Author Topic: Overheard at Work  (Read 13253013 times)

lbmustache

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #10550 on: September 21, 2015, 08:51:52 PM »
How big is the kickback to the person selecting these books for the courses?

College instructors get no "kickback" for selecting their course books, unless it's a book they personally wrote. Maybe the department gets money...? I don't see a dime for it though.

lemanfan

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #10551 on: September 21, 2015, 11:20:07 PM »
Then why the expensive selections?

MoonShadow

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #10552 on: September 22, 2015, 12:34:05 AM »
I work in IT and view 95% of technology as a pointless waste that doesn't actually improve our lives, so am always excited to see a good use of it). 

But I pictured it happening with cheap e-readers like a Kindle, not the most expensive tablet possible.

Yes - these two statements. We have an old Kindle with the "digital ink" display. Thing will go forever on a charge. Can't read them in the dark but I like to read on it better than our modern tablets with the backlit display. Less fatigue. The old Kindle was much cheaper and offered less potential distractions to the child than a newer tablet with frequent potential notifications popping up - FB, Twitter, whatever else...

I do this too.  I bought a used Kindle 3 several years ago, and was so impressed with the device that I bought another for my homeschooled teens to use.  And the number of freely available, pre-1915 classics is incredible.  I literally have several hundred of these classics that I may never live long enough to read sitting on my kindle; from Anne of Greene Gables to the Wizard of Oz trilogy to Don Quixote, and so on.  The disadvantage is that, as you get a lot of titles on a kindle 3, it takes the device longer and longer to switch pages.

theadvicist

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #10553 on: September 22, 2015, 02:22:23 AM »

I do this too.  I bought a used Kindle 3 several years ago, and was so impressed with the device that I bought another for my homeschooled teens to use.  And the number of freely available, pre-1915 classics is incredible.  I literally have several hundred of these classics that I may never live long enough to read sitting on my kindle; from Anne of Greene Gables to the Wizard of Oz trilogy to Don Quixote, and so on.  The disadvantage is that, as you get a lot of titles on a kindle 3, it takes the device longer and longer to switch pages.

Can't you 'archive' books so that they are still on your account (and available forever) but not actually sitting on your device? I have a Kindle Touch (ink display), but don't know what model it is otherwise, but I can certainly archive to free up memory (I love those free classics too!).

Also, every University Lecturer I had that had published a text book made it a required text for their class. We all knew it was so they would get royalties!

LennStar

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #10554 on: September 22, 2015, 07:30:32 AM »
Also, every University Lecturer I had that had published a text book made it a required text for their class. We all knew it was so they would get royalties!
Actually I think they just wanted to use the best work available. The royalties are about how much? Half a day teaching? Or it is a very big class.

You can download all (or most) the classics from different websites - can't you just copy them on the Kindle via USB, or is that "DRM and environment" crap so crappy that you can't even change the data on your own device? (OK, you don't own the data on your Kindle anyway, Amazon does and can delete whatever they like btw.)

theadvicist

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #10555 on: September 22, 2015, 07:34:46 AM »
Also, every University Lecturer I had that had published a text book made it a required text for their class. We all knew it was so they would get royalties!
Actually I think they just wanted to use the best work available. The royalties are about how much? Half a day teaching? Or it is a very big class.


I'm in the UK, lecturers are not particularly well-paid. And a first year History 101 course? There are a lot of students! Of course, they'll tell you it's the best work available, and I'm not saying they were bad books... but when every lecturer has written THE text you need for their course, well, if it were very specialist areas, maybe. But for first year undergrad courses, I do think they are motivated by self-interest (and I don't blame them one bit!)

meg_shannon

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #10556 on: September 22, 2015, 08:39:51 AM »
I did have to pay $200 (!!!) for a new French textbook with a special code that gives me access to a website that we're required to use for the class. You can't buy just a code, so they get the full price and shut down the used market. The marginally cheaper version on Amazon also doesn't include a code.  It's a huge scam, but if you want to take the class, you gotta pay.

I went through the same thing for a Finance class - you needed to get the access code in order to get to the online quizzes and supplementary material from the publisher. So, either spend $200 on the book, or $75 on a used copy and $150 for a fresh code. Nice of them to sell it separately.

I had a couple of classes like that. I graduated in 2009 so maybe it wasn't as bad. I refused to play the game. I took zeros or asked if I could write an extra paper. Most of the time those stupid electronic clicker quizzes and online homework amounted to 5% or less of the overall grade. Still graduated with a 3.9 GPA.

