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With state budget in crisis, many Oklahoma schools hold classes four days a week

I get and like dark humor. I don't think it was humorous. I gave him the benefit of the doubt, but if you make a dark joke and it doesn't land, you're just left with the darkness.

Like hey, maybe it would be funny if things got so bad that my nephew and any future children I have grow up to have a sub-human level of intelligence because the cycle of adults failing future generations is a tale as old as time. But at least they've devolved to a point that they don't realize they could live like we live. Yeah. Maybe that's funny. Then actually make it funny.

Sorry, I get that this isn't for everyone, but gallows humour is "funny" exactly because you are acting as if you were taking incredible tragedy lightly.
If I'm about to be hanged by the neck until death, and say "Hey, at least it's not raining", that's not ha-ha funny. That's cracking a joke so that you don't break down crying.

All I'm saying is, while I get why, don't attack someone who is dealing with stuff like this using gallows humour.
We know it's not funny. That's the whole point. I'm sure he didn't mean to offend or even make light of the situation.
 

ameleco

Member
I live here and it sucks. Teaching was never my choice, but I wanted a job for a couple years until I decide what I want to do and I was able to get s job at a university here teaching intro physics courses. I found a temp job teaching for the year for 35k. Currently unemployed but still making money until August. I'll probably go on unemployment after or I'll just be forced out of state. There are so few jobs where I can actually use my eng. physics masters degree (specialty in solar/electronics). If I stay, my options currently are adjunct, oil or manufacturing engineer (whatever that even is) for Boeing. I hate oil, and don't wanna work at Boeing lol. For comparison, I could have made double at this position in Seattle and about 20k more in Texas.
 
Sorry, I get that this isn't for everyone, but gallows humour is "funny" exactly because you are acting as if you were taking incredible tragedy lightly.
If I'm about to be hanged by the neck until death, and say "Hey, at least it's not raining", that's not ha-ha funny. That's cracking a joke so that you don't break down crying.

All I'm saying is, while I get why, don't attack someone who is dealing with stuff like this using gallows humour.
We know it's not funny. That's the whole point. I'm sure he didn't mean to offend or even make light of the situation.

I understand the concept. I like dark comedy. And again, I gave him the benefit of the doubt in my original response to him.

I don't view calling out / responding as attacking. If you do, then sorry.
 
I understand the concept. I like dark comedy. And again, I gave him the benefit of the doubt in my original response to him.

I don't view calling out / responding as attacking. If you do, then sorry.

But it is not dark comedy. It's gallows humour. Bit different as far as I understand it. It's mainly a way of dealing with something, and not a way of making others smile(though it can be). I think the screenshot I posted explains it best.

That's why I view calling him (someone who acts like) an ass as inappropriate in this situation, yes.

It doesn't matter though, does it? I will stop derailing now.
Bit too dire, this topic, to keep a discussion like this going.
 

ZealousD

Makes world leading predictions like "The sun will rise tomorrow"
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Link

The Autumn Wind
I could just make a snide or sarcastic comment about all this, but then I got to this line:

In most other Oklahoma districts with four-day weeks, the overwhelming majority of students qualify for subsidized meals.
and my first thought was, "Well, Republicans plan to cut that too." and I just got sad.
 

Ether_Snake

安安安安安安安安安安安安安安安
A lot of states in the US will eventually be in serious trouble. People will just move out when they're old enough, so the states will pay to raise them but never recover the investment.
 

Piecake

Member
Instead of going to a 4 day week, cutting teacher pay, and cutting funding to buy such basic things as books, perhaps they should cut funding to high school sports?

Just a thought that will never happen cause I imagine that a lot of people there probably think the purpose of high school is high school football
 

ZealousD

Makes world leading predictions like "The sun will rise tomorrow"
Instead of going to a 4 day week, cutting teacher pay, and cutting funding to buy such basic things as books, perhaps they should cut funding to high school sports?

Just a thought that will never happen cause I imagine that a lot of people there probably think the purpose of high school is high school football

High School Football is a BFD in Oklahoma.
 

GatorBait

Member
The more I see stuff like this the more I realize that Republicans don't want an organized society. They say no to taxes, but what they really mean is no to schools, no to social safety nets, no to social programs, no to services, and no to sciences.

I think what they want isn't just to pay less taxes but to return to a time with fewer rules, and fewer expectations. Unfortunately this means the suffering of millions of people but who can be concerned with that when the liberals and gays are asking you to remember their pronouns? (...that's sarcasm btw)

If you're a rich Republican, how much do you really care if broader society declines around you? You live in a gated community and spend all your time insulated from the 99%. Your kids are in private schools getting the best education money can buy. Your connections (and generous donations!) are helping them get into a prestigious college. And frankly, you have so much money, and even more so after your taxes are cut, that you can't spend it all in your lifetime and, mathematically-speaking, your kids wouldn't have to work a day in their life based on their inheritance.
 

bionic77

Member
Honestly wtf do Republicans think taxes are for?
Taxes pay for the welfare of lazy blacks and mexicans.

That is how they think.

Republicans also probably think it is ok to have kids learn less liberal bullshit and spend that extra time in church.
 

