Saturday, October 14, 2006
Recipe #3: The Recipe for Blogging Disaster
Most of us have noticed the proliferation of new Baylor Law Blogs, and some are wringing their hands like it is a portent of the End Times or something. Lighten up! While some people have made a few mis-steps, for the most part this development has been good. I think the new community of blogs (and it is becoming that, a set of complex inter-connections) does at least three good things. First, and most importantly, it builds on what I think is a great strength of Baylor Law-- the fact that our students are not only hard-working, tough, and intelligent, but they are a bunch of memorable characters with well-defined and often goofy personalities. Second, we need as much of a sense of community as we can have, given the fact that law school and its focus on reading can be terribly isolating. Third, some of this stuff people are coming up with is pretty funny.
But there have been some disasters. At least twice in the past few weeks, a student blog has arisen, made some controversial comments, then gone down in flames amidst mutual recriminations, accusations of impropriety, and exchanges of gunfire (this is Texas). Drawing from those experiences, I offer the following recipe for blogging disaster:
1. First, make sure that you have an anonymous blog. You'll notice that almost all of the good (and long-lasting) blogs are openly attached to real people. Anonymity is lethal to discretion it seems-- letting people know who you are serves as a good check on the urge to say bad things.
2. Two, name your blog after some kind of a roundish food, such as a radish or a meatball. Seriously, people-- a radish? Hello? Who in their right mind would choose to have their alternate identity be a root vegetable?
3. Assume that you are really, really good at satire. The truth is that satire is kind of a specialized talent that consists of more than just making fun of someone. Sometimes, the trick to non-harmful satire is to exaggerate a person's strengths rather than a weakness.
4. Have the theme of your blog be what you don't like rather than what you love. Everyone loves acidic negativity! If, that is, you want to crash and burn.
I really enjoy this, and the best part is having a different way to connect to, learn from, and share with other people that are at the center of what I am doing with my life. I hope we get more, not fewer, blogs-- but I hope they don't follow my recipe.
Comments:
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I think this went up a day too late. It seems some blog called TheBearisVeryAngry started/resurrected yesterday. And yeah, he is one mad bear.
Thomas--
Yeah, I saw that he slapped his link around yesterday, despite not having any new content since May.
Yeah, I saw that he slapped his link around yesterday, despite not having any new content since May.
Did you just say I'm goofy?
And just remember, I'm a Yankee, so I own no gun. So if you're going to pick on a blogger, I'm probably you're best bet. Though I'm pretty sure Prof. ConLaw would lend me one if I asked.
And #5 rule for blogging disaster. Be thin-skinned. Make fun of other people and then be completely unable to take even an ounce of criticism. Usually with the same line, "Well, you just don't get it."
And just remember, I'm a Yankee, so I own no gun. So if you're going to pick on a blogger, I'm probably you're best bet. Though I'm pretty sure Prof. ConLaw would lend me one if I asked.
And #5 rule for blogging disaster. Be thin-skinned. Make fun of other people and then be completely unable to take even an ounce of criticism. Usually with the same line, "Well, you just don't get it."
# posted by 
: 1:23 PM
: 1:23 PM
Amen, brother blogger! And thank you for the wonderful compliment--goofy is about as good as it gets. Self-importance is a terrible thing from which to suffer. Another Haiku?
Osler's Razor is
Raging against the unfunny,
laughing at us all.
Osler's Razor is
Raging against the unfunny,
laughing at us all.
Goofy, of course, is a category in which I am #1, or close to it. Which is one reason I like it here.
bearispissed was never really angry. he was hilarious. he started the blog in the winter quarter when we all needed a much needed diversion.
# posted by : 11:22 PM
: 11:22 PM
Professor Osler
Don't you think people would be more willing to vent about things that really are wrong with Baylor Law School and not just candy coat and pussyfoot if everyone wasnt scared of the backlash. People get community service for messing up and professors target students who stand up. Some things are wrong with the process and the programs but there is no forum to bluntly state what is wrong. Why must we wrap everything in the say two positives for ever negative. We are learning to become advocates and ethical lawyers. We are asked to stand up for the right thing but if we do that in law school there are repercussions. I do not condone anonymous blogging but don't you think the environment does not completely allow for honesty. How do you think Powell would treat a student, or other professors for that matter, who they found out were pointing out what was wrong with their attitude/teaching style and some of the inherent hypocrisy in things they say? I would like to see a Blog post to that. Blogs are fun and funny but don't you think there is sometimes a need to say things anonymously until the environment allows, or at least tolerates, dissent?
