We’ve all been there, minding our own business when suddenly the person next to you tells a “short” anecdote about something they did that relates to the subject in the tiniest way.
The perpetrator does this again and again and again.
They’re that person sitting on the front row that always has something to say, no matter how unrelated it is to what the class is talking about.
It gets old really fast, especially when everyone is forced to listen to poorly disguised humble-bragging every single time the class meets (#stopthehumblebragging2k14).
It’s not that hard to figure out if you are prone to this condition. If you try to speak over a professor and that professor has to in turn tell you to be quiet, it is very clear that it is time to stop talking.
Seriously, this is very annoying, but it also detracts from the time dedicated to learning (time that every student pays for). Very simply, time is money and those that insist on speaking up every few minutes are wasting a lot of it.
The fix is simple: listen and chill. Not everything calls for someone to talk about it. You don’t have to tell the story of that one time you did something. Your stories are not as life altering as something the professor might say.
This seems harsh, but it is not meant to discourage anyone from speaking up when they’re confused or trying to understand something.
This is meant for those people who have to comment on everything the professor says. Even if it is basically just repeating what was said.
You are not only wasting everyone else’s time, you’re wasting your own. What’s the point of going to class if you don’t plan on listening and instead focus on what you already know?
Now there are people who just get excited about their passions and express their excitement through discussion, but this is not about those people.
If you are excited to be surrounded by those who love a subject just as much as you do, go for it.
If you just want to show off how much better you are, don’t.
This also goes for those people who try to argue with a professor every chance they get.
Stop trying to prove that you know better than someone with years of experience.
It’s rude, and it does nothing more than detract from the time you spend learning. It hurts no one but you.
Human beings are social creatures. We need interaction; we want others to know what we have experienced and who we are.
But there is a time and a place for social interaction, and it is not in the middle of a lecture.
Save your stories for the appropriate settings and company. They do not belong in a classroom full of strangers who really don’t care.
Be polite and remember that we are here collectively to receive an education and earn a degree. Lectures shouldn’t be interrupted save for important questions asked by a confused student.
