squire_western

Is this real life? Am I the only person that thinks this is ridiculous? The "personal responsibility" comment that you "don't get" derives from the fact that in the vast majority of cases being overweight is directly involved with diet and physical activity. Are you sure you didn't know that? I know it's hip and trendy to claim that pretty much everyone is a minority, but seriously this kind nonsense is only advocated by WASPS who are desperately trying to minoritize damn near everyone.

No, overweight people are a subculture and should be treated accordingly. We should have subdisciplines for Chicano/a literature, Asian-American literature, Jewish literature, African American literature, and overweight literature.

It totally makes our field a parody of itself! It's just the "intellectual" discourse attendant to the ridiculous idea in this country that being overweight is a "lifestyle choice" that is totally divorced from any kind of personal responsibility.

Get it ... burgeoning?

I thought this was an awesome joke until I googled "fat studies." Turns out it's a burgeoning field!

Could you include some research on memes as communicative mediums in Sherlock Holmes fan fiction on tumblr? (I'm asking for a friend).

HA! Good one.

So are you.

Totally, it's like tumblr over here.

Oh, yeah-- you guys are totally "engaging in a debate." I mean, my mind is blown by the dialogue. Asleepawake has shown all the argumentative nuance of a Fox News segment.

For real. God, this forum is hypersensitive.

A PINT OF PLAIN IS YOUR ONLY MAN

I thought about applying for an MLS in the event of a shut out. I have an MA, so I was thinking that an MLS might lead to a position as an academic librarian. I'm not sure if I would actually do it, but I've thought about it. I'm undecided as to whether or not I'd want to go through another PhD application cycle.

I've reached my quota of up votes and I don't understand gifs, but I really appreciate your post. Especially after my recent publication in Purple Monkey Weekly.

Yeah, I was just thinking the same thing.

I would've upvoted this, but am out of upvotes for the day . If I ever return to gradcafe, I'll vote you up!

Perhaps the grammatical construction wasn't great. Here's the real straw man, though, haters: no one talked about little conferences, repeating papers at conferences, or any other of the actual straw man arguments presented in your sophomoric little post. On the other hand, it has been demonstrated (again, actually do the reading) that comments here have suggested that getting an MA can lead to an academic position. And that's what I'm trying to guard against, having seen it not go well for so many people in the past. And FWIW, I've been accepted to a program, so you can drop the sanctimonious posturing in your replies.

I agree with you, bluecheese-- both with your assessment of the forum and the MA. I think the MA can lead to a stable career-- I never suggested otherwise-- I only suggested that the MA will not lead to a stable career in the academy. There are opportunities to build concrete skills as you suggested. But that opportunity does not exist (at least not to any reasonable degree) in English academia-- that was what was suggested earlier (as thatjewishgirl mentioned) and that is what I feel to be potentially damaging to individuals that are just beginning to think about their academic futures.

1. "There have been counterarguments to arguments that never existed." Where? 2. "Padding the CV isn't doing things to increase academic exposure?" So national conferences and peer reviewed publications don't increase academic exposure? wtf guys, seriously. read the history of the forum before you decide something like "there have been counterarguments to arguments that never existed." And as far as the "padding the CV" nonsense, understand the field you want to work in before you apply for a doctorate. this is common sense. okay, vote me down now. groupthink!

I should've taken this advice instead.

Yeah, I'd be curious to see what counts as a straw man here. For alleged humanists, this board sure is full of people who (1) don't understand language very well or (2) are just assholes. To clarify the points that are so-called straw men, what I'm suggesting is the following: 1. It has been suggested that national conferences and peer reviewed publications are "CV pumping." That isn't true. 2. It has been suggested that an MA in English literature can lead to an stable job. That is poor advice to give to almost anyone. If you plan on pursuing a PhD of course getting an MA is a good idea (I suggested that in my first post that was called out as a "straw man" argument)-- however, it almost never leads to a stable position in academia (again, see my initial post). I'm not sure how either of these points are straw men arguments, but I'm sure some here can enlighten me. In other news, it'll be really awesome when ya'll can stop conforming to mob mentality and start addressing divergent points made on the thread. But I guess that's counterintuitive to internet comments.

I completely agree.

I certainly don't think there's anything wrong with working toward an MA for someone who only has a BA-- but not only does it help with the writing sample and statement of purpose, but (hopefully) an MA will also provide valuable instruction regarding the trajectory of the field. That said, the advice that stable positions are available in the academy for an individual that only has an MA is ill-conceived and demonstrates a lack of understanding of the real world of academia. Also, it's ridiculous that people on this forum are suggesting that professionalization (e.g. national conferences in specific areas and peer-reviewed publications) are merely "pumping the CV." This discipline rewards people for professionalization. The fact that thatjewishgirl was rejected from Nebraska likely has more to do with research fit than it does with a "pumping the CV." If you think more lines on a CV aren't important to doctoral admissions committees, good luck on your job searches.

If CV pumping doesn't help there's no reason to advise freshly minted BA's to hang out and hope for the best next time around.

^ Real talk. Anyone who thinks getting an MA as a terminal degree is worth it is kidding themselves. You're not going to get a lectureship with all of the un(der)employed PhDs and adjuncting is not worth it.