College Discussion Posts: Why Are We All Pretending to Care?
Let’s be real for a sec—college discussion posts are the worst. We’ve all been there, sitting in front of our laptops, staring at some random classmate’s post, pretending to care long enough to crank out a “thoughtful” reply. And don’t even get me started on those posts that require you to comment on multiple classmates’ work. You hit “submit” on your original post, feel that sense of relief—only to realize you’re now trapped in the never-ending cycle of forced responses. It’s a participation hamster wheel, and we’re all stuck in it.
Why Are We Doing This?!
Seriously, what’s the point? We know professors assign these to foster engagement, but let’s face it: when 90% of the class is getting by with, “I agree, great point!” is anyone actually learning anything? Spoiler alert: Nope. We’re all just checking the box for that sweet, sweet participation grade.
The Fake Enthusiasm is Too Real
Look, we’re all guilty of it. You sit there, coffee in hand, eyes half-rolling, and type out: “Great post, totally agree!” Did you actually read the post? Kinda. But hey, it’s easier than writing a full-on essay. You skim it, grab one point to riff off, and bam—just enough to hit that word count. A+ for participation, right?
It’s basically mental gymnastics: “Hey Emily, loved your post on the American Revolution. I also think 1776 was super important!” Boom. Done. Next!
Procrastination Nation
Oh, and let’s talk about how we’re all procrastinators. The real kicker? You wait until the last minute to post, thinking you’re slick. But guess what? Everyone else did the same. Now you’re stuck refreshing the page at 11:58 p.m., praying someone—anyone—posts something, so you can reply before the clock strikes midnight. Cue the panic as you scramble to write something—anything—that doesn’t sound like absolute fluff.
Can We Just Fix This Already?
If professors really want engagement, how about staggered deadlines? First post due Friday, responses due by Sunday. At least that way, we’re not all stuck in the same last-minute chaos, waiting for posts that trickle in like molasses. Or better yet, let’s ditch discussion boards for something that actually encourages real interaction. Zoom discussions? Small group chats? Literally anything that feels more like an actual conversation and less like a bad Twitter thread.
Trying to Spice It Up? Meh…
Some students try to make things interesting by disagreeing with a post, just to stir up some debate. But even then, it feels forced—like we’re all just starting drama for the sake of participation points. There’s only so much you can say about textbook material before it all starts to feel like fluff.
The Bottom Line: We’re All Just Here for the Grade
At the end of the day, let’s be real—discussion posts are just another hoop to jump through. Sure, they tick the box for class participation, but let’s not pretend they’re the pinnacle of academic engagement. We’re all here for the grade, so let’s keep it short, keep it sweet, and power through together.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got two more posts to “engage” with before midnight. Because college. ✌️
Mean while read our posts :
How to Delete a Discussion Board Post (Because We’ve All Been There)