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[concordancia]

This is actually more of a tantrum than a vent, except that my complaint is not irrational.

Dear campus computer system that contains all of our class and advising information:

It is such a good idea to provide photo rosters. This is very helpful in learning student names quickly.

HOWEVER, THIS IS NO HELP WHEN LESS THAN 50% OF THE STUDENT PHOTOS ACTUALLY SHOW UP.

The little icons showing a broken link are NOT AT ALL USEFUL. I am making my roster now. I want EVERYONE'S picture. The first-years have been on campus for at least five days now and they all got student IDs on day 1, so I don't understand why all of those pictures are not linked. Really, I don't.

Also, the fact that your network is going down every five minutes is also SUPER UNHELPFUL. I hate you, campus network. I hope you fall off a cliff and die. Or else I will put on my spikiest stiletto heels and jump on you, repeatedly.

VP

Since I had to wait until they contacted me to go and get my ID, and it was probably at least a month into the semester before they contacted me, I am not surprised that our freshpeeps don't have photos yet.

[vardahilwen]

In my experience, the photos rarely look like the students anyway.  The brunettes have gone blonde, bushy-haired boys have shaved their heads, etc.  Especially in my class where I have juniors and seniors, and the photos were taken at freshman orientation - practically no resemblance whatsoever :P

[scampster]

In my experience, the photos rarely look like the students anyway.  The brunettes have gone blonde, bushy-haired boys have shaved their heads, etc.  Especially in my class where I have juniors and seniors, and the photos were taken at freshman orientation - practically no resemblance whatsoever :P

I love making fun of them when they have gone through a radical transition since their freshman year. Of course, I only make fun of the ones who seem like they can take a good ribbing.

[vardahilwen]

In my experience, the photos rarely look like the students anyway.  The brunettes have gone blonde, bushy-haired boys have shaved their heads, etc.  Especially in my class where I have juniors and seniors, and the photos were taken at freshman orientation - practically no resemblance whatsoever :P

I love making fun of them when they have gone through a radical transition since their freshman year. Of course, I only make fun of the ones who seem like they can take a good ribbing.

I don't look anything like my university ID either, so I guess it's fair :)

[voxprincipalis]

This is actually more of a tantrum than a vent, except that my complaint is not irrational.

Dear campus computer system that contains all of our class and advising information:

It is such a good idea to provide photo rosters. This is very helpful in learning student names quickly.

HOWEVER, THIS IS NO HELP WHEN LESS THAN 50% OF THE STUDENT PHOTOS ACTUALLY SHOW UP.

The little icons showing a broken link are NOT AT ALL USEFUL. I am making my roster now. I want EVERYONE'S picture. The first-years have been on campus for at least five days now and they all got student IDs on day 1, so I don't understand why all of those pictures are not linked. Really, I don't.

Also, the fact that your network is going down every five minutes is also SUPER UNHELPFUL. I hate you, campus network. I hope you fall off a cliff and die. Or else I will put on my spikiest stiletto heels and jump on you, repeatedly.

VP

Since I had to wait until they contacted me to go and get my ID, and it was probably at least a month into the semester before they contacted me, I am not surprised that our freshpeeps don't have photos yet.

Our freshpeeps need photo IDs to go to the freaking bathroom. OK, that's hyperbole. But it's the Very First Thing they make them do when they get on campus. Those photos exist. They are in the computer. For whatever reason (I can think of several scathing assumptions), they are not linked to those students' records.

Also, for the first time ever, I am hating that a process on my Mac and iPhone that should be intuitive is not. The whole reason I love Apple products, apart from their sexiness, is that they are reliable and intuitive. For the first time, I am spluttering WTF???? over a stupid process.

ARGGGGGGGHHHHHHH.

VP

[vardahilwen]

I *do* like the fact that nowadays, the student's photo ID also serves as library card, dining card, etc. - back in the dark ages when I was an undergrad, you had separate cards for everything. 

[porcupine]

Well, here's my first official vent of the 2009-10 academic year, thanks to a new colleague who appears to have bought their own hype circa 1999 and who has not bothered to keep up with current fashion trends or indeed with normal social conventions such as politeness or adult behavior since. I suspect this will be a recurring one:

AAAAAAARGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[lenniel]

Online photos?  The horror!! 

My student ID looks like a mug shot after a long night of crystal meth.  One of my profs love his ID because he thinks the picture makes him look like an escapee from Guantanamo.  There is some truth to that.  Fortunately, everyone knows him and he is a much loved campus figure, otherwise he might have a tough time.

Minor vents:

1.  Crappy job finally paid me, but let's see about next pay period.  I keep the books, so I know it doesn't look good.  My boss is a good person, however needs to learn to listen to people in order to solve his cash flow.  One more non-payment issue, and I'm outta there.

2.  I can't answer the phone.  Only insane, lonely, and/or needy people are calling, so I now constantly screen.  My fear of getting trapped on the phone with one of those people has gotten me to the point where I just won't answer, as none of these people listen when I say "I can't talk now" or "let me call you later".  Since I have instituted the "no chat" zone, I have actually gotten work done. 

