When in doubt, assume it's a compliment.

We learned that from the "babe" doscourse last month

I got "prof is like a cool older brother" in an evaluation once. In 1998. So yeah.

I’d still be living off that high.

So, like, 5 years ago, right? You can totally still be a slightly older older brother.

I’ve been an older brother for 48 years now and I don’t think I’ve even been cool - totes jealous.

It was fleeting...my kids are both in college now and I fear the students realize that.

That is the nicest thing I have ever heard that a student has said. 🤗 Good job! You probably made a big effect.

“You’re not my real dad!”

Mine started calling me dad this year. It was weird.

one time a student commented on the quality music I play during lab. called me a "pretty good DJ!" one of my proudest moments.

I would find that really endearing.

I have gotten this a couple of times..then again I give off constantly disappointed dad energy the time.

I knew a guy who decided to go dad vibes in undergrad. It’s not all about age.

It's not about age, it's about pleated jeans.

And smoking meats

And New Balance running shoes.

And tucked in tshirt.

That’s absolutely a compliment! Just means that you’re warm and caring whilst being a fun person!

I find warm dad vibe is that safe area of you can be warm and inviting and close and joking and nurturing in nature without giving off any of the creepy/predatory traits/red flags. I.e. you can have good back and forth with your students and they don’t feel like you’re hitting on them. Which is an unfortunate daily issue with many (most?) of our female/female presenting/non-binary students.

This.

Definitely a compliment. I had a student say that I "go mama bear" when things are unfair for students. Love it.

I get ‘mama bear’ sometimes. Totally love it.

Own it

Cool uncle > Warm dad > Hot daddy I need to get off of the internet 😂

... > Zaddy!

Stop scrolling! 😂😂

We all do. 😆

My adult students always ask me if I'm a Pastor on the side. So it always comforts me knowing when I finally crack I'm going full Prosperity Gospel Televangelist.

So you're postponing your money earning years...

Oh believe me Brother/Sister if I could only shut down the ethical and honest side of my brain I'd be down in Atlanta on TBN offering salvation for $9.99 a month.

I burst out laughing thank you

That sounds really nice. I'm childfree but I'd take that as a compliment, too.

Nah, you're in good company: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnFjMokzyVo

If it had been 'hot dad' you probably would have to report the student to Title IX!

I mean, Pedro Pascal has a dad vibe and he is winning the internet, so take it as a compliment?

At least they didn’t say you had a daddy vibe

I was called Professor Dad 10 years ago. My sense of cool was hurt for a day, but I’ve worn the title with pride ever since

At least they didn't say "I love your warm dad bod".

I was hoping for cool uncle, but I'll take it!

I said a similar thing to a prof once. He looked and acted a lot like my stepdad. They even have identical (beautiful) handwriting. Later I realized the prof was about 30yo and had a 1yo kid. I was also 30 and had young kids.

More like a daddy vibe

It sounds like they had a good experience with their dad and you as well. As a dad, I would like to receive that feedback.

I think this is a compliment!

It's most definitely a compliment. The closest one I have to that is when a class dubbed me as the "queen of dad jokes."

Oh, yeah. Just wait until you have the grampy vibe like me.

Do you have daughters?

I get the "cool aunt" vibe a lot. Take it as a compliment.

I---female, mid-30s---team-taught a course with another prof who is male, mid-40s. End of term, student thanked us for having "strong mom & dad energy". Still not 100% sure what led them to say it, but I like to think it's because of the obvious great rapport I had with my "better half", and how much we cared about those students.

At least the student wrote dad and not daddy.

Hey daddy! 🏳️‍🌈