**UPDATE**: Am I being a "typical insensitive NYer?"

UPDATE: 6/6---

You guys are NOT going to believe this...

See below if you don't remember the original situation, but...that woman that contacted me, asking me to tell her WHAT and HOW I plan to tutor my students using TC...

...I never responded to her email, because I thought she was rude and underhanded. Well, she now found me on FACEBOOK!!! She requested me as a friend. Can you BELIEVE????

Can we say STALKER???? I'm glad I have my Myspace account tied to a different email address!
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Ok, help me out here...

I posted an ad on Charlotte Craigslist, advertising my tutoring services. I wanted something to set me apart from the competition, so I highlighted the fact that my Literacy Masters is from Teachers College, and that I have advanced knowledge of a program that they are literally just STARTING to use in the schools in NC...

...I get an email from someone, wanting to know more. So I wrote her a brief email back, and asked at the end how old her child is, and what type of help is needed.

I get a reply saying that she is another area tutor, and was wondering if I could fill her in on what I plan to teach!!!!

I immediately vented to DH about the nerve of this woman, and he said to me "sweetie, you're being a typical rude New-Yorker". It really got me thinking!

Am I in the wrong here? I deleted her email and didn't plan on responding. The way I see it, she's the competition, right?

Message edited 6/6/2007 6:13:23 PM.

Re: Am I being a "typical insensitive NYer?"

Honestly, I would share the information. I tend not to look at my colleagues as the competition, but more in a professional respect where if we can help each other out we do (and they would also).


eta. I work in career counseling in higher ed, and teach some classes part time at the university level.

Congrats on graduating from TC, I have a few friends that work there.

Message edited 6/4/2007 7:19:07 AM.

Re: Am I being a "typical insensitive NYer?"

I would be peeved. That's not why you advertised your services. I would probably reply to her with a general statement or two but not a synopsis of the program or anything. I feel it's nervy. Maybe I am a rude NYer too which is why I am still here

Re: Am I being a "typical insensitive NYer?"

I would have offered to tutor her to update her on what I was doing. I understand why you are mad but ultimately you could still make money from her and help all the kids she might be helping too.

Re: Am I being a "typical insensitive NYer?"

She was being nasty. IMHO if she is trying to pick your brain then peddle that she "knows" TC too and she is teaching it all wrong it will give a bad rep to you and the TC program. You are trined in it and it is not something to be learned overnight or from 10 mionutes of conversation. I think DON'T share. She is competition and if she was such a great tutor why does she want to take notes from you.
Sorry "I am an insensitive New Yorker" I gues

Re: Am I being a "typical insensitive NYer?"

I think she should have been more up front in her original e-mail, but one of the great things about teach (at least IMO) is all the great collaboration that goes on. I would have faltered over the last two years without the help of my collegues.

I think it was kind of sneaky the way she did it, but not the worst thing in the world to want to know more about a program that could potentially help her students.

Re: **UPDATE**: Am I being a "typical insensitive NYer?"

see update at the top!

Re: **UPDATE**: Am I being a "typical insensitive NYer?"

Just to play devil's advocate, have you considered the possibility that she genuinely wants to be friends and collaborate and share educational ideas, since you'll be living in the same area and working in the same field?

I would feel weird too, though, about her "finding" you on Facebook. She clearly has a lot of time on her hands - maybe she could use it to do some research on the TC programs on her own!

Re: **UPDATE**: Am I being a "typical insensitive NYer?"

Ok, I read your update. Looking you up on facebook would weird me out, and I'd be annoyed - that is really pushy.

Re: **UPDATE**: Am I being a "typical insensitive NYer?"

Psycho!