I Try Use This Word Sparingly

[funranium]

Because it is a powerful word, a word that is very hard to redeem.  It is unequivocal and it is harsh opinion.

That said, I HATE group project assignments in school.  

I am not a team player.  I know this about myself.  When I "win" with another group of people it is a coalition, perhaps cabal, not a team.  We do not win out of camaradrie, we win because *DOMINATION* is the only option.

Group projects invariably leave me feeling used and abused.  The group is never a group you would have chosen, in the interest of "fostering cross-communication and the sharing of ideas".  Neither of those things necessarily implies "competency", "capability", and "success".  I mean, I could go sit in a room with a fine gentleman from the Kalahari and discuss the finer points of history of coinage, metallurgy, and why the modern US quarter has a milled edge but the nickel doesn't...I would be "fostering cross-communication" and "sharing of ideas" yet accomplishing nothing.

This does not scratch the surface of the shiftless, lazy, ignorant pieces of Hudson River sludge that make up the other group members.  But you cannot let them fail on their own accord because they have been tied around your neck like the 20 ton albatrosses they are and you are plummetting to an F with them.  So you have to do your work, and theirs, and their research in order to keep on top.  And when you have succeeded despite their worthless asses...

"Your group did a great job!  Nice work, guys."

They reap the ill-gotten glory and accolade of your toil!  You could shout to the heavens that they didn't do a damn thing but it doesn't matter; you pulled together "as a team" and it all came out alright.

Sure, they didn't learn as much probably and this will be its own punishment in the end as they are poorer for the lack of experience...aww, bullshit.  We all know that all was learned was "Cool, I didn't have to do much of anything again."  And eventually that person will be promoted out of incompetence to be your supervisor where they can't do as much direct harm.

Yes, I am might bit pissed with my Radioecology class at the moment.  Why do you ask?

Comments

[graymalkn.livejournal.com]

Amen, brother. Also not being a team player, I despise group projects. I've had thankfully few, but each one has either been a complete failure (group fiction writing with unimaginative preppies is No Fun) or a success due only to the work of me and usually one other person. They have no redeaming qualities, other than perhaps practice for certain unpleasant work environments.

[benchilada.livejournal.com]

I defy anybody to name a time when group projects ever resulted in the people having a better understanding of each other, or coming away with a new perspective in life.

Because then I'll piss in that persons eye.

[rick-day.livejournal.com]

If I was you, I'd print this out and give it to the professor at the end of the term (or, depending on the Asshole Level of said professor) wait until grades are posted.

Call it "positive" or "constructive feedback"

Actually, I'd have given it to him/her the day after the kudos.

[zardra.livejournal.com]

Sadly, I doubt that would work. I hung up an article outside my cube at work that titled "How to care for your introvert" (I'm a INFJ myself). I've seen the people I work with read this article, and yet they act surprise when I act like an introvert.

[locopuff.livejournal.com]

I, too, always had a burning hatred of groups in school. I hated the way that I had to take charge and tell everyone what to do because they were all too stupid or reticent to participate in the planning. So the success of a group of six or so people hinged on my personal performance, and I didn't appreciate it. In addition, work assigned to certain members of the group either didn't get done or was done poorly, which affected all of our overall grade, and yet, those douchebags always got credit.

Fuckers. I feel your pain.

[zardra.livejournal.com]

Thankfully, group work only comes up every now and then in my classes. This semester I have to do group work for my vocab design class; out of the 4 of us only one is slow, and she at least does things when we ask her to.

I was in one group with a nightmare groupmate. She declared that the only time she could meet online was at 8 am on a Saturday. We all showed up, conducted business, and were about to sign off when she finally appeared at 9:30. Then, she made us redo everything we had done without her cause she didn't like the part we gave her. *sigh* So, I'm just glad when I don't come across anyone else like her.