Is being snarky a good way to educate people?

[Anonymous]

[Syntosi]

Depends. It is on the part of the listener to recognize wisdom, no matter what source it comes from. Knowledge is no less true if its spoken by someone you hate or someone you think always lies.

As for being "snarky" could motivate the listener to recognize wisdom? Could be. A lot of people needs to be shamed into learning, otherwise they will never learn.

[Asker]

Should teachers and tutors be snarky?

[Syntosi]

Probably not but its not a deal breaker either.

[Asker]

Like if a teacher is snarky towards students by default, that's not a deal breaker for whether they should be working that job?

[Asker]

Or like snarkiness doesn't impact a persons ability to learn?

Like a supportive and understanding tutor vs a tutor that's making fun of the student as they struggle would yield pretty much the same results

[Syntosi]

The fact that a teacher is supportive or making fun of their students says absolutely nothing about their ability in impart knowledge on their students.

If, for the sake of argument, we had two teachers. One which is very supportive and one who is incredibly snarky and belittles their students. However, the supportive one is not very good at teaching and in contrast you could send a student to the snarky one for a month and they would learn as much as in a year of normal teaching. If you had a child, to which teacher would you send them to gain an education?

[Asker]

Which ever teacher is more effective for my child. If my child is suffering from anxiety and depression because the teacher belittles and destroys his self esteem, and these are the only two options, my child's livelihood takes priority.

Children aren't all the same.

[Asker]

Would you loosen restrictions to allow snark and maybe throwing thing to attract good teachers who find enjoyment in belittling people? Ther have been tons of cases of children self harming and even killing themselves due to teachers who belittle students because it ends up compounding and makes those kids acceptable targets for bullies

[Asker]

But I guess if a teachers students have a very high grade average, but the suicide rate amongst their students is high, would you send you kid to them?

[Syntosi]

This conversation was not about kids suicide or whatever. It was if "snarky" was a good way to educate someone and I just had you admit that you would consider a "snarky" teacher if they were "more effective for my child."

I think that adequately proves that we are in agreement. Furthermore, it does not matter in which form "truth" is delivered, it would still be the truth. I would consider it a character flaw if you choose to ignore something that is true just because you dont like the way in which it was delivered.

[Asker]

Sure but would you send your kid to a good teacher but high rate of student suicides?

[Asker]

And are you for mandating teachers be snarky and belittle the students since you favor it over being supportive?

[Asker]

Being supportive takes more effort and contributes nothing, the teaching allowed to go gloves off and berate students may give them more enjoyment in their job and it's a failure of the child if they can't deal with it

[Syntosi]

You are getting off track.

[Asker]

You solved the original question I hate that snark has 0 impact on education. I'm asking a follow up if you would send your child to a teacher with a high rate of suicide in their students but is an amazing teacher

[Syntosi]

Probably not but I would also not deny them if they decided it for themselves nor doubt their ability to teach information because of their bad personality.

[Asker]

Cool, should teachers who bully and facilitate bullying of their students be allowed to keep their jobs if they prove to be effective and good educators?

Like if public shaming is part of the technique, let it ride, right?

[Syntosi]

I never said that there as no consequences to being snarky nor that certain institutions should not have a higher standard. There is a world of a difference if for example I try to teach someone on social media something new VS a respected teacher in a university. Treating these two as the same is illogical.

[RavVid]

... that you are a snarky person? Quite possibly.

[exitseven]

No, everyone starts someplace. The only stupid question is the one that you do not ask. I do not expect my students to come to class with all the answers and being flippant of snarky is counterproductive to the process.

[In_Trance]

Fuck around and find out