I need opinions, tell me what

[Doc_Lobster]

you think this means:

Today I had to give a talk as part of a larger program. My portion was to describe ONE of my projects, which is a big push for better data management blah blah blah.

I got this question (from a very famous, ivy league professor):
"can you tell me how this straddles research and staff service?"

How would you interpret that question?

[janiejones]

as a come on.

[Deleted]

Aug 14, 2012 20:06:42 GMT -5 janiejones said:

as a come on.

lolol

[Doc_Lobster]

Ha! And gross!

[Doc_Lobster]

Aug 14, 2012 20:14:56 GMT -5 socratic said:

I am a product manager and I hate questions like this because I feel like the questioner is trying to call me out...but if I got that question I would think it would be about how your project will improve those other things

That is kind of what I thought. I interpreted it as "justify this work in the context of a research institution". Which is what I attempted to do, even though I was totally caught off guard.

Want to know what he was asking?

Am I faculty or staff.

I felt so stupid, in front of every single person I work with.

[papie]

Aug 14, 2012 20:18:37 GMT -5 Doc_Lobster said:

Aug 14, 2012 20:14:56 GMT -5 socratic said:

I am a product manager and I hate questions like this because I feel like the questioner is trying to call me out...but if I got that question I would think it would be about how your project will improve those other things

That is kind of what I thought. I interpreted it as "justify this work in the context of a research institution". Which is what I attempted to do, even though I was totally caught off guard.

Want to know what he was asking?

Am I faculty or staff.

I felt so stupid, in front of every single person I work with.

What? That makes no sense. I think he looked stupid. Well, except for the very famous ivy league thing.

[Doc_Lobster]

And he asked it all smug, like it was some kind of deep and meaningful question. Dickface, if you want to know if I am faculty or staff 1) look at my little bio blurb in your packet or 2) just effing ask that!

Gah.

[sporklemotion]

If he's asking about whether you're faculty or staff, and talking about straddling, then I'm back to thinking it was a come on.

[MWOS]

Ew. I can picture his smugface when he asked it.

Ew.

[Marle]

I'm sure we're not the only ones noticing he was just being a douche.

[Marle]

Shouldn't you be used to this by now doctor?

[Doc_Lobster]

Aug 14, 2012 20:34:44 GMT -5 Marle said:

Shouldn't you be used to this by now doctor?

I am used to getting fairly incomprehensible questions, but not ones that could be reworded so easily to a question requiring a one word answer.

[Marle]

I meant shouldn't you be used to ivy league douches?

[Doc_Lobster]

Haha, yes. Yes I am.