angels and assholes

Pardonne moi for the angst and tirade. I just had to get it out.

Who gets the better deal? The nice-guy or the bad-ass? Maybe it's a passing phase, but I like the bad-ass better. His moments of holiness are more appreciated if he is seen to have taken the effort to better himself, which can be extremely flattering when the positive behaviour becomes associated with the courtship process. The converse? Enough have been said about nice-guys finishing last.

I'm just a notch nearer my tolerance threshold for a student who again decided to cancel lesson because she forgot she had doubled booked the time slot. It's the second time I was informed of the cancellation less than half an hour to the lesson. The other annoying occasions weren't much better: I was informed on the day of the lesson. That had happened at least thrice. Lessons, if they happen at all, were often shortened by half "because she's too tired". The syllabus' screwed up too --- teaching Physics had never felt like teaching Geography before (see criticisms here -- scroll to the criticisms section, and here -- scroll to "Is Secondary School Physics in Danger of Dumbing Down?"). It's a mystery how science/engineering-type high schoolers get the necessary preparation for college. Maybe they don't. Everyone's screwed.

Some amongst us have it good. Their college education's paid for by public funds, and then they are guaranteed employment for half a decade upon graduation (some say this may not be a Good Thing). And there are those who exert certain influence over these individuals, if only through the established workplace hierarchy. It irks and disgusts me to hear of those in the latter group hold the conscience of those in the former at ransom by justifying work delegation (more bluntly, shirked responsibilities) in terms of the already spent public fund.

The pill can be swallowed a different way. There are those who evangelise their interests and assume what is good for him is good for everyone. One can therefore delegate work with an assuring feeling of having done the good deed of being interested in a subordinate's well-being and personal development. Thanks, but we don't share the same religion.