Like I said, futile. :) Sent from my iPhone
On Jul 2, 2012, at 9:19 AM, Michael Palij <[email protected]> wrote: > a way of life in which people are caught up in a fiercely competitive > struggle for wealth or power. > > On Mon, 02 Jul 2012 06:46:14 -0700, Carol Devolder wrote: >> I always thought the term applied to endless running on an exercise wheel and >> the futility of running but never going anywhere. > > Although I've seen some instances of "rat race" used in this way, it doesn't > really make any sense from a racing perspective. The New Oxford English > Dictionary provides the definition: > > |rat race ▶n. (informal) > |a way of life in which people are caught up in a fiercely competitive > struggle for wealth or power. > |■ an exhausting, usually competitive routine. > > -Mike Palij > New York University > [email protected] > > On Jul 2, 2012, at 8:27 AM, Michael Palij <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Just a little more on the issue of the origin of the contemporary term >> "rat race". Below is an example relevant to teaching. >> >> Example #4: >> In this example "rat race" is used in its contemporary sense and is relevant >> to college teaching. >> >> The Recruitment of Qualified Teachers: Higher Education's Greatest Postwar >> Need >> Willard Wilson >> Bulletin of the American Association of University Professors (1915-1955) , >> Vol. 31, No. 3 (Autumn, 1945), pp. 337-347 >> Published by: American Association of University Professors >> Article Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/40220613 >> >> On page 347 we have the following paragraph: >> >> | Finally, however, for recruits we will have to depend upon the missionary >> |appeal which is at the root of all really sincere conversions to the >> teaching >> |profession. Admitted that we are over-worked and underpaid, that there are >> |stinkers in our midst, that we are underestimated by other professions, that >> |we are not constantly in a twitter of excitement about the dawning geniuses >> |in our classes, and that at times we wonder how we ever got into this >> |academic ******rat-race********, we nevertheless should continue to convey >> |to these young people the fact that teaching is a serious, dignified >> business. >> |We have to let them know that a real teacher chooses that profession not as >> |a stepping stone to another, but as the fulfillment of a deep inner >> conviction >> |that he has something to give through teaching that will somehow save, or at >> |least improve, the immortal thinking of students. And we have to let these >> |young people see in us examples of people who have dedicated themselves >> |with vigorous intent and honest objectivity to "develop and cultivate >> |intellectually |and morally" the minds of our students. >> >> Following up on Chris Green N-gram search, if one searches books.google.com >> for "rat race" and restrict it to the 19th century, one finds three versions >> of >> the phrase: >> >> (1) A a reference to rats as a race of beings. A 1858 use of the term in >> this sense is provided in the University Chronicle; see: >> http://books.google.com/books?id=IUHiAAAAMAAJ&pg=PT90&dq=%22rat+race%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=NJ_xT7-TGYS36wGuxOCbBg&ved=0CFsQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=%22rat%20race%22&f=false >> >> (2) As a literal race between two or more rats. Jim Clark cited a 1851 >> source: >> http://books.google.com/books?id=vrUBAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA151&dq=%22rat+race%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=NJ_xT7-TGYS36wGuxOCbBg&ved=0CLMBEOgBMBU#v=onepage&q=%22rat%20race%22&f=false >> NOTE: the original text is available as an ebook. >> >> (3) A usage comparable to today's use. First, from 1888: >> http://books.google.com/books?id=uqzaAAAAMAAJ&q=%22rat+race%22&dq=%22rat+race%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=NJ_xT7-TGYS36wGuxOCbBg&ved=0CIkBEOgBMA4 >> Second, from the Spectator: >> http://books.google.com/books?id=V_MhAQAAMAAJ&q=%22rat+race%22&dq=%22rat+race%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=NJ_xT7-TGYS36wGuxOCbBg&ved=0CDoQ6AEwAA >> > > --- > You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. > To unsubscribe click here: > http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=177920.a45340211ac7929163a0216244443341&n=T&l=tips&o=18758 > or send a blank email to > leave-18758-177920.a45340211ac7929163a0216244443...@fsulist.frostburg.edu --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df5d5&n=T&l=tips&o=18759 or send a blank email to leave-18759-13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df...@fsulist.frostburg.edu
