A little respect for a James Monroe grad, plz

Discussion in 'Accreditation Discussions (RA, DETC, state approva' started by RFitzhugh, Feb 23, 2010.

Loading...
  1. Quote of the year!

    Those pieces of paper cost about $1,000.00 each. Yes, that is exactly the type of person who I wish built the apartment in which I am living.
     
  2. CalDog

    CalDog New Member

    For a troll, you have a relatively sophisticated sense of exposure to civil liability. Yet you seem to have overlooked the potential criminal liability issues.

    You were clever enough to avoid claiming the title of Professional Engineer (PE), presumably because you recognized (correctly) that this title is legally protected. But you did claim to be a PE candidate, and even that claim has legal implications.

    In the US, engineering licensure is normally a two-step process. Before you can qualify as a PE candidate, you have to earn the preliminary title of “Engineer Intern (EI)” or “Engineer in Training” (EIT). The EIT process, like the PE process, involves education, experience, and examination requirements. Furthermore, the EIT title enjoys the same legal protection as the PE title. By asserting the status of a PE candidate, you've implicitly claimed legal EIT status – presumably falsely, in violation of state licensing laws.

    Civil liability is bad; as you are aware, a real company could have sued you, if you falsely used their name. But criminal liability is worse, because a state agency that catches you using a false title can do even more: they can fine you, put you on probation or in a cell, and tag you with a record. As you've acknowledged, trolling for cheap LOLz (on a web forum that routinely logs IP addresses) is not a rational reason for exposure to civil liability -- but doesn't it make even less sense if the exposure involves criminal liability?

    If you're really an engineer (or engineering student), you shouldn't display this level of stupidity, because it's an embarrassment to other engineers. If you're not an engineer, then it's more understandable, but you can still aspire to be as smart as one.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 24, 2010
  3. RFitzhugh

    RFitzhugh New Member

    All your assertions were correct, CalDog. Obviously, trolling about engineering is skating on pretty thin ice as it is, but I thought it would be interesting playing devil's advocate for a degree mill (for the lulz, as described). FWIW, I am in a related field, but not registered (yet). I actually have a lot of respect for engineers, went through school (a real one) with several. As for IP logging (...behind 7 proxies and all that), yeah, I suppose even this seemingly innocuous thread could be cause for legal hot water, but the subtleties in the OP should indicate the level of trolling taking place. No harm meant.

    Mods, feel free to delete this thread. It's obviously outlasted any utility I thought it would have.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 24, 2010
  4. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    Nothing will be deleted. It will serve to educate others. Now that your position has been completely destroyed you're saying that you've just been playing devil's advocate. I don't believe you. Someone who was taking that position would have said so at the onset. Personally, I think you've branded yourself as the devil. No amount of backpeddaling will erase your statements in this thread. However, I am one who believes in redemption. Time will tell. Members take note.
     
  5. emmzee

    emmzee New Member

    This part seems to suggest it was a joke from the beginning:

    "Dewitt Fore DeLulles" ----> "Do it for the lulz"

    Though I'm sure some people really would use similar faulty reasoning to justify their "degrees" if given the chance. :(
     
  6. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    Isn't creating a false identity and posing as someone you're not a reason to ban a poster? Just wondering, since this thread represents the only activity the OP has created on this board.
     
  7. RFitzhugh

    RFitzhugh New Member

    Seriously, Kizmet?

    "Dewitt Fore DeLulles" didn't tip you off? "Do it for the lulz"

    Linking to a photo of a toppled building (supposedly showing my "work") didn't tip you off?

    The off-color username didn't tip you off?

    THIS. WAS. A. TROLL.

    I simply looked up one of the more notorious names in degree mills, took a respectable occupation and ran with it. And apparently, I'm still reeling them in, well after the fact.

    [​IMG]
     
  8. RFitzhugh

    RFitzhugh New Member

    Well, I'm not trolling now, FWIW ;)
     
  9. DeLulles looks French. It would not be pronounced "De lulz" therefore, it isn't surprising that no one here caught that. Plus, since most people here are students or professionals, they don't spend as much time on deh internets as you do and may have no idea what you mean by the "lulz."

