Another Vent...I love crazy people.

ekathleen684

For a little background on the story, classes started 4 weeks ago and groups were formed 3 weeks ago. On Sunday, a guy sent this mass email out and I ignored it since I think it's crazy and don't feel like dealing with his drama. Now a group member in my group is asking if we should add him. I want to tell her no but I'm trying to think of a nicer way to put it that when I have written below.

This is his initial email:
"I have an emergency and I need YOUR help...Can I be in your group? It'sa life and death situation. My well-being depends on you cooperation. Ifyour a group that would like a hard -working student?, I'm your man."

My view is:
1- I don't think getting into a group project is a life or death situation and if it were, you would have thought of getting into a group three weeks ago when everyone else sent their "help, I need a group before the groups need to be sent in" emails.
2- If your so "hard-working" you would have "worked hard" to get into a group sooner. It's funny you start worrying about getting into a group 3 days before the group proposal is due. Could this be because you don't have a proposal and would like to hop onto someone else's work?
3- If it's the 8 page paper and your worried about writing by yourself, I'm not going to sympathize withyou. I had to write a 30 page "group" paper last semester by myself and I did it..BY MYSELF.
I think he's being a bit dramatic and I don't want a crazy person in my group, I have to deal with enough crazies in my life and I don't need another one who may influence my grade.
Sorry about the LJ entry, I don't know if it's because I have had no coffee this morning or the fact that BF is probably staying in Omaha another week but I have very little patience for morons today. Plus I dread going to the dentist today after work.

What do I tell my group memvber and how is everyone else's Tuesday going?

hetshup

I wouldn't let him in, but I wouldn't do it based on the fact he said it's life or death. Really? Is the mafia coming after him if he can't find a group for school? And if he's drama like this now, what's it going to be like when you have to edit his work? And you will have to edit his work.


Also, seriously? A group project for an 8 page paper, that's awesome!


My Tuesday is fine, a bit nervous but I won't threadjack you.

PaigeMcC

For cereal? This guy needs to run after & hop on the responsibility train before it gets too far outta town!  I wouldn't let him in either.  I'd explain to my group that we've already got *such & such* done and planned and to add another person would not be beneficial to you in any way.  If that doesn't work I'd be blunt and just say "look guys he waited this long to get in a group whose to say he won't wait just as long to hand in his part of the paper?  And then we all suffer."

My Tuesday is good! I got up early and went to the pool.  I lurve swimming in the morning - it's my new addiction!

**Mutley**

What is with the crazy emails?  Do people think that because they aren't actually talking to you that you won't pick up on the bullshit?  I think not. 

I would just tell your group member that you think your group is going to be the most efficient as it stands.  I am assuming that your group has already worked together and come up with a proposal.  I would try to leave any specific reasons that this guy shouldn't join your group out of it and focus on why your group should stay as is. 

I also agree with both of the reasons you stated.  Part of me would want to respond with "Oh really.  What is your life or death emergency?  And why are you not seeking medical attention?  P.S. Dude, you cannot have a life AND death emergency.  They are polar opposites."


My Tuesday is shaping up to be much better than my Monday.  Then again, I just woke up and I am reveling in just checking the mail where a very large (but 6 weeks late) check was waiting for me.

ekathleen684

I'd be all for doing it by myself if I didn't have to do a presentation. I studder horrible and ramble in front of people. I can pull eight pages out of my hind-end in no time!

If the situation is really "life or death", why would I want me life on the line also? LOL

We have finished our proposal already, which is due in 3 hours. I told my group that I didn't think it was a good idea to add to the group.

I love getting checks in the mail! I've been waiting for my school refund to come back since December and if finally came in yesterday! As soon as I saw it I pulled back out the driveway and cashed it. It's funny how they will kick you out of a class if you dont pay by friday of that week but it takes them over a month to refund you on a class you dropped three weeks before the semester started.

PaigeMcC

I wasn't aware papers were considered life or death...pass or fail maybe...

paintgirl

He needs a grammar refresher before I'd let him write my grocery list. I know we all get sloppy in email, but I would certainly be on my toes if I was trying to sell myself in an academic setting. Drama queen - give him the long walk/short pier speech.

Acrosthec

I 100% agree with your thinking on why he's so urgently trying to join a group, and would not let in someone who so obviously wants to mooch off the rest of the group's work.

I would be blunt with your group member and say "I'd really rather not let him in.  He waited until 3 days before the proposal is due to FIND a group, so that he can just mooch off the work we've already done.  This may not be the way he is, but it sets a bad precedent, and I don't want us to have to hold his hand or support him through this all semester, or worse yet, nag him to get his part done, or suffer the consequences when he doesn't do his part and we have to either 1) do it for him, or 2) take a lower grade because our project is incomplete because no one had time to do it for him.  He's a liability."

Good luck!  I hate group projects because there's always the one slacker.

ekathleen684

I didn't know that papers were life and death situations either...maybe I just dont care enough? IDK :P

I emailed my group and told them as nicely as I could (I started with “Not to sound mean but,”) and told them that I didn’t feel comfortable with having him in our group if it took him this long to actually care to look for a group.

 

Oh how I HATE “group” projects…

bajediva

group projects are indeed the devil. and this guy must be an imp. he's definitely a crazy. IF by some chance he actually had some kind of situation that kept him from getting his ish together before, the respectable thing to do would be to do the proposal on his own, and talk to the prof about an extension if he legitimately needed one. but clamouring onto your group to drag you iwith him to his drowning death? go burden someone else, buddy.