Don't you think people would be more willing to vent about things that really are wrong with Baylor Law School and not just candy coat and pussyfoot if everyone wasnt scared of the backlash. People get community service for messing up and professors target students who stand up. Some things are wrong with the process and the programs but there is no forum to bluntly state what is wrong. Why must we wrap everything in the say two positives for ever negative. We are learning to become advocates and ethical lawyers. We are asked to stand up for the right thing but if we do that in law school there are repercussions. I do not condone anonymous blogging but don't you think the environment does not completely allow for honesty. How do you think Powell would treat a student, or other professors for that matter, who they found out were pointing out what was wrong with their attitude/teaching style and some of the inherent hypocrisy in things they say? I would like to see a Blog post to that. Blogs are fun and funny but don't you think there is sometimes a need to say things anonymously until the environment allows, or at least tolerates, dissent?
# posted by : 1:15 AM
: 1:15 AM
Anon--
Are you somehow under the impression that there is such a thing as an "anonymous lawyer?" Do you think you are going to be able to go into court with a bag over your head, that you can meet with a potential client and refuse to say who you are?
Might there be repercussions if you say what you think and who you are? Sure. Welcome to the real world. You won't be getting a job at a place where you will be anonymous. Learning the use of discretion is one of the most important things to learn in law school. The lesson isn't to NOT say what you really and sincerely believe-- it is to say it at a time and in a way where you will have integrity and the chance to genuinely make a difference.
If students think things should be changed, SAY it. But it will mean much more if you organize and do this openly rather than behind a screen. Some situations are different; there is a reason for anonymous crime scene tips, for example. But in a law school, where advocates are trained, we probably would all be better served if we used our names.
Are you somehow under the impression that there is such a thing as an "anonymous lawyer?" Do you think you are going to be able to go into court with a bag over your head, that you can meet with a potential client and refuse to say who you are?
Might there be repercussions if you say what you think and who you are? Sure. Welcome to the real world. You won't be getting a job at a place where you will be anonymous. Learning the use of discretion is one of the most important things to learn in law school. The lesson isn't to NOT say what you really and sincerely believe-- it is to say it at a time and in a way where you will have integrity and the chance to genuinely make a difference.
If students think things should be changed, SAY it. But it will mean much more if you organize and do this openly rather than behind a screen. Some situations are different; there is a reason for anonymous crime scene tips, for example. But in a law school, where advocates are trained, we probably would all be better served if we used our names.
Mark, I think you have done a great service to future Baylor Law School students by creating this blog. I agree that the impetus for real change must not be anonymous. That being said, although Baylor Law School proclaims that it trains its students to be advocates (and it does), it’s not very open to criticism from students---in fact, it’s downright hostile. Ipse dixit is the rule du jour at Baylor Law.
While it’s easy to say that there will be repercussions in the real world, therefore you might as well learn to speak up now, the hard reality is that it’s much easier to just suck up the abuse (and Baylor Law is abusive—some of it useful, but much of it petty, worthless, and downright mean spirited) than to risk the $100k investment and your future career. Most people don’t understand what Baylor Law is really like until it’s already too late to transfer.
For the record, I took several classes from you and I thoroughly enjoyed your teaching style and I liked you as a person. Could the reason be that you don’t have the “holier than thou” mentality that a large percentage of the Baylor Law professors have is that you didn’t attend Baylor Law?
While it’s easy to say that there will be repercussions in the real world, therefore you might as well learn to speak up now, the hard reality is that it’s much easier to just suck up the abuse (and Baylor Law is abusive—some of it useful, but much of it petty, worthless, and downright mean spirited) than to risk the $100k investment and your future career. Most people don’t understand what Baylor Law is really like until it’s already too late to transfer.