AllieVaulter

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #10557 on: September 22, 2015, 09:56:37 AM »
Then why the expensive selections?

Often the "definitive" textbooks are more expensive.  And many times, professors just don't look at the cost when selecting a textbook.  Our department specifically does consider cost, but even still, the books we required are $60 for half a book.  So for the first year of physics students will need to buy $120 worth of books.  It's the cheapest option we could find that was a good textbook. 

OpenStax offers free textbooks, but...  they're not quite there yet (well, the physics one anyway - I haven't looked at the others).  It's like they were afraid to leave any tiny detail out of the book.  It's so crazy long and cumbersome.  For an introductory textbook, you don't need to go so in depth.  I've found the longer a book is, the less likely students are to read it.  I'm hopeful with feedback, they'll keep editing the book down to a reasonable length.  And at that point, our department will gladly require the free textbook. 

I've never been fond of professors requiring their own textbook...  it seems uncouth.  I understand that they wrote a book because they thought it was better than the other books and that's probably why they required it.  But I've never had a great experience with that situation. 

minnie76

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #10558 on: September 22, 2015, 10:06:56 AM »
Today a new co-worker informed me that he left his old employer right after completing his law degree (not required for this position).  His company paid all of his tuition with the stipulation that he stay for 2 years after his degree.

He owes his former employer $130k!!! because none of the jobs there were very interesting to him.

He is probably only making $85-90k in his current role so there is no way this was a positive business case for him.

rockstache

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #10559 on: September 22, 2015, 10:19:14 AM »
He owes his former employer $130k!!! because none of the jobs there were very interesting to him.


HOLY MOLY! My employer would probably have to have been actually abusing me to get me to leave before the two years!

MsSindy

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #10560 on: September 22, 2015, 10:31:01 AM »
He owes his former employer $130k!!! because none of the jobs there were very interesting to him.


HOLY MOLY! My employer would probably have to have been actually abusing me to get me to leave before the two years!

Based on his crappy logic and reasoning skills, he's probably going to make a lousy lawyer, too!

zephyr911

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #10561 on: September 22, 2015, 10:32:58 AM »
Today a new co-worker informed me that he left his old employer right after completing his law degree (not required for this position).  His company paid all of his tuition with the stipulation that he stay for 2 years after his degree.

He owes his former employer $130k!!! because none of the jobs there were very interesting to him.

He is probably only making $85-90k in his current role so there is no way this was a positive business case for him.
For $130K, I can find a way to be interested. That's fucking insane. What was he doing *before* they put him through school? Couldn't he just keep doing that?

MgoSam

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #10562 on: September 22, 2015, 10:42:06 AM »
Today a new co-worker informed me that he left his old employer right after completing his law degree (not required for this position).  His company paid all of his tuition with the stipulation that he stay for 2 years after his degree.

He owes his former employer $130k!!! because none of the jobs there were very interesting to him.

He is probably only making $85-90k in his current role so there is no way this was a positive business case for him.
For $130K, I can find a way to be interested. That's fucking insane. What was he doing *before* they put him through school? Couldn't he just keep doing that?

Even if he found a job that would pay way more as a lawyer, I still think this is a jackass move for him to do. Sure, you have to pay back the company, but you do realize how good you have it and that you have a company willing to pay for your education for a degree that doesn't really help the company (since your job doesn't require a law degree) and that you only have to work for 2 years...I know that Target and GE require 3 years for their MBA students. Basically you just pissed away a tax-free (unsure as to this, a tax accountant might be better at answering this question) $65k a year.

Pylon

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #10563 on: September 22, 2015, 10:42:50 AM »
I work in an office setting and we were visited by a 77-year-old doctor today. He sat and chatted with the 63-year-old woman who is fairly bitter about her lot in life but does nothing to change it. I overhear him tell her that since she works in a nice, quiet atmosphere, that she shouldn't be in any hurry to retire. He loved what he did and only retired three months ago so, of course, she should do the same. Because what are you going to do when you retire, sit on the couch and watch tv?

solon

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #10564 on: September 22, 2015, 10:45:55 AM »
I work in an office setting and we were visited by a 77-year-old doctor today. He sat and chatted with the 63-year-old woman who is fairly bitter about her lot in life but does nothing to change it. I overhear him tell her that since she works in a nice, quiet atmosphere, that she shouldn't be in any hurry to retire. He loved what he did and only retired three months ago so, of course, she should do the same. Because what are you going to do when you retire, sit on the couch and watch tv?

