pros and cons, swings and roundabouts

[cybermule]

The good thing about being grown-up is being able to read while you're eating your dinner.

The bad thing is that it's no longer socially acceptable to read during lessons :( I used to read through 90% of my lessons from the age of about 6 onwards, so 20+ years later, when I can't read through a boring 2-hour seminar, I tend to feel at a loss as to what I AM allowed to do to pass the time :P

Comments

[delabane.livejournal.com]

It amazes me just what is socially accepted today. I firmly believe that humanity might have advanced greatly technologically, but socially we are not so nearly as advanced. How people should and how people do treat other leaves so much to be desired.

I was on my lunch the other day and picked up a copy of Heat in the staff room, on the front cover it said "I dumped Jordon" – yet to most people who probably read said magazine, this seems like acceptable behaviour.

I really do loath most people out there.

[cybermule.livejournal.com]

I really do loath most people out there.

*nods* I'm aminly disappointed that the human race is obviously capable of something better, but just doesn't try. Especially in the 1st world, where we have the luxury of being able to do so much with our lives. But then we're all too busy saving up for new carpets and trying toget promoted. Bah!

Most people are just plain inconsiderate, rather than being overtly rude. Or at least, I hope so.

[kidkarrot.livejournal.com]

I would have seriously enjoyed reading several hundred novels through many courses in my seven years at uni, but nope, it's considered downright rude. From the point of the professor I can totally understand that; how would I feel if I saw someone doing that during my lecture? However, that doesn't justify making a lecture dull. In my school tutoring and lecturing, I made a single rule: Keep it fun. In the world of government work, that rule has changed into simply: Keep it short. I aim for all presentations to be a half hour or less, regardless of anyone's interest or attention span. That's why discussion is available afterwards. ;)

[cybermule.livejournal.com]

how would I feel if I saw someone doing that during my lecture?

Yeah - I liked uni a lot better. If I didn't want to go to the lecture, I just didn't go. It was school that I had the big issue with, because I was being forced to be somewhere really dull. And it's that exact same set of feelings that I get in meetings at work.

And you're right - presentations should be very short. I partly do it because they make me nervous, but I also strongly believe that there is absolutely no point in covering more than the bare bones that are applicable to everyone, then fleshing them out on an individual discursive basis. I get criticised for that, but not generally by my listeners :)