Canyon College and the PhD(c)

PsychPhD. When people disagree with each other on message boards, it may create negative feelings. It happens to the best of us.

Give the forum a rest for a while. Drink a sweet glass of red wine, turn on the soft jazz, and cozy up to a nice book. Then return re-freshed and rejuvenated. Trust me. You'll feel like heaven.

 

Yeah, well thanks ...

Gee, ya think? I asked a simple question and am treated to a flamefest because I had the temerity to ask some people to clarify their statements and then defended myself against their character assassination attempts.

Actually, I doubt my feelings will change. People like David Wagner and jtaee1920 will always be lurking on forums offering their electronic version of mudslinging and kill the messenger. What I find curious is that you suggest that the author of the thread "take a break" and say nothing to/about those whose primary contribution to the discussion has been namecalling and venom.

• And why are you making any comments about my character? This was supposed to be a discussion thread about academic qualifications.
• My disdain had nothing to do with your "troll" comment (but, then again, kudos for yet another black kettle calling moment). Rather, it was your mysogynistic assertion that I "might be female." Care to elucidate on how, through only written text, you are able to come to this conclusion?

 

The analogy was not directed at the imprecise and unregulated status of candidate; it was in reference to the unambiguous, regulated, and status conferred PhD.

You are correct that, were I to be referencing to the state of candidacy, I would have to consider the vastness of its meaning from among hundreds of granting institutions and any citable pre-existing legal or ethical aspects of its use. You correct. It is not simple.

However, all ambiguity is gone once one successfully completes. Before that, as a candidate, one is simply at some staging point in a journey that may or may not result in reaching the prescribed destination within the time allowed. There are a number of significant roadblocks that can derail this so called candidacy status that would result in no relationship whatever to a PhD designation.

I do understand the complexities associated with identifying oneself as PhD(c). The analogy was simple as my view is simple.

I'm not the keeper of the official position, just a participant in the debate.

 

PsychPhd. Is your last name LaMarca?

 

Paul,

I was responding to this comment of yours awhile back:

"It seems to me that designating oneself as a PhD(c) is like proclaiming oneself to be almost pregnant.

In my view, you are or you aren’t. Every school with a doctoral program publicly confers the PhD. Are there schools that confer candidacy status as an official designation?"

The issue is that if one is not pregnant, one is something. Likewise, if one is not a Ph.D. one has some behavioral intent toward doctoral studies, positive or negative. Since universities do hire instructors without the doctoral qualification but with documented behavioral intent toward the qualification, the challenge is for instructors to concisely state that behavioral intent and any progress toward achieving the qualification. The process of earning/conferring a Ph.D. is a complex, multi-task process of protracted duration (as you know) that often has measureable milestones. Getting pregnant, although it may be complex and difficult in some instances, is a single task and is not comparable. Hence, "getting pregnant" seems too simple of an analogy to be useful.

Now, to the point. If it were your decision, how would you prefer Ph.D. candidates (i.e., with an approved dissertation proposal) refer to themselves as concisely as possible to the university and students?

Dave

 

Feed the troll at your own risk...

Dave

 

Some thoughts regarding the tit-for-tat antics of PsychPhd.

1) Regardless of who is right or wrong regarding this ongoing "dispute", would'nt one expect that a poster who claims to be a doctoral level Clinical Psychologist be able to exercise a professional level of judgement and professional maturity to assist in bringing closure to this matter rather then to reinforce and perpetuate it with vindictive comments that only encourages others to respond in like kind?

2) Regardless of the fact that this poster alleges that he/she is only defending himself, is it appropriate for an anonymous poster to only identify him/herself as a Clinical Psychologist without revealing who they are on an online forum while using their professional title to engage in put downs of others?

3) What is the actual rationale of this poster's defense claiming that he/she is only defending him/herself from "attacks" when in fact he/she has no self due to their anonymous status? In other words, this hyper-personalized and sensitive reaction to other posters' feedback appears to be extreme when considering that the object of this feedback has no name or face other than a generalized title of Clinical-Forensic Psychologist!

