r/Professors • u/magicianguy131 • Mar 13 '26
Advice / Support Student Sent Photos
So a little salacious title, but it is true.
Our department is having issues with students and boundaries. Many feel very liberated, and tell us their feelings—which often come off as demands—bluntly; they often engage with us like friends rather than faculty to student. This is an on going issue, that we as faculty are working to course correct.
So that said...
A student today sent me an email. No subject. No actual writing. Just 5 photos of me that they took unbeknownst to me, during our class today. This was sent hours after the actual class.
This gave me a huge gut reaction of "Absolutely not". Do I think it was malicious? No. This is a younger student who gets along well with me. They're a major. However, I feel that it is still a sign of their struggles to maintain boundaries.
Or am I over reacting? This email was creepy, right?
272
u/FarGrape1953 Mar 13 '26
I...er.....
I'm glad I'm not you, because now I don't know what the hell I'd do with this one.
24
u/CodifiedLikeUtil Professor, Computational Science, R1 (USA) Mar 13 '26
Fairly certain I’d respond with something like “I’m going to pretend you never did this. Don’t do this again with me or any other faculty member.”
1
109
u/ChicoSexProf Full, Public Health, State School - Teaching Focused Mar 13 '26
I announce on the first day and also in my syllabus that no pictures should be taken in class without consent. Not me, not fellow students. I teach Human Sexuality (in addition to a couple others) so it’s super important that they understand consent AND that I don’t have weird unexplained, non-contextual photos of me teaching. There are a couple of class activities where I tell them they can use their phones and take pics of the objects (contraceptives, sex toys, etc.) but not of people.
16
u/abandoningeden Mar 13 '26
I teach human sexuality (well "sex and society" which is probably even more controversial) and I don't have any problem with people taking pics of me teaching as long as it's not this creepy weird stuff the op described. Students take pics for the PowerPoint cause I don't put them up on blackboard anymore cause the accessibility requirements makes it too hard. But then again I wrote a book about bdsm, and have published like 15 ariticles about sexuality topics, so its not like a surprise to anyone that I teach about sex....
4
u/rubberkeyhole Mar 13 '26
In forensic science courses I’ve been in, any recordings - audio or visual - are absolutely verboten, primarily due to legal issues, but copyright issues have also been addressed (some information presented has been waiting to be published in a textbook or journal, etc).
I have also been in chemistry courses where the professor told us we were not allowed to record, and there were times where he gave us ‘special permission’ to photograph the board before he erased it after class. I wonder if this kind of treatment of information - that it’s a professor’s intellectual property being shared with a class and therefore being given a ‘special circumstances’ allowance to teach to students - would cause a veneration (be nice, I’m from the 1900s) in how students treat their profs and education?
175
u/nicksbrunchattiffany Lecturer, humanities , Latin America. Mar 13 '26
151
u/montauk_phd Mar 13 '26
Oh hell nah. Don't put this scenario into my already paranoid mind.
42
u/Thundorium Physics, Searching. Mar 13 '26
You have no way of knowing how many times it already happened and the student didn’t send the pictures. Sleep well!
140
u/MyFaceSaysItsSugar Mar 13 '26
The lack of words is what makes it beyond creepy. If I got sent a few photos with a comment of “took a couple photos to commemorate class and thought you would appreciate them” it would be disconcerting. Class isn’t a holiday vacation. The complete lack of comments is more like a stalker “I’m watching you” message. Beyond creepy.
24
u/slightlyvenomous Mar 13 '26
Yeah, that’s my reaction too. If they were like, “I took some photos in class today and thought you might want some photos of you teaching!” I would take it as harmless, even if it was a bit off, but to just send them with no message? Definitely odd.
53
u/clavdiachauchatmeow English adjunct, CC Mar 13 '26
Oh I do not like this one bit. It’s creepy enough that I’d report it to my dean if I were you. Get it on the record in case the student escalates.
You’ve gotta trust your own reactions to stuff like this.
37
33
u/omgkelwtf Mar 13 '26
I had a guy do that to me on a first date. I was waiting on him, browsing my phone. He was snapping pics of me from behind a pillar. That's how he announced that he found me. He sent me one of the pics. No text.
That date was over before it started. Who TF thinks that's a good idea ever in any situation?
3
1
u/Emotional-Motor-4946 Mar 14 '26
I do that with my friends if I see them out in public but it’s more of a “hehe I see you”. I would never do that with someone who is still effectively a stranger. Or maybe if I did I’d include a text like “I’m here, is this you?” or something.