I can't wait to retire and spend more time on the MMM forums!

minnie76

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #10565 on: September 22, 2015, 10:48:20 AM »
Quote
He owes his former employer $130k!!! because none of the jobs there were very interesting to him.


HOLY MOLY! My employer would probably have to have been actually abusing me to get me to leave before the two years!

Based on his crappy logic and reasoning skills, he's probably going to make a lousy lawyer, too!

I completely agree.  His old job sounds very similar to what he is doing now.  In both cases he was tasked with analyzing business cases for the company....

GuitarStv

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #10566 on: September 22, 2015, 11:34:35 AM »
Also, every University Lecturer I had that had published a text book made it a required text for their class. We all knew it was so they would get royalties!
Actually I think they just wanted to use the best work available. The royalties are about how much? Half a day teaching? Or it is a very big class.

We had a professor who would release the same text, but with paragraphs randomly re-arranged every year.  He would give quizzes with questions based on paragraph number in his book, this way you couldn't use the one from the previous year.  That was for differential equations in first year, so class size was a couple hundred.

LennStar

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #10567 on: September 22, 2015, 12:06:40 PM »
Also, every University Lecturer I had that had published a text book made it a required text for their class. We all knew it was so they would get royalties!
Actually I think they just wanted to use the best work available. The royalties are about how much? Half a day teaching? Or it is a very big class.

We had a professor who would release the same text, but with paragraphs randomly re-arranged every year.  He would give quizzes with questions based on paragraph number in his book, this way you couldn't use the one from the previous year.  That was for differential equations in first year, so class size was a couple hundred.
Okay, that I call an asshole. Not only because auf peoples costs, but also because of paper waste.

I think I would have done something like nicely giving him back his books - after the year shredding all the now paper-waste to really tiny bits and blowing it into his house.

RidinTheAsama

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #10568 on: September 22, 2015, 12:14:25 PM »
Also, every University Lecturer I had that had published a text book made it a required text for their class. We all knew it was so they would get royalties!
Actually I think they just wanted to use the best work available. The royalties are about how much? Half a day teaching? Or it is a very big class.


I'm in the UK, lecturers are not particularly well-paid. And a first year History 101 course? There are a lot of students! Of course, they'll tell you it's the best work available, and I'm not saying they were bad books... but when every lecturer has written THE text you need for their course, well, if it were very specialist areas, maybe. But for first year undergrad courses, I do think they are motivated by self-interest (and I don't blame them one bit!)

I would also expect that the book they wrote is the one they are most familiar with.  And therefore feel most comfortable structuring lessons around and opening up discussions.  I don't mean to imply laziness ... just efficiency.

dragoncar

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #10569 on: September 22, 2015, 12:15:07 PM »
Then why the expensive selections?

Laziness. 

grantmeaname

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #10570 on: September 22, 2015, 12:22:42 PM »
Then why the expensive selections?
Planet money is on point as always.

FatCat

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #10571 on: September 22, 2015, 12:32:38 PM »
I work in an office setting and we were visited by a 77-year-old doctor today. He sat and chatted with the 63-year-old woman who is fairly bitter about her lot in life but does nothing to change it. I overhear him tell her that since she works in a nice, quiet atmosphere, that she shouldn't be in any hurry to retire. He loved what he did and only retired three months ago so, of course, she should do the same. Because what are you going to do when you retire, sit on the couch and watch tv?

People who have already worked their whole lives and retired in their 70s are of course going to say that's what everyone should do. To say otherwise would be to admit to themselves they may have made a poor decision that affected most of their life. But then he enjoyed his job so maybe he would have worked as a doctor his whole life even if he already had millions in the bank to start with. To people who enjoy their jobs,  the idea that somebody else might not enjoy their job is usually considered a sign of that person's poor character.

MgoSam

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #10572 on: September 22, 2015, 12:49:20 PM »
Also, every University Lecturer I had that had published a text book made it a required text for their class. We all knew it was so they would get royalties!
Actually I think they just wanted to use the best work available. The royalties are about how much? Half a day teaching? Or it is a very big class.


