Michigan State University students had an unconventional math class this week after professor John McCarthy, 57, reportedly stripped naked in Calculus 1 class and began screaming that “there is no f—ing God” and “It’s all an act and none of it’s real.” In the age of laptop computers, the most surprising thing is that the students noticed and looked up from their computers. Presumably one student asked the standard question of “will this be on the test?”
Witnesses said that McCarthy was going through a routine derivative equation when he started to talk about his colleagues and how “they’re all actors.” He added that “It’s all an act and none of it’s real.”
McCarthy was arrested but not actually charged with a crime. He can certainly be charged with indecent exposure but I hope that he is not and that the police show a modicum of discretion. He obviously had a psychological meltdown. Brilliance sometimes comes with such mental issues as vividly shown in movies like “A Beautiful Mind.”
I would also hope that the faculty treats this matter as a mental illness and allows McCarthy to seek treatment rather than simply fire him. I realize it will be difficult for him to return to the classroom, but we need to treat mental illness like other forms of illness. Thus far the school has merely reassigned his classes. I expect that he is unlikely to return to teaching but in my view the school should treat this matter as an illness rather than misconduct. What do you think?
Source: NY Daily News
@Gene: I know what I am about to say may not be realistic geopolitically speaking , but in my view Syria committed an act of war and Turkey can respond with as much firepower as it wants. We responded to Pearl Harbor with an all out declaration of war and total commitment to it. We responded to 9/11 with all out war. To me, Syria’s attack on Turkey is all the excuse they need to respond as harshly as they wish.
Speaking of Turkish response . . .
Turkey strikes back at Syria for second day, vows to protect its borders
Before some Syrian commander decides to start a war with Turkey, they would do well in reading up on the history of what happened at Gallipoli in 1915-1916. The Turks are fierce and fearless fighters, well equipped, with centuries of experience in managing wars in the region.
Tony,
A valid point, but a risky strategy given the rest of the volatility in the region. And how Turkey can respond is rationally tied to Assad’s action toward them going forward. Should NATO become involved (by choice or by necessity) then the risk analysis changes significantly.
Lona,
“Checked out the main source, where it confirms Meth was the culprit,”
There is a huge difference between “confirms” and “alleges”. The source alleges he smoked meth, but it does not confirm anything absent proof other than the hearsay of unattributed students.
confirm \kən-ˈfərm\, v.t.,
4: to give new assurance of the validity of : remove doubt about by authoritative act or indisputable
allege \ə-ˈlej\, v.t.,
2: to assert without proof or before proving (the newspaper alleges the mayor’s guilt)
@Gene: I think Turkey in charge of Syria would be a much better situation for the USA than Assad in charge of Syria, don’t you?
The US can openly assist Turkey with money and weaponry, the citizens of Syria can overthrow Assad (like Mubarak, Ghadaffi), and Syria can hold an “election” with Turkey its “sponsor.” Syria is not some ancient country that tradition demands be preserved; it is really only 42 years old (since the first Assad coup and subsequent dictatorship). It is a fine candidate for violent revolution, IMO, and for the USA, such a revolution would be good for Israel and good for Turkey (and good for Syria).
First off, guys, c’mon, drape the guy’s shirt over him before you let the camera guy move in, OK? Second of all, clearly this was a psychotic break and just off the bat I’d suspect a manic episode in someone who’s unfortunately bipolar. Third, if this guy has struggled with a strict religious upbringing and some serious superego problems, and he falls to pieces in class while dealing with mathematics (which, roughly, equals religion but actually works and furthermore doesn’t punish anyone but its own students), cut him some slack and don’t try to publicly humiliate him any further, jeez!
Ever had that nightmare where you’re in school, something weird goes on and suddenly you’re standing there with no clothes on and you can’t escape and you can’t remember why/how it all happened? Damn! This guy can now say, “been there, done that!” 😥
Checked out the main source, where it confirms Meth was the culprit, and that the prof. had been weird for a long time, now does the blame now share between colleagues and students, for noticing weird behavior and yet not reporting ? This was not an ending with casualties luckily, are we ready to let unfold and await its outcome ?