    You might think your trolldom should have been obvious, but there is little difference in the incongruities found in your fictitious claims as compared with the claims of legitimate cons*. For more information, please see ANY degree mill website and tell me if it looks more fraudulent or trollish.

    FOOTNOTES:

    *Hehe, I love oxymorons.

     
  10. RFitzhugh

    RFitzhugh New Member

    Surely my spelling skills and [mostly] correct grammatical usage was a sure tip-off? :)

    Most degree mill sites are downright atrocious.

    As for "DeLulles," yeah, I realize that the pronunciation was way off, but I was fairly limited to the words at hand.

    Speaking to what might constitute a "professional," I have two actual, REAL degrees myself in a practical field and don't feel that the humor was at all inaccessible for most. Unless you're over 40. In which case, yeah, none of this makes any real sense.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 24, 2010
  11. RFitzhugh

    RFitzhugh New Member

    Surely my spelling skills and [mostly] correct grammatical usage was a sure tip-off? :)

    Most degree mill sites are downright atrocious.

    As for "DeLulles," yeah, I realize that the pronunciation was way off, but I was fairly limited to the words at hand.

    Speaking to what might constitute a "professional," I have two actual, REAL degrees myself in a practical field and don't feel that the humor was at all inaccessible for most. Unless you're over 40. In which case, yeah, none of this makes any real sense.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 24, 2010
  12. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    OK, RF wants us to believe that he's just been playing us. Reallyreally funny. Almost as funny as me banning him for hmmm, let's say a month.
    Then we'll see what happens. If he's real he'll come back real. If he's not he won't come back at all.

    Hey RF! This is a fun game!
     
  13. airtorn

    airtorn Moderator

    $1000? That is the business to be in. That sounds like $999+ of pure profit. Last night, I printed up a diploma-ish looking certificate for the player of the week on my son's basketball team and the cost was about five cents.

    :eek:
     
  14. 5 cents? Can you also do MBAs and Ph.Ds? How do I enroll?

    I heard you were accredited by the Board of Universal Leading Learners Sector for Higher Instititions of Toledo, is that true ;)
     
  15. Chip

    Chip Administrator

    Kinda pathetic that trolls genuinely get entertained by this sort of stuff. But as he admitted, he had nothing better to do... unlike most of the regulars here at degreeinfo. :)

    The good thing is, through his trollish behavior, he's provided further search engine fodder on an unwonderful school, so maybe that will help someone to avoid a worthless degree.
     
  16. jackrussell

    jackrussell Member

    Now, I know why China's buildings drop like cardboards even at the mildest hint of an earthquake......
     
  17. airtorn

    airtorn Moderator

    I'm handy with PowerPoint and can do it. I might even be able to slap on a South Harmon Institute of Technology logo.

    However, I will have to tack on $999.95 for shipping costs.
     
  18. go sandwiches!!!!
     
  19. RFitzhugh

    RFitzhugh New Member

    First of all, I would like to apologize to everyone on this thread for my trolling attempt a month ago. I had assumed that the subtleties in the OP would reveal my jocular intent, but that obviously failed to convey properly in a forum such as this.

    I've always viewed degree mills as predatory entities set on defrauding unfortunate, often desperate people who do not see themselves as fit students for more traditional venues of higher learning. In this lunacy, there is a bit of light to be made of those who actually think acquiring fake degrees could do anything but detrimental things to those wishing to further their careers, which was supposed to be the point in the OP, now completely lost in the milieu of this thread.

    Lastly, I've linked to photographic proof of my diploma from a real college - UT Austin. Kismet - I uploaded this for your assurance that I am not some rube with a fake degree practicing engineering somewhere. In fact, I am not practicing engineering at all.

    [​IMG]

    Again, my apologies to all for the diversion from what appears as an informative forum for higher learning.
     
  20. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    Welcome back.
     

Share This Page