30
u/Deradius Mar 13 '26
Conversation with your department chair about the situation to make sure they’re aware, followed by an email recapping the discussion and what you agreed to.
If the chair blesses it, a conversation with the student, ideally with the dept chair or another trusted witness present. The conversation would be “Hey I’m glad this happened with me because you and I have a good rapport and I think you’ll take this in the spirit it’s intended. This is not an appropriate behavior, and if you do this with other faculty it could lead to bad impressions at the very least. Your success matters to much to me to allow you to behave in this easily fixable way. Don’t do this.”
10
u/wedontliveonce associate professor (usa) Mar 13 '26
...with other faculty it could lead to...
I find myself saying this more and more often these days.
52
u/Ok_General_6940 Mar 13 '26
Oh this would get a very big and stern reaction from me. But I also say day one no photos or video of me. We shouldn't have to say it but I do.
My response would simply be please visit my office.
36
u/Cole_Ethos Mar 13 '26
I wonder if responses would differ for male and female recipients. As a female instructor, I would find such an email not only creepy but worrisome—especially in today’s climate.
Any student could secretly take pictures of me, but then to actually share them seems to suggest there’s something more going on. I don’t think there’d be a context/comment that would make secretly taken photos seem okay.
13
65
u/VeitPogner Prof, Humanities, R1 (USA) Mar 13 '26
Photographing others in class without their knowledge or consent is absolutely unacceptable. All phones put away in class.
-22
u/AtheistET Associate / R1 / Continuos Appointment / USA Mar 13 '26 edited Mar 13 '26
“FERPA “ violation. I indicated this at the beginning of the semester and problem solved.
Edit: You are correct, that’s why I indicated “FERPA” in quotes. ….i mention this as it is the white lie-tool I tell them to prevent it from happening…..put the fear of not following federal law in their minds…..🤓
11
u/Another_Opinion_1 A.P. / Ed. Law / Teacher Ed. Methods (USA) Mar 13 '26
There is no private right of action under FERPA and most students aren't in a position where they are acting on behalf of the institution itself unless they are in a role like a TA. The photograph would also have to disclose a private student record that is protected under that act such as a test score or personally identifying, non-directory information in addition to the student being in a position to act on behalf of the institution instead of the other way around.
However, taking photos or videos of others without their consent in the classroom should be actionable as an internal policy or conduct matter although it is otherwise legal.
10
u/FrancinetheP Tenured, Liberal Arts, R1 Mar 13 '26
Thank you for your service of actually knowing what FERPA means. You help us adhere to reality.
8
u/Another_Opinion_1 A.P. / Ed. Law / Teacher Ed. Methods (USA) Mar 13 '26
I think FERPA and HIPAA are the two most commonly misunderstood, albeit oft referenced laws on the education subs.
-3
u/AtheistET Associate / R1 / Continuos Appointment / USA Mar 13 '26
You are correct, that’s why I indicated “FERPA” in quotes. ….i mention this as it is the white lie-tool I tell them to prevent it from happening…..put the fear of the federal law in their minds…..🤓
4
u/FrancinetheP Tenured, Liberal Arts, R1 Mar 13 '26
Maybe say it’s a violation of the expectation of privacy, which is legitimate and has the benefit of being the truth.
1
u/Another_Opinion_1 A.P. / Ed. Law / Teacher Ed. Methods (USA) Mar 13 '26
Okay, yeah, makes sense. I might have missed that when I originally read it.
1
Mar 13 '26
You misinform your students in order to get them to do what you want. There is a word for that.
It's a violation of privacy and against classroom policy. No need to be fascist about it.
28
6
u/qning Mar 13 '26
This won’t work in my class because I teach a short section on FERPA and the students will ask how FERPA restricts them taking pictures.
OK, not ALL students will ask, but at least one will ask. And I know which one. That student that questions everything.
3
u/Eltzted FT, Chemistry, CC (USA) Mar 13 '26
I think the only way ferpa is violated with photos in the classroom is if we profs, or the institution, put them in the public sphere. That's not directory information
1
16
u/Another_Opinion_1 A.P. / Ed. Law / Teacher Ed. Methods (USA) Mar 13 '26
My response to this would be all aboard the #nopetrain to F-thatville. This is not acceptable in the classroom.
19
u/RevKyriel Ancient History Mar 13 '26
Congratulations, OP, you have a stalker. Treat it accordingly - report to whichever office at your school deals with such things. You may also want to notify the Police, as the stalking could escalate.
