That Clown Douglas and His "Book Report"

He has it. What's it to you?

 

You know what, Dennis? I was thinking of the persons furiously posting on another forum. I wasn't thinking about you. But now that you mention it...you bragged about having me fooled on that other forum.

Your posts both here and there indicate communication with someone whom I said I wouldn't mention again. Well, I'm gonna mention him again: he's being a lot more reasonable about Rich Douglas than you are. End of comment on that person.

Why did you feel the need to list programs in which you are enrolled, as though I had disparaged what you are doing (or even knew what you are doing beyond your doc work at CCU)?
I have publicly and privately defended CCU and your choice to enroll there. Your other enrollments are unknown to me and none of my business, unless you choose to make them topics of discussion here.

How 3 masters programs and an unaccredited bachelor's in sacred literature makes you "just like me" has me puzzled. I don't even know if being "just like me" is good or bad, nor do I care very much. However, you're not. Not at all.

You mystify me more and more. I used to think that you were reasonable and that Douglas was overly combative, and so indicated both privately and publicly. Dennis, I was wrong. I misjudged both of you. I apologised to Rich privately for my mistake about him. Now I apologise publicly to you for my mistake about you.

A revedere, Janko

 

DEnnis you are most amazing:

4 education programs, 3+ forums a day with a total over 5 post/day, plust your accounting practice in Whitecourt! I have trouble with 1 course, and 1 forum and a job! My hats off to you!

 

1. Humour - this was in a post that I suggested you shouldn't be a subject of abuse.

2. Humour - nor do I have any special desire to be just like you.
The comment on courses was just a response to questioning how better I could spend my time.

3. I don't call anyone a liar, a fraud, a shill etc.. I simply pointed out a couple inconsistencies to the master at detecting inconsistency.

I don't post anything critical about anyone here elsewhere where they are not able or willing to speak on their own behalf. I post elsewhere but I stay out of the fights.

Why is it that the people who dish out the abuse of people taking alternative programs cry foul when the topic turns to them?

An observation - some of the more agressive "R/A or the highway" people, including Rich have actually calmed down a lot over time. I can think of many individuals viciously brutalized by certain other people here and wondered why it was tolerated.

Why do you think I am still tolerated here when many of the people I have grown to like are gone? It's because I don't use a sledgehammer unless absolutely necessary and I am probably right as much as I am wrong.

 

You forgot the two stores and the farm.

 

I am one of the seven and was grateful to receive Rich's dissertation. Since I have advised theses and dissertations at more than one university, and have read dozens of dissertations. I have a little background in this area.

I have offered my opinion about the quality of Rich Douglas' work on a few other threads, but I am happy to sum it up here as well: Anyone looking for the dissertation to be a "smoking gun" to use against Rich Douglas, will be very disappointed. It's a nice piece of original work and contributes to the field. It is easily as good as many that I have read at private and state universities in California and Arizona.

Tony Piña
Faculty, Califonia State U. San Bernardino

 

Both posts say exactly the same thing.

Perhaps I should have said "Liar? - I never said that"

 

Interesting who has good words for "the diss" of the century!

http://www.collegehints.com/boards/showthread.php?t=656

 

RC is most certainly still playing games. First off he announces on CollegeHints that his dissertation is available to ANYONE, but conveniently RC couldn't even remember his own email address!?
His eventual reply to me said I was not getting a copy because 'I stole' his stuff from UMI, which is an outrageous lie. He did not give me the opportunity to provide a physical delivery address. So it's really more lies poured on earlier lies.
I've just got back from my trip to find an email note from the USA saying that they have received my payment for the RC Dissertation and that it is now on its way to NZ. When it arrives, which should be early next week, I will reveal where it came from. It will, however, be some time before I get round to reading it.
Dr Anatidae (Knightsbridge)

 

The cola?

 

Do Not Feed the Trolls

A few months ago, we welcomed Rich into the exclusive membership club of persons who hold a legitimate Ph.D. Now, I will presume to pass on a little sage advice that will be constructive for everyone . . .

People like Dennis get their rocks off on pushing the buttons of legitimte distance education experts like Rich. IMHO, Rich's only problem is that he allows them to do so. By constantly responding, he merely feeds the trolls, strengthening them to continue in getting their jollies at the expense of others.

Rich, my friend, get used to it - degree mill proponents will always engage in "insulting personal attacks." So what else is new? In the end run, the degree to which they will do so depends merely upon the response they get . . . so don't give 'em one.

(This is a truth that was learned long, long ago in a galaxy far, far away by John Bear, who has undergone more "insulting personal attacks" than Rich and I ever could - combined. And John has managed to survive quite well, maintaining an even keel to this day.)

One of the phrases that I have oft used on this board over the years is "laughing my ass off." Try it, Rich - it works wonders. Look in the mirror and remember that you're the guy with a legitimate, regionally accredited doctorate. No matter what Dennis, Jimmy, Neil, or any of the critics do, they're the ones with bogus or mickey-mouse degrees. And not even the most vicious personal attack will change that.

In other words, if you don't want the trolls to continue in their attacks, don't feed 'em. They'll wither up and go away (can anyone say "Sheila?" And, except for rare, automatic appearances of an old FAQ on a newsgroup that has lost its credibility, who really remembers Rita Laws?)

