From: U53644@uicvm.uic.edu
Newsgroups: sci.research.careers
Subject: Re: NO MORE %$#@* E-MAIL ABOUT THE JOB SITUATION
Date: 21 Jul 92 18:50:06 GMT
 <1992Jul21.160130.20027@cc.gatech.edu>
Organization: University of Illinois at Chicago

I am beginning to woder just how stupid people can be........

     THE ACADEMIC JOB MARKET IS NOT THE WHOLE JOB MARKET. Where did Rick
     get the idea that it was (the "hidden assumption" in his argument).
     Let's see if I can make it simple enough for him to understand.

         1. Academic jobs available in the pure sciences : none, or so
                 few, that none is a close enough approximation. After
                 all, we all say that it is impossible for a lump of iron
                 to spontaneously transmute itself into gold, even though
                 anyone who has studies quantum mechanics knows that it is
                 merely very very unlikely (huge improbability). Or for that
                 matter, it is possible that by pure chance, so many people
                 will die in freak accidents that I will find myself the next
                 in line to be the king of England - but the probability of
                 that is so low, that it is, in colloquial usage, termed an
                 impossibility.       Clear enough ?

              2. There are next to no nonacademic jobs that can be had with
                 a degree in the pure sciences alone. That is why you need
                 to take those applied courses.

How can any one be as bloody stupid as this guy ?
Answer : By trying to be. Rick had an axe to grind, and he didn't care how
         much he had to twist logic, or quote out of context, to do it.

It isn't a diatribe to complain about commentary like this : It is unfair to
         be unfair (Oh, by the way, that's known as a "tautology")

It is hardly unreasonable to demand, not ask, that you read the whole damn
article before you post a commentary, and pay attention to what is actually
being said in it while you're doing so.

Further, there are net authorities, they're known as node coordinators.
You didn't think that computer networks maintained themselves, did you ?

The definition of harassing e-mail is "any mail which the sender could not
reasonably expect the recipient to welcome". Also, when I post an article
in which I say in so many words that 60% of the faculty (roughly speaking) are
pretty good guys, and I get my reader filled with letters filled with language
that would make a dock worker blush, complaining about how I shouldn't call all
professors (fill in your favorite expletitive), I'm really not sure what you
can call that other than harassment.


Now, I'm going to continue posting (on different topics) whether or not this
idiot likes it or not. If Robert continues to attribute comments to me that I
never made, I'll sue him for libel, and with our posts easily accessible, he
won't have a snowball's chance in hell of weaseling out of it. The technique
of the "big lie" (if you are going to tell a lie, tell a whopper. noone will
believe that you could lie in such an extreme manner) might work on some of you
people, but it most assuredly will not work on a court. I might also point out
to Mr. Toreki that as a paid employee of Northwestern University who is using
equipment provided to him by his employer, he may very well be exposing NU to
liability in this case (since malice is easily shown, punitive damages apply).
The last time I checked, libel was a class two felony in the state of Illinois,
and it is definitely a civil offense, which means that Mr. Toreki would be in
violation of the disciplinary code at Northwestern University and subject to
expulsion, if NU's rules are similar to those found elsewhere (where any
such vioation of law is prohibited). It must also be pointed out that the
termination of the offending employee has historically put his employer less at
risk when settlemants are decided, and employers generally terminate the
employment of such individuals for that reason. Have no doubt, a postdoc
position is a paid university job - Rob, if he is telling the truth (and
wouldn't that be a refreshing change) is an employee of Northwestern University

Comply with the law, Robert, or I'll pursue this matter with the appropriate
authorites. By the way, I hope I don't have to tell anyone what having such an
ethical breach on your record does to your academic future. What I say to Rob,
goes for anyone else who tries anything else as cute.

Did I mention that the University of Illinois student legal services dept. is
available for help when the other disputant is not affiliated with the
University ?

I'm not taking any more abuse from this corner. I've been more than patient.
If it happens again, appropriate steps will be taken. And if anyone thinks
that I'm being too nasty here, stow it ! That's life in the big city.

Comments from the peanut gallery will not be necessary. Anyone who agrees with
Rob can't be playing with a full deck of cards.


                                                           Joseph B. Dunphy