Tiffany LiJul 20, 2023

American recommendation letters: “This candidate is the most brilliant person alive. I will never in my entire life have a student as smart as this one again.”

European recommendation letters: “This person completed the requirements for my class. They are currently alive.”

Show threadAllan Chow
@tiffanycli lol sometimes people have asked me for recommendations and I'm like uh wait. Why?
Jul 20, 2023 at 4:43pmWeb
Show threadTiffany LiJul 20, 2023
@grumpasaurus why not!
Show threadAllan ChowJul 20, 2023
@tiffanycli for some people it's been like alright I mean you weren't bad so I can say that you were reliable...
Show threadSheryl BegbyJul 20, 2023
@grumpasaurus @tiffanycli There's a whole code within PR departments to say the person was crap without saying they were crap.
Example: "She always gave her best when striving to reach the goals we set her" (but still never quite achieved those goals).
Show threadʙᴇɴ ᴄᴏᴛᴛᴇяɪʟʟJul 21, 2023
@stealthysail @grumpasaurus @tiffanycli Sounds like the unwritten rules for writing an obituary :)
Show threadSheryl BegbyJul 26, 2023
@BenCotterill @grumpasaurus @tiffanycli Quite! "Surrounded by family" is about as vague as it gets. or even "after a short illness"
Show threadaskiiartJul 25, 2023

@stealthysail
Flouting Grice's maxims, a classic.

Also, the original: "The student's command of English is excellent, and his attendance at tutorials has been regular."
@grumpasaurus @tiffanycli

Show threadSheryl BegbyJul 27, 2023
@askiiart @grumpasaurus @tiffanycli Exactly.
"Her consistent punctuality set an excellent example for other students." [nothing else stood out]
"He always completed his work on time [but it was shoddily done]."
Show threadAxe AkaneJul 20, 2023

@grumpasaurus @tiffanycli Even McDonald's requires at least two letters of recommendation from a non-relative in order to secure a job interview.

I would be very angry if my professor didn't give me one after graduating. That is basically a death sentence in the US - hope you like your former students to be homeless and die on the streets.

Show threadPatricia CordeiroJul 21, 2023

@AxeAkane The US is a strange place, there is a lot of pressure for things that should be spontaneous.

“You have to write an effusive recommendation, or I can’t get even a low paying job”, “you have to tip generously or I won’t make rent”, “you must give a 5-star review or I’ll be fired”.

And then it probably ranges between emotional blackmail (how could you do that to me?) to a tool for revenge or extorting favors (I could do that to you).
Feels really weird to outsiders...

Show threadAxe AkaneJul 22, 2023
@Pkcordeiro yeah, it is really strange sometimes. Growing up here obviously you take it for granted, but it's refreshing to visit other places and get away from the bullshit for awhile.
Show threadMatěj KoubíkJul 22, 2023
@AxeAkane @grumpasaurus @tiffanycli Wait, what the? Is this actually a thing in the us?
Comming to my university professor, god forbid to my ex-employer, asking them to write down I'm a good person because otherwise someone else wouldn't believe me is the cringiest situation I can immagine.
For all the three parties involved.
Show threadHLGEMJul 20, 2023

@grumpasaurus @tiffanycli

It wasn't a university recommendation, but we had a guy who was due to retire from the military in six months. He was such a terrible employee that having him in the office was counterproductive, so our boss just sent him home on garden leave. That guy actually used that boss as a recommendation later! Jerry was not amused.

Show threadThe Witch of Crow BriarJul 21, 2023
@grumpasaurus @tiffanycli "What, exactly, am I about to become an accessory to?"