tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post9148929903700815342..comments2024-02-24T05:19:10.949-05:00Comments on Durham-in-Wonderland: The Next Generationkcjohnson9http://www.blogger.com/profile/09625813296986996867noreply@blogger.comBlogger64125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-205208074607256192009-06-08T01:55:35.384-04:002009-06-08T01:55:35.384-04:00I really appreciate your analysis. It is unfortuna...I really appreciate your analysis. It is unfortunate that Mr. Parrish seems determined to become Dr. Parrish, and that neither entity will ever understand the beauty of thoughtful, rational analysis and the equal wonder of teaching diverse, that is to say, not like minded students how to reason freely, without dictating outcome. Preconceptions can greatly hinder discovery, bad manners can make all discourse unmanageable but the essential question is why would ill tempered bullies gravitate to this profession in the first place? The disgust and anger in many of these personalities can't happen randomly. Their ability to lecture without daily oversight and reward or punish with grades that only measure a level of capitulation impedes true learning. Maybe as bad teachers become intent on teaching fantasy or fringe history, they console themselves with the provocative while they lose the substantive. I have no knowledge, but would many of these personalities fail traditional personality evaluations? Are our complaints too limited in questioning their motives when what need to be questioned is their capabilities?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-63816994931710806972009-05-31T08:05:11.752-04:002009-05-31T08:05:11.752-04:00"Which all goes to show that when the academy char..."Which all goes to show that when the academy charges "uncollegiality" it's really saying, "Think as we do, or GO!'"<br /><br />Boy, did you nail that. And the fact is that academia's let's-be-collegial collective are the most unprofessional, petty, and vicious people you'll ever meet -- to wit, some in the G88.<br /><br />Duke ProfAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-66290870414330832172009-05-30T22:25:25.166-04:002009-05-30T22:25:25.166-04:00I had a lot of fun reading Parrish's attacks. What...I had a lot of fun reading Parrish's attacks. What a petty little snot he is. And the cojones on the guy to bring up KC's little dust-up at Brooklyn College over "collegiality," when his own verbal diarrhea could win awards for prima donna nastiness and an uncouth lack of collegiality.<br /><br />And here's the kicker. KC's problems with accusations that he supposedly lacked collegiality where really an argument of last resort by his opponents. They knew his academic credentials easily matched and in most cases far exceeded their own. He was a solid, competent scholar with a stellar record. But he was difficult to herd, difficult to pigeonhole, unreceptive to groupthink bromides, and a fearless and fearsome investigator, as he's proven over and over again in the years following the tenure battle.<br /><br />It made them uneasy. KC had to be attacked and taken down. Luckily for the academy, the attack failed.<br /><br />Now consider Parrish. He's swallowed hook, line and sinker the trendy academic fashions of the day. He's been easy to herd, easy to pigeonhole, and highly receptive to groupthink. But despite his evident uncollegiality, proven beyond a shadow of a doubt by his recent postings on NAS, he'll never have to worry that he'll be called on it. His fellow groupthinkers just won't see it.<br /><br />Which all goes to show that when the academy charges "uncollegiality" it's really saying, "Think as we do, or GO!"<br /><br />beckettbecket03https://www.blogger.com/profile/18173177473977303546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-57589078861164100082009-05-28T16:53:00.215-04:002009-05-28T16:53:00.215-04:00Anon @ 5/27/09 12:53 PM
And that is the reason ma...Anon @ 5/27/09 12:53 PM<br /><br />And that is the reason many blogs tolerate (up to a point) comments from the opposite camp even when they're poorly constructed and snide. Well, American conservatives are used to dealing with it, we get it from TV and the press all the time anyhow.<br /><br />Survey how tolerant of dissenting opinion blogs like Kos's are. Compare the Huffington Post.LarryDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10955273945502612268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-11119049864351564362009-05-28T14:16:06.126-04:002009-05-28T14:16:06.126-04:00TO anonymous (8:18PM) and (9:13PM)--
That's almos...TO anonymous (8:18PM) and (9:13PM)--<br /><br />That's almost the same silly logic used by Parrish when he used 3,139 words to attack Campbell's 2,607. Parrish wrote that "there are other more meaningful targets to attack if you insist upon exposing society’s many ills." You have apparently read the long post, probably read Campbell's article and Parrish's response, read at least some of the comments, and posted two comments yourself. Get a life! LOL!!<br /><br />********************<br /><br />Additionally, I see Professor Johnson's post as another brick. By itself, it's just a brick, but he's also put together quite a few bricks, and if you ignore those other bricks, you'll never understand what's been made. MOO! GregoryAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-46594890087940107152009-05-28T08:19:11.199-04:002009-05-28T08:19:11.199-04:00Oh gee...I feel a bit responsible.
