tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13713642.post114100024687444546..comments2024-03-28T11:03:41.050-05:00Comments on Unlocked Wordhoard: Critiquing Horowitz's CriticsDr. Richard Scott Nokeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01348275071082514870noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13713642.post-1141057770935428072006-02-27T10:29:00.000-06:002006-02-27T10:29:00.000-06:00Defending all academics? Heavens to Betsy, no. A...Defending all academics? Heavens to Betsy, no. Academics <I>do</I> have great responsibility -- any teacher does. I apologize for being vague.<BR/><BR/>First of all, I haven't read his book, so I don't have any of the specific examples that Horowitz gave of a professor "acting badly" to make a judgement. However, I wouldn't doubt that one or two of the Professors that have made his list are abusers of power.<BR/><BR/>What I was doing was just explaining my thoughts on why there hasn't been an outpouring of criticism against Horowitz by outraged academics -- the ones that <I>are</I> acting badly know they are (and will keep their traps shut), and the ones who he has falsely accused have no way to defend themselves, besides simply saying "nuh-uh."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13713642.post-1141020552899941542006-02-27T00:09:00.000-06:002006-02-27T00:09:00.000-06:00HeoCwath,I'm not trying to argue that only politic...HeoCwath,<BR/><BR/>I'm not trying to argue that only politically radical professors abuse their influence; of course, professors will use their influence (for good and for ill) all along the political spectrum, as well as in non-political arenas. Abuse of the trust placed in us can be political, but it can be religious, sexual, financial, etc. You're on the money when you suggest that excusing bad behavior because someone else behaved badly is no excuse at all.<BR/><BR/>Cappy, I'm not really sure of your point. If you are suggesting that some of the people accused of bad behavior are innocent, that well may be true, and if so, Horowitz and his defenders should be called on it. If you are suggesting that all academics (or even just the 101 on Horowitz's list) are innocent of abusing their influence, well, we'll have to agree to disagree on that. I've seen too much first-hand (from both sides of the desk) to share in that assessment.<BR/><BR/>Again, my point is not to defend Horowitz or his list, but rather to call on people to acknowledge that we *do* have influence over our students, and to remind people that we have a duty to be responsible in that influence. Of course, most faculty are careful, but when I read so many faculty mau-mauing that they don't really have any influence, it makes me fear that we might not be taking our responsibilities seriously enough.<BR/><BR/>And, Chris, yes I've seen "Rope." The moral of the story: Teach Nietzche at your peril.Dr. Richard Scott Nokeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01348275071082514870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13713642.post-1141017318701545272006-02-26T23:15:00.000-06:002006-02-26T23:15:00.000-06:00"If there's a post out there offering arguements t..."If there's a post out there offering arguements that these 101 academics don't behave badly, or that some small group of them do not and shouldn't be lumped in with the rest, I've missed it."<BR/><BR/>You know, it seems to me that it's <I>much</I> harder to defend yourself against a false accusation of "doing wrong" than it is to defend yourself against a false accusation that you're "not doing enough good." That make any sense? <BR/><BR/>The latter can be easily defended against by offering up just one simple example, while the former requires one to offer up proof that they didn't do something which (if they're innocent) <I>never happened in the first place.</I> It's a pretty crappy position to put someone in.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13713642.post-1141015326568611142006-02-26T22:42:00.000-06:002006-02-26T22:42:00.000-06:00Dr. Nokes,As an as-yet-aspiring academic, with far...Dr. Nokes,<BR/><BR/>As an as-yet-aspiring academic, with far more years of student behind me than teacher, I'll have to trust you on the topic of teacher's influence. I can say that my primary objection to Horowitz' list is that it gives the impression that only progressive professors behave badly in the classroom. In my experiences as a student, I've found that to be not even close to the truth. In fact, in my classes, I've had one openly progressive professor and four openly reactionary professors. To a man(deliberate use), the reactionary professors all cited "the liberals do it" as their excuse for behaving badly. The one liberal used about the same logic. For me, the assumption that all professors throw out the syllabus and lecture politics just adds to the numbers of people who will feel justified in behaving like shaved monkeys, all the while shouting "he started it" as a defense.Heohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15790601758953554870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13713642.post-1141007419396688832006-02-26T20:30:00.000-06:002006-02-26T20:30:00.000-06:00Come on now, Nokes -- how do you REALLY feel? Hav...Come on now, Nokes -- how do you REALLY feel? <BR/><BR/>Have you seen Hitchcock's "Rope"?Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14316937277548018841noreply@blogger.com