Lecturers at Bath University - very rude!

[Cobra]

You'll need to read this from the bottom upwards. A friend forwarded it to me. I have removed the names to spare that particular lecturer from shame, but this is the attitude some have at our university.

Isn't this the very definition of a bad attitude?

----- Forwarded message from "Dr. Paul "
-----
Date: Tue, 4 Oct 2005 16:33:03 +0100
From: "Dr. Paul
Reply-To: "Dr. Paul
Subject: RE: Timetable issues
To: 'S

This is typical of the pathetic whingeing e-mails that have been wasting my
time and others over the last couple of days. Grow up and take
responsibility for your own timetable.

-----Original Message-----
From: S
Sent: Tuesday, October 04, 2005 15:15
To: Dr. Paul
Subject: Re: Timetable issues


Hello,

I was just wondering if it would be possible to email the timetable on the
notice board to each of the years so we could print it ourselves. Its a lot
of hassle trying to format the timetable from the web. Sorry to bother you
with this issue, I was just wondering if it would be at all feasable?

Thank you, S


Quoting "Dr. Paul

> > Dear All,
> >
> > A decision was taken before the start of this semester not to print
> > copies of the timetable for 2-4 yr students. As you should be aware
> > the timetable is available over the web for all degree programmes and
> > is kept up to date by central timetabling staff. This is the most
> > accurate form of the timetable and you should check it regularly to
> > ensure there have been no changes to your programme. To access the
> > timetable please follow Amanda's instructions emailed on the 28th
> > Sept. Please note that for security reasons the University does not
> > allow staff names to be printed on the web-based timetable.
> >
> > If you wish to produce a useable hard copy of the web timetable then
> > simply follow these instructions:
> >
> > Do not print the web timetable as it appears on your computer screen.
> > Go to the Edit command at the top left of the screen and click <Select
> > All>. Then select <Copy> (or use <Ctrl + C>) Now open a new worksheet
> > in Microsoft Excel. Go to Edit and scroll down to click <Paste>. This
> > will paste your TT into Excel.
> > Delete the University logo in the top left of the worksheet, now highlight
> > rows 1-6 inclusive. Go to Edit and choose delete to remove all the text
> > above your TT.
> > Scroll to the bottom of the TT and similarly delete the rows of text below
> > the TT.
> > Go to Page Setup under File menu and select Orientation: Landscape, and
> > Scaling: Fit to 1 page X 1 page.
> > Select all cells (click on top left of the worksheet above the row
numbers),
> > got to Format, select Cells, Font and choose your font, font style and
size.
> > I suggest Ariel, Regular and 16 point.
> > Select columns from 9.15 through to the end of the latest session on your
> > timetable and then adjust the column width to about 35 (250 pixels).
> > Check print preview under file menu - your TT should fill an A4 sheet.
> > If you wish you could now delete the coloured fill of the boxes.
> > Check all the week numbers in each cell against the information provided
on
> > the original web timetable - in some cases Microsoft Excel interprets
> > numbers as a date format rather than a range of week numbers, for example,
> > weeks 5-8 may appear as 05-Aug! If this occurs then delete the cell
> > contents and type correct week range preceded by a space,
i.e.<spacebar>5-8.
> > Now print off a single sheet of A4!
> >
> > Now visit your year notice board and annotate your TT to indicate
> > which staff member will be giving each session. Under no
> > circumstances must the Departmental TT be removed from the year notice
> > boards.
> >

> >
> >




----- End forwarded message -----

[thecoalman]

Sounds like a reality check to me... as in welcome to the real world. Sounds to me he wants the lecturer to do something he could do himself. I'd imagine the lecturer probably gets a lot of e-mail from students that wastes his time and it would be quite frustrating.

[Cobra]

She. It would be no trouble whatsoever if this lecturer would just have attached the formatted timetable that they had produced and issued it to the entire yeargroup. As it was, it appears that he wanted everyone to jump through hoops.

He was sent a very civilised message, and a simple "No" would have been fine. As it was, though, he was obnoxious about it.

I'm not wound up about it, just surprised that anyone paid to do this would be so cheeky and nasty about it.

[waheed]

It would be no trouble whatsoever if this lecturer would just have attached the formatted timetable that they had produced and issued it to the entire yeargroup.