Anyone who has done credible research knows that there's only one legitimate consume-oriented distance education forum on which positions are not censored - and you're reading it right now. As for anyone who puts credibility in the forums that are developed by degree mill advocates to puff their own positions while censoring yours, they deserve what they get. The numebrs alone attest to the notion that you will get more reliable information here than elsewhere, notwithstanding that even the Dennis Ruhls are allowed to post their crap.

Now, want to put all the arguments to rest? Simple: Sign up for a freebie web site on, say, Tripod or Angelfire, and post your entire dissertation there. Hell, that's what I did for years. Along with my Union learning agreement and program summary, as well as my Vermont College thesis and program documents. Even then, I decided to pull all those documents down in the interest of my own privacy, having gotten tired of all the correspondence from both my detractors and my fans (for lack of a better term).

There is more to life than distance education, more than having to respond to critics (which you don't have to do at all), and more than being placed in a position by some wazoo who doesn't hold legitimate credentials in which you feel you have to whine to legitimize yourself.

The best remedy to the Dennis Ruhls of this world? Ignore 'em. Because in the end run, it's not your responsibility to ensure that everyone sees the big picture in terms of legitimacy, it's their responsibility. And you can laugh your ass off without feeling that you have to constantly be in a defensive position with the boxing gloves on.

Past that point, if you're determined to be a consumer advocate in the wacky world of distance education, remember the old adage, "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen." There will always be critics - most of whom will be about as qualified as Dennis, Jimmy, Neil, Rita, and Sheila. They are insignificant. Don't let 'em distract you from real issues - they're just there to try and slow you down.

The real reason that John Bear is so successful (notwithstanding his credentials and experience) is that he doesn't slow down for the turkeys who come sauntering out into the road. He doesn't have to. And in the end run, they get out of the way, and he enjoys life to the fullest.

You have a choice on whether you will become a victim of the Internet "culture of flaming." In the end run, this entire thread is nothing more than an example of people pushing each other's buttons. Which, perhaps, is why I found it all rather boring. And which, perhaps, is the reason that I find far more enjoyment in driving a truck.

 

"They are insignificant"

No doubt about it - got to get my own truck. Raise my significance.

For the most part I tend to respond to challenges rather than initiate them. Our dear boy Rich rather enjoys abuse of others so I wouldn't paint him as too much of a victim.

The cheapest put-down used here is to assume that everyone who disagrees with the pubahs is a degree mill advocate. I certainly am not and don't even give CCU an unqualified recommendation, just that it is a reasonably challenging school and it works for me.

 

Hello friends, sorry about my English.

Victims of what?? Do not forget that 2 big experts that post in this forum are involve with SIX Legal unaccredited institutions of higher education.

So, if 2 big experts that post in this forum, are involve with SIX (6) Legal unaccredited institutions of higher education; is not so bad study in an Legal unaccredited institutions of higher education that “has legal authorization to grant its degrees, and it meets all the legal requirements to operate as an institution of higher education wherever it conducts its activities”.

Ohhhh, I forget, one is shut down by the Court of Justice.

What Victims??

 

Thank you for the excellent posting, Steve.

I am reminded of this famous exchange:
---------------------------------------------------
Bessie Braddock (to Winston Churchill): Winston, you're drunk.
Churchill: Bessie, you're ugly. But tomorrow I shall be sober.
---------------------------------------------------

And tomorrow you and Rich and I will have doctorates that will not make us criminals in the states of Oregon, Illinois, New Jersey, and others.

John Bear

 

Hello friends, sorry about my English.

Yeah, and when the Case starts in a Federal Court the student can say that the Expert are one of the staff/ proprietor of the university.

Also, no forget to said that Florida attempted a law alike to Oregon's that was challenged and defeated as unconstitutional by the Florida Supreme Court in 1995. (The Bear Book # 15, page 35)

 

Would a Union doctorate, after German review, be considered equal to a German doctorate? I am not sure. I think it's just fine.

In any event, I don't live in any of these places.

The spammer, on another channel, comes up with such interesting stuff.

 

As usual you are perfectly right Dennis. I have regularly received
mail and other packages addressed to either - NEIL HAYES, CARTERTON or to Hayes & Associates, Carterton.
To top that around 15 years ago an old friend who I hadn't seen for 23 years flew into Wellington for a quick visit. He knew I was in education somewhere in NZ and walking up the well known Wellington 'Terrace' decided to call in at The Open Polytechnics Wellington office. He asked the first chap 'you wouldn't know Neil Hayes by any chance?' The chap responded 'Of course I know Neil Hayes!' And within a couple of minutes my friend was on the phone to me and ended up spending a couple of days with us.
Dr Anatidae (Knightsbridge)

 

I don't really see that happening except when it's justified. People do periodically try to promote some very questionable schools.

The obvious issue is whether the school being promoted (or dismissed) has credibility and academic value. And more generally, how people might come to know that.

I don't think that the "pubahs" speak with one voice on those questions, except when the answers are reasonably obvious.

Has anyone ever seriously questioned that? CCU is what it is, a mid-level CA-approved school that seems credible enough to be within striking distance of DETC accreditation. That's not RA, but it's not a bad thing either.

So what's the problem? Don't worry, Dennis. Be happy.

 

I miss Gus.