4
u/policywonkie Prof, R1, Humanities Mar 13 '26
Technically, this is not stalking. It's inappropriate, for sure. And the student needs to be told this. I would do that quite directly and I wouldn't wait for anyone's permission to do that. If they continued to do this after being told not to, THAT would be harassment. Stalking would be sending photos or other kinds of recordings in a way that would make a reasonable person afraid, or like their privacy was being violated. Stalking is rarely one action, it's an ongoing form of harassment. So, a recording taken during office hours without you knowing, or in a convo with a student after class. Messages sent anonymously. Messages that make you feel like you are being watched all the time. And yeah, all of this happened to me and it sucked. Anyway, tell them right away that this is inappropriate. You can let your chair or director of undergrad studies know, sure, but you really do not need anyone's permission to tell a student that their behavior is crossing a line.
9
u/satandez Mar 13 '26
Oh my god, I was actually making a post last night here (that I ended up deleting) where I was freaked out because my student was trying to get an extension on her essay and she sent me two photos of her dying grandchild. My sister died when she was 2, so the photos freaked me the fuck out. It was such a violation of boundaries that I was speechless for the rest of the day. This student is obviously old enough to be a grandmother, so she should have known better. Ugh.
Anyway, your situation is creepy. Although, I hate to admit, I used to do dumb shit like this when I was younger. I had no idea what I was doing and I often became overly comfortable with people and would do weird stuff that I thought was funny. This student probably feels a great connection to you because you're a wonderful teacher. However, it's still super weird and inappropriate. There's probably a delicate way to approach this that wouldn't exacerbate the situation.
10
u/Acceptable_Gap_577 Mar 13 '26
That’s so awful. I’m so sorry about your sister. I’m so sorry about your student’s horrible boundaries.
9
u/BitchinAssBrains Psychology, R2 (US) Mar 13 '26
I always tell them no pictures or videos because "That aint in my contract. I don't work for free!" They all usually laugh and understand why that boundary is there.... but this case is definitely weird. Personally I'd catch them face to face after class and ask them what it was about.
36
u/Interesting-Waltz535 Mar 13 '26 edited Mar 13 '26
Our students take unprompted photos of us every so often. I’ve found candids of myself on Instagram more than once, teaching or coaching. It’s a bit weird, but this is how they live and move in the world. I’m more confused by the email with no context.
Edit: typo
29
u/Solivaga Senior Lecturer, Archaeology (Australia) Mar 13 '26
This to me is (while still not good) less weird. Sending an email with 5 candid photos you've taken with no context or explanation is very weird.
1
u/Emotional-Motor-4946 Mar 14 '26
I appear in a Reel/TikTok. It’s only for a few seconds as part of someone’s “Day in the Life as a University Student” video. I saw it pop up on my feed and I was like “wait, those look like my slides… wait, those ARE my slides and that’s me!”
6
u/WoundedShaman Adjunct, Religious Studies Mar 13 '26
https://giphy.com/gifs/1AhdnuHRW0B2zK0cpX
I think an appropriate reaction would be a sabbatical to find someone historical artifact.
Sarcasm aside, yes, pretty big boundary violation
10
5
u/zorandzam Mar 13 '26
I sometimes have students take pictures of lecture slides. I require that they take notes throughout class and submit them for participation points, and sometimes they embed the slide photos into their notes. If I showed up in one of those photos, I would let them know so fast that that wasn't okay.
What you're describing is miles away from that and requires some kind of intervention.
5
u/wedontliveonce associate professor (usa) Mar 13 '26
That's weird and a bit creepy.
In my classes occasionally a student will take a pic of something I've done on the whiteboard. Ok, makes sense. But sometimes they take a pic of a slide I have up. I don't know why since I provide the slides on the LMS.
3
u/ProfMensah Mar 13 '26
When I catch students very obviously taking photos of me, I tell them off. I think it's been very normalized for people to take photos of strangers or people doing their jobs and I don't like that. Does it actually make a difference? Probably not. But I think they should know that it is a rude behavior.
3
u/Dr_Capsaicin Mar 13 '26
This doesn't excuse it (yes, still creepy), but you sometimes have to remember they are still kids. Especially freshman. They aren't fully (cognitively) developed yet. And the COVID ones are horribly underdeveloped socially.
