Ruby Granger #35 Hello, it's Flu-bee!

[DrinaM]

Yeah, her performative poverty is beyond insulting as it is, but especially when she's going out of her way to complain about the cost of a tea which she got for free.

Also:

View attachment 1898942

Translation: "There's no reason at all for me to not disclose my general role, but that would mean I wouldn't be able to wildly embellish the nature of my job and make it seem like I'm working 87 hour weeks and doing the work of 4 teachers and the headteacher all at once. I'm sure you understand. "

"working with young people is just so hugely rewarding' lol
Its so weird how she flips from being like a child, then flopping into being the spinster aunt teacher lady.
Yeah the performative poverty is sickening to me. Especially when we know that she drinks all that free tea. Like, if the tea she adores is out of her range of affordability, just don't buy it. If it is affordable for her (which of course is fine!) then just fucking buy it and don't talk about the cost.

Makes me think 'whats that got to do with the price of tea in Roob land?'

 

[StatusWoe]

I think the blue thing is a Ralph Lauren Polo (is that what it's called?) logo.

Oh right. To me it just looks like someone's had an accident with blue paint.

 

[LaBlonde]

Off topic but it's a really good book and I really enjoyed it! I had to do a lot of reading on those men for a university module called queer Britannia and it was about gender and sexuality in the nineteenth century and I do wonder how ruby would cope with it especially as I had to read a Victorian gay porn novel for class and discuss it.

I think that it would be a bit shocking for her especially as some stuff might be explicit for her, not including the porn novel I had to read for class. I think her versions of the Victorians are just fancy dresses and afternoon tea than the reality. As for LGBTQ + issues and topics especially of the period , not sure how Ruby would stand about things other than saying things were wrong and that's it.

I know that she has read books such as Call Me By Your Name and Heartstopper apparently, but I'm not sure if Ruby even really reads books with characters who aren't white and assumedly middle class girls in them. I don't see her being that interested in other books, fiction or non fiction that deal with LGBT themes and characters other than what's popular online or she's invited to a premier for.

i am still genuinely shocked (and refuse to believe) that she read call me by your name - the mental image of ruby making it through the peach scene alone is too much!

completely agree with your entire post

 

[VallegGirl]

On a different note. I hope just hope Ruby's job gives her a sense of reality. If she is a member of staff at her old school surely surely but surely she can't expect to be nututred in the same manner as she so obviously was as a pupil. Surely she'll recognise she is there in a totally different capacity from that of a pupil. Sadly I foresee her introducion as being one of "Welcome back Ruby. She was a pupil at this school and even became head girl. She is such a credit to us blardy blardy blar..." in the vein of what a smart pupil we produced. I can just imagine the glow in which Ruby will sit after so much praise. I have a suspicion when the school realise she isn't as amazing as all that her light will dim and they'll be pleased when she moves on. Just my ideas but honestly I can see this happening. On the reverse side Rubes could turn out to be amazing. My opinion will be not but whoknows what hidden qualities she may have - hmmmmm????

 

[gisellejoly]

I agree with all of the above posts that express concern about her being a teacher alone in a classroom with impressionable, vulnerable kids. I am almost 100% certain that her 'traditional job' won't last long. She'll have a nervous breakdown of some sort. If Oxford accepts her into the Masters, she won't cope with the workload of study and her job. If Oxford rejects her, she'll freak out and have to deal with the rejection. Also, I'm sure it won't be long until her students find her social media content and hop on this forum to fill us in.

There’s no way she’s planning on keeping this job if she gets into oxford. She wouldn’t have time or the transportation, plus I’m guessing she only applied to teach to have a job on her Oxford application. She’s probably doing maternity cover or something that’s finishing in the summer anyway.

This is just a question about the Russell Group. (I'm not from the UK) Is there any quantitative factor between a normal degree vs a Russell Group degree? Is it like say, an Ivy League school (Harvard, Dartmouth, Brown, for a US comparison) where it's just prestigious?

I know in the US private schools hire a lot of non-qualified individuals, but they are also usually very well-established in their field (an ex-professor or a researcher if the school isn't religious) I just don't understand why she was hired (and then put on a full-time staff list?) if she's fresh out of college?