Conclusion: IMO I would suggest that we cease responding to this poster (troll?) for the reasons noted above.

 

PhD (ABD)

It is unambiguous, states the obvious, does not connote a conferred status, requires no oversight or governance to ensure it is used appropriately, or more importantly, that it is not used beyond its fixed allowable time.

ABD...it means what it says with no concern for its misuse.

 

Let's just ignore all truth now

Wow, now we're just lowering ourselves to toss out the name of any hated person?

As a Capella graduate who simon has criticized for being too reflexive in defending the institution, it is just plain moronic to associate me with a well known Capella critic.

But then again, posts that lack accuracy and intelligence seem to be the preference here.

 

The trashman returneth

Me defending myself is "tit-for-tat"? Again I ask you -- you have expressed your utter disdain for me and this topic. Why are you still here perpetually obfuscating the topic with your character assassination?

Yes, simon, it is sad that my responding to personal attacks just encourages you ramp up the abuse. Spoken like a true bully, "Well if you weren't here I wouldn't be beating you up."

Another pot & kettle moment! Don't see your full name and identification attatched to any of your posts either simon. And, FYI, I am not "using" my professional title as anything other than following the general convention of the forum in demonstrating my experience with online learning.

Have to give you credit -- you are well schooled in the bullying arts.

The target of the attacks deserves being attacked, by mostly anonymous assailants, because the target is also anoymous?

Wow ... got dizzy with that one.

I have repeatedly attempted to refocus the thread to its original topic, but my efforts have been redirected by the mudslinging by simon, et al.

Once and for all -- simon, David, jtaee1920 -- I seek only to protect my reputation. What is your motivation for continuing your namecalling, pissing and moaning?

Which I have been suggesting for some time now. Let's see if you can.

 

I agree. One could argue that many individuals don't know precisely what "ABD" means, but when appended it is certainly more distinct than the "(c)", which used to mean "copyright" in the ASCII terminal days of computing.

Dave

 

Or as Smokey the Bear might say, "Only YOU can prevent troll fires!"

Dave

 

Fuel to the fire

But here you are, personally fanning the flames.

Still waiting for the answer to why you are motivated to do this.

 

Re: The trashman returneth

psychPhd: Me defending myself is "tit-for-tat"? Again I ask you -- you have expressed your utter disdain for me and this topic. Why are you still here perpetually obfuscating the topic with your character assassination?

SIMON: Dave, Jtaee, Raristud, in line with what I previously stated please take note that this poster (troll) speaks in terms of our having "utter didain for me (him)" and "character assasination". In fact without revealing his/her personal identity but emphatically noting his/her professional identity, Clinical-Forensic Psychologist, there is no way one can have disdain or engage in character assassination against a faceless, anonymous entity! This is merely another example of the martyr, victim card this poster (troll) utilizes in an attempt to deflect any feedback regarding his/her posts on this thread that he/she does not like to hear. In other words, he/she feels superior to other posters by assuming the identity of his professional title (which he/she emphatically promoted in order to ensure oneupsmanship over other posters and to demonstrate his/her authority) while hiding behind a veil of personal anonymity.

Psychphd: Yes, simon, it is sad that my responding to personal attacks just encourages you ramp up the abuse. Spoken like a true bully, "Well if you weren't here I wouldn't be beating you up."

Simon: Fellow posters note how this alleged Clinical-Forensic Psychologist attempts to justify and defend his/her unprofessional behavior(just because one is anonymous in a forum such as this does not extricate them for demonstrating appropriate professional behavior based on the codes and standards of ethical conduct of their respective profession and professional associations) on this forum. In fact this poster made a conscious decision to identify him/herself by the title of Clinical Psychologist and that makes it his/her duty and responsibility to behave in an appropriate manner in ALL contexts such as this forum, not only in clinical realms, no matter who is right or wrong. To not understand and accept this basic responsibility can be considered a lack of good judgement and professional decorum.

