Yale University’s academic programs seem to focus more on sexual scholarship than ethics.

The fruits of that emphasis can be observed in the rantings of one of its law students.  In his blog,  Jack Marshall (the  president and founder of ProEthics) offers a few ethics-based observations.

A third year law student decided it was appropriate to send an obscene, ranting letter to the entire student body of Yale Law School announcing that he hated “like 90%” of them, and also, in his words (after announcing that he is going to be a writer):

“…fuck you guys, you judgmental, uninformed pricks, patting yourselves on the back on top of your goddamn moral high horses. I realize I am killing my future political career. GOOD. If you’ve read The Republic, you know exactly what my opinion of politicians are. I realize I am burning bridges. EXCELLENT. If I succeed in my passions, I want to make damn sure it is without the help of any of you phony-ass shitdicks. I’ve ALREADY gotten compliments about how inspirational I am, and I haven’t even fucking started yet. That’s the biggest compliment I’ve ever received in my life. It’ll probably take you guys 10-20 years to get that even once, so good luck and keep up the good work!”

His name was included on his post, just to make certain that it keeps him from finding gainful employment with any potential supervisor who doesn’t have a death wish.

A few observations:

• He’s a bigot. Law students and lawyers are no worse than any other kinds of people, in other occupations. He hasn’t met all of them, and I’d be shocked if his prejudice was triggered by the conduct of more than a handful.
• Apparently, based on the scamblogger posts I’ve been reading and this tantrum, some young people are under the mistaken impression indiscriminate vulgarity and incivility is inherently funny, persuasive, and entertaining. Wrong. It is the mark of an undisciplined mind and toxic disrespect for readers.
• He’s unfair. He calls every reader names, knowing that even by his calculations, only 10% deserve them.
• A lot of people desperately wanted that spot at Yale Law School that he has chosen to waste with this self-immolation.
• This is hubris, the dangerous state of mind that fertilizes the ground for all manner of ethical misconduct. A person who writes a letter like this, intentionally voiding norms of decorum and civility for no other reason than to vent his spleen, is by definition untrustworthy. …

• In his defense, it is Yale.

The law students letter can be viewed here.