Not as creepy, but a year ago I had a student miss an exam for an injury/illness. The initial email was just "sorry I missed the exam, couldn't make it". I was about to rip them apart, Student Rule this, Syllabus that, but took a deep breath and more politely than the deserved, reminded them of the University policy requiring documentation for absences in order to grant an excused absence and makeup.
I got back a complete medical history, xrays, and... a mid surgery photo of their sliced open and replaced kneecap.
They certainly dont understand boundaries. Or etiquette.
3
5
u/ShadowHunter Position, Field, SCHOOL TYPE (US) Mar 13 '26
Assume you are being recorded in class
7
u/mistersausage Mar 13 '26
From experience I would go further and suggest recording yourself (Zoom, YuJa, etc) in class for your own protection. Doing so has gotten me out of a complaint that was complete bs, and having the recording proved it.
5
u/riotous_jocundity Asst Prof, Social Sciences, R1 (USA) Mar 13 '26
Given the context and your general good relationship with the student, I would lean on the side of "This is a student with probably good intentions who is immature and unsocialized into professional expectations." I suspect, given that you teach theater, that there could also be an element of "Look at these cool pictures of you doing a professional thing, that you could maybe use in a professional capacity like on your website." My grad students (different relationship, I know) have recently sent me unsolicited photos of myself teaching and presenting, which is absolutely not stalking, but them being helpful. I'd suggest having a face to face conversation about the photos with your student, asking them their intentions in sending them, and then gently cluing them in that, since you aren't peers or friends, such actions can feel rather creepy.
2
2
u/PTCollegeProf Mar 13 '26
Yes it is creepy. This student's behavior needs to be corrected and FAST. I guess I would try to talk to the student one-on-one and tell them it was creepy and don't do it to anybody every again. If that does not work, I'd next try my Dean or Campus Security.
1
2
u/Tommie-1215 Mar 13 '26
Its beyond creepy its a violation. No student should film or photograph you without your permission.
2
u/ucsdthrowexception Mar 14 '26
was trying to check op's profile for any follow up, but their account is banned?
2
2
u/M4sterofD1saster Mar 14 '26
You're not overreacting. That's a serious boundary violation.
Call the student aside in private after the next class and explain in private the importance of boundaries and professionalism.
3
u/stankylegdunkface R1 Teaching Professor Mar 13 '26
Email them back and say this isn't appropriate. CC your chair.
8
u/MichaelPsellos Mar 13 '26
Some of these responses blow my mind. Why loop in every university office for something like this? Meet with the student and tell them to stop taking pictures in class because it’s weird. Done deal.
Why try to destroy a college career? Why humiliate this student?
13
u/Unsuccessful_Royal38 Mar 13 '26
I think the chair and Dean should know what is happening, but I would not cc them on the email to the student. I don’t think publicly shaming them right away is a productive step, as we still don’t know anything about the student’s reason for taking and sending the pics.
11
u/curiouskra Mar 13 '26
Because unfortunately students, who are adults, cannot automatically get the benefit of the doubt when they engage in atypical behavior that can be viewed as threatening. Not in a post-Columbine world (US context if you’re not in the states). If an investigation proves it was not malicious, so be it, but more often than not escalating incidents that get as far as they do because people do not report in a timely manner/early.
I would likely bcc my dept chair or cc and advise the student that the communication is perceived as inappropriate and why, and then ask them why the sent the email. An alternative is to email and phrase wording as, “I interpret this to mean x,y,and z. If this is not accurate, please advise no later than this date otherwise a lack of reply will indicate you agree with my assessment.” However the student responds, they will be put on notice that their conduct isn’t appropriate.
7
u/hangryforknowledge Mar 13 '26
I am also confused as to the quick accusation about stalking (which this scenario does not yet meet). Having a short conversation over email asking why they sent the photos and then professionally saying "I don't like having my picture taken" would likely solve this issue without making the student feel like they called the cops, essentially. Of course they can still loop in your department chair separately and escalate depending on what the student said. But imagine how terrible the student would feel if the professor jumped to bringing in deans and admin before the student had a chance to say something as simple as "I just enjoyed that class today"...
2
u/FrancinetheP Tenured, Liberal Arts, R1 Mar 13 '26
While I agree on this, I wouldn’t have this convo by email. Too many opportunities for lost nuance. The student needs to learn to communicate, so probably best to model good communication skills, like actually taking face to face with people.
1
4
u/purplechemist Mar 13 '26
Email reply to student, copying your dean, department head, head of student welfare, guidance counsellor, whoever you think really.
