Friday, April 17, 2015


5 comments:

  1. I just wish that guy would use those words. Usually he comes in asking if he can ask a question, and then only belatedly do I notice he's burned my customary pre-class time that I usually use for deep breaths and self-affirmation.

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  2. I think my blood pressure rose a few points just looking at the picture. Yeah, like Three Signma, I know this guy (and his female counterpart). However, in my experience,* the more polite/charming he is (and the more used he is to getting by on his charm), the more aggravating the ensuing conversation will be.

    If there are more than three minutes left before class starts, I'll probably talk to him (and use the need to begin class as a reason to end the conversation, because no, it's not going to take a second; in fact, 3 minutes later, I may well still be listening to various details of his life and oh-so-important activities that have nothing to do with my class, and still not know what the question/request is). If (as is more likely) class should have begun a minute ago (but I was busy answering a question from another student), I'll tell him that I'll talk to him after class (and probably have to fend him off/send him back to his group several times during the class).

    *I'm assuming this is an in-the-hall-of-the-classroom-building or at-the-front-of-the-classroom conversation; it sounds like Three Sigma is imagining an office visit. So varying institutional geographies and cultures (students at my institution almost never make a trip to my office to ask this sort of question) may play a role in our varying reactions.

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  3. If it's a he, the irrelevant details will include how important he is in some capacity. If it's a she, the irrelevant details will include icky TMI.

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  4. My pre-class ritual is the same. I start at exactly the same time (31 minutes after the hour, for a class that officially starts at 30 minutes after the hour); at 30 minutes after the hour I get students coming up to the podium and asking "Can you please explain to me (some concept that would take about 5-10 minutes to explain)". I think "WHAT THE FUCK!!!" but say "Please ask me that question after class is over" (and they never do).

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  5. I say, "No, I DON'T" and push past him, HARD. Having become skilled in making my way through billowing crowds in the hallways is a definite plus here. There are advantages to being a real-life Indiana Jones, even if I am getting too old for it.

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