It's not like they don't know that I work two jobs, plus have deadlines; I think they feel that their needs are more important than my time.  So, I'm not engaging until they go away.  Petty and childish, I know, but that's they way it's going to be for the time being.

3.  Stupid arthritis - go away!  I'm tired of going for a walk and staggering back.  The neighbors think I've fallen off the wagon...

[gennimom]

I have a student who wants to take my class. She told me she was booted from the system. I thought, Yeah, sure. She was telling the truth. Thing is, I can't tell why. There is nothing obvious in the system that would indicate why. Urgh.

[wild_rose]

I have been overdrawn at the bank for TWO WEEKS now (at the tune of $6 per day) because You Lost My Reimbursement Paperwork. Do not lie to me about it being lost in the mail, because I am not stupid. They would not sent it interoffice. And the Accounting person told me she was waiting for YOU to FIX YOUR MESS.

I am not stupid. My reimbursement is not lost in the mail, it's lost on your desk somewhere.

You have had my paperwork since August 2. The next nasty note I get from the bank is going down your throat. My patience with you has run out.

Telecom tells me it is up to you to file the paperwork so I can GET AN OFFICE PHONE with MY name on it, and get into my voice mail. THREE WEEKS I have been waiting for this. Meanwhile, you feel "caught up enough" to take a four day weekend right before classes start.

When are you going to file the paperwork so I can access student grades?

And don't even get me started on keys.

I no longer feel sorry for you. I am ready to toss you into the gaping chasm of ignorance.

[macaroon]

You are the janitor.  What should you do when the alarm goes off on my research equipment?  NOT A GODDAMN THING.  No, I am absolutely NOT training you on how to maintain my research equipment!  NO.  NO.  NO.  Do I have to say it louder?  NO I WILL NOT SHOW YOU WHERE THE MUTE BUTTON IS EITHER!  LEAVE IT ALONE!

KEEP YOUR MITTS OFF MY RESEARCH EQUIPMENT!!!!  AND NO I WILL NOT SHOW YOU WHERE THE MUTE BUTTON IS ON RESEARCH EQUIPMENT NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES YOU ASK AND HOW LOUD YOU YELL TRUST ME I CAN YELL MUCH LOUDER THAN YOU CAN.

[vardahilwen]

You are the janitor.  What should you do when the alarm goes off on my research equipment?  NOT A GODDAMN THING.  No, I am absolutely NOT training you on how to maintain my research equipment!  NO.  NO.  NO.  Do I have to say it louder?  NO I WILL NOT SHOW YOU WHERE THE MUTE BUTTON IS EITHER!  LEAVE IT ALONE!

KEEP YOUR MITTS OFF MY RESEARCH EQUIPMENT!!!!  AND NO I WILL NOT SHOW YOU WHERE THE MUTE BUTTON IS ON RESEARCH EQUIPMENT NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES YOU ASK AND HOW LOUD YOU YELL TRUST ME I CAN YELL MUCH LOUDER THAN YOU CAN.

Machine make noise.  I stop noise.  :::BASH:::  There, noise stopped.

[voxprincipalis]

You are the janitor.  What should you do when the alarm goes off on my research equipment?  NOT A GODDAMN THING.  No, I am absolutely NOT training you on how to maintain my research equipment!  NO.  NO.  NO.  Do I have to say it louder?  NO I WILL NOT SHOW YOU WHERE THE MUTE BUTTON IS EITHER!  LEAVE IT ALONE!

KEEP YOUR MITTS OFF MY RESEARCH EQUIPMENT!!!!  AND NO I WILL NOT SHOW YOU WHERE THE MUTE BUTTON IS ON RESEARCH EQUIPMENT NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES YOU ASK AND HOW LOUD YOU YELL TRUST ME I CAN YELL MUCH LOUDER THAN YOU CAN.

Machine make noise.  I stop noise.  :::BASH:::  There, noise stopped.

Wow, it's like Igor is your janitor. ;)

VP

[vardahilwen]

You are the janitor.  What should you do when the alarm goes off on my research equipment?  NOT A GODDAMN THING.  No, I am absolutely NOT training you on how to maintain my research equipment!  NO.  NO.  NO.  Do I have to say it louder?  NO I WILL NOT SHOW YOU WHERE THE MUTE BUTTON IS EITHER!  LEAVE IT ALONE!

KEEP YOUR MITTS OFF MY RESEARCH EQUIPMENT!!!!  AND NO I WILL NOT SHOW YOU WHERE THE MUTE BUTTON IS ON RESEARCH EQUIPMENT NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES YOU ASK AND HOW LOUD YOU YELL TRUST ME I CAN YELL MUCH LOUDER THAN YOU CAN.

Machine make noise.  I stop noise.  :::BASH:::  There, noise stopped.

Wow, it's like Igor is your janitor. ;)

VP

Oh, that could have been any number of people besides the janitor.  Colleagues, grad students ...

[vardahilwen]

I hate it when I put my foot in my mouth!  (Bashes self upside the head, realizes I'm mixing body part metaphors here ...)  I just mentioned a social event to which I thought "everyone" was invited, and my conversational partner wasn't.  Tried to downplay the awkwardness, but the damage was already done.

Dang, I hate when I do this kind of thing.  THINK first.