The Russell group is just a group of good, universities with high research outputs. I wouldn’t say it’s as exclusive as the Ivy League. Some of them are very prestigious (Oxford for example) and others less so, but they’re all well respected institutions.

It’s important to note that Ruby is only going to be working part time. The vast majority of qualified teachers need to earn a living and don’t want to work part time hours in a school in the countryside, they need a real job… A local graduate like Ruby is pretty much the ideal person to fill this role. There’s also a teacher shortage at the moment so it’s not uncommon at all for unqualified graduates to work in schools on a contractual/temp basis. (If I remember correctly, Holly Gabrielle also interviewed to teach straight after graduating uni)

 

[sunniva]

So glad I stumbled across this thread because her videos used to be suggested to me maybe 3 years ago or a bit more, when she was just first at uni or maybe even applying?

Even back then it struck me as EXTREMELY odd that an 18 year old would be so preoccupied with this formal sort of ‘studying’ in a way that seemed very GCSE to me. She reminded me of boring girls at school who posed as academic in a very morally superior way… but they had all pretty much grown out of it by 6th form. So to see somebody go to uni like that was very weird andI icky to me. At the time I wondered if it was just an Oxbridge thing lmao.

Sad to see she’s still stuck in that GCSE special academic wonder girl mindset at what? 22? Pathetic. I hope she gets help honestly, but there’s something genuinely sickening about grown women pretending to be 14.

 

[bananapeel]

I looked up the journal Ruby published in:

"The Paper Shell Review is the University of Maryland's annual journal of critical essays on literary topics.
Each edition of The Paper Shell Review consists of five essays by undergraduate students, selected from a pool of submissions from colleges and universities all around the world. The journal is published by and for undergraduate students at the University of Maryland."

This is a nice idea and a common platform for students to get their first publishing experience. Still, she didn't publish in a normal scientific journal where she'd be assessed alongside (more senior) peers.
These journals, even student-led ones, normally have copy-editors, hence the consistent punctuation. There are usually also 1-2 editors involved, who will probably have molded her essay into something more coherent.

 

[gisellejoly]

I've heard that Cambridge has a slightly higher acceptance rate than Oxford with regards to Masters. Not much higher though.

I can't believe she annotated the top part with 'wonderful when you read these. It reminds one how human, and similar people in the 16c are'. Girl, what?? So is she saying that people in the 16c were all human and similar? And how wonderful it is to be reminded of that? If I was interviewing her, my follow up question would be, 'so, why is it wonderful to remember that?'

There is no interview for an English literature masters at Oxford afaik. I think it’s likely she will get in.. there is around 65 places per course and only around 75 applicants (that does vary by specific course though). It’s not that competitive providing you have a first. She fits all the criteria on paper…

 

[figgypud]

I've noticed that Ruby never talks up the Brontës, even though the sisters and their writing would seem to be perfectly aligned with her online image and purported interests. How does a supposed lover of literature, Victoriana, and moody atmospherics routinely ignore the Brontës? Too violent? Too sexy? Whatever the reason, I get the feeling she's not a fan, so it'll be interesting if she has to do some kind of academic instruction on Wuthering Heights.

I'm sure she's mentioned Jane Eyre before and didn't like the ending because Jane got married? I think she'll have much more of a struggle with Wuthering Heights but I also think she'll want to say she likes it because the nature and the moors fit with the image of herself she tries to curate.

 

[StatusWoe]

No need to apologise about the fanfiction, I was trying to joke as I am a fanfic writer myself as a hobby, slightly embarrasing that I still do even at 25 as I started as a teenager ! While I don't write majestic works of prose like what Ruby likes to think that she does with her clobber, I think that it has helped me become slightly better at writing! Even if Ruby did fanfiction, she would impove over time as you do get feedback about what you write and you have to think about how to engage readers over the story, even if you are already using premade characters. There is a lot of world building some people do with AUs and some do real world building, but yet, Ruby just seems to have everything focused on schools and it's middle class characters like herself. She just seems to copy and paste ideas from other YA novels and is hoping to make something based off that. Even from what she writes and has shown us on instagram, it's purple prose where she is trying to sound very profound and is writing things that would be quotable- I don't know if anyone else gets that impression. I sometimes see it when I read fics and self published books.

