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Clodfobble · 05-19-2004, 10:19 AM

On the subject of names...

I had a couple professors insist that we call them by their first names. I did indeed respect them less, not just because it got rid of any authority but also because it seemed to me they were trying too hard to be my friend, which inherently made them sort of lame, you know?

I think if you tell them you're Professor Whoever, but explain that you feel slightly stiff with that name so anyone who wants to can call you Professor Chaos instead, that would loosen things up but not make you look desperate to hang out with your students. And if you're lucky, a smartass-class-clown type will actually use it and it'll stick.

What subject are you teaching?

05-19-2004, 10:19 AM	#8
Clodfobble UNDER CONDITIONAL MITIGATION Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 20,012	On the subject of names... I had a couple professors insist that we call them by their first names. I did indeed respect them less, not just because it got rid of any authority but also because it seemed to me they were trying too hard to be my friend, which inherently made them sort of lame, you know? I think if you tell them you're Professor Whoever, but explain that you feel slightly stiff with that name so anyone who wants to can call you Professor Chaos instead, that would loosen things up but not make you look desperate to hang out with your students. And if you're lucky, a smartass-class-clown type will actually use it and it'll stick. What subject are you teaching?