50% for not turning in an assignment? That's stupid. I can see saying that if you try at all, you don't get a zero, but for not trying...that's what zeroes are for.

Yeah, on 9/11, everyone was calling their parents, and it's like...my family is in Arlington, Texas

Yup. It was cell phone madness. I'd see people on two phones at once.

Hmm. I can sort of see the logic behind it, Erin -- if there's effectively nothing between 0 and 50 (not doing the work or, say, answering only one question and that badly), then how logical is the numbering? It would make rather more sense to recalibrate and say the highest you can get is a 50, but this is effectively the same thing.

On the other hand, there is a significant difference between barely doing the work and not doing it at all, which should be reflected. Still, that gap between 0 and 50 has always bugged me.

Thanks, Polter-Cow. Cause I don't think my mother's in England, but... it can be hard to know, with her.

That...made me laugh, which it shouldn't have, but thank you anyway, because I need laughs at the moment. I have a friend who hasn't checked in. I hope your mother is not in England.

((((P-C))))

Thanks, Lilty. I've texted her, but I hear the mobile lines are down, so I can't rely on that. Just have to wait till she finds the Internet or something.

But seriously, I'll bet she was nowhere near any explosions and has no idea people would be worried about her, just like when I was on the complete opposite end of India when the tsunami hit.

I understand that, but if someone doesn't hand in an assignment, I think it's ridiculous to give them, say, 40 points, for NOTHING. I'll work with a kid, I"ll allow them extra time to make up an assignment if they're sick or something, but if you just plain don't do it, turn it in -- I'm gonna give you what you earned.

Nope, I found a recent note from her with no mention of travel. (She does jet off to London often enough that I don't keep good track anymore.) I hope your friends are similarly tucked away safe.

Back. Anyway. I tend to cut people slack about that type of ex-pat behaviour, depending. For embassy and military personnel, American or British, sometimes there are "non-frat" rules in place, and always we have to report "close and continuing contact" with foreign nationals. So incentives are few, but a lot of embassy folks break the boundaries anyway, or at the very least associate with other ex-pats from whereever. I'm sure this security stance is the basis for the no ex-pat rule at the British Club. (edit: My bad, 'twas the BCA and not the Club. In that case, dunno. I'm guessing just your basic "private club" stupidity.)

When missionaries do the "us-and-them" thing I just want to slap them, but proselytizing is something I hate anyway. And then there are a lot of career expats, folks who've lived abroad forever, who fall into this behaviour because it's what everyone else does...I neither forgive them nor want to kill them, they just are. I suspect Fay's date is in this category. It's easier to snark, because the truth is, you will always be on the outside. You might, with work, develop some good friendships, even fall in love, but you'll never really belong. And you will never ever think squat toilets are a good idea.

Also, what do you all think of this no zero-grades policy?

I get the point of what they're trying to do, but I'm not sure it's the best way of going about it. I agree that missing one math assignment shouldn't kill one's grade, but missing a term paper probably should have a significant impact. Instead of a "no zero" policy, they should probably be sure to weight different assigments according to their importance.