do college students text message during class? - Page 3

insomniatic · 07-14-2008, 03:49 PM

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I go mainly because there are random attendance quizzes that count for 15% of the final average. And I do pay attention most of the time. I can multi-task quite well.

This is what you said earlier:

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I text all the time during class. I also go on Facebook on my phone and sometimes make discreet phone calls (in huge lectures).

You said you text most of the time and you pay attention most of the time. Which is it? You can't fully grasp a lecture and text.

nyuwishabee · 07-14-2008, 03:51 PM

WELL, Miss US Weekly, I like to do both simultaneously.

fabrizio · 07-14-2008, 03:58 PM

I don’t think it’s “high and mighty” to think that talking, texting, calling, Facebook-ing, or reading the newspaper in class is rude to the professor. Quite honestly, I’m surprised that some people think it’s OK. Just put yourself in the professor’s shoes! Do you think you would just “not care” if you were lecturing and students were acting like you weren’t there?

Venkat89 is correct that the professor doesn’t immediately know whether a student with a laptop is taking notes or Facebook-ing, especially if the student looks at the professor every now and then. However, that is way different than making a “discreet” phone call or texting. In our country, everyone is innocent until proven guilty, so unless the professor has evidence beyond a reasonable doubt, he shouldn’t assume that a student with a laptop is Facebook-ing. Can you apply this reasoning to “discreet” calls and texting? Absolutely not. When you do either of those in class while the professor is lecturing, there is no doubt in his mind that you are not paying attention. You are not innocent.

Iolanthe · 07-14-2008, 04:07 PM

I go to a pretty small school, so it's pretty hard to do things like that in classes. I've actually only had one class so far where people used laptops, and while some people text, it's pretty rare.

nyuwishabee · 07-14-2008, 04:18 PM

In a class of 30 or something, I guess it is pretty bad because the professor will actually notice. But in a lecture of 600 and you're on the second level? I don't think so.

redwingshockey · 07-14-2008, 04:33 PM

i text in small classes in high school haha why would i stop in college?

diesel · 07-14-2008, 04:35 PM

i text in all my classes, along with my laptop for facebook, chat...

leah377 · 07-14-2008, 04:42 PM

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You both are missing the point. If you aren't gaining anything from the lecture, then why bother showing up for class? Just show up for the tests.

What you both are doing is rude to the professor and distracting and disrespectful to other students.

..you're THAT KID, aren't you? the one who causes everyone around him to roll their eyes whenever he asks a question?

yep, i knew it.

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I listen to my ipod during class, eat a sandwich, and one time took a hit of a joint underneath the table in the back of a lecture hall

haha. love it.

Pathetique · 07-14-2008, 05:14 PM

Personally, I think it's insanely disrespectful and stupid, but hell, it's their money they're wasting on that class, and no, most people aren't as good as multitasking as they think. As long as people aren't bothering me or the class though, they can do whatever the hell they want, and I won't bother them.

I just find it amazing people have to be accessible 24/7. Is going an hour without talking to or texting a friend that hard?

fabrizio · 07-14-2008, 05:26 PM

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Personally, I think it's insanely disrespectful and stupid, but hell, it's their money they're wasting on that class, and no, most people aren't as good as multitasking as they think. As long as people aren't bothering me or the class though, they can do whatever the hell they want, and I won't bother them.

Great answer and I love the libertarianism.

At the end of the day, I’m still shocked that some people think it’s not rude to text in class, but to quote John Stuart Mill, “The only freedom which deserves the name, is that of pursuing our own good in our own way, so long as we do not attempt to deprive others of theirs, or impede their efforts to obtain it.”

insomniatic · 07-14-2008, 05:59 PM

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..you're THAT KID, aren't you? the one who causes everyone around him to roll their eyes whenever he asks a question?

yep, i knew it.

No, you don't know it.

I can't recall a time I asked a question in class. Usually I wait until after class or send an e-mail to the professor.

srunni · 07-14-2008, 06:02 PM

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Why in the world would you text when you could have a whole laptop in front of you. I don't understand the whole text messaging thing and I'm apparently part of that "generation". :S

Same here, text messages are an overpriced waste of money. IMing is free.

Raptor.45 · 07-14-2008, 06:13 PM

I think its fine to text/im/surf the web in class as long as its not blatantly obvious that you're doing it. Especially if the professor goes from useful info to info that you already know and back and forth. The argument that you "shouldn't bother showing up" is then invalid because you cant keep walking in and out every 5-10 minutes and topics that are useful to you come up.

If the professor is going over an example that you completely understand, for example, theres no reason to pay attention. Text away, and when a problem you need to go over comes up, pay attention again. It's all about deciding whats worth listening to and what isn't.

Cards4Life · 07-14-2008, 06:22 PM

It's not like we're standing up in room of 400 and screaming, "HEY EVERYONE, I'M TEXTING!!"

Most people can keep it discreet, and if texting is distracting because you are reading the screen of the person in front of you, either ignore it (not that hard to do) or sit in the front row where you can't look at anyone else's stuff.

salamander · 07-14-2008, 06:24 PM

If someone texted me while I was in a big lecture and the professor was going over something I didn't feel like I needed extra review on, I'd probably send them a quick response- that doesn't seem like a big deal to me. It'd be a waste of time to spend entire class periods texting or surfing Facebook, though. I know my limits as far as multitasking goes, but if you're amazing at it, text away.

And as far as having an actual phone conversation in class- if it's an emergency, just leave, and if it's not, there's no way in hell your conversation is more important than the lecture your voice is distracting other people from, so shut up.