Post 53: Get off your laptop!

Guess what! This is going to be a rant post. A rant post specifically and whole-heartedly for those people who sit in class and play games or go on Faecbook. Yes, I see you. I see that you are playing a video game, not taking notes. I know you are commenting on that person's status, not paying attention to the lecture, and you know what? That isn't cool. It is a distraction to the people around you and it is rude to the professor.

You might think, oh, they don't know! But, you know what, I'm pretty sure they can guess. It isn't hard to tell when someone isn't paying attention if your eyes are locked on your screen or you are writing when he is going between slides.

Now, I wouldn't have found this so annoying if I hadn't been in class when someone sitting infront of me opened up their laptop and started watching porn. Yes, in class and in front of me (as well as several people around me). I was shocked. One of the people next to me, recovered quicker and said something to them, but really?! There is a time and place for that. There is a time and place for playing video games and there is a time and place for checking Facebook. The classroom is not this place, class time is not this time.

Even before this...event happened, I've always found it kind of distracting. I have always had some issues with my mind wandering, when I should be focusing and when people are around me are not paying attention either I find I am more likely to lose the classroom mindset.

But, mostly, I just don't understand. Why even go to class if you are not going to pay attention? Why not just stay in your dorm room? Most University lectures don't take attendance, it is just assumed you are responsible enough to make your own decisions about your education. However, if they are in class playing games, maybe they aren't.

It is like they don't realize that people can see their screens. It is like when people talk, they don't realize people around them can hear them. It doesn't matter that they aren't actually involved in the conversation, they are in a close proximity so they can hear them.

This came up when I was on the bus the other day, I was sitting in the back and two girls got on and even though they were sitting like four rows ahead of me they were talking so loud I could hear them. They were really rude. They were on their way to school (at 3pm) and they were complaining about how annoying one of their mom's was because she insisted on picking them up. They were saying things like "it is a violation of my privacy", "she doesn't trust me", "she is such a control freak", and "she is just so nosey". I wasn't either of their mothers, but I felt pretty offended having to hear. And it was funny talking about trust when they were on their way back to the school, desperately trying to get back by the time school ends so it wouldn't seem like they had ditched.

Anyway, it comes up other times as well, but this annoyed me the most.

So, that is the end of the rant. At least, for now.

Anyone been in a class or a meeting when someone was on their computer slacking off?