Ha ha ha! That is the truth!
Another great article! I think the mandatory "discussions" are, in essence, the online equivalent to the dreaded group project (I get hives just thinking about that). The stupid essay about time travel, pointless busywork by, yep, an instructor ho is totally up his own butt. I've never done online college, I did both my undergrad and JD in person, and enjoyed very much being on campus. I love the smell of the books and the feeling of being among the ivy covered buildings. However, at those times in my life, being there physically was convenient. it's not always like that and now, with Covid, online seems to be the way things are moving. I'm toying with doing a PhD, and several of the universities that I'm looking at have online options now (well, at least partially).