No Dumping Allowed
What!?!
You know what I mean, no Info Dumping. Ever have one of those people that cannot help but overload you with data, information, facts, stats, etc? If not, consider yourself lucky!
This is the worst offense in academe. Info dumpers are covering for an inadequacy in their thought processes. Someone who cannot weed through information and provide only the applicable pieces of information are useless in terms of collaboration. Worse, they may be covering for an inability to process information at all, and might be covering for direct theft of information.
When confronted with an info dumper, what can we do?
- I’ve tried the diplomatic approach.
- I’ve tried the subtle but leading approach.
- I’ve tried the ignoring approach.
- I’ve tried the 1:1 counseling approach.
- I’ve tried the trudge through approach.
- I’ve tried the being obstinate and alienating approach.
Bottom line, nothing worked. So, I tried the direct you are dumping on me approach.It hurts feelings and might cause a rift on a scholastic work team or class dynamic. But, it works. Dumping is a horrible offense and should not be allowed. If given the choice, I would deduct grade points for overload of information that is obviously not applicable. Doctoral learners should know better, period! When someon subjects others to sorting through pages and pages and pages of information that only serves to substantiate a point over and over, then they are robbing the reader and collaborator of valuable time and energy. That energy is best spent working on other things, like independent work, study, family, friends, watching paint dry, drilling small holes in your head (you get the idea).
So, I am left with this thought…if you cannot contribute in meaningful, valuable and unobstrusive ways, get off my lawn…NO DUMPING