Totally agree with this. Ruby's goal is always external validation and that's what's causing problems imo. This is what's behind her Oxford application too. I can believe she was a bookish child, but I don't think the interest has continued into adulthood - or maybe classics are simply not her thing? Fair enough if that's the case. If you're an advanced reader as a child you'll probably get positive feedback, but if you read Dostoyevsky as an adult it's unlikely anyone will care. I think she's found that transition difficult.

When it comes to writing, Ruby's still more concerned with success (as measured by prizes) and prestige (wanting a traditional publishing house) than any other factor. I think this is why her creative writing seems shallow & why it's a copy-paste of other YA bestsellers; Ruby wants the end goal but doesn't care how she gets there. I feel sorry for her because it seems like a joyless state of mind. Her writing might improve if she found a subject she genuinely wanted to talk about. (I can't use the word genuinely without feeling like Roobs, haha.)

 

[Griftwood]

How does she keep recording when the dog is howling its poor little furry head off in the background

 

[GreyColouredLens]

Why is she buying one of those awful Five parody books when she's surrounded by amazing literature??

Also yeah, I'm shy and introverted too but regular socialization is necessary to keep most people mentally and physically healthy imo. There comes a point where you have to break out of your little Victorian book cave and meet people, otherwise you won't develop the social skills you need for future life - and you miss out on a lot of good conversation and valuable insight when you're alone. Spending too much time alone can literally ruin your health; it leaves you alone with your thoughts and worries, and once you become addicted to social media that just amplifies your existing insecurities imo.
Ruby emphasises the introvert experience and how it's ok, but she doesn't ever acknowledge that university isn't just about studying - it's about making connections and improving your soft skills, too. It's fine to not want to go out and drink yourself silly every night, and we should move away from the idea that all students are obsessed with partying; it's expensive and physically exhausting, and some of us actually want and need to study hard. However, as with all things you need balance, and shutting yourself indoors like Ruby does is going to give you a very disappointing and lonely university experience.
She should be encouraging shy students to join events, find friends and explore their university towns/cities, because after years of pandemic-induced isolation what most young people really need now is social interaction...

[At least I have a new bookshop recommendation now, though (as if I need more oops)]

Exactly my thoughts! My life is very similar to Ruby's and I'm a bit older. Unlike her have to work to afford food and commute as a student, but I live at home. Because of it, I don't have that much time to socialize (on top of my uni work). But I realize how bad it is and I crave socializing (at least sometimes). I'm also an introvert, but we all need friends and acquaintances. Never socializing with your classmates and colleagues or teachers during uni/department socials is a sign of bad nature (and it also gets harder for people to find good thesis counselors, discuss their work and connect with other researchers: it's much easier and nicer to ask professors for help/advice during events than it is as a rando showing up to their office hours). No one expects anyone to become a social butterfly and drink, but maybe stay for a while, talk to people, go home!
Also there are as many introverts as there are extroverts (and most people are something in between, even though they mayy identify with one or the other). No one's saying being an introvert is wrong, why is Ruby (and people like her) trying to convince us that introverts are an oppressed group of people basically? Also this content is far from new, it's all over the internet how it's all right to stay home and be an introvert. It's getting obnoxious.

 

[gossip_guy]

Unless I'm misunderstanding this, it also assumes she has a significant following of teachers. Otherwise how would they know about the giveaway in the first place? I'd always thought Ruby's content was more geared towards students than teachers, so I'd be surprised if that many teachers were keeping track of her social media.

She's so out of touch with reality that she probably believes she has a universal following with university professors and qualified teachers watching all her content, or that all the gullible kids who follow her will pester their teachers to waste their time giving Ruby teaching tips for the chance to win 30 pieces of trash (that they'll never receive).

One look at the comments of her latest TikTok should tell her that neither of those things are true. It's just tonnes of people roasting her outfit and tagging their friends to compare her unfavourably to their own poorly-dressed, out-of-touch teachers or weird people they know. That should also tell her that working in a classroom environment is going to be hell for her, if it isn't already.

 

[anakinskywalkers]

They could have picked any number of intelligent, well-rounded and eloquent members of Gen Z but they picked this clown even Jade would have been a better option.

 

[Whisper2Me]

Things that I took away from her recent video.

