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[jrscholar]

Or you could just try telling your own version of the Aristocrats.

[cheever23]

Yeah, I don't think these folks would "out" me, but the point you make is well-taken.

[infopri]

Or you could just try telling your own version of the Aristocrats.

I wonder whether it would help matters if the candidate's version of the Aristocrats included, instead of (or in addition to) family members and pets, students and administrators...

[cronopio]

Hey! A whole new thread in the making! We could do a collective version of "The Aristocrats" staring high maintenance candidates!

Requisite props: Peet's coffee, Donna Karan black pantyhose, a secretary/administrative assistant, three unimpressed graduate students....

[wannabephd]

I have to say I wondered if it was "Peet's" because the chain supermarket in "our fair city" just got it and there was a collective swoon amongst one faction of the department. They are "selling" that as a "plus" to the candidates coming through. Two of the candidates all but squealed.

My guess is that they sensed how excited the faculty were about this and were trying to appear enthusiastic.  You might have seen similar swoons of delight in the following scenario:

Local faculty member: "We have an active volcano on campus and we periodically sacrifice an adjunct instructor or two to placate the gods!"

Candidiate: "What a marvelous learning experience for your students!"

[mrhistory]

I have to say I wondered if it was "Peet's" because the chain supermarket in "our fair city" just got it and there was a collective swoon amongst one faction of the department. They are "selling" that as a "plus" to the candidates coming through. Two of the candidates all but squealed.

My guess is that they sensed how excited the faculty were about this and were trying to appear enthusiastic.  You might have seen similar swoons of delight in the following scenario:

Local faculty member: "We have an active volcano on campus and we periodically sacrifice an adjunct instructor or two to placate the gods!"

Candidiate: "What a marvelous learning experience for your students!"

So, true, I can recall expressing excitement over amazing things on interviews myself "back in the day."  I do have to say that one went on *far* too long about types of beans and the right sort of water. That one was a *true* believer.

[untenured]

Or you could just try telling your own version of the Aristocrats.

If some candidate told that I'm give him an offer on the spot.

Nice joke.  Here are the keys to your office.  Have a nice day.

Untenured

[cackalacker]

I have to say I wondered if it was "Peet's" because the chain supermarket in "our fair city" just got it and there was a collective swoon amongst one faction of the department. They are "selling" that as a "plus" to the candidates coming through. Two of the candidates all but squealed.

My guess is that they sensed how excited the faculty were about this and were trying to appear enthusiastic.  You might have seen similar swoons of delight in the following scenario:

Local faculty member: "We have an active volcano on campus and we periodically sacrifice an adjunct instructor or two to placate the gods!"

Candidiate: "What a marvelous learning experience for your students!"

No way it was fake. I would *totally* squeal for Peet's. Wait, that just sounded...wrong.

What I meant to say is that Peet's is fabulous enough that if I were visiting a town where I was worried about the coffee options (too much Caribou, no local coffeehouses), the presence of a Peet's would make it all okay.

I don't remember many high-maintenance candidates coming through my dept when I was in graduate school.  Mostly they all seemed so nervous and desperate to please that I would want to pat their hand and offer them tea. Or Peet's coffee, which I couldn't do because we had none in our town.