me gently, I'm a clueless old coot.<BR/><BR/>I have had those post-interview reveries that remind me I'm glad I didn't work with the bozos. It's the only thing that makes me feel better about being an unsuccessful Escape Artist.KateNorlockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09626806863565631200noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944513327283802005.post-81174046357745345592008-04-09T10:53:00.000-07:002008-04-09T10:53:00.000-07:00"I hope he reads this post, and recognizes himself..."I hope he reads this post, and recognizes himself; I have something to say to him: You, my dear sir, are a douchebag!"<BR/><BR/>Classic!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944513327283802005.post-39147080056377511102008-04-09T09:27:00.000-07:002008-04-09T09:27:00.000-07:00As long as others are adding further assholes you ...As long as others are adding further assholes you might find in a philosophy department to the list, I might as well. How about:<BR/><BR/>The tenured person who has become so disillusioned with philosophy that he no longer teaches it in his courses. For example, in my undergrad education, the person who taught the logic course had us read John Bradshaw's "Reclaiming Your Wounded Inner Child", and M. Scott Peck's "The Road Less Travelled". His reasoning was that it was not possible for anyone to think critically about anything until you had thought critically about yourself. (I hope he reads this post, and recognizes himself; I have something to say to him: You, my dear sir, are a douchebag!).<BR/><BR/>In the department in which I now teach, our oldest tenured person refuses to teach courses other than logic: he believes that philosophy is not a worthwhile subject, and tells all students who would like to major in it to take a real major like business management.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944513327283802005.post-78945067304679931352008-04-09T07:50:00.000-07:002008-04-09T07:50:00.000-07:00Great comic relief, PGS.Another one for the list: ...Great comic relief, PGS.<BR/><BR/>Another one for the list: The crazy old coot of a continentalist who holds forth pompously and endlessly during every single meeting and question period while everyone wonders what the heck he is talking about, and who has vague professional connections in Eastern Europe that no one understands. <BR/><BR/>This fellow is to be distinguished, of course, from the nice sane continentalists who many departments are lucky enough to have - I intend no implicit bashing of continental philosophy as a whole at all.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944513327283802005.post-6429932280386122762008-04-09T07:00:00.000-07:002008-04-09T07:00:00.000-07:00Good story. Thanks.Good story. Thanks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944513327283802005.post-91352935556693896272008-04-09T05:30:00.000-07:002008-04-09T05:30:00.000-07:00As superioristic and self-aggrandizing as it is to...As superioristic and self-aggrandizing as it is to pretend that their list of faculty-types is so much more important, and that DA is somehow not as bad on a day-to-day basis than the others on the list of 10, it is certainly of some value to have a heads-up on some of the different characters that will be encountered in a department, so as to be able to navigate, etc. Another that belongs on the list is the tenured person who has no friends outside the department. If this person still craves social interaction, she uses the safety of the departmental context to troll for friends, esp. people who are beneath her in power (untenured profs., office worker, etc.). Identify this person, and AVOID!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944513327283802005.post-10277740963160538412008-04-08T21:48:00.000-07:002008-04-08T21:48:00.000-07:00I think Anon 6:32 is about right on the characteri...I think Anon 6:32 is about right on the characterization of various department personalities. It's a shame, but pretty much on target.<BR/><BR/>I guess the bigger issue here this: Holy shit. Kalynne, you have nine kids? How the hell do you get any work done?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944513327283802005.post-13682397957747294652008-04-08T20:31:00.000-07:002008-04-08T20:31:00.000-07:00Sounds like anon 6:32 dwells in a sad place. I re...Sounds like anon 6:32 dwells in a sad place. I recognize tendencies on some members of my department, but not quite at the type-level he/she portrays. And, come on, it's not as if PGS suddenly realized that some people are bad. Of course we all fucking know that there's people like that in philosophy departments and everywhere else. He was telling a good story here. So shut up.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944513327283802005.post-91517841586901632072008-04-08T19:58:00.000-07:002008-04-08T19:58:00.000-07:00Why is it that the titillation of imagining CVAP h...Why is it that the titillation of imagining CVAP held my attention so much more than my indignation over the drunken lech? Moral emotions, where are you when I need you?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944513327283802005.post-8969193334719725092008-04-08T19:31:00.000-07:002008-04-08T19:31:00.000-07:00I think anon 6:32 wishes he had his own blog with ...I think anon 6:32 wishes he had his own blog with philosophers to read it, too. knocking PGS on his own thread to prop up your list is a poor way to get started.<BR/><BR/>funny story. and sad - there is no particularly good response for C.VAP. I second the motion that its a good thing he wasn't interviewing her.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944513327283802005.post-57527886513343090922008-04-08T18:32:00.000-07:002008-04-08T18:32:00.000-07:00Welcome to the real world, PGS. Let me clue you in...Welcome to the real world, PGS. Let me clue you in on something: Every fucking department has a dude like that (his drunkenness wasn't the issue by the way). In fact, here are some typical personalities you will encounter once you find a departmental home.<BR/><BR/>1. The Creepy Lech- This guy (always a guy) only pays attention to female undergrads and grads, and the attention is usually non-philosophical and unwelcome. <BR/>2. The Ghost-Muthafucka is never around. Never. <BR/>3. The Anachronism-This one keeps bringing up Karl Popper and has no clue about the last 20 years of philosophy.<BR/>4. The Admin Wannabe-This one lives to to serve the university (and make admin pay), hasn't published in years, wears suits all the time, can quote faculty handbook.<BR/>5.The Double-Dipper- Half time in philosophy, this one is almost never a philosopher and is happy with that fact.<BR/>6. The Adjunct Lifer- This poor sap has been adjuncting for the last 20 years and it shows.<BR/>7. The Escape Artist- This one is working like mad to publish his/her way out of the department and leave the rest of you suckers behind.<BR/>8. Kevin Bacon- Muthafucka knows everyone, and I mean everyone, and won't let you forget it.<BR/>9. The Asshole/Dick/Bitch/Shithead- This guy's mouth on the street or in a bar would get him clocked back to the 5th century, but for some reason, he (usually a he) thinks that department meetings are a safe place to dick it up.<BR/>10. The Abuser- Grad students and admin assistants are non-sentient tools to be used until broken, then discarded. <BR/><BR/>What I wouldn't give for someone with only a drinking problem.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944513327283802005.post-85390606107006126692008-04-08T16:33:00.000-07:002008-04-08T16:33:00.000-07:00Thanks for the story. I thoroughly enjoyed it.Thanks for the story. I thoroughly enjoyed it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944513327283802005.post-86436045119095886212008-04-08T14:56:00.000-07:002008-04-08T14:56:00.000-07:00Just a quick aside - did anyone see the article in...Just a quick aside - did anyone see the article in the Sunday NYT's about the increase in the number of students in philosophy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944513327283802005.post-9925659682211204562008-04-08T14:29:00.000-07:002008-04-08T14:29:00.000-07:00I'm just glad he wasn't interviewing C.VAP for a j...I'm just glad he wasn't interviewing C.VAP for a job.Kalynne Pudnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04804224012895512550noreply@blogger.com