Oscar01
May 31, 2001, 09:07 AM
After using this forum for an online class exercise, I've been lurking in this forum thanks to the free Internet that came with my new job. I have to say that certain new threads are very disappointing.
These school-bashing threads are probably not meant to be serious. They are probably best ignored. However, having taught Internet etiquette to incoming Ateneo sophomores just a few weeks ago, I feel the urge to stand by what I taught.
Our actions--whether in a simple online forum or in a life-or-death situation--reflect the principles we live by. They reflect the vision of the world that we hold, and the common values of the community we come from.
Thus, if someone decides to use the miracle of modern telecommnications to air well-articulated and insightful opinions, this reflects a personal belief that it is only fitting that other intelligent human beings must do likewise.
However, if someone decides to use the same technological gifts to air nonsense, then this simply reflects a very low view of the human intellect.
I wonder, then, who taught certain so-called Ateneans that the measure of a man is the number of trinkets his university has collected in interscholastic competitions and basketball games.
I wonder who taught certain so-called Ateneans that the gap between the numbers 71 and 72 is a far greater concern than the gap between social classes that was highlighted in EDSA III and the political unrest that was painfully highlighted in the past months.
I wonder who taught certain so-called Ateneans that life is best spent forever obsessing over the difficulty of entrance exams, the options of college dropouts, the life histories of a select handful of alumni, the number of newspaper articles that mention one's alma mater, and several other inane details about certain Philippine universities-- especially the grammar and spelling of their students.
I wonder who taught certain so-called Ateneans that gifts are meant only to be flaunted, never mind the accompanying responsibilities.
I wonder who taught certain so-called Ateneans that the perversion of healthy pride and school spirit into mindless arrogance can be simply be taken lightly.
In asking these questions, I do not really care about UP, DLSU, UST, etc., etc. students. I limit the discussion to the so-called Ateneans.
Who taught certain so-called Ateneans these things?
Certainly not the Jesuits. Certainly not the faculty. And most certainly not Jesus Christ.
I am an Atenean, and I am quite proud of my school. However, I do believe that I can show this pride constructively and intelligently.
Again, one's values--as well as the values of one's community--are displayed not in extraordinary situations, but in everyday activities, such as posting in online forums.
I certainly have not seen the values the Ateneo taught me, not lately, not in this forum. Again, all the nonesne alluded to in this post is best ignored, but after you try teaching and try teaching values in addition to the contents of textbooks, you feel something inside you that tells you not to ignore stupidity when you see it.
Especially when stupidity has the Ateneo's name attached.
At the very least, when you criticize another educational institution in the name of the Ateneo, do attach your real name and have the guts to stand by what you say instead of hiding comfortably in anonymity. That way, people know who to react to instead of lashing back at the Ateneo in general.
In other words, huwag naman kayong mandamay sa kalokohan ninyo.
--------------------------------------------------
Oscar Tan
Department of Quantitative Methods and Information Technology
School of Management
Loyola Schools
Ateneo de Manila University
These school-bashing threads are probably not meant to be serious. They are probably best ignored. However, having taught Internet etiquette to incoming Ateneo sophomores just a few weeks ago, I feel the urge to stand by what I taught.
Our actions--whether in a simple online forum or in a life-or-death situation--reflect the principles we live by. They reflect the vision of the world that we hold, and the common values of the community we come from.
Thus, if someone decides to use the miracle of modern telecommnications to air well-articulated and insightful opinions, this reflects a personal belief that it is only fitting that other intelligent human beings must do likewise.
However, if someone decides to use the same technological gifts to air nonsense, then this simply reflects a very low view of the human intellect.
I wonder, then, who taught certain so-called Ateneans that the measure of a man is the number of trinkets his university has collected in interscholastic competitions and basketball games.
I wonder who taught certain so-called Ateneans that the gap between the numbers 71 and 72 is a far greater concern than the gap between social classes that was highlighted in EDSA III and the political unrest that was painfully highlighted in the past months.
I wonder who taught certain so-called Ateneans that life is best spent forever obsessing over the difficulty of entrance exams, the options of college dropouts, the life histories of a select handful of alumni, the number of newspaper articles that mention one's alma mater, and several other inane details about certain Philippine universities-- especially the grammar and spelling of their students.
I wonder who taught certain so-called Ateneans that gifts are meant only to be flaunted, never mind the accompanying responsibilities.
I wonder who taught certain so-called Ateneans that the perversion of healthy pride and school spirit into mindless arrogance can be simply be taken lightly.
In asking these questions, I do not really care about UP, DLSU, UST, etc., etc. students. I limit the discussion to the so-called Ateneans.
Who taught certain so-called Ateneans these things?
Certainly not the Jesuits. Certainly not the faculty. And most certainly not Jesus Christ.
I am an Atenean, and I am quite proud of my school. However, I do believe that I can show this pride constructively and intelligently.
Again, one's values--as well as the values of one's community--are displayed not in extraordinary situations, but in everyday activities, such as posting in online forums.
I certainly have not seen the values the Ateneo taught me, not lately, not in this forum. Again, all the nonesne alluded to in this post is best ignored, but after you try teaching and try teaching values in addition to the contents of textbooks, you feel something inside you that tells you not to ignore stupidity when you see it.
Especially when stupidity has the Ateneo's name attached.
At the very least, when you criticize another educational institution in the name of the Ateneo, do attach your real name and have the guts to stand by what you say instead of hiding comfortably in anonymity. That way, people know who to react to instead of lashing back at the Ateneo in general.
In other words, huwag naman kayong mandamay sa kalokohan ninyo.
--------------------------------------------------
Oscar Tan
Department of Quantitative Methods and Information Technology
School of Management
Loyola Schools
Ateneo de Manila University