I'm in the UK, lecturers are not particularly well-paid. And a first year History 101 course? There are a lot of students! Of course, they'll tell you it's the best work available, and I'm not saying they were bad books... but when every lecturer has written THE text you need for their course, well, if it were very specialist areas, maybe. But for first year undergrad courses, I do think they are motivated by self-interest (and I don't blame them one bit!)

I would also expect that the book they wrote is the one they are most familiar with.  And therefore feel most comfortable structuring lessons around and opening up discussions.  I don't mean to imply laziness ... just efficiency.

Yeah, I have very little respect for college professors. I remember at college, I was part of a small committee (me and one other person) that looked at why our school had so little used books available and the long and short of it is that professors couldn't be bothered to call the bookstore and tell them which textbook they were using, and so by the time that they ordered them, there weren't many used books available. These are professors that largely recycle the same syllabus, and use the same textbook ...or if not the same one, then a newer edition of it. But instead of emailing their request on a timely basis, they would ignore multiple phone calls and emails from the bookstores.

Joggernot

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #10573 on: September 22, 2015, 02:42:48 PM »
I'm much older and we had a prof who used his own DRAFT text book.  We had to pay for his "mimeographed" copies at full price ($40 when $20 bought a weeks groceries).  After being in the program another year, we all figured out that his text wasn't very good, but it made him money.

grantmeaname

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #10574 on: September 22, 2015, 03:04:02 PM »
That's so contrary to my experience. I had several professors who wrote books so that they could give them to their students for free, and nobody that assigned their own book to profit off it.

FatCat

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #10575 on: September 22, 2015, 03:55:11 PM »
That's so contrary to my experience. I had several professors who wrote books so that they could give them to their students for free, and nobody that assigned their own book to profit off it.

This was more similar to my experience. The books written by the professors were the cheapest. They had a printing room where you ask for them to print the book for the class you were taking and you just pay the printing fees. The teachers didn't make anything from it.

I also remember several professors telling the class not to buy any textbooks for their class but that the college had mandated that all professors must have required textbooks in the syllabus so that the bookstore can make more money.

Tjat

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #10576 on: September 22, 2015, 05:31:14 PM »
I'm much older and we had a prof who used his own DRAFT text book.  We had to pay for his "mimeographed" copies at full price ($40 when $20 bought a weeks groceries).  After being in the program another year, we all figured out that his text wasn't very good, but it made him money.

I'm 30 and this was my experience undergrad. The professors would just steal other people's articles and photocopy them (poorly - like half the pages were lopsided) and have the bookstore hole punch and put in binders. Then sell for $60

Grad school was all Harvard Business School. The textbooks listed in the syllabus were either never needed or could be purchased used and then resold at 80%

Megma

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #10577 on: September 22, 2015, 06:30:40 PM »
I work in an office setting and we were visited by a 77-year-old doctor today. He sat and chatted with the 63-year-old woman who is fairly bitter about her lot in life but does nothing to change it. I overhear him tell her that since she works in a nice, quiet atmosphere, that she shouldn't be in any hurry to retire. He loved what he did and only retired three months ago so, of course, she should do the same. Because what are you going to do when you retire, sit on the couch and watch tv?

That surprises me, you would think he could volunteer if he enjoyed being a doctor so much! There are lots of places in need of doctors from rich/resourced countries to provide treatment and training for locals. My boyfriends grandfather is a retired surgeon and now does trips to other courries to help train doctors there or run clinics (he loves it but is now in his lat 80s and can't dot as much). Quit working for the money and improve your world!

notquitefrugal

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #10578 on: September 22, 2015, 07:26:09 PM »
College instructors get no "kickback" for selecting their course books, unless it's a book they personally wrote.

I had a business professor who was listed as author of the textbook. It was obviously authored by somebody else (with a different cover--there were several obvious signs, which I can't remember now), and the damn thing looked like it had been copied and bound at some cheap knockoff of Kinko's. I'm not sure how he got away with that--maybe he licensed the other author's work, but I'm surprised the department let him do it.

Edited to add: Sounds like I'm not the only one!
« Last Edit: September 22, 2015, 08:03:59 PM by notquitefrugal »

PMG

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #10579 on: September 22, 2015, 08:52:50 PM »
Re: textbook conversation:  I've had profs at my community college and again at private U be very supportive of students sharing textbooks and taking the cheapest route.

