Blagoo, Baby

I helