Both Cynical and whining are missing part of the point: whining deferred gains interest, but must be discounted. If (as whining claims), the discount rate is negative, we gain on both sides.
Gotta train the students early on in the semester - I always tell my students that trying to get me to change a grade by whining that they "need" it is like trying to teach a pig how to sing - thy accomplish nothing, expend energy, and both they and the pig get annoyed. And so they don't get offended, I stress that I (not they) am the pig.
If only we cold train our colleagues the same way. Maybe when I rule the world. But then, I'd just start whining like everyone else...
The discount rate might be negative. Someone bitching and moaning now might later be chairman. When you get tenure, let him have it so he can see himself in others. And you get a better schedule.
By the way, this is how many of our students operate. Some of them figure if they gripe, we'll give them what they want just to get them out of our offices. Some of us just hold up a red pen and tell them we make the rules. When they get their PhD, they can do likewise.
Since I'm teaching valuation: What is the correct discount factor to use in order to calculate the present value of expected future tantrums?
If you behave like a typical academic, you will store up resentments now.
That material will be good for two or three years of non-stop temper tantrum after your receive tenure.
Once the initial tantrum runs down, the same material will be grounds for whining for at least the next 20 years.
Deferred gratification has its benefits.
Commenting by HaloScan