I've learned to wait a good week into classes to verify that we really need the textbook, then I ask if I can use an older edition.  Usually that's a yes and it's no trouble. The one instance it wasn't ok the prof loaned me an extra copy they had.

I've done a couple kindle versions on my phone.  Considered getting a kindle just to reduce backpack weight, but it didn't make sense this semester. Kindle versions are usually images of the pages, not formatted for e reading. I've only viewed them on my phone and computer but for a large text book with multiple columns of text that is ridiculously uncomfortable and difficult to read. Not user friendly at all.

I did one time get a free preview of a kindle textbook for an online class. I completed the entire class in the 7 day preview. I was not going to spend that $70. Hah.

Overheard:  "Not having a bank is so much more difficult than I thought.  I can't buy anything online."

druth

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #10580 on: September 23, 2015, 07:29:40 AM »
I have had two profs assign their own text book.  One was clearly a professionally published work, and was one of the legitimately most used books on the subject.  The proffessor held a raffle at the begining of the year and gave a few copies away. 

The other was at UW-Eau Claire which has textbook rental for everything, so he may have gotten 20 royalties off of it, but only the first year he taught it.  By the way I think this is a great solution to a lot of the textbook scam problems going on now.  Make them rentals, charge it to the department.  We did not have new editions every year, but so what?

I also know somebody who wrote a text book.  He uses it in his class and gets royalties.  He buys his class pizza at the end of the year and that pretty much wipes out any royalties he gets (not that much).

zolotiyeruki

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #10581 on: September 23, 2015, 08:10:24 AM »
The best "textbook" I had in college?  A professor's hand-written lecture notes/outlines, which he also scanned and posted online for students to download and review.  It covered 100% of the material we needed to know, had zero stuff we didn't cover, cost the students nothing, and cost the professor very little (the only extra work he had to do was scan them in).

Rural

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #10582 on: September 23, 2015, 06:42:08 PM »
That's so contrary to my experience. I had several professors who wrote books so that they could give them to their students for free, and nobody that assigned their own book to profit off it.


 This is what I'm doing currently. The open textbook movement is really getting huge. My book should be ready next semester, fingers crossed. It will be free to students unless they want to print it out.  I won't get any kickback since it's free, but I did get grant funding to pay at roughly my salary rate (or maybe a tenth of it) for all the extra work.


There are good and bad ways to do the textbooks thing. There are even good and bad ways to do the electronic resources thing.  I'm using an electronic resource now that costs $35 – but it's the only thing students have to buy for that class. It adapts to them and what they already know as they work through it, so it doesn't bother them about the stuff they already know. We're doing regular class as well as working in the software, but it allows for much more individualized instruction that I can do on my own with so many students.


 When I teach the big survey class, I use one of the free online textbooks, because there are some good ones available in my field. Not everyone likes an online book, though. – I always make sure to make it very clear that's what we're doing on the first day in case students want to switch class sections. A couple always do.  And, of course, the only way to do a free textbook is to do it electronically. Paper comes at a price.

mustachepungoeshere

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #10583 on: September 23, 2015, 07:10:57 PM »
Honestly, a lot of the people on the forum don't understand cars or that people could be car enthusiasts. I've noticed some of the same things you, but I just learned it's better not to tell everyone on here I like cars. Plus, mob mentality and the internet, easy for everyone to be perfect on here - at least you kept it real about your choices.

We are car people. We are fortunate that my husband's job means his cup runneth over with performance cars to drive, regular track days, and all-expense paid trips to racing at almost every level. I'm not exaggerating when I say that has saved us hundreds of thousands of dollars in experiences and car depreciation (he fills his car quota at work so he doesn't need to constantly change our car at home to satisfy that part of his personality).

But it is one of our values, so we also save money in other areas in order to attend events ranging from Cars and Coffee ($20) to Le Mans ($4500).

There are car people around for whom car culture is, in some way or another, a deliberate line item on a budget, but it's still easier to be quiet on the forums than risk the facepunches from those with different priorities.

Malaysia41

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #10584 on: September 23, 2015, 10:07:38 PM »
The best "textbook" I had in college?  A professor's hand-written lecture notes/outlines, which he also scanned and posted online for students to download and review.  It covered 100% of the material we needed to know, had zero stuff we didn't cover, cost the students nothing, and cost the professor very little (the only extra work he had to do was scan them in).