1. Still cannot strike a match or light a candle properly.
2. Peanut butter looks like watery diarrhea. Lovely.
3. Can't pour things without spilling it all over the place.
4. Spends a ridiculous amount of time explaining why she reads while brushing her teeth. Doesn't matter. We brush our teeth to remove food, bacteria and plaque. She is splashing those things all over her books. That is disgusting. Absolutely revolting.
5. Still doesn't create an appropriate title for her video. Halfway through she is into a non-working morning routine.
6. Doesn't have time to do a routine, so why bother in the first place?
7. Is fascinated with her messy bed and her new stuffed animals. Get a grip, woman.
8. Completely avoids how she gets back and forth to work, which we all know is her Mommy.
9. Acts as though she has the most amazing makeup routine. She hardly wears any. Just two drops spread across her fake freckles.
10. Fake freckle application getting out of hand. Looks more like the measles now.
11. Reads 5 minutes here, 5 minutes there, filming it all, never truly absorbed in a book, because it is all performance. But she LOVES reading.
12. Is fascinated with dead plants. Still.
13. Throws in some time with her dog, very half-heartedly. You hear it in her voice and by the way her dog always walks away from her.
14. Now she needs to research something every day. What happened to reading some Philosophy every morning? Oh, yeah, more performance.
15. Entire video seems random, choppy, lackluster and incredibly phony. Isn't it time to just grow up and get an actual life, Rubes?

 

[figgypud]

Sorry but even with a part time job she just shits around lighting candles outside and writing bad poems and then burning them as some psuedo-intellectual exercise. And does she know what boredom means? Being bored is bad, being unproductive =/= boredom, filling your time with little things isn't 'boredom', it's healthy and normal.

Why did she cut the material for the collar on her bed and not a flatter surface like her desk? I don't really mind her doing things like that because it seems genuine from her even if it's not very good, unlike the arbitrary 30 pages of The Brothers 'Karamatsov'.

But what was that pronunciation of du Maurier (du Merriere??)?

 

[gisellejoly]

It’s a 40 minute walk

I don’t think there are footpaths though, and definitely no street lamps so it would be dangerous walking in the early morning or evening because it’s so dark at this time of year.. She’ll definitely get a lift every day from her mum. Maybe she’ll get on the school bus with her pupils and live out her schoolgirl fantasy Being seen by your students getting collected from school by your parents like you’re a child sounds so embarrassing

 

[hart301]

. I mentioned this once before, because it is all too common. You can get away with things when you are a child or teen, but when you become an adult odd behaviour sticks out like a sore thumb and people begin to question it

I feel like (as much as I agree with everything else) that social isolation can be a form of bullying. She went to an all girls school and socialization with girls is much different than with men, and I wouldn’t be surprised that even though her “bullying” wasn’t being pushed down the stairs, that the “bullying” she went through was more or less being excluded or made fun of for things— which I still constitute as bullying. I do believe she exaggerates her claims, but I do think her peers were mean to her. Whether that is because of her being possibly neurodivergent? Or just her being strange? Who knows.

 

[StatusWoe]

Has the video been deleted? Kinda miffed, I almost wanted to watch the cringe

Yeah it's showing as not available. I guess this is due to the faulty audio rather than Ruby's disaster of a speech.

I hate that Ruby was there representing Gen Z. Yes she's an influencer, but her brand is living like an upper-class Victorian child. She's not exactly in touch with the lives of the 'average' person in her demographic. I think this is one issue with the premise though - treating Gen Z as a homogeneous block. IRL, the mentality & values of this age group will also be shaped by cultural background, class (there's still a big North-South divide in England) and individual differences. Maybe the panel goes on to explore this, but I stopped watching after the sound became messed up. Anyway, just thought that the inclusion of Ruby did Gen Z a disservice.

The fact she published this online BEFORE meeting her, and it wasn’t even a particularly positive review! It would be cringe if the review was 5 stars because of the brown nosing, but I can’t imagine meeting someone I’d criticized publicly a few days before

Omg I’m MORTIFIED for her… we always talk in here about how she has no social skills and no friends, this is the perfect illustration of that

Omg, how awkward! Ruby has no sense.

 

[Griftwood]

Her hair is really trying to make a break for it once and for all.