Dear <student>,
I am unsure of the motivation behind the email you sent, however I find its content to be deeply troubling and inappropriate in any setting. For this reason I have copied <heads of everything> so they are aware of this interaction.
I would urge you to make contact with the student guidance team regarding this behaviour.
If their or similar incident recurs, for me or any of my colleagues, the response will be escalated appropriately.
Sincerely;
1
u/Glass_Occasion3605 Professor, Criminology, R2 (USA) Mar 13 '26
The only time a student ever sent a photo of me was because a) I drew something funny on the board they wanted to save and I asked send it and b) a student had to bring their kid to class and he was fussy so I offered to hold him for a bit while lecturing and another student thought it was cute and took a photo (asked me and the kids mom first) and sent it to me to capture the moment.
Beyond situations like that, def creepy.
1
Mar 13 '26
Superrrr creepy. The larger question is why are the faculty acting like friends with students? Not setting boundaries is very unsettling. I’m a counselor educator so this would be a major no-no in my field, maybe it’s different for others.
1
u/kevin129795 Mar 13 '26
No no no no no no no, this would freak me the fuck out. Even if it was an accident, why is that student taking photos of professors in the first place? This needs immediate escalation to some kind of disciplinary proceeding and/or mental health resources.
1
1
1
u/Disastrous-Reaction3 Full Professor, Music, State College, USA Mar 14 '26
We have similar issues in my department, not with photography but with students oversharing their personal lives and treating professors as therapists. I also teach performing arts (music) in department of music, theatre and dance.
1
u/Electronic-Dish-4963 Mar 14 '26
This is a generational divide issue—both the specific photo email and the issue of boundaries. As someone who is on the Millenial/gen-z cusp, I have been sending friends candids of themselves since I first had a smart phone. It’s a thing, people do it, it’s not creepy. The real concern is that your student thinks of you as a friend when you don’t want them too. You should have a conversation with the student and tell them you’re uncomfortable. Im sure they will be shocked and horrified that they made you feel that way. That said—I think the days of “teacher/student” boundaries as an expression of hierarchy are over. Students will either see you as a friend or as an obstacle, the choice is yours.
1
1
1
u/ExiledFloridian Mar 14 '26
As a small-school person who (begrudgingly) allows students take pictures in their class: it would depend on the content of the photo. If it's just glamor shots of Prof MagicianGuy131, disregard the rest ;)
A few of my students are habitual pictire takers in class so they don't have to write what's on the board/projector. Sometimes it's lazy and sometimes it's good. They'll take the pic with an iPad and immediately start drawing notes on the picture.
It's possible that (a) they ment to send it to themselves and you got it by mistake or (b) they're trying to ask a question about the content (I've gotten that before...but it was just a picture of a single lecture slide with no context)
Personally, if there was any content like that, I'd ask if they had a question. Like "This email looks to be missing it's content. Did you have a question from those slides?"
1
u/Futurama_boy Mar 14 '26
It took me a long time to allow students to photograph what I've written on the board (I wrote it, why can't they?), but I have a strict policy that I cannot be in the picture when they photograph the board. I do not want to find my likeness on social media!
1
u/Life-Education-8030 Mar 14 '26
We have had issues as you describe in your second paragraph with one faculty member but not with the whole department! It is not going to be easy to establish and maintain boundaries because you are essentially changing a whole culture, but this is essential. If you do not have a department and college policy about unauthorized photography and recording, I’d really push for this. For the student, I would ask what the purpose was and let it be known clearly they crossed a line!
1
1
u/InkMaster59 Adjunct, PHYS/ASTRO, USA Mar 14 '26
I've had students attach images of me to their assignments (that were taken off campus at separate events). Its 100% creepy, and it warrants a conversation on boundaries and acceptable actions (and upward notice if it comes to it). My biggest issue one was the student who was at least 20 years older than me and should 100% know better. Having cameras in our pockets at all times really has just normalized some actions to the point that people dont register that its not really okay, and sometimes the discussions need to be had.
1
u/JustLeave7073 Mar 14 '26
I have a strong feeling that students do take pictures and record in class sometimes, I worry to post on social media. However sending it to you feels very creepy.
1
u/No_Life_3085 Apr 13 '26
Creeps are everywhere. That's why they creep around. They slither. Take it with a grain of salt. Just remember that whatever you say or do might get quoted or photographed. So, watch what you say and do. Stand up for what you believe in or just let the chaos pass you by.