Ghandi Puvada.  The man was a wizard at teaching digital logic 101 and digital logic 102.  The university tried to oust him for failing to do research. IIRC, the undergrads rose up and collectively, "Oh, hell, no!" and he stayed.  Loved that guy. 

That whole course was contained in his very straight forward, easy-to-understand photocopied notes. 

(sorry for the foam - I usually abstain from frothing, but I had to give a shout out to da'man, the venerable, Mr. Puvada).
« Last Edit: September 23, 2015, 10:09:21 PM by Malaysia41 »

nick69

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #10585 on: September 23, 2015, 10:22:48 PM »
I've got one.

I've got a co-worker, whose male, single ~45yrs old,  buys lunch everyday, goes out to the pub 3 to 4 times a week, regularly spends more on booze/smokes then I do on rent and regularly complains that he/we need a pay rise as he struggles to pay off his credit card and make ends meet since he got a mortgage.   I and others in our office have told him that or pay is actually good considering the market rate for our field and that most of us (not me) have mortgages and are coping well enough.  The difference is that he isn't getting good returns on his investment and isn't managing his money well.  He jokingly asked us how much better better off could he be and I offhand said about $1000 a month maybe more; he just looked at me like I was talking witchcraft...

So I explained:
1) He has a 3 bedroom house in a nice location and he only uses 1 room.  He can easily rent out the two spare bedrooms for an extra ~$800 p/m income.  He dismissed the idea as he didn't like the idea of living in a share house, he would rather just have 2 empty rooms and more privacy.   Alternatively I said if he doesn't want to share he could rent a small place much closer to work for ~$200 p/w and lease out his whole house for probably ~$500 p/w - Nope - it's his house and he's going to stay there.

2) Make lunch or bring in leftovers - Nope - he doesn't like cooking so he would rather spend $100 p/w buying lunch.

3) Spend less money at the pub by not drinking at the pub - Nope - I asked why doesn't he just invite his mates over for a drink as it's not like has has a Mrs to complain, he would be spending $50 for a carton of beer instead of $10 a pint and he wouldn't have to worry about how to get home from the pub after a few drinks.  Nope - the pub is worth the extra money as it a nicer place to drink in.

4) Cut back on smokes or buy them cheaper - Nope - he cant kick the habit and he has to have the premium ones that taste the nicest and he has to buy them from the local store as its the most convenient even if it's more expensive.

5) Pay off the Credit card ASAP or balance transfer it to another bank with lower interest - nope his current one has all the rewards points and it's somehow bundled with his other accounts so it would be too annoying to move...

I just shake my head and move on as at the end of the day its not my problem...

Jack

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #10586 on: September 24, 2015, 08:31:37 AM »
The high-rise building I work in has a gym (complete with exercise bikes) that's free for tenants' employees to use, as well as a separate (very expensive) "spin class" business. It also has reasonably-secure covered bike parking.

So I'm in the elevator with a lady who works at some law firm on the floor below mine. She looks me over -- I'm wearing a neon yellow t-shirt, shorts, cycling gloves, cycling shoes and carrying a pannier, so about the only way to make it even more obvious that I'm a cyclist would have been to carry my helmet -- and she asks me if I do the spin class. I resisted the urge to laugh derisively and go off on a tirade about how stupid a concept "spin class" (and especially, paying for it) is, and instead merely said "no, I ride an actual bike."

rockstache

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #10587 on: September 24, 2015, 09:15:18 AM »
One of my employees in our high cost of living area has student loans (her job does not require a degree), of some amount and lives at home. She orders a salad for lunch from the local pizza joint for lunch every single day. In the last 6 months she has been in 4 weddings complete with expensive bridesmaids dresses etc., and has traveled to 4 locations for bachelorette parties. Twice to Las Vegas (cross country), once to New Orleans, and once to Austin to stay in hotels (at least they share rooms), and drink at bars all night long. When asked about why she would spend all that money traveling just for the bachelorette parties, she replied that she has FOMO (fear of missing out). She currently makes under $36K per year here at work and also works at a bar 1 night a week. I cannot imagine.

Threshkin

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #10588 on: September 24, 2015, 09:24:34 AM »
One of my employees in our high cost of living area has student loans (her job does not require a degree), of some amount and lives at home. She orders a salad for lunch from the local pizza joint for lunch every single day. In the last 6 months she has been in 4 weddings complete with expensive bridesmaids dresses etc., and has traveled to 4 locations for bachelorette parties. Twice to Las Vegas (cross country), once to New Orleans, and once to Austin to stay in hotels (at least they share rooms), and drink at bars all night long. When asked about why she would spend all that money traveling just for the bachelorette parties, she replied that she has FOMO (fear of missing out). She currently makes under $36K per year here at work and also works at a bar 1 night a week. I cannot imagine.

