Chances at Comp Lit Programs?

[waparys]

think that probably looks better than mine. I did everything here in SG something adcomms don't usually see = unusual? I dunno, for me 'exotic' has that connotation you know.

Post-colonialism was never my thing, sorry. When I think exotic, pineapples and mangoes pop into my European brain. I'm just not that critical, I suppose!

[DontHate]

Being white does that to you

[t1racyjacks]

I'm not a 'post-colonial' critic either. It's just that I'm sick of people saying that asian women are 'exotic' I like to eat pineapples but not so much mangoes -- however the latter make fine puddings. I think it's only responsible to examine the connotations of the words we use in everyday language: it's such things which make discrimination and prejudice the norm. Eg the use of 'boy' to refer to african-american male (adult) slaves. no one used to think of it as demeaning, simply because they didn't examine the connotations of calling a grown male a 'boy'. It's the same with sexism. I mean, each time I hear 'but women are....' 'but men are....' I cringe a bit. I don't go all out and scold but I do end up

[waparys]

I'm not a 'post-colonial' critic either. It's just that I'm sick of people saying that asian women are 'exotic' I like to eat pineapples but not so much mangoes -- however the latter make fine puddings. I think it's only responsible to examine the connotations of the words we use in everyday language: it's such things which make discrimination and prejudice the norm. Eg the use of 'boy' to refer to african-american male (adult) slaves. no one used to think of it as demeaning, simply because they didn't examine the connotations of calling a grown male a 'boy'. It's the same with sexism. I mean, each time I hear 'but women are....' 'but men are....' I cringe a bit. I don't go all out and scold but I do end up

I was just having a conversation about this topic yesterday. We were trying to figure out who is the more "insensitive" one--the person who uses a word like "exotic" unwittingly or the one who picks up on the negative connotation?

Like I said--I honestly didn't mean to offend.

[t1racyjacks]

I know you didn't mean to offend Well, the connatation is there for one to pick up. I'm just saying I would appreciate it if we all examined our use of language before we spoke. The same applies to myself. I try not to say words with connotations/denotations (as far as these can be separated) that I don't mean -- to be as precise as possible. Isn't that the beauty of literature? the beauty involved in conveying so many things in a relatively short space through careful use of language

[DontHate]

why did i get a downvote for pointing out that white people don't get as easily offended by the word "exotic"?

why do people hate me?

[t1racyjacks]

I hate to be anal (but I am) but it's the tone -- how you put it across. It sounds sweeping -- I don't suppose many care for this but as I said I'm a sensitive little twat. I would've said something like 'perhaps being white, which means being the majority race, means that one's use of the word "exotic" is less critical' or something or the other. Of course I am beginning to realize that I'm picky even for an english major

[DontHate]

It's not that you're being picky, it's more that you can't understand irony or subtext without having it spelled out for you.

[rems]

Is the original post "boasting"? It's only boasting if interpreted that way. My gpa is far from perfect, I have no academic publications, and as I said, my writing sample kind of blows. I don't think it's boasting to list your stats and ask for an appraisal. I didn't know the baseline in this forum (and I still don't) but I just naturally assumed it was at or above my level.

I personally don't find "what are my chances posts?" as boasting. I'm pretty sure I even put some up when I first joined this forum -- I think it's natural to ask. Why else would we join a fucking forum about graduate school if we weren't curious about how we rank up next to everyone else?

This is going to make me a little unpopular for a moment, I really don't understand why everyone freaks out when someone posts "what are my chances." If you don't like to answer those threads, then don't answer them, but you don't need to put condescending comments underneath them or make that person feel bad for posting it. I didn't find anything boastful out of your first post -- the following ones were another matter. Being condescending towards people on here just isn't nice, and there's a difference between honest/brutally helpful, and being a dick. Sometimes you cross into dick territory and that's why people vote you down all the time. No one wants to talk to someone on here if all you're going to do is say nasty stuff back which is why no one responds to your posts. It's not rocket science.

