Spring Break
Fireside Chats with Chris Frap
Don't Be That Guy
Chris Frappier
Issue date: 9/18/08 Section: Editorial/Opinion
09/18/08 - Let me preface this column by saying, always be yourself. If you're taking my advice on what to be or not to be, I think the both of us might need to reexamine this situation. Some of these caricatures are based on my friends, classmates, or people I've met while at URI or at work. Names will not be used, as to protect the innocent/infamous parties. Now please join me on this brief literary adventure.
Morning People
Mornings are the worst part of the day, hands down. Garfield hates mornings, and he seems pretty tuned into the real world. Waking up? It sucks. Cooking breakfast through one bloodshot eye? Dangerous, especially if bacon is involved. Stumbling up the hill to the Fine Arts Center for an 8 a.m. you had to take to fulfill your general education requirements? Pretty terrible.
Yet, there are some people that rejoice in waking up early. These people roll out of bed whistling or humming, and if it's a female morning person, you may even see small woodland creatures following her around, helping with her morning routine.
Why are they so happy? It's unnatural to be that happy, never mind for no reason. The economy is circling the drain, your tuition goes up every year like clockwork, and you're taking a 20-credit semester, don't be so chipper when the sun is still low in the sky.
Now this next trait may be a positive, but morning people are also more motivated than most, it's just in their nature. While I appreciate that you want to clean up the house after a party, don't start vacuuming while your roommates are still nursing their hangovers! Morning people are also selfish. They don't need caffeine, and because of that, they seldom stop for coffee. In this struggling economy, the last thing we need is people not addicted to legal chemical substances.
Correcting the Professor
Yes, we get it. You consider yourself smart, well read, intelligent and well informed. Maybe you also have a professor that you feel is about as smart as a bag of wet mice, but please stop correcting them at every pause they take. Now remember, clarifying is different than correcting. Asking a professor to clear up a point is perfectly acceptable.
These professors and instructors have years of academic experience, and there is an enormous chance that they do, in fact, know what they are talking about. You on the other hand, have a much higher likelihood of just being more stubborn that a mule, and flat out wrong.
If a professor gives you a number and is talking about the United States Department of Defense budget, don't feel the urge to yell out and ask him what currency the figure is in. Chances are, if it's about America, and talking about money, the figure is in dollars. Please take a short moment to think before you talk, and consider what the answer might be, it'll save us all some trouble.
Now, if you have thought about it, and you know in your heart that you are correct, feel free to throw your hand in the air and look anxious, so maybe the professor will call on you.
Morning People
Mornings are the worst part of the day, hands down. Garfield hates mornings, and he seems pretty tuned into the real world. Waking up? It sucks. Cooking breakfast through one bloodshot eye? Dangerous, especially if bacon is involved. Stumbling up the hill to the Fine Arts Center for an 8 a.m. you had to take to fulfill your general education requirements? Pretty terrible.
Yet, there are some people that rejoice in waking up early. These people roll out of bed whistling or humming, and if it's a female morning person, you may even see small woodland creatures following her around, helping with her morning routine.
Why are they so happy? It's unnatural to be that happy, never mind for no reason. The economy is circling the drain, your tuition goes up every year like clockwork, and you're taking a 20-credit semester, don't be so chipper when the sun is still low in the sky.
Now this next trait may be a positive, but morning people are also more motivated than most, it's just in their nature. While I appreciate that you want to clean up the house after a party, don't start vacuuming while your roommates are still nursing their hangovers! Morning people are also selfish. They don't need caffeine, and because of that, they seldom stop for coffee. In this struggling economy, the last thing we need is people not addicted to legal chemical substances.
Correcting the Professor
Yes, we get it. You consider yourself smart, well read, intelligent and well informed. Maybe you also have a professor that you feel is about as smart as a bag of wet mice, but please stop correcting them at every pause they take. Now remember, clarifying is different than correcting. Asking a professor to clear up a point is perfectly acceptable.
These professors and instructors have years of academic experience, and there is an enormous chance that they do, in fact, know what they are talking about. You on the other hand, have a much higher likelihood of just being more stubborn that a mule, and flat out wrong.
If a professor gives you a number and is talking about the United States Department of Defense budget, don't feel the urge to yell out and ask him what currency the figure is in. Chances are, if it's about America, and talking about money, the figure is in dollars. Please take a short moment to think before you talk, and consider what the answer might be, it'll save us all some trouble.
Now, if you have thought about it, and you know in your heart that you are correct, feel free to throw your hand in the air and look anxious, so maybe the professor will call on you.