....and you are an evil employer for not paying her a living wage.  You should be fined and forced to pay her enough to support her lifestyle!

/sarc off

GuitarStv

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #10589 on: September 24, 2015, 09:31:59 AM »
FOMO sounds like a terribly debilitating disease.  I pray for her recovery.

HairyUpperLip

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #10590 on: September 24, 2015, 09:50:32 AM »
Honestly, a lot of the people on the forum don't understand cars or that people could be car enthusiasts. I've noticed some of the same things you, but I just learned it's better not to tell everyone on here I like cars. Plus, mob mentality and the internet, easy for everyone to be perfect on here - at least you kept it real about your choices.

We are car people. We are fortunate that my husband's job means his cup runneth over with performance cars to drive, regular track days, and all-expense paid trips to racing at almost every level. I'm not exaggerating when I say that has saved us hundreds of thousands of dollars in experiences and car depreciation (he fills his car quota at work so he doesn't need to constantly change our car at home to satisfy that part of his personality).

But it is one of our values, so we also save money in other areas in order to attend events ranging from Cars and Coffee ($20) to Le Mans ($4500).

There are car people around for whom car culture is, in some way or another, a deliberate line item on a budget, but it's still easier to be quiet on the forums than risk the facepunches from those with different priorities.

Totally agree. I've been on here for around 2 years now. Initially I would get excited when car threads would pop up because I believed since I'm actually a car enthusiast but also respect the environment and FI that maybe I could somehow help provide another viewpoint in the car choices. Seems like nobody gave a damn though and everyone jumps on "fuck cars" boat. It's all good, I don't and didn't lose any sleep over it. I love cars, no real logic behind it. Just grew up as a little baby and started playing with cars.

That is awesome that your husbands career allows you guys to enjoy automobiles on that level. I work in depressing ass IT and I often think about quitting and going to school for body repair and paint.

Tjat

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #10591 on: September 24, 2015, 10:38:06 AM »
I've got one.

Probably the best example of a complainypants possible. To somehow assume the role of victim after consciously disregarding legitimate suggestions borders on mental illness. Dude probably has an iPhone, full cable package,, and eats out for dinner as well. Such easy low hanging fruit that so many people just ignore...

mm1970

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #10592 on: September 24, 2015, 10:44:11 AM »
The high-rise building I work in has a gym (complete with exercise bikes) that's free for tenants' employees to use, as well as a separate (very expensive) "spin class" business. It also has reasonably-secure covered bike parking.

So I'm in the elevator with a lady who works at some law firm on the floor below mine. She looks me over -- I'm wearing a neon yellow t-shirt, shorts, cycling gloves, cycling shoes and carrying a pannier, so about the only way to make it even more obvious that I'm a cyclist would have been to carry my helmet -- and she asks me if I do the spin class. I resisted the urge to laugh derisively and go off on a tirade about how stupid a concept "spin class" (and especially, paying for it) is, and instead merely said "no, I ride an actual bike."
I like spin class.  But it's included in my gym membership.

zephyr911

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #10593 on: September 24, 2015, 10:46:29 AM »
I've got one.
(*)
I just shake my head and move on as at the end of the day its not my problem...
Q: How many psychiatrists does it take to change a light bulb?
A: Just one... but the light bulb has to want to change.

This guy has forfeited all of his rights to bitching. He clearly doesn't love his house that much if he doesn't want his friends over for beers, but he has to keep it. Doesn't like cooking? Why does he pay for a kitchen. World-class idiot.

Vertical Mode

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #10594 on: September 24, 2015, 11:44:46 AM »
Honestly, a lot of the people on the forum don't understand cars or that people could be car enthusiasts. I've noticed some of the same things you, but I just learned it's better not to tell everyone on here I like cars. Plus, mob mentality and the internet, easy for everyone to be perfect on here - at least you kept it real about your choices.

We are car people. We are fortunate that my husband's job means his cup runneth over with performance cars to drive, regular track days, and all-expense paid trips to racing at almost every level. I'm not exaggerating when I say that has saved us hundreds of thousands of dollars in experiences and car depreciation (he fills his car quota at work so he doesn't need to constantly change our car at home to satisfy that part of his personality).

