I then tried to engage him in a conversation about what he had lectured about in class that day. It actually *was* a fascinating topic to me, so I didn't have to fake my interest too much. However, but he wasn't moved at all by my animated and excited manner. He just kept curtly responding, barely concealing his disdain for me.
I guess I'm spoiled, but my instructors tend to like me and to reward my good schoolwork with good grades. I'm also spoiled by the consistently positive responses I get from men. So I was starting to get annoyed with this pain-in-the-ass professor, who was disappointing me on both counts.