Stealing a Thesis Idea...

[Trilby]

I have a fifteen page paper due soon and I had a couple ideas for my thesis. I went to the prof. to see what he thought of them and he said they were ok. This was on friday.

On wednesday, during our class meeting (there are only 6 of us in this seminar) the prof said, "I've got some Emergency Thesis ideas for those of you who need one..." and then he proceeded to give the class my thesis idea. WTF is with that? Can somebody show me what is up with this guy? Same guy who kicked me out of class for illness. Am I a glutton for punishment? Am I simply stupid? Do I hang on waaaaay too long?

your thoughts, please.

[DanaC]

I think I would go and have a chat with someone higher up the chain. That sounds bang out of order to me.

[limey]

I'm with Dana on this one - report him to his bosses immediately.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Yes, put it on record.

[Sundae]

I'm with all of the above.
This prof is a liability.
Get someone to start looking into it asap.

[Cicero]

Wow. I just can't believe you have to attend his classes after all of that. Why do you have to be in his classes? There isn't a different professor that teaches the same subjects?

[Trilby]

I don't have to be in his class---it's half my own stupid fault. He's the only one teaching this particular thing; as a matter of fact, it's the first time my uni has ever taught this particular subject and it so happens to be my favorite subject...isn't it funny how he is the only one teaching it? It was nearly a guarantee that I would sign up. Why do I go back for more from this guy? the really depressing thing is that I think he's a republican,to boot.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by Brianna

I think he's a republican,to boot.

I know he has lied, stolen, cheated, and abused you badly... but, that's a terrible thing to say about a fellow human being.

[Cicero]

But is he a gay republican?

[Juniper]

Better tell me who he is so I don't get stuck with him. Seriously!

Have a chat with him first; maybe he didn't do it on purpose? (yeah right.) At least he could tell the other 5 he fucked up and they can't use your idea. Or knows you had the idea first.

That bites, Bri.

[Aliantha]

I don't know if you get on well with the other five or not, but you should let them know that it was your idea. At least then there wont be more than one of you upset if this all blows up.

I agree that you should go see someone higher up from this guy. If he really is that bad, then you need to do something about it. Maybe he wont be reprimanded or disciplined because of your complaint, but if every student who has a problem with him makes a complaint, then the uni is eventually going to see a pattern and start to wonder.

[footfootfoot]

You could stand to come out of this rich if you go directly to the dean and tell him that the prof told you you'd get an A if you slept with him. And if you can manage to sleep with him you can also say the prof reneged on the deal.

But that's just how I manged to graduate magna (inappropriate term) laude.

[Perry Winkle]

I'd say forget about it.

He may have had the idea in his emergency thesis bag before you talked to him about using it. He may be fucking with you or just incompetent.

Regardless, an idea is worthless without implementation. Ideas are not unique to individuals nor are they limited resources. They aren't something over which you can exert proprietary control. The same ideas spring up in multiple places and success comes with little regard to who "thought of it first."

Write the best paper you can. That's about the only reasonable course of action.

[ZenGum]

Originally Posted by Cicero

But is he a gay republican?

Aren't they all, secretly?


Seriously, if the situation is as you described, that behaviour sounds very incorrect.

I can think of a few possible explanations:
1. He's a doddery old fool who found this idea in his head, had forgotten where it came from, and decided to be "nice" and throw it out to the students. Or maybe not old and doddery, but a mistake along these lines.
2. The idea is in fact not at all original, but has been around for years, and this time every year he hauls it out for those students who still haven't thought of a thesis topic.
3. He is a jerk. He is screwing you around, belittling you, probably because he perceives your ability and has learned to eliminate all potential rivals immediately.
4. He fancies you, and this is his idea of seduction and foreplay.

If you were in an Australian uni I would suggest you start by seeing one of the student/academic support officers in the students union. Do you have an equivalent service over there?
If you want to take it further, getting something in writing promptly is important. Get that paper trail going.
The problem is, each uni is quite a small community, and this guy is in a field you like. Stomping on his toes will likely come back to haunt you. Even if you have nothing more to do with him, other people will hear about it.
On the other hand, if you don't complain, it establishes a precedent for that kind of behaviour.

How does having your thesis idea copied really affect you?

If you do complain, do so tactfully and in accordance with all the official rules and procedures. For goodness's sake avoid the angry email reflex. But I'm sure you knew that.

Good luck.


P.S. Fifteen pages is not a god-damn thesis. I wouldn't even start saying "sub-thesis" until you pass 10,000 words. Maybe we use the terms differently.

[Treasenuak]

Yet another reason I'm glad I didn't go to college