But it is one of our values, so we also save money in other areas in order to attend events ranging from Cars and Coffee ($20) to Le Mans ($4500).

There are car people around for whom car culture is, in some way or another, a deliberate line item on a budget, but it's still easier to be quiet on the forums than risk the facepunches from those with different priorities.

Totally agree. I've been on here for around 2 years now. Initially I would get excited when car threads would pop up because I believed since I'm actually a car enthusiast but also respect the environment and FI that maybe I could somehow help provide another viewpoint in the car choices. Seems like nobody gave a damn though and everyone jumps on "fuck cars" boat. It's all good, I don't and didn't lose any sleep over it. I love cars, no real logic behind it. Just grew up as a little baby and started playing with cars.

That is awesome that your husbands career allows you guys to enjoy automobiles on that level. I work in depressing ass IT and I often think about quitting and going to school for body repair and paint.

Ah yes, the good old "'fuck cars' boat". I see what you did there ;-)

While it is true that cars and their associated costs can be a handicap on the way to FI/RE, cars and "car culture" are a great deal of fun (and I don't even own one!). The point of Mustachianism is to optimize resource allocation to get the most enjoyment out of your available resources/dollars. If one understands the costs and tradeoffs, and still chooses to spend time and money on cars because it is rewarding, that is their choice and they don't need to be face-punched for it. Some folks can't seem to wrap their heads around the fact that cars can be more than just a means of transportation, and really aren't that much different from any other hobby. I've seen the backlash, too, and FWIW I appreciate the different perspective.

markbike528CBX

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #10595 on: September 24, 2015, 11:49:08 AM »
.....
I like spin class.  But it's included in my gym membership.

When I saw "spin class" I thought it was a how-to for Whirling Dervishes.
Too much PBS TV for me I guess (free OTA TV of course).

Didn't know that stationary bikes had a "class" and was a thing.

ShoulderThingThatGoesUp

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #10596 on: September 24, 2015, 12:15:01 PM »
.....
I like spin class.  But it's included in my gym membership.

When I saw "spin class" I thought it was a how-to for Whirling Dervishes.
Too much PBS TV for me I guess (free OTA TV of course).

Didn't know that stationary bikes had a "class" and was a thing.

THAT's what spin class is? Stationary bikes? I assumed it was some sort of dance-based exercise program like Zumba.

MgoSam

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #10597 on: September 24, 2015, 12:26:23 PM »
.....
I like spin class.  But it's included in my gym membership.

When I saw "spin class" I thought it was a how-to for Whirling Dervishes.
Too much PBS TV for me I guess (free OTA TV of course).

Didn't know that stationary bikes had a "class" and was a thing.

THAT's what spin class is? Stationary bikes? I assumed it was some sort of dance-based exercise program like Zumba.

As much fun as it is to mock spin classes, they are a really good workout. I know a few people that attend regular classes held at their gym (including in their membership) and many of these are people that normally wouldn't regularly exercise, but the instructors they said are good and motivating and working out with other people helps fuel them and many of them have lost a good chunk of weight.

Now there are really expensive gyms out there or classes that cost quite a lot of money. I wouldn't ever recommend them, but if you are already going to the gym and find that a structured class would benefit you, why not?

I mean, sure plenty of people can get buff by just buying dumbells and a bench and doing pushups, but that's not for everyone. Some people enjoy going to a gym to use their equipment, and others prefer to go to a strength and conditioning class. I know a few people that have taken a boot camp, which I think is overpriced, and got in really good shape. I am currently doing Insanity because I found myself in a workout rut and really wanted to get in shape.

cthoops

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #10598 on: September 24, 2015, 12:33:48 PM »
There are car people around for whom car culture is, in some way or another, a deliberate line item on a budget, but it's still easier to be quiet on the forums than risk the facepunches from those with different priorities.

I agree 100%, but for us just replace "car" with "sailboat".

MoonShadow

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #10599 on: September 24, 2015, 05:48:08 PM »
There are car people around for whom car culture is, in some way or another, a deliberate line item on a budget, but it's still easier to be quiet on the forums than risk the facepunches from those with different priorities.

I agree 100%, but for us just replace "car" with "sailboat".

Not if you live on the sailboat.