When I was at university (UMIST), the lecturers gave every student a printed copy of the timetable at the start of each semester during the first lectures, as well as a online formatted copy that could be printed if you lost your timetable. No problems with us. They even provided additional printed copies of the timetable if some students were not present at lectures when timetables were first given out.

[waheed]

I would hate it if I had to format my own timetable. Cant really be bothered with that. Best option is just to photocopy another classmate's formatted timetable (if he/she has already done so).

[thecoalman]

Could't you just do a screen capture?

[lordsmurf]

This teacher sounds technology inept, and lazy. It would have been no effort to make an XLS for the students to use. He/she probably does not know how to make a template. Moron.

[drjtech]

I agree 100% with the lecturer. The original e-mail stated that among the reasons the timetable is on the web is because it is subject to frequent change.

As you should be aware the timetable is available over the web for all degree programmes and is kept up to date by central timetabling staff. This is the most accurate form of the timetable and you should check it regularly to ensure there have been no changes to your programme.

Also, the lecturer is not technology inept. He provided detailed step-by-step instructions for printing the timetable. It's the pathectic whingeing students who are lazy and/or inept.

I presume Dr Paul's response was flamed by this being the umpeenth whingeing request for spoonfeeding.

-drj

[Cobra]

We can't do a screengrab online because it's hopelessly complicated, and has all the lectures for an entire course and not one particular one.

All this lecturer had to do was fire off the document instead of instructions on how to make it and the inevitable issues that go with. He was sent a polite e-mail, and gave a rude response.

Just saying, someone must have pissed in his morning coffee or something! Even so, that response was well out of line.

[MackemX]

I agree 100% with the lecturer. The original e-mail stated that among the reasons the timetable is on the web is because it is subject to frequent change.

As you should be aware the timetable is available over the web for all degree programmes and is kept up to date by central timetabling staff. This is the most accurate form of the timetable and you should check it regularly to ensure there have been no changes to your programme.

Also, the lecturer is not technology inept. He provided detailed step-by-step instructions for printing the timetable. It's the pathectic whingeing students who are lazy and/or inept.

I presume Dr Paul's response was flamed by this being the umpeenth whingeing request for spoonfeeding.

-drj

, so very true and these guys are doing degrees but can't sort out a simple timetable even though it's got very clear instructions and it's not rocket science

isn't that the same attitude some 'regulars' seem to give here when someone asks a simple newb question for the umpteenth time and it is seen as wanting to be spoonfed? . Isn't it the same thing as what is being implied in this thread as surely those posts would be considered as having a bad attitude and being rude?

anyway next he'll be getting emails like this

Dear Dr Paul,

can you please come and wipe my bottom because I've just been to the toilet

Jeremiah Smythe

Dear Dr. Paul,

I have to go out and I've just put my shoes on but my shoelaces are undone

Timothy Winklebottom

[shelbyGT]

whingeing <---- What's that? I've never seen it before.

[BJ_M]

http://flurf.net/batpage/WhingeingSong.xb

[BJ_M]

whingeing and whingers = Aussie

[jimmalenko]

Whilst the lecturer could learn some tact, by the time you get to university you should at least be proficient in Excel and Word as far as I'm concerned. You're also old enough, big enough, ulgy enough and lazy enough to look after your own sorry ass without being spoonfed.

[lordsmurf]

Providing templates within a company is standard practice. It sounds like this school does day-to-day business piss poor, and when methods to streamline are suggested, you get attitude from some pompous ******* with tenure. I thought the purpose of college was to prepare somebody for the "real world". From the sounds of things, this teacher is out of touch.

FYI, it has nothing to do with somebody being old enough or educated enough, or anything retarded like that. I'm old enough to milk my own cow, and churn my own butter, but it's fuckloads more convenient to by a $1 tub from the corner market.

Why should students have to re-invent the wheel?

[jimmalenko]

FYI, it has nothing to do with somebody being old enough or educated enough, or anything retarded like that. I'm old enough to milk my own cow, and churn my own butter, but it's fuckloads more convenient to by a $1 tub from the corner market.

... hence my comment "lazy enough"

Why should students have to re-invent the wheel?

They don't. Instructions are given. They're not the best instructions, mind you, but at least they provide an alternative. I can fully understand why they only make the timetable available online, as it is subject to frequent change.