For the record, I took several classes from you and I thoroughly enjoyed your teaching style and I liked you as a person. Could the reason be that you don’t have the “holier than thou” mentality that a large percentage of the Baylor Law professors have is that you didn’t attend Baylor Law?
# posted by : 11:37 AM
: 11:37 AM
Let me correct an earlier post. Bearispissed was not that funny, was short lived, and as far as I remember not well liked. If the author feels the need to continue promoting the blog, at least add some new material.
# posted by : 12:56 PM
: 12:56 PM
Professor Osler
The only thing I would add to that is, in the real world you can earn respect and speak your mind as an equal or often through some sort of policy allowing change. Firms have committees that listen to complaints and try to address them. What forum do we have, and please do not say this new student committee that just started. In the real world who is the mean professor that is going to run you into the ground, give you memos, threaten to fail you. In the real world, you can change where you are working to find a better place. At Baylor Law, you are stuck until you are done. You can't even control to a large extent what classes you take. You are forced to just sit there and take it. I concur with the previous post that you are one of the good professors that respects students. However, you are an exception to the rule. I have seen professors throw things at students, berate them arbitrarily, humiliate them to an extent that is not needed (making fun of speech impediments and other handicaps) and just overall disrespect them. Then we are told, well in court this is what happens. We all know that in court that is a rarity if it does happen. I just ask, where is our forum. Where is the forum we can speak as equals or at least as respected students?
The only thing I would add to that is, in the real world you can earn respect and speak your mind as an equal or often through some sort of policy allowing change. Firms have committees that listen to complaints and try to address them. What forum do we have, and please do not say this new student committee that just started. In the real world who is the mean professor that is going to run you into the ground, give you memos, threaten to fail you. In the real world, you can change where you are working to find a better place. At Baylor Law, you are stuck until you are done. You can't even control to a large extent what classes you take. You are forced to just sit there and take it. I concur with the previous post that you are one of the good professors that respects students. However, you are an exception to the rule. I have seen professors throw things at students, berate them arbitrarily, humiliate them to an extent that is not needed (making fun of speech impediments and other handicaps) and just overall disrespect them. Then we are told, well in court this is what happens. We all know that in court that is a rarity if it does happen. I just ask, where is our forum. Where is the forum we can speak as equals or at least as respected students?
# posted by : 2:01 PM
: 2:01 PM
8:37 & 11:01--
You raise great points. I didn't realize that this had been posted on this thread, and I put on a new response on the next thread up (10:15 had put it on both, and I am easily confused). I will cross-post that comment here in a minute. However, in answer to your specific points:
1) Uh, I don't think Yale Law gives one a humble attitude. So, it's not that. Also, sometimes I do get too full of myself and think of myself too highly. If there is a check on that, it is my faith. I see Christianity as a faith which teaches humility at every step-- from Christ's birth in a barn, to his being taunted while being executed. Exalting oneself is contrary to that. Quakers believe that the light of God is in all of us, and I really believe that. As a prosecutor, I never saw myself as morally superior to the defendant, and I never was. I fail in this goal of humility, of course, with great regularity.
2) The Law School needs to listen to the students. We don't want people to transfer, and we want more people like you to come here. How should we do that? Because I am not in the administration, it isn't my place to speak for them, but I would support any open and honest dialogue. That sure would beat people venting on anonymous blogs.
Maybe I will start a new thread on this.
You raise great points. I didn't realize that this had been posted on this thread, and I put on a new response on the next thread up (10:15 had put it on both, and I am easily confused). I will cross-post that comment here in a minute. However, in answer to your specific points:
1) Uh, I don't think Yale Law gives one a humble attitude. So, it's not that. Also, sometimes I do get too full of myself and think of myself too highly. If there is a check on that, it is my faith. I see Christianity as a faith which teaches humility at every step-- from Christ's birth in a barn, to his being taunted while being executed. Exalting oneself is contrary to that. Quakers believe that the light of God is in all of us, and I really believe that. As a prosecutor, I never saw myself as morally superior to the defendant, and I never was. I fail in this goal of humility, of course, with great regularity.
2) The Law School needs to listen to the students. We don't want people to transfer, and we want more people like you to come here. How should we do that? Because I am not in the administration, it isn't my place to speak for them, but I would support any open and honest dialogue. That sure would beat people venting on anonymous blogs.
