Cummings Graduate Institute

Congratulations! Degreeinfo may have discovered a subset of social anxiety disorder related to virtual chat forum anxiety. We’ll have to check the DSM-5. Interesting emotional responses displayed throughout the numerous threads. Probably a good intervention to wait a day or two to respond! Really not a texting type of forum with the anticipation of an immediate response.

 

Garp:My responding to your lack of response took nearly seven hours so hardly a hasty reply.

Jan: I have more important issues to deal with than to telepathically be aware that you posted a question for me to respond within a time frame that met your expectations for a timely response!

However, your sarcastic, hostile followed promptly and reveals your intent.



In any case, you are entitled to your thing and seem to enjoy jumping on others. You are also defensively deflecting from the question.

It is your right to not reply (though it has nothing to do with privacy). I am not interested in playing so there is that. Bye.[/QUOTE]

 

Amazing - Jan has actually provided an amusing and eloquent apologia for her "negative, devaluing ad hominem and undermining comments."

Anyway, I have predicted more than once that Jan will never earn a doctorate. She has been an anonymous troll for almost three years here at DI and, prior to that, anonymously trolled another higher education forum for several years under a different username (which I will not reveal since I respect Jan's right to anonymity).

Nontheless, the true question is whether she has the right to be an anonymous troll. In my opinion, she does and, given that opportunity today, I would also be an anonymous troll. More than once, I have privately advised users to retain their anonymity lest one of the anonymous trolls pull the kind of stunt Jan described. Anyone who has ever read the DLT web site knows that this sort of thing happens all the time, and it has led several prominent DI posters to totally drop out of posting on online forums. I could run through a littany of names that the old-timers here would recognize, and in almost all cases those who no longer post were known by their actual identities.

So Jan, please continue to be an obnoxious anonymous troll. I'm on your side on this one, although if you ever quote me on that I'll categorically deny it as a vicious rumor.

 

I think it comes down to validation issues and maintaining civility. Some great educational posts on Degreeinfo.com! Everyone has a different idea about how to get from A to B. Some are outstanding and some are ridiculous but overall, I've read some good information on these boards/threads.

The pettiness is certainly a distraction but with an internet connection, google and forums like this, one can gather the information necessary to make an informed decision on an educational pathway. I remember the good old days when I was at Barnes and Noble browsing through Dr. Bear's book on distance education. Now the bookstore in my neighborhood is closed so thanks to everyone who takes the time to provide their input!

 

One thing you learn in Industrial/Organizational Psychology is that--contrary to what many believe--conflict in groups is healthy, necessary, and inevitable. When people see a debate and consider it a bad thing, they're not seeing the big picture. If a person is right, and even if a person is wrong, if they're civil in a debate you at least just learned they're civil. We sometimes see people here showing a lack of civility and it would be nice if they didn't, but at least we know who they are and can avoid them if necessary, or not take them seriously. But the other important thing you gain from it all is new information and/or new understandings.

Honestly, if this weren't the case this would be a boring forum, without passion, reduced to little more than an information repository.

 

Research is an important component. Places like degree forums are only one piece of a puzzle. I have seen learned members offer opinions that are inaccurate (not out of malice). We have to be careful about ascribing expertise to anonymous people on forums. In fact, "experts" get things wrong as you all know from reviewing education articles.

Bottom line is to gather all the information you can and weigh it in relation to your circumstances.

 

Well this was an interesting read. My brother, who has earned his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree, is an ER Physician. We read through this thread and enjoyed reading the different stances people took. Not really much else of value to add other than he said physician and clinician are pretty interchangeable.