Timedog

good credit (by proxy)
None of this is important when the scourge of minorities trying to live their lives still flourishes. If only rich people had an even larger slice of the pie, they'd create a handful of new minimum wage jobs that families can't live off, and everything would be made right again.
 
It's good that red states are going downhill. Unfortunately there is so much collateral damage that it should be unconstitutional to deliver results like that in a just world.
 

ElRenoRaven

Member
You think that's bad. Because most schools are having to go to 4 day weeks some of these assholes have tried passing laws making that illegal for schools to do. They have tried to literally force them to have 5 day weeks when they simply can't afford to. It's ok though we'll continue to give big oil tax breaks and big business tax breaks here. Fuck having smart kids, decent roads, or just helping anyone.
 
I live in Oklahoma and recently graduated with a master's in education.

I now plan to teach for a year and then go into politics - not in this state; I'd have no chance of being elected - and start to fix this shit.

EDIT: Oh, and those saying Oklahomans will continue to vote Republican couldn't be more right. We have a gubernatorial race next year, and while the Democrat might perform decently given the damage Republicans have inflicted, the R will still prevail because of guns, "family values," and redneck bullshit racism.
 

ElRenoRaven

Member
I live in Oklahoma and recently graduated with a master's in education.

I now plan to teach for a year and then go into politics - not in this state; I'd have no chance of being elected - and start to fix this shit.

EDIT: Oh, and those saying Oklahomans will continue to vote Republican couldn't be more right. We have a gubernatorial race next year, and while the Democrat might perform decently given the damage Republicans have inflicted, the R will still prevail because of guns, "family values," and redneck bullshit racism.

Yup. Did you hear about the teacher of the year who is leaving now? He just won it last year. Was trying to start up some organizations to help fight for teacher pay, etc and he's just like screw it at this point. He's moving to Texas. I feel for you teachers here. You're paid like shit and work your asses off and have nothing to show for it. I can't blame you folks for leaving the state.
 

ElRenoRaven

Member
Taking away money from hard working Americans.

That's very true. Here they're fighting over how to fix the budget by increasing the tax on gas at the pump, cigarettes, beer, sporting event tickets, etc. Then when someone with a brain says let's increase the tax on oil production to levels in line with other states everyone shits their pants and can't have that. Course guess who donates to all the politicans here. Yup oil & gas.
 
Yup. Did you hear about the Teacher of the year who is leaving now. He just won it last year. Was trying to start up some organizations to help fight for Teacher pay, etc and he's just like screw it at this point. He's moving to Texas. I feel for you teachers here. You're paid like shit and work your asses off and have nothing to show for it. I can't blame you folks for leaving the state.

Yeah, I heard about it, and I've actually met him and his wife (he spoke to my class at OU). They had a baby recently and can't afford to stay. He made a great point that education isn't mission work. We perform an invaluable service and dedicate ourselves to helping kids, but altruism won't pay bills. The teachers who criticize other teachers for leaving invariably have a spouse with a better-paying job (and usually vote Repubican...), so they have the security to spout shit like that.

I've started looking for work in the Lawton area (pray for my safety), where I live, but my plan is to teach, save some money, and intern with the Democrats in DC next year during the midterm elections.
 

Stinkles

Clothed, sober, cooperative
Literally car dealerships and concrete plants and refineries saying "I will fund your reelection if you find somewhere else to cut our taxes and fees"

All the election did was identify the cheapest prostitute.
 
Literally car dealerships and concrete plants and refineries saying "I will fund your reelection if you find somewhere else to cut our taxes and fees"

All the election did was identify the cheapest prostitute.

You have no idea. I know people who monitor the business at the Capitol, and they've told me about the underhanded tricks that big oil used during the budget negotiations. Their lobbyists arranged secret meetings with legislators, produced threatening literature basically saying, "Remember who pays your checks," and even parked a company truck in the Capitol parking lot to serve as an oversized reminder - all because the legislators had contemplated raising the well tax to the regional average.
 

ElRenoRaven

Member
Yeah, I heard about it, and I've actually met him and his wife (he spoke to my class at OU). They had a baby recently and can't afford to stay. He made a great point that education isn't mission work. We perform an invaluable service and dedicate ourselves to helping kids, but altruism won't pay bills. The teachers who criticize other teachers for leaving invariably have a spouse with a better-paying job (and usually vote Repubican...), so they have the security to spout shit like that.

I've started looking for work in the Lawton area (pray for my safety), where I live, but my plan is to teach, save some money, and intern with the Democrats in DC next year during the midterm elections.

Yup. That's the case too. The teachers who do that are those people. Known a few of them. Their husbands or wives tend to work for either Halliburton, one of the oil companies, or are politicians in government. They're usually the ones living in the nice homes too not worrying about a damn thing.

You have no idea. I know people who monitor the business at the Capitol, and they've told me about the underhanded tricks that big oil used during the budget negotiations. Their lobbyists arranged secret meetings with legislators, produced threatening literature basically saying, "Remember who pays your checks," and even parked a company truck in the Capitol parking lot to serve as an oversized reminder - all because the legislators had contemplated raising the well tax to the regional average.

