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[notgoblin]

This has got me fuming. I also object to the timing: o hai terrified freshers!

Would writing to the editor be a good idea, or just give the damn article more publicity than it deserves? Plenty of people have already commented and said lots of what I want to say, after all, and I fear anything I could write would just end up being too bitchy to be

Comments

[aidansean]

When I read that I kept thinking "You're doing it wrong!" Someone has to be really stupid to not find a niche that suits them at Oxford- they have everything there! Is she can spend 3 years surrounded by no better than pretentious, insecure homophobes then she's evidently done something wrong!

[necaris]

From the sound of it she didn't meet her soulmates in her first week, then promptly dove into a vodka bottle and stopped trying. University isn't for everyone, I guess.

As a friend has commented on Facebook, the amusing thing is just how many Mertonians and ex-Mertonians have popped up on the comments thread. Hey, I wonder if we could organize a lynch mob ... ;-)

[mrkgnao]

Oh God, I read that, and I've already ranted elsewhere on LJ.

*RAGE*

[andy_godfrey]

I agree with you entirely about how nice the academic and pastoral staff are at Merton, and I was definitely annoyed by the article because I cannot imagine anyone who wasn't familiar with Oxford getting an accurate impression from reading it, because it was a mix of grotesque exaggeration, limited scope and utter bollocks (I think especially about homophobia

[notgoblin]

I agree with you...and I think part of the reason the article made me so angry was because a lot of what she said was actually recognisable! I love Oxford but it isn't perfect and it can be really hard to stay emotionally afloat. I don't think it's coincidental at all that you and I and others have had such feelings. Except when I'm feeling really negative and cynical, I can look at this as the natural flip-side of being in a pressurised environment surrounded by intense, intelligent and high-powered people

[andy_godfrey]

Yes ... I think that exactly captures my problems with the article without denying what was true in it. I think I will join that Facebook group after all!

Good to hear from you btw! x