Maybe I will start a new thread on this.
Here is the comment I put on the other thread:
Anon 7:22--
I thought I had responded to you earlier, but it didn't appear. Maybe that was a message to me from the ghosts of the internet. But I will do so again, with a more charitable spirit, perhaps.
Part of me agrees with you. I'm a dissenter and iconoclast by nature; I'm sure many of my professors did not enjoy having me as a student. And, yes, we have some issues to address at Baylor Law School-- we really need to work on some things, and one of them is an open dialogue. We need to hear what students think. Also, I have posted on message boards regarding University politics in the past using a psuedonym (though people knew who I was), so I can't condemn all uses of anonymity without being a hypocrit myself.
But, it does mean something that this discussion is within a law school-- as you put it, that you are "learning to become advocates and ethical lawyers." Law is not a profession that allows for anonymity-- you can't wear a bag on your head in court, or tell your clients you can't reveal your identity. What this means is that to be successful, you have to learn exactly the skills you disdain-- yes, sometimes you have to wrap every negative in two positives to allow the focus be on what you want changed. Passion is part of the best advocates, but "venting" is rarely a part of successful practice. So, for this forum, I would hope that people will use their real names. One of the results is that there will be advocacy, I hope, and that there will also be discretion.
I think you ask a good question, and I admire you for posing it. Your identification of the underlying problems is probably correct, but the solution is not going to be people venting on the internet under pseudonyms.
Anon 7:22--
I thought I had responded to you earlier, but it didn't appear. Maybe that was a message to me from the ghosts of the internet. But I will do so again, with a more charitable spirit, perhaps.
Part of me agrees with you. I'm a dissenter and iconoclast by nature; I'm sure many of my professors did not enjoy having me as a student. And, yes, we have some issues to address at Baylor Law School-- we really need to work on some things, and one of them is an open dialogue. We need to hear what students think. Also, I have posted on message boards regarding University politics in the past using a psuedonym (though people knew who I was), so I can't condemn all uses of anonymity without being a hypocrit myself.
But, it does mean something that this discussion is within a law school-- as you put it, that you are "learning to become advocates and ethical lawyers." Law is not a profession that allows for anonymity-- you can't wear a bag on your head in court, or tell your clients you can't reveal your identity. What this means is that to be successful, you have to learn exactly the skills you disdain-- yes, sometimes you have to wrap every negative in two positives to allow the focus be on what you want changed. Passion is part of the best advocates, but "venting" is rarely a part of successful practice. So, for this forum, I would hope that people will use their real names. One of the results is that there will be advocacy, I hope, and that there will also be discretion.
I think you ask a good question, and I admire you for posing it. Your identification of the underlying problems is probably correct, but the solution is not going to be people venting on the internet under pseudonyms.
Grrr...I think maybe the most effective way to protest any feelings of disconnect between the students and faculty (feelings which I definitely also complain about) is probably NOT to post anonymously on the blog of one of the professors who DOES strive to eliminate that disconnect, who is the one of the VERY few professors who very actively seeks to compliment students, and who uses this very blog to bridge the gap between faculty and students. I will admit having my days where I am less than the biggest fan of Baylor Law; yesterday, my husband banned any endowments we might make to Baylor in the future after he revealed his calculations of how many hours I worked last week (no awesome paint-by-number portraits of us in the courtrooms, I guess!). But neither Osler nor this blog's comments should be the target of any frustrations. The day Osler got on Facebook was, to me, a turning point in the way I thought about the faculty. Fashion night - while I didn't get to go - was an awesome concept. While I don't think any ONE person, faculty or administrator, should be the target of these attacks, Osler is the last person on earth I would level these gripes at. While I understand that these concerns are not directly against Prof. Osler, I would be pretty irritated to spend the approximately 25 hours a day Osler seems to spend posting to amuse us, and then find multiple posts blasting the faculty as a whole that I am a member of on my own blog. But maybe it's just that I've been kind of irritated with life in general over the last 8 weeks! :)
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# posted by : 4:36 PM
: 4:36 PM << Home