We experience this problem daily at my workplace, with forms and schedules changing all the time. We make them available from our intranet and inform to staff to use them on a "need to" basis and not to save them locally to their computers or print out bulk copies in advance, so that we can ensure that they're only using the latest and most up-to-date versions.

[thecoalman]

I thought the purpose of college was to prepare somebody for the "real world".

Again I think this is a clear example. If we put this in the context of employee or employer the reply very well may have been the same. Depends on the boss. As mentioned this timetable frquently changes so I don't see why the burden should be placed on the lecturer to provide one everytime there is a change... Sounds unmagenaeble to me unless you developed something specifically to send to each student when there was a change.

isn't that the same attitude some 'regulars' seem to give here when someone asks a simple newb question for the umpteenth time and it is seen as wanting to be spoonfed?

Good point. :P I'd imagine he gets tons of stuff. Cobra you should send him RTFM icon he can include in his replies.

[Cobra]

He's not in my department - nothing to do with me. That e-mail was just doing the rounds at the uni, thought it would spark up a nice debate over here so I posted it up!

[MackemX]

I thought the purpose of college was to prepare somebody for the "real world".

I'd be saying to the student, 'Welcome to the Real world' in the voice of Morpheus as that's the attitude you sometimes get from people . Yeah it was harsh but as he mentioned it's the umpteenth time he's been asked and we don't know what's been said in the other emails. I've seen that kind of rude attitude here from a few people myself

isn't that the same attitude some 'regulars' seem to give here when someone asks a simple newb question for the umpteenth time and it is seen as wanting to be spoonfed?

Good point. :P I'd imagine he gets tons of stuff. Cobra you should send him RTFM icon he can include in his replies.

I could have took the pussy route but I thought I'd go against the flow (as usual ). I see someone got my point so I rest my case . I could have easily said 'Oh my goodness that was very impolite, boo hoo I'm so offended. Whatever will I do now I need my bottom wiping?'

It will happen again to that 'poor' student, probably if he comes here and asks how to rip a DVD and if someone would email him a guide on how to do it :P

I'm getting sick of all these whinging replies in this thread :P

maybe his email should have been a little like this?

Hey mofo!,

send me that goddam timetable with plenty of bling bling b4 I pimp ya ass n put a bullet in it! Iz 2 lazy + Iz busy shaggin all ma boy bitches to be bovverd by simple shit like this

respekt

DJ Jazzy S

it was a rude reply by the way . I would have just emailed the guy back in a nice but firm way and told him that his response wasn't exactly polite

p.s. I need to cut down on smilies to show my posts are harmless fun 8) , I'm turning into Yoda :P

[Craig Tucker]

Why should students have to re-invent the wheel?

Thats called education.

And I think it was a very unprofessional way to reply to a students request

[Supreme2k]

All that they need to do is create a pdf (with a link and version number/revise date) and a "Last revised" message on the page.

They could also do it the opposite way and create the XLS from the beginning and export to html. That way, they would always have the xls reday to send (or even download directly from the page).

I don't find it as being as much of hand-holding, but rather very sloppy (and inefficient) document management.

[Doramius]

I agree that some students are lazy, but may also be too busy. This guy is obviously too busy (or too lazy) to do the formatting him/herself and send it off. If the person wanted to do it professionally the way it is done in the "REAL WORLD" he/she would still do the formatting, regardless of the frequent changes. If it became too difficult, they would assign someone else to do it. I highly doubt a student would be able to delegate the responsibility to someone else. Who would do it? Another student who has no time themselves? Don't these lecturers or professors have assistants or aids? Most that I know of have at least a secretary.

Yes, the email was rude. I doubt it would warrant disciplinary action, I think the most a dean would do is scold the person for the reply, and ask for an apology to be sent. Usually those apologies are half a**ed and they start with a sorry, but end up with some lame cop-out excuse. They basically say, "I'm sorry for what I said, but it's exactly what I meant so deal with it."

I'd respond with something like, "I'm sorry, my computer knowledge is very limited as I have chosen a much simpler and less complex major in which to learn. I too feel like taking the easy way through college. I am asking you to please help someone else who does not have the time, like yourself, to deal with complex computer related intricacies."

Basically waste more of their time, but do it anonymously.