Back when I wa...Oh gee...I feel a bit responsible.<br /><br />Back when I was at school, circa 70s, I made an art of reproducing teachers' political ideologies at every opportunity. A's were easy pickings. You'll have to trust me when I say I would have done fine in any G88 classroom. <br /><br />I'm feeling as though I encouraged the bastards now.<br /><br />Anyway it may interest <B>cks</B> to know that was during my secondary schooling. What really disturbs my sensibilities is that my writing then was better than that of Sean Parrish NOW. Mind you I got to grow up on a diet of Churchill, Kennedy(x2), Menzies, Whitlam, King, Gandhi...<br /><br />Look at what Sean has had.gwallannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-70981752002515281542009-05-28T03:07:53.238-04:002009-05-28T03:07:53.238-04:00Debrah; re Your 5/27/09 11:14 PM
Socrates would b...Debrah; re Your 5/27/09 11:14 PM<br /><br />Socrates would be proud of you.QAnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-9881093102133823362009-05-27T23:14:52.586-04:002009-05-27T23:14:52.586-04:00TO anonymous (8:18PM) and (9:13PM)--
Do you even ...TO anonymous (8:18PM) and (9:13PM)--<br /><br />Do you even know anything about NAS?<br /><br />Do you even know anything about grad students at Duke?<br /><br />Are you one?<br /><br />Do you know one?<br /><br />Are you the fellow in question?<br /><br />How might we evaluate your ankle-biting talents if we do not know your true expertise?<br /><br />If you've got one of those lives that you think someone should "get", please tell us all about it.<br /><br />Specifics, please.Debrahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04567454727276881424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-16176099068075408272009-05-27T22:08:37.740-04:002009-05-27T22:08:37.740-04:00To the 9.13:
Again, thanks for the anonymous comm...To the 9.13:<br /><br />Again, thanks for the anonymous comment!kcjohnson9https://www.blogger.com/profile/09625813296986996867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-63291163178892742062009-05-27T21:13:55.508-04:002009-05-27T21:13:55.508-04:00Given the content of this post, I seriously doubt ...Given the content of this post, I seriously doubt any advice you receive from comments (anonymous or otherwise) is effective. <br /><br />Someone who points to the posts of a random Duke grad student as evidence for the future decay of academia isn't exactly processing things with any sense of perspective. I've really no idea what you're trying to accomplish here, other than to venture into wingnutland.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-45330628293680428162009-05-27T20:24:22.644-04:002009-05-27T20:24:22.644-04:00To the 8.18:
Thanks for the advice!