Yup then they've also literally bused up employees to protest there. Course then we have legislators here calling anyone else on the left paid protesters while using their nice little snapchat filters to do this. yet that bus load of nice citizens that were bused back to their employer were obviously not paid at all.
 
Yup then they've also literally bused up employees to protest there. Course then we have legislators here calling anyone else on the left paid protesters while using their nice little snapchat filters to do this. yet that bus load of nice citizens that were bused back to their employer were obviously not paid at all.

Don't forget how they responded to an LGBT youth group's visit with an email reading, "There are cross dressers in the building!" Trash people, the lot of them.

Not that we stand a chance in the governor's race next year, but which Democrat do you favor? Edmondson has the best shot, I think, having been the AG for so many years and built a name here.
 

ElRenoRaven

Member
Don't forget how they responded to an LGBT youth group's visit with an email reading, "There are cross dressers in the building!" Trash people, the lot of them.

Not that we stand a chance in the governor's race next year, but which Democrat do you favor? Edmondson has the best shot, I think, having been the AG for so many years and built a name here.

Let's also not forget the nice questionnaire for Muslims who came to visit one of our state leaders. Yea I think Edmondson is the best chance we have sadly.
 
Let's also not forget the nice questionnaire for Muslims who came to visit one of our state leaders. Yea I think Edmondson is the best chance we have sadly.

Maybe if Ralph Shortey somehow got the Republican nomination...

So many Oklahomans here! I feel much less alone in this thread now. You've all expressed outrage, but only an Oklahoma resident can understand the true conservative fuckery that occurs here.
 

ElRenoRaven

Member
Maybe if Ralph Shortey somehow got the Republican nomination...

Ugh. That is a scary thought. The sad thing is he'd probably still win. I mean so what if he was doing a little child prostitution? Hasn't everyone? He's obviously a christian loving republican man who made one little mistake. /sarcasm

That fucker deserves to rot in hell forever.
 
As a parent with kids that will soon start school, this kind of thing breaks my heart. A whole host of kids that'll receive poorer education as a result of poor public policy. I cant imagine being in the shoes of parents without the means to provide a good education to their children. :-(
 
Ugh. That is a scary thought. The sad thing is he'd probably still win. I mean so what if he was doing a little child prostitution? Hasn't everyone? He's obviously a christian loving republican man who made one little mistake. /sarcasm

That fucker deserves to rot in hell forever.

Honestly, people criticize Trump's projection, but the entire Republican party engages in it. The ones who rant about family values get caught with the mistresses and child pornography; the ones who bemoan corruption receive the largest kickbacks from the oil companies. Hell, Mary "True Family Values" Fallin had an affair with her bodyguard once. The Daily Oklahoman ignored that story, as you can imagine.

Oh, dear, we seem to have hijacked the thread. Please forgive us, friends; this state provides so few venues in which to express our displeasure and so few ears willing to entertain our grievances. Occasionally the inmates pass notes to each other. (We also have the highest number of incarcerated women in the country. #feminismbehindbars)
 

ElRenoRaven

Member
As a parent with kids that will soon start school, this kind of thing breaks my heart. A whole host of kids that'll receive poorer education as a result of poor public policy. I cant imagine being in the shoes of parents without the means to provide a good education to their children. :-(

Yea it kills me. I loved school as a kid. I wish I could have finished college even. Sadly the state screwed me there. Well my community college did. They kept telling me I had to have college algebra to get my 2 year. I can't do it to save my life. So I spent a ton of my fed aid taking all kinds of math classes so I could pass it. Sadly I hit the limit. Finally a few years later I found out that was bullshit. Course I can't afford loans and without aid I can't afford to go back to school. So I stick to taking free classes on some of these sites and reading everything I can to stay as educated as I can. Course that don't help worth a shit in the job market anymore. More so around here where you have fast food, oil work, or pretty much just that. Gotta have that paper to get any good jobs. Course not a lot of good jobs around here anyway with us being a right to work state. This is all made harder too when you have any health issues that keep you from doing heavy work such as back issues and leg issues.

Honestly, people criticize Trump's projection, but the entire Republican party engages in it. The ones who rant about family values get caught with the mistresses and child pornography; the ones who bemoan corruption receive the largest kickbacks from the oil companies. Hell, Mary "True Family Values" Fallin had an affair with her bodyguard once. The Daily Oklahoman ignored that story, as you can imagine.

Well of course. They are her best friends.
 

MarionCB

Member
Oh, dear, we seem to have hijacked the thread. Please forgive us, friends; this state provides so few venues in which to express our displeasure and so few ears willing to entertain our grievances. Occasionally the inmates pass notes to each other. (We also have the highest number of incarcerated women in the country. #feminismbehindbars)

Just want to give a shoutout to how appropriate your username is to this thread. It's necessary living in OK by the sounds of it. I like your plan of fighting politically as a career. I think it's the best way to make a difference if you have the fortitude. Good luck!
 

Klocker

Member
Because Republicans are stupid fuckers that think if people want to be smart and learn that they should figure out how to do it without spending any of "their" tax money on such elitist bullshit.



#stupid is cheap
 
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