I'm sorry, Jesse and Theo.

I remember 20 years ago when I taught at a nearby community college. There were students who didn't come to class for weeks and then were upset about being dropped (there was a clear attendance requirement). There were students who didn't come to the final or contact me about a makeup time--they were surprised about a deleterious effect that had on their grade. These were, legally at least, adults. People may or may not have always sucked, but I'm pretty sure they've had at least a couple of decades of suckage practice.

But I remember my roommate was ALWAYS getting an extension or something, because she was sick.

Oh, my college boyfriend was The Worst for scamming extensions out of professors. Including one time telling a gay professor that he had to turn in a paper late because he had to attend his cousin's funeral in NY after his cousin died of AIDs. All lies!

I think the only time I availed myself of an extension, I basically told the prof the paper for his class was taking a backseat to my thesis, I'd accept the consequences. Told me I'd be docked a grade if I got it in within a week, which I was fine with. More than fair. He started laughing when I just shrugged. I guess that wasn't the norm when people asked for leeway. It was for an art req at my school, one of three papers. Somewhere I have it, it was snarky as shit (because I really didn't care about it by that point) and he'd written a note to the effect that he really wished he didn't need to dock the grade because it was one of the most entertaining papers he'd had to grade in years.

I almost felt bad.

I took both exams for one class late. Slept through one, was sick (for reals) for the other.

I took a D in a class once, I deserved it.

I never once argued a grade or asked for extra credit.

I did however turn most papers in at the last possible second or late. I caught one professor as he was walking off campus for the day.

For my senior seminar, I was the only student who did not take an incomplete. We had class on a Wednesday to discuss the last book and then the paper was due that Friday at 8:00 AM. I busted my ass, but I was the only undergrad in the (grad) class and I needed it to graduate that semester so finish on time I did.

When students ask for extensions in advance of due dates, I have no problems extending them. When they ask for extensions on the date the paper is due, I just look baffled and say no.

I only argued when I was certain I was right. Was sometimes proven wrong, but accepted gracefully. But sometimes I was right. As of 2005, I was the only person to not miss a single equation on Mr. Shock's chem exams (I graduated hs in 1993, 2005 is my last updated- my mom is now friends with his wife.) And I only have that because I argued back. Still kinda surprised I had the nerve to do that back then. But I guess, when I'm certain I'm right....

... I had no business being in an art history class with art majors. It was comically bad. But I did learn the art the spoke to me was that which made me want to touch it. So, that.

I am of the Everybody Always Sucked school of thought. But I also feel a wee bit #notallkids about Kids These Days, because I work with a hell of a lot of incredibly talented, dedicated, hardworking kiddoes who have absolutely no one on their side and still take responsibility for their shit. I also have the other kind. But still.

I think privilege is a part of it, for sure.

ANYWAY! I HAD BUFFISTAS! So fantastic to meet/see everyone, and many thanks to Gris for hosting!

Richard III was laid to rest yesterday.

[link]

His coffin had a crown on it, and two riders in full armor, with the horses in armor, flanked the door to the cathedral. As befits a warrior Plantagenet king. The British do this stuff up right.

The only time I asked for an extension was when my Sculpture project self-destructed at 11 pm the night before it was due. The replacement fulfilled the same requirements, but I made it a cubic foot instead of a cubic yard and instead of an elegant tracing of a cube exterior it was two melded squares that a grown man could stand on.