Operation ratemyprofessors.com

[dave from knoxville]

"Professor Vinson is the only guy who can psychically create images in your mind. This makes even the most abstract mathematical concepts a breeze to grasp. The best!"

Fredericks?

Yep.

Lots good stuff developing.

This one got me though:  Vinson is the best. He introduced me to numbers I didn't even KNOW were numbers. I mean, "47" What's THAT. In any event, Mr. Vinson changed my attitudes about math. And life. And love. And THAT's one to grow on.

Well, Fredericks, next time make something up. You're just stating facts.

[AllSussedOut]

"Professor Vinson is the only guy who can psychically create images in your mind. This makes even the most abstract mathematical concepts a breeze to grasp. The best!"

Fredericks?

Yep.

Lots good stuff developing.

This one got me though:  Vinson is the best. He introduced me to numbers I didn't even KNOW were numbers. I mean, "47" What's THAT. In any event, Mr. Vinson changed my attitudes about math. And life. And love. And THAT's one to grow on.

the score is now fredericks 47,021, and ASO 1.  i have some catching up to do.

[Shaggy 2 Grote]

I did the obscure Ngô Bao Châu joke. I feel like Matt Albie from Studio 60.

I think I might be on that site too, but I don't have the intestinal fortitude to check. If you can find me, feel free to vandalize.

[fonpr]

I saw that one later (I skip around) it got me good.

The more I read the more I regretted choosing just one.

Keep up the good work gang.

[cavorting with nudists]

Oh Jesus. I'm in a restaurant and just about fell off my chair laughing at the Patch Adams one.

[dave from knoxville]

This is the most fun I have had since I was dubbed a Supercaller. Thanks for playing.

[KickTheBobo]

Sounds like you're juking the stats.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ogxZxu6cjM&feature=player_detailpage#t=80s

[Steve of Bloomington]

I love this idea. I'll write something up when I'm home.

Hi guys,

I am asking that you participate in an "art project" I have been considering for a while.

The following is my page on ratemyprofessors.com

http://www.ratemyprofessors.com/ShowRatings.jsp?tid=695930

Students tend to overemphasize the significance of this site. The fact is that most students will tend not to record comments in this sort of site. As evidence of this claim, I would point out that in the 6 years the site has been active, I have had a total of around 1300 students. 23 of them registered a comment on the site.

I would also claim that a student upset with a teacher is more likely to post than a student who was satisfied with the experience. I can not violate her privacy, but historical data for a good friend and colleague of mine show that 94% of her students since 2005 stated in course evaluations that they either "definitely would" or "probably would" sign up with her again, but her approval rate on this site sits at about 30% favorable. The vast majority of her students feel positive about their experience with her, but the ones she pisses off get REALLY pissed off, and want to share it with the world, and anyone getting info about the teacher is scared off from someone most people feel good about.

If you follow the link I have provided, you will see that I get generally favorable ratings (and some of the criticisms I carry like a badge of honor; I am "too silly", or I waste time showing "videos", one of them, not surprisingly, being Tom's vocal re-dub of scenes from Clerks.) But I know that many of you are great and imaginative talents, and despite fear of being accused of stealing a Kenny G sort of idea, I would invite you to go onto the site and leave comments about your experience in my class. My school gives absolutely no weight to this site (since it's ridiculously unscientific,) so what I am asking will not effect my workplace standing in any way. It would be fun to get high numbers, if you feel so inclined, but what I am really most interested in is seeing some outlandish/ridiculous/absurd/surreal made up stories of my abilities and or experiences that took place in my classroom. A few suggestions;

1) My hope is for Paul Bunyunesque tall tales, ridiculous no-way-this-could-have-happened stories, or trippy descriptions of whatever you imagine might happen in a typical class day with DFK

2) I would ask that you not include anything that suggests that I have engaged in any illegal or in appropriate activity of any sort, hopefully for obvious reasons.

If I have any motive, it is to make students understand that this site and other like it are NOT representative of general student perceptions of faculty performance. Hopefully if they hear that my feet are made of mercury, or that I can shoot ping pong balls from my eyeballs, or that if every time a student gives a correct answer I float 6 - 8 inches off of the floor, or that the "Sweet Loretta Modern" from the song "Get Back" was inspired by something I did, they will understand that these things are not to be taken literally.

Anybody want to play?

[cavorting with nudists]

I was enjoying the hell out of reading all the reviews and even started yukking it up over the brilliantly ironic naivete of this one:

I absolutely hate math> But LOVE Mr. Vinson's class. I highly recommend him. A fellow student told me I needed to sign up for class with him when I signed up for classes last term, and I listened, thank goodness!! He is so incredibly patient and gives you plenty of chances to succeed. If you fail this class, you just didn't show up, he is awesome!

--until I realized I had come to the end of the FOT-written ones and started on the "real" ones.

[~L]

Done in exactly 350 characters!

[Steve of Bloomington]

Dammit! I wrote 2 reviews and neither one is showing up. Review is awaiting moderation?

Lots of funny stuff in the reviews. I loved the 'back tattoo that said 'CHAIN RULE' and showed Gottfried Leibniz in a circle pit whipping a chain around.'

[~L]

My second one wouldn't post.  The site might monitor your computer address and not allow multiple posts.  Try to post from a different computer.

[dave from knoxville]

If they have to be moderated, the game may be up. Also, it just occurred to me in a flash of fonpr-think that "they" might now be accumulating FOT-IPs for some later nefarious purpose, like forced virtual chain-fighting leagues.

Keep posting.

[~L]

It may just be a time lag. As my second one appeared today!

[Steve of Bloomington]

I wrote 2, and one was flagged 'under review', and then removed altogether. In the review I credited Dave with giving me the confidence to found Groupon, so I think as long as you don't falsely represent yourself as part of the management of a major corporation, anything goes.