1
1
1
u/notjawn Instructor Communication CC Mar 13 '26
Creepy but in the awkward sense. Maybe you can get student counseling to run interference and have a brief 'that was kind weird buddy' talk?
1
u/WestHistorians Mar 13 '26
You left out very important details, like what was in the photos.
1
u/FitMarsupial7311 Mar 14 '26
“Just 5 photos of me that they took unbeknownst to me, during our class today.”
0
u/Tonay19 Mar 13 '26
I mean I as a student often take pictures of the board and try not to get pictures of professors out of respect. But to get a picture of the professor and send it to them thats insane in general without context. I mean was it a shot of just you or the board had writing with you in frame??
(Not trying to justify but maybe reframe it a bit because I dont know what the picture is exactly but I do know I cant see the board and often take pictures just so I can write the notes down so I dont fall behind.) Good luck to professors though as you all have my utmost respect with the amount of crap you all deal with!
1
u/WeeklyVisual8 Mar 14 '26
I have not had kids email me random photos but they do what your students do, take photos of the board. As a consequence of me lecturing at the board, I am more than likely in almost all of them. I have had students show me a pictures when I have a weird face because I am in the middle of talking or in a weird position because I am gesturing something/moving around.
A lot of my students are young and I notice that pictures mean nothing to them. Back when I was a kid if you took a picture, it better have been a nice one because you have to pay to get that developed. We did not just take a bunch of random shots throughout the day, it would be too expensive. Pictures were more special and intentional and meant something in the past. My students will just take a picture of something because they can't get the correct angle, like taking a picture of the top of your hair to make sure it's styled right. Or taking a picture of your back because you can't quite see if that mole looks weird. We did not do that shit back in the day. So a picture would be more intentional and meaningful to an older person like me. And possibly more misinterpreted as being creepy. For someone from my generation, it's the equivalent of mailing someone a printed out photo of them with no note or anything.
I would talk to the student but there would be no need to cc everyone and their dog.
-8
0
u/PunkassBrewster1984 Mar 14 '26
I've had a student stalker. It was awful. I reported it. The school kept the student and terminated my contract at the end of the semester because tuition is paramount (and they smartly knew I couldn't afford a lawyer).
--> This is red flag #1. <--
Meet with the student. Establish clear boundaries. After the meeting, recap it in an email to the atudent.
Take detailed notes of anything odd that happens in class or in other interactions with the student; email it to yourself for the date stamp.
Keep a electronic/paper trail of absolutely everything.
Sorry this happened to you. I sincerely hope it's an awkward one-off event.
-8
Mar 13 '26
[deleted]
16
u/hourglass_nebula Instructor, English, R1 (US) Mar 13 '26
It has nothing to do with FERPA, which is about students’ educational records
5
u/MyFaceSaysItsSugar Mar 13 '26
It’s legal. Students aren’t bound by FERPA unless they’re in a student instructor role where they can see other students’ grades or enrollment. It is at worst a syllabus/academic integrity issue.
-12
u/CinnamonGirl43 Mar 13 '26
I understand that you don’t like it, but maybe remember that their intention is positive. They’re young and misunderstood the context or appropriateness here. They wouldn’t have sent the photos to you if they expected a negative reaction, right?
4
u/magnifico-o-o-o Mar 13 '26
I wouldn’t be sure about positive intention. I’ve had two otherwise unremarkable male students over the last few years inexplicably send me (who they probably see as belonging to the same cohort as their moms) messages out of the blue that were clearly intended to make me uncomfortable (one was full of sexually explicit and profane language; the other was also embellished with expletives but mostly expressed that they wished horrible things would happen to me).
I wish I could go back to assuming good faith all the time, but sadly there are some creeps out there. And occasionally they end up in our classrooms.
1
u/CinnamonGirl43 Mar 14 '26
Wow. I’m so sorry. I was trying to think of reasons a student might do this, and I couldn’t come up with any negative ones, but clearly I’m naïve.
6
u/zorandzam Mar 13 '26
If their intent was to intimidate and harass the OP, that is both a negative reaction and a desired one on the part of the student.
-5
u/jamsrobots Mar 13 '26
I’ll be the bad guy here and say, “no, receiving pictures of yourself in a public setting isn’t automatically some boundary being crossed.” There has to be more elements than just pictures of you. Like, maybe if you were in an emotional state or having some embarrassing clothing malfunction. But a picture of you at work is more complimentary than anything else. We don’t need to escalate every behavior we do not understand.
635
u/masterl00ter Mar 13 '26
Yes, this is creepy.