PsychPhd: Another pot & kettle moment! Don't see your full name and identification attatched to any of your posts either simon. And, FYI, I am not "using" my professional title as anything other than following the general convention of the forum in demonstrating my experience with online learning.

SIMON: Fellow posters please note that this poster once again attempts to deflect legitimate feedback regarding the expectations for professional conduct and decorum as a Clinical Psychologist in nonclinical arenas such as this forum. He/she attempts to skirt this issue by vindictively retorting that I do not list my "full name and identification". However, what he/she fails to comprehend is that it was his right to use a forum name of his/her choice but instead made a conscious decision to list his/her professional title, Clinical-Forensic Psychologist, in order to assert his/her power above other posters with the expectation that his/her postings would be unassailable and absolute and would discourage other posters from responding with their own perspectives and observations.

PsychPhd: Have to give you credit -- you are well schooled in the bullying arts.

SIMON: Once again, this poster is engaging in Projection because it is obvious by now who the actual bully is. By listing his professional title as Clinical Psychologist and engaging in flame wars not only with me but with at least four other posters on this thread he is clearly displaying a lack of receptivity and resistance to credible feedback from others.

PsychPhd: The target of the attacks deserves being attacked, by mostly anonymous assailants, because the target is also anoymous?

Simon: Fellow posters is this the manner in which a purported Clinical-Psychologist conducts him/herself with others with such a venomous retributive attitude even though we are not face-to-face and are communicating in a forum in cybserspace ? The answer is self-evident.

PsychPhd: I have repeatedly attempted to refocus the thread to its original topic, but my efforts have been redirected by the mudslinging by simon, et al.

SIMON: Note that this poster continues to project the entire flaming problem on others while he/she remains the good hearted all knowing, compassionate martyr, victim. A sophmoric defense and oviously very transparent.

PsychPhd: Once and for all -- simon, David, jtaee1920 -- I seek only to protect my reputation. What is your motivation for continuing your namecalling, pissing and moaning?

SIMON: This poster speaks of attempting to "only to protect my reputation". Obviously this is a non issue because there is absolutely no reputation to protect due to this poster's anonymous and facelessness status on this forum! So what he/she is really saying is that he/she does not want to hear any feedback or criticism that is antithetical to his/her beliefs and position. In addition, he/she calls out to us in a defensive manuver to cease "namecalling, pissing and moaning" while this poster continues to engage in these very sophomoric acts him/herself! And this poster claims to be reflective of a graduate distance doctoral program in Clinical Psychology? Oh brother!

Psychphd:Which I have been suggesting for some time now. Let's see if you can.

SIMON: He/she is "suggesting for some time now" that others demonstate such exemplary behavior BUT notice that he/she has not displayed one iota of such conciliatory advise him/herself. Another example of this poster feeling superior to other posters by virtue of his/her professional title, Clinical-Forensic Psychologist, that in his/her mind does not necessitate heeding their own advice and putting into place such conduct that we all can emulate.

 

Very well said

 

Considering that this thread started with Canyon, an amusing historical review of the school may be in order . . .

See this thread.

 

Now *that's* a trollish statement if I ever heard one. What does being female have to do with being a troll?!!?

 

Thank you ...

This is all I'm saying ...

 

Very illuminating

Thanks, this does add quite a bit to the discourse.

(Of course, I do wonder if you are now in line for a flame thrash from David Wagner for your copyright "violating" posting of "President" Storrs letter and the hilariously un-PC language you included?)

I thnk the issue of Canyon's legitimacy is well resolved.

Still open for debate however is PhD(c) (or ABD, or candidate) a legimate and proper communication of one's educational status.

As I said (much) earlier, I was surprised that some big name (real) schools seemed to have adopted the practice, though it does seem reserved for allied health doctoral programs.

 

Nothing, especially if your reading comprehensive is at least average.

Dave