Would You Believe?

When I was growing up in Newfoundland, the local radio station had this regular spot called "Would you believe?" It always presented outlandish, but true stories and far-fetched facts.

I think it's time now for some of us to begin hosting a "Would You Believe" based on stories from students. Excuses are far more creative than "the dog ate my homework" these days. Rather it's "the computer ate my homework-- only after I was kicked out of one computer lab because it was closing and I couldn't get to the next one, so I thought I'd call you from a payphone instead to say you won't be getting my essay tonight." Huh?

Or: your course was too hard, so I couldn't write my paper. I didn't even bother trying and that's your fault.

Or: my grandmother died for the seventh time and I know you won't really force me to prove that so I'll get my extension anyway.

Or: WAAAAAAHHHhhhhh. I can't even talk about it. You'll just have to take my word for the fact that there is a good reason why I can't hand in my work.

Or: I have a doctor's note that said I was sick on Wednesday last week, so I can't hand in my paper next Friday.

Now, I completely understand that shit happens and people's lives do fall apart. My own very life has been in shreds more than once. And, being very close to my grandmother, I also do sympathize with the grief of loss one might suffer when a grandmother dies.

But it's because I do take these facts of life seriously that I get so pissed off at the frequency at which they get trotted out as excuses for not meeting deadlines. Yes, some of the people do have genuine excuses and genuine losses. Many, however, are just trying to capitalize on the fact that life does shit on some people as a way of buying themselves time because they screwed up.

Would you believe I'm fed up with it?

Posted by Bush Whacker at April 22, 2003 11:55 AM