Are all the random threads in here driving anyone else nuts?!

[SarahAndQuack]

It is really getting on my nerves - if anything it seems to be worse since the name was changed (which I thought was a good idea and assume was meant to clarify what the subforum is for?).

I know it's not a big deal to click away from a thread that's not even vaguely about academia, but it is annoying when half the threads on the first page are nothing to do with the topic.

Anything we can do, do you think? Or should I just redirect my irritation back to the proofreading I should be doing?

[impostersyndrome]

No, I'm also annoyed (especially as I instigated the name change ). There are two options: to ignore, or to politely tell the OP that they might be better off posting elsewhere, but then that makes the thread live (or worse, trending).

I seem to recall we were originally hidden in Off the beaten track. Does this still exist? is it worth moving there if so, especially given that recent threads on the strikes have been c+p to Twitter on occasion?

[SarahAndQuack]

Really?! Eek. I did not know that about C&P of threads.

I remember the OTBT days, and that was quite nice.

Did you, in the course of the namechange thing, happen to ask MNHQ if they could put a description up at the top of the subforum, the way they do for some other subforums? Then there could be a message saying it's for people who teach/research at university to discuss work.

I do sometimes feel tempted to ask why people post here, too - I mean, how do they find it?! It's not like you stumble on this section on the way to Chat.

[impostersyndrome]

Actually, not exactly C&P, but the thread about the strike got quoted on Twitter, IIRC.

That's a great idea to request a description at the top. I didn't think of that. Would you care to make the request, or did you want me to do it?

[SarahAndQuack]

I can! I'll report the thread.

[impostersyndrome]

[Dolorabelle]

Of course we can avoid answering the threads people post in here because they're too lazy to work out where they should post questions about - I don't know - grammar or getting a job without having qualifications. But we're all instinctively pedagoues and also nice helpful people. We could just not answer OPs posted here in error.

I feel your pain, Sarah - but you should try hanging out in "THe Weights Room' - even with a description at the top which says - almost in all upper case "This is not a weight loss forum" the section is dominated - really irritatingly - by desperates trying to lose weight.

I always advise them to take up weight lifting ... (actually, it is a good way to control bodyweight). And then, MNHQ wanted to fold the section into the overall "Weight loss" topics!!!! Most people taking weight lifting seriously ( I love it!) don't want to lose weight - we need our muscle bulk!

[impostersyndrome]

You hit the nail on the head Dolorabelle I can’t leave the thread unanswered, though unsure if it’s the pedagogue in me or just pedantry .

[SarahAndQuack]

Oh, gosh, that would absolutely enrage me, dolorabelle. Apart from anything else it must be incredibly annoying for anyone who has issues around weight loss, constantly seeing threads pop up to remind them.

I think I agree with imposter that it's pedantry as well as pedagogy in my case.

[Piggywaspushed]

I shall reply to this just to a) sympathise as someone whose posts in staffroom have routinely been hijacked (this is a really really big issue in staffroom and yes, we don't have a description thing either) and b) to reveal unto you that this thread is now indeed in active threads for all to see and pointlessly comment on

[SarahAndQuack]

Well, in a sense maybe it's good it's in active as people might think twice about whether they want to post here or elsewhere.

I can imagine it's irritating in the staffroom too. But you'd think ...!

[impostersyndrome]

Indeed, even today I’d be shy about entering a school staff room, let alone talking to someone there.

[Booboostwo]

The description needs to explain ‘academic’. In another thread I was trying to say to a poster who is a teacher that I also teach and said “I am an academic philosopher”...she accused me of making the job up!

[SarahAndQuack]

Back in the day, I was fool enough to start an AIBU thread about what 'academic' meant. The consensus was that, as a recent postdoc in a teaching position, I would be jawdroppingly arrogant to call myself an 'academic,' and should instead give myself a swift promotion to 'lecturer' so that non-academics would not be astounded by my self-aggrandising tendencies.

I think, though, we really just need to make clear it's mostly about job-related discussions. We're mostly talking about practical issues that arise from having a job where you teach and research and apply for grants.