Historiann has a post up about an e-mail exchange wherein a complete stranger demands her assistance, and is then very rude to her. Via Historiann, I saw this post at Female Science Professor about a stranger demanding something from her. Been there far too many times. A couple of times each week I get calls and e-mails and in person visits from people asking for free legal advice or representation, and when I refuse to provide same, a tirade. Most are random strangers, but others are part of the University community. Many angrily claim that they were given my name by someone who promised I would help them – isn’t “public service” my job? And of course it is, at least partly, but I get to choose the kind of public service I want to do, and helping nasty jerks with legal problems isn’t too high up on the list.
–Ann Bartow
Actually, by turning them down, you likely helped a great deal. Not with their legal problems, but with their social skills, anyway.
This won’t work for historians, but for law profs, I’ve found that it’s handy to say (truthfully) that I’m not admitted to practice law in the state where I teach.
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