My semester ends next Friday, and aside from the incredible Snoopy dances of joy currently going on, I'm beginning to realize that online adult education seems to have a weird little ritual that most students feel obligated to participate in: The Fawning. I sort of noticed it when I was teaching online, though mostly I disregarded it. But now as a student, it see it and am torn between rolling my eyes and snorting and trying to figure out if this is something I have to participate in. Sadly, it goes almost completely against my nature, so chances of me participating are slim. (And consequently there is much eye rolling and snorting going on.)
The Fawning seems to be the adult online equivalent of high school year book signing - but not the year books of your friends. No, these are the year books of people that you didn't really know, where all you can think to say is something stilted like "[Person], it was great being in [class] with you. Have a gr8 summer! Stay sweet!" or something equally lame. Except that by and large the Fawning missives aren't aimed at the other students, they're aimed at the professor.
"Dr. So-and-so, I just wanted to let you know what a great and insightful time I had in this class! Thank you for blah blah blah blah!!!" And while, if you really mean it, it's a nice sentiment - why wouldn't you send it as an email? Why would you post it to the whole forum for the entire class to see...are there really other students who care that 1) you're a complete suck-up and 2) you liked x, y or z about the class?
And yet, it persists. And then other students (presumably feeling guilty or not wanting to be the only one who didn't chime in and therefore look bad by comparison) leap in with their little fawning notes. And it's like this little end of the semester love fest ("I love you." "No, no, I love YOU." "Oh you're so great." "No, YOU'RE great." Bleh.)
I'll be glad when the forums are closed and I don't have to wade through the drivel any longer to see if there's something useful in there anymore.
1 day ago
Anakin Skywalker: You are so... beautiful.
ReplyDeletePadmé: It's only because I'm so in love.
Anakin Skywalker: No, it's because I'm so in love with you.
Padmé: So love has blinded you?
Anakin Skywalker: [laughs] Well, that's not exactly what I meant.
Padmé: But it's probably true.
I guess this isn't all that different from the days of students fawning over the teacher during office hours. Annoying is right.
ReplyDelete