Best Prudence… ever
Emily Yoffie — a.k.a., Slate’s Dear Prudence — provides the best response to an academic query: Dear Prudence, I’m a youngish professor dealing with a bad apple in an otherwise great class. I’m pretty good at handling difficult personalities, but this student (male, older) was extremely rude to me in several e-mails and voice messages ...
Emily Yoffie -- a.k.a., Slate's Dear Prudence -- provides the best response to an academic query: Dear Prudence, I'm a youngish professor dealing with a bad apple in an otherwise great class. I'm pretty good at handling difficult personalities, but this student (male, older) was extremely rude to me in several e-mails and voice messages over an issue early in the term. I elected not to engage him or reply to his inappropriate correspondence, and he either got the message or didn't get the fight he was hoping for, and things settled down (save for a nasty note on a quiz about the same issue). He added my e-mail to a list he distributes, which means I get some benign stuff about local veteran's events, as well as some pretty awful anti-Islamic stuff. Again, I chose to ignore it, rather than get into a political debate with a student who wants to spar with a "liberal professor." Today, he asked where he could buy my book and whether I would inscribe it to him. Signing the book would make him go away, but I hate the thought of giving him anything that's personal or indicates that I like him. Is there any way I can appropriately get out of his request without telling him directly what I think of him? ?I'd Rather Sign a Monkey's Behind Dear Rather, Let me see if I understand this: You wrote a book, someone wants to buy it, but you'd prefer he didn't so you don't have to sign his copy. I haven't checked with Christopher Hitchens, author of God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything, but I have the feeling that if Jesus Christ showed up at one of his book signings, Hitchens would autograph a copy for him. I assume you're not closing down debate with this student because he's challenging your liberal assumptions (see letter above), but because he's loutish and won't engage in civil discourse. But putting your signature on the flyleaf does not mean you like this man, and refusing to sign seems unnecessarily churlish, especially to someone who wants to buy your book. ?PrudieThe only problem with Yoffie's answer is that it's incomplete -- Hitchens would also try to get Jesus to procure him several drinks and a pack carton of cigarettes as well.
Emily Yoffie — a.k.a., Slate’s Dear Prudence — provides the best response to an academic query:
Dear Prudence, I’m a youngish professor dealing with a bad apple in an otherwise great class. I’m pretty good at handling difficult personalities, but this student (male, older) was extremely rude to me in several e-mails and voice messages over an issue early in the term. I elected not to engage him or reply to his inappropriate correspondence, and he either got the message or didn’t get the fight he was hoping for, and things settled down (save for a nasty note on a quiz about the same issue). He added my e-mail to a list he distributes, which means I get some benign stuff about local veteran’s events, as well as some pretty awful anti-Islamic stuff. Again, I chose to ignore it, rather than get into a political debate with a student who wants to spar with a “liberal professor.” Today, he asked where he could buy my book and whether I would inscribe it to him. Signing the book would make him go away, but I hate the thought of giving him anything that’s personal or indicates that I like him. Is there any way I can appropriately get out of his request without telling him directly what I think of him? ?I’d Rather Sign a Monkey’s Behind Dear Rather, Let me see if I understand this: You wrote a book, someone wants to buy it, but you’d prefer he didn’t so you don’t have to sign his copy. I haven’t checked with Christopher Hitchens, author of God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything, but I have the feeling that if Jesus Christ showed up at one of his book signings, Hitchens would autograph a copy for him. I assume you’re not closing down debate with this student because he’s challenging your liberal assumptions (see letter above), but because he’s loutish and won’t engage in civil discourse. But putting your signature on the flyleaf does not mean you like this man, and refusing to sign seems unnecessarily churlish, especially to someone who wants to buy your book. ?Prudie
The only problem with Yoffie’s answer is that it’s incomplete — Hitchens would also try to get Jesus to procure him several drinks and a pack carton of cigarettes as well.
Daniel W. Drezner is a professor of international politics at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and co-host of the Space the Nation podcast. Twitter: @dandrezner
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