Blouise,
The more I’ve thought about the Syria/Turkey/Iran issue, I’m still inclined to think it’s still not a machination but rather it could be a “fortuitous” event that hawks can exploit that is less volatile in the nuclear sense than waiting for a Iran/Israel confrontation. I don’t think Assad – being the dictator that he is – would willingly risk Syria’s domestic control in the name of starting a proxy war for Iran. Allies are one thing, but the man like most of that type is singularly interested in what brings and maintains personal power to him first and foremost. Incurring the wrath of Turkey (which has a substantial military comparable to Syria) and possibly (probably if he should choose to escalate with Turkey) NATO is a bad risk from his perspective. This, of course, is dependent upon Assad being a rational actor. To that analysis, he may be a dictator and a tyrant, but he doesn’t appear to be manifestly unstable. Evil and crazy don’t always go hand in hand. The proof will be in the eating of the pudding over the coming weeks as to whether and how Assad responds to Turkey; with further aggression or with aversion. If he goes with aggression, this could get out of hand rather quickly. Just in time for the election.
The prof. had a bad day or bad trip, who knows, for whatever reason, he has serious problems, and so does the environment around him. He should not be back in class, as for obvious reasons, as could he relapse, could he come back in revenge, perhaps with a gun, often seen at campuses. ? You don’t gamble with a disturbed mind, or take chances. Let him be checked if no drug abuse is found, his breakdown, needs good repair, it takes time. Let him do on-line work, for his own protection and the kids whose ” beautiful minds ” have been screwed up big time by the media and the garbage they feed them, so that they can’t differentiate between reality world and media world, and ask :” Will that be on the test ? ”
Feeling sorry is not the point and does not belong in this case, except for wishing him well, and permanent recovery.
Those wacky atheists. You never know what they are going to do. Seriously though, does this mean atheism can finally be classified as a mental disorder?
To put this into context- a wise friend of mine once told me that Moe was the smart one of the Three Stooges.
For further analysis, I will again provide a link to Ted Rall’s cartoon from this morning:
http://www.rall.com/rallblog/2012/10/03/died-for-our-sins
G’night all.
OS, excellent (G)avatar.
“Man, that is how WWI got started” (lotta)
Yep … my thoughts exactly
Now I really am going to bed!
Blouise: “Syria is one of Iran’s most important allies … call me cynical but I smell a setup.”
—-
I sincerely hope you are not correct. The problem is there are no ‘local’ problems when you have a community of interest spanning several states in a region, things that should be discrete are conflated across borders by the very nature of who the players are. Man, that is how WWI got started, surely in the last century (nearly) we have learned something.
“Bouise: “There … see … it’s already working! ”
—–
LOL *B+ich* LOL
(Literally laughing out loud! You are so baaaad.)”
I know, but I knew you’d get it … it’s our soul sister connection … we even share an affinity for B+ich-hood
Goodnight 🙂
“How are you going to recognize the implications of what the candidates say if you don’t know what is going on or more importantly, why?” (lotta)
That is so very true. The people who would ask me wanted to vote but they knew so little about the issues that much of what the candidates debated went right over their heads and they knew it. Sooo … ask the Pres of the League. She knows what’s going on, she knows who will do the best job. Etc.
Being a citizen in a democracy is hard work and taking the time to do that work isn’t a priority for most folks. It’s too bad but it is reality.
Bouise: “There … see … it’s already working! 😉 ”
—–
LOL *B+ich* LOL
(Literally laughing out loud! You are so baaaad.)
Syria is one of Iran’s most important allies … call me cynical but I smell a setup
Well, I’m going to try to get some sleep between Peter Sellers chasing me around my house in that wheelchair with his spastic out of control arm and wondering why Natasisia Kinski want to give me a massage with Cheese Whiz in the kitchen. G’night, Turley Peoples.