:) you guys make me laff. :)

Prof sent email saying, in a nutshell, "ya know, I try to deal with these asshats on a daily basis as they cannot extrapolate one learning experience to another, he's a bore and a narcissist AND, honey, get ready because now the economy is so bad we're getting LOADS of these self-styled experts in the classroom."

I don't envy the profs any too much. YIKES.

Self exploitation of the female anatomy, generally, shuts all men up.

Even a self-important "genius," like this would-be noose-bait.

Well, you could try an old Buddhist trick I know. Be thankful to him because he is showing you so clearly how you do not want to be. When he starts yapping, send him a silent message of gratitude and go into a little meditative state - you know follow your breath or just zone out. I have found this to actually be helpful. "Thank you for being such an asshole, so I know that if I ever am even tempted to act the way you do, I'll stop that behavior right away." Then slip off into a parallel universe where smartass doesn't exist.

Wow, that expands on the thing I always tell myself:
...that when another person upsets you, they are actually exhibiting a behavior that you (deep down) do not like about yourself.

I like it, but am I supposed to say this out loud or just think it?

I think saying it out loud would be more cathartic.

I have a parallel manouevre that entails silently admiring the self-centered smartassness of such individuals. Try to imagine how much more of a self-centred smartass they could be. Think how they are, in fact, underachieving at the moment!

That's great!

Flint - how true, how true! A basic tenent of AA, as a matter of fact, to wit : "Whenever I find myself pointing a finger at you, three more fingers are pointing back at me!" So, whatever I find offensive in you, I am probably guilty of at least three times as much.

that said, I am no where NEAR this guy in terms of pure, unadulterated narcissism. He's actually breathtaking in his self-centeredness.

I shall try, as suggested, to admire him as an art form.

I like the wolf's idea, too. I'll let you know how it works out should I use it!

I think this is often true, but not always.

If it is just you being irritated by them, it is likely something like this. If everyone is being irritated by them, well, he's probably just a jerk.

Your ninny has probably never heard of Dr. Williams, who is a Professor of Economics at George Mason University.

Of course, since his field is Economics rather than African American Studies or Diversity, he may not be regarded as having sufficient credibility as a Black man in education, obviously having sold out to da man.