[t1racyjacks]

let's leave the discussion of irony aside shall we? I actually wrote on this.

and I highly doubt that you were being ironic with that statement. if you weren't so insulting all the time I might be inclined to think more kindly of your intentions

[DontHate]

You guys are so boring. I understand that your egos are fragile, etc etc, but if all you want to do is be hostile and debate, then at least debate in an interesting way? Sigh. I need to find somewhere else to waste my time.

[t1racyjacks]

also way to go on calling me stupid. I assumed that 'why does everyone hate me' wasn't ironic and I was trying to give an honest answer

although I realize now that my answers are and have been totally useless, and why people hate you is quite evident without my having to say anything. I thought before that you really weren't aware but looks like you are being 'ironic' all the time and that's an excuse for, as rems says, being a dick.

cheers.

[t1racyjacks]

I do suggest you go somewhere else to waste your time, since we're so boring and stupid, and we reply in hostile ways to your completely benign posts! maybe Mensa would be a better place for you.

[DontHate]

I just think it's funny how touchy everyone is on here all the time. As if anything anyone tells you on gradcafe will have a real impact on the fate of your applications... or your life. It's best not to take everything so seriously.

[t1racyjacks]

well, we can't help it. we're boring, aren't we? and not very bright.

And make no mistake: irony tyrannizes us. The reason why our pervasive cultural irony is at once so powerful and so unsatisfying is that an ironist is impossible to pin down. All U.S. irony is based on an implicit "I don’t really mean what I’m saying." So what does irony as a cultural norm mean to say? That it’s impossible to mean what you say? That maybe it’s too bad it’s impossible' date=' but wake up and smell the coffee already? Most likely, I think, today’s irony ends up saying: "How totally banal of you to ask what I really mean.” [/quote']

I happen to agree largely with him, although I do have my own thoughts on irony. But there's no point writing part of my thesis here right? (it WAS on irony, btw. joke's on me, since I don't get it)

[DontHate]

The community on here is only supportive of people who are exactly like them: the longshots with abysmal stats who are applying to the same slew of crappy programs and bemoaning the unlikelihood that they'll get in anywhere. Doesn't anyone else find that tiresome?

[DontHate]

The joke is on no one, because you're not being funny. Just pedantic.

[asleepawake]

The community on here is only supportive of people who are exactly like them: the longshots with abysmal stats who are applying to the same slew of crappy programs and bemoaning the unlikelihood that they'll get in anywhere. Doesn't anyone else find that tiresome?

I really, really, really hope you're still around when results start coming in.

[t1racyjacks]

point made by Wallace about irony, if you even care about literature at all. It's an important topic. And yes, I wasn't attempting to be funny.... you were.

Say that I have no sense of irony, but I find that funny. And the fact that you thought/think you were successfully ironic.

[DontHate]

I wasn't trying to write a thesis about post-colonialism. I made an offhand comment, and you got offended, and then this.

No, I probably won't be on here by the time results start coming in. I just joined to let off some steam after submitting my apps, and I'm finding out very quickly that this isn't the right place for me. Everyone with the downton abbey gifs... not my crowd.

Edited December 9, 2012 by caw_caw_caw

[t1racyjacks]

before you go I hope you read this. You seem to need it.

[rems]

I still think you're a jerk, but I also don't like Downtown Abbey -- I don't get why it's so popular.

[DontHate]

I'm a jerk on here, this is true. It's hard not to be, with the reactions I got starting from my very first post. I'm just majorly irritable online...

[asleepawake]

I wasn't trying to write a thesis about post-colonialism. I made an offhand comment, and you got offended, and then this.

No, I probably won't be on here by the time results start coming in. I just joined to let off some steam after submitting my apps, and I'm finding out very quickly that this isn't the right place for me. Everyone with the downton abby gifs... not my crowd.

I believe I'm actually responsible for all of the Downton Abbey gifs in this thread. Gif studies is well on its way to being a thing.

You can ramble on and on about your stats all you want, but stats aren't getting you in anywhere. You said yourself that you aren't confident in your writing sample. You're just airing your insecurities on the internet. That's fine. You know you don't need to be a jerk to do that.

[asleepawake]

I'm a jerk on here, this is true. It's hard not to be, with the reactions I got starting from my very first post. I'm just majorly irritable online...

Excuse you! I posted a really nice response, you just don't like Lady Mary.