I'll now off...To the 8.18:<br /><br />Thanks for the advice!<br /><br />I'll now offer my own, in return: advice is usually more effective when given in your own name, rather than anonymously.kcjohnson9https://www.blogger.com/profile/09625813296986996867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-12161509104670238032009-05-27T20:18:54.745-04:002009-05-27T20:18:54.745-04:00I can't believe you devoted an entire post to the ...I can't believe you devoted an entire post to the ramblings of some random Duke graduate student. Jesus man, get a life.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-9477158183892413332009-05-27T17:15:15.626-04:002009-05-27T17:15:15.626-04:00Sean Phillips did respond to critics at the NAS si...Sean Phillips did respond to critics at the NAS site. His response is a nasty piece of work.<br /><br />To the extent that I can understand what he says, it appears that Mr. Phillips doesn't owe any obligation of simple courtesy or even an attempt at reason because he considers the writers and readers at the NAS site to be guilty of something. As far as I can tell from Phillips' rambling piece, the writers at NAS are guilty of wishing to (1) re-enslave blacks, (2) diminish the status of women, and (3) discriminate against gays. He seems to assign this guilt solely because the writers at NAS are white, male and above a certain age. How he knows the identity of the writers at NAS is unexplained.<br /><br />So, from what I can discern from Mr. Phillips screed, he believe that the writers at NAS are "bigots" and thus not deserving of either courtesy or reason.<br /><br />Interestingly, I've looked at Mr. Phillips' picture and he is white and male. I'm not sure why this inherited, genetically acquired guilty doesn't attach to him. He doesn't bother to explain this.Shouting Thomashttp://www.harleyscars.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-70479358913354976952009-05-27T14:49:11.066-04:002009-05-27T14:49:11.066-04:00I am a Duke grad and a history major. I graduated...I am a Duke grad and a history major. I graduated nearly 30 years ago. <br /><br />I was in the History Honors program and did quite well. I had the immense pleasure and opportunity to work with the late Dr. John (Jack) Cell. <br /><br />And Duke prof's post saddens me, because I know deep down it is accurate. <br /><br />Back in the day, I was clearly conversant in the basics of Greek and Roman history (having been taught this subject by one member of the Group of 88 in her first year of teaching - and yes, she did a fine job then), the basics of English history as well as American history, and of course post-Renaissance European history, the time period of of my honors thesis. I have an entirely different profession now than that of the study of history, but love history to this day. My hobby is history - with over two thousand history texts in the home. And of course, once having run through Dr. Cell's regimen, graduate school, even the "highly ranked" one I attended (no doubt with Dr. Cell's help), was a day in the park. Dr. Cell (as well as three or four others of the same mold) made sure we all knew the importance of facts, how to think critically, and how to value the truth. <br /><br />I owe my personal and intellectual development to Dr. Cell. I was a poor kid from a broken single mother home who didn't really belong at Duke - he was not just an important influence on me - he was the influence, period. I wonder to this day how I could be so lucky to be the subject of his taciturn gaze and his guidance. He also taught by example that racism of any kind was unacceptable. This is why I like KC's blog so much - he engages in the same type of critical thinking that Dr. Cell taught us all how to appreciate. KC, I can pay you no higher compliment. Read the British Studies Intelligencer obit from 2002 about Dr. Cell, and one can distill that none of my statements are exaggerated. <br /><br />To the current crop of Group of 88'ers, I would ask of them if they think their students would say the same kind of thing as I now state about Dr. Cell - I sincerely doubt it. His teachings were enduring, and so was his quest for the truth. <br /><br />And to the current group of Duke profs - Dr. Cell is someone to emulate, as much as you can. I doubt that you will, however. He was to the core a principled man, a commodity in short supply these days.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-57162744437428577362009-05-27T13:41:39.953-04:002009-05-27T13:41:39.953-04:00Duke Law 72:
Your experience is just the tip of t...Duke Law 72:<br /><br />Your experience is just the tip of the iceberg, believe me. My department interviewed a young woman seven years ago for the position that I now hold. She was asked how she would approach teaching the Renaissance. She went on and on about the 19th century and the Victorians. Needless to say, she was not hired.<br />Little history is taught these days - and mostly what is taught, is poorly done.<br />cksAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-84113691972357706952009-05-27T13:07:35.144-04:002009-05-27T13:07:35.144-04:00To the 12.53:
It would apply, in theory, to any e...To the 12.53:<br /><br />It would apply, in theory, to any entity in which alternative views are excluded or silenced (one reason I am very careful not to discriminate on the basis of content in clearing comments, even if that means clearing comments very critical of me, such as those of the Group apologist, Prof. Zimmerman).<br /><br />There is, however, an enormous difference between the type of "law of group polarization" that Sunstein and Bauerlein talk about and blogs. In the Sunstein and Bauerlein models, the end result is a decision: the jury trial award in the Sunstein model, a personnel or curricular decision in the type of events of which Bauerlein writes. Blogs, of course, do not end in a decision.kcjohnson9https://www.blogger.com/profile/09625813296986996867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-80838108535349757832009-05-27T13:05:56.394-04:002009-05-27T13:05:56.394-04:00Duke Law 72
A few years ago I attended a straightf...Duke Law 72<br />A few years ago I attended a straightforeward real estate closing. My client was the Executor of the estate of the former owner so I didn't bother my client to attend as we had completed our paperwork well in advance. As is too often the case, the lender bank hadn't gotten its act together so the buyer, his atty, the bank's atty and I sat and chatted for quite some time. As things turned out the husband buyer was moving in to teach history in the local high school- particularly American History. Thinking we had a topic of common interest I told him that I has just finally completed Commager's Spirit if 1776. Our budding history teacher not only had never read it he had never heard of it or of Henry Steele Commager either. Think we have a problem?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-70021455479991145442009-05-27T12:53:54.819-04:002009-05-27T12:53:54.819-04:00"Citing the research of Cass Sunstein, Mark Bauerl..."Citing the research of Cass Sunstein, Mark Bauerlein has termed this phenomenon the law of group polarization, which predicts "that when like-minded people deliberate as an organized group, the general opinion shifts toward extreme versions of their common beliefs."<br /><br /> Do you ever wonder if this applies to blogs as well?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-14795398241655270702009-05-27T11:57:04.244-04:002009-05-27T11:57:04.244-04:00QA - You are a wise person indeed! - I enjoyed yo...QA - You are a wise person indeed! - I enjoyed your reference to the words of Rabbi Akiba (and I an nether Jewish or semantic either).<br />cksAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-82884921198351074082009-05-27T10:36:38.034-04:002009-05-27T10:36:38.034-04:00From KC’s opening post onwards, this threadline is...From KC’s opening post onwards, this threadline is the best ever, IMO.<br /><br />The technique of following-through on the faulty logic of an assertion until it is reduced to an absurdity, is one of my favorites.<br /><br />This thread is a pleasure to follow, as a model of Socratic Dialogue - in the guise of a series of apparent Monologues - in writing no less. What you might call bidirectional one-way communications.<br /><br />A number of posters come across as born teachers, skilled at getting their pupils to see the light - I’ve had a few such teachers in my time, and am comfortable in accepting the unspoken assignment to the role of temporary- pupil-for-the-sake-of-the-argument.<br /><br />As Rabbi Akiba once said: <br /><br />“...more than the calf wishes to suck does the cow yearn to suckle”<br /> <br />[and I am not even Jewish [and not anti-semantic, either]]<br /><br />When I do this Socratic thing myself, I have noticed that not everyone is comfortable in the pupil role. Some people seem to feel they are intentionally being made to look foolish, even though that is not our model-teacher’s intention at all - our model teacher intends only enlightenment.<br /><br />Unfortunately such calves may retaliate, and if they ever become bulls they may try to get their own back, and make us drink hemlock.<br /><br />I try to head that off, remembering to be aware of such reactions, and phrase my comments accordingly, but I have still not figured-out a fool-proof method.QAnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-794655525634066902009-05-27T10:14:07.234-04:002009-05-27T10:14:07.234-04:00I'm probably in the distinct minority, but I actua...I'm probably in the distinct minority, but I actually feel sorry for Mr. Parrish. His ability to project onto others without any evidence is astounding. I've had a lifelong interest in 20th century politics (anyone remember the vicuna coat?), and I would love to take a course from KC, simply to gain the knowledge and insight from someone who has seriously studied the subject. Now, if I walked into KC's classroom with the preconceived notion that KC was trying to impart his moral values to me in a paternalistic fashion, I could well miss the true value of the course, which would be sad indeed. To paraphrase Freud, sometimes teaching is just teaching, not a subliminal social indoctrination.Duke 1965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-3100319500284706042009-05-27T09:28:16.873-04:002009-05-27T09:28:16.873-04:00To the 9.20:
It's intriguing that even someone li...To the 9.20:<br /><br />It's intriguing that even someone like Mr. Parrish describes the Group of 88 as people who "supported a shallow career driven prosecutor in accusing four innocent lacrosse players."<br /><br />As to the second paragraph: the last time I looked, I am a <I>tenured</I> full professor. If Mr. Parrish has information that I was 'denied tenure,' perhaps he should share it with CUNY, which has kept sending me paychecks regardless!kcjohnson9https://www.blogger.com/profile/09625813296986996867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-43115788740540769842009-05-27T09:20:49.984-04:002009-05-27T09:20:49.984-04:00He might not have responded to your e-mails, howe...He might not have responded to your e-mails, however he does address some of your criticism in the comments of the 'Reason? Reason? We Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Reason!' article.<br /><br />First the connection by comparison to the Group of 88:<br /><br />"Sean Parrish obviously supported a shallow career driven prosecutor in accusing four innocent lacrosse players, etc, etc. Though I do enjoy drinking coffee every morning from my Duke Lacrosse mug (a X-mas present from mommy), I unfortunately was not a student here during all the festivities regarding that event. I watched it unfold on television just like many of you, the difference being that I am not prepared to exploit that event to prove the existence of a nationwide conspiracy of political correctness in contemporary universities."<br /><br />He also addresses you by name in an additional response further down the comments:<br /><br />"Obviously older scholars who were not denied tenure for a lack of collegiality (sounds embarrassing K.C.), and with far more experience than I have aren't giving you the attention you deserve. I also have to express my confusion that for men who so rigorously defend the purity of substance in academic debate, you do expend a great deal of energy criticizing the poorly developed rhetorical form of your opponents."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-62106350116761533792009-05-27T08:52:16.469-04:002009-05-27T08:52:16.469-04:00MOO!Gregory, the word may end up being "sotomajor"...MOO!Gregory, the word may end up being "sotomajor"<br /><br />"Experience being tested by obstacles and barriers, by hardship and misfortune; experience insisting, persisting, and ultimately overcoming those barriers," Mr. Obama said yesterday in introducing Ms. Sotomayor. "It is experience that can give a person a common touch of compassion; an understanding of how the world works and how ordinary people live. And that is why it is a necessary ingredient in the kind of Justice we need on the Supreme Court."<br /><br />So does the experience of being a lying, drug-addled stripper, with a history of false charges trump the truth? Does the law even matter or does experience trump the law?<br /><br />Who among us would want to go before a judge who is compassionately, or otherwise, assessing their life-experience instead of the facts related to the case? How would a white male lacrosse player fare before Judge Sotomajor if the other side involved a Latina?<br /><br />Wasn't this THE basis on why the defense thought it impossible for the lacrosse men to secure a fair trial in Durham?<br /><br />Wow.No justice, no peacenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-39624300740851542912009-05-27T02:24:32.782-04:002009-05-27T02:24:32.782-04:00To no justice, no peace:
Thanks! That's a nice an...To no justice, no peace:<br /><br />Thanks! That's a nice analogy.<br /><br />********************<br /><br />To inman:<br /><br />Is that you, Inman? The real Inman of days gone by? Hey! <br /><br />********************<br /><br />To cks:<br /><br />Yes! But I do think she can use the word "victim" from the first-person point of view in either the "I" or "We" form. That seems to be a major sticking point in the aftermath of the Hoax. Some people can't make mistakes, while others can't be injured. <br /><br />*********************<br /><br />To cathyf:<br /><br />That was a perfectly wonderful, funny and relevant story! I have copied that link to keep it handy. Previously, I'd used a general category to describe fallacies -- "stupid." It also reminded me of my high school days.<br /><br />Out of the lustness of my heart, I had agreed to tutor a comely lass having major difficulties with geometry. After a semester of rigorous instruction, I screwed up my courage and asked her out, claiming that she would "have the best time of your life." She said, <br /><br />"You didn't approach me in the proper fashion, and I just feel that we can't be together because we run around in different crowds, and we're so different. Also, I believe your claims of a 'best time of my life' are exaggerated."<br /><br />I replied out of frustration, "I don't understand."<br /><br />To which she elaborated, "You didn't choose the right angle; we're two parallel lines that cannot possibly intersect, and, besides, you're a square. Finally, your claims are pure hyperbola."<br /><br />(Sorry, I had to do it)! MOO! GregoryAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com