Gimlé

The fact that Happy Tutor was once a self-hating loser is an interesting point and shows the vast difference between the the old ‘loser’ Tutor and the current excellent writer.

I already regret that half-hearted swipe at Happy Tutor. Shouldn’t have, really.

But it does highlight the difference between this sort of post and Dorothea’s complaints.

Dorothea describes her experiences, her dad’s experiences as well as the problems she sees inherent in the system.

And then she says “I know others have had similar experiences,” or something to that effect.

It doesn’t rule out the possibility that others might have had different experiences.

It doesn’t rule out that some universities might not have these problems.

It doesn’t broadly insult a large proportion of the participants in the academic culture.

It states that the university system failed her and others.

Some questions arise from that.

Why did it fail her and why does it continue to fail a large number of people on a regular basis?

And…

What can we do to change that (or if nothing should be done, explain why)?

Stating that it works for you doesn’t answer either of those questions.

Nor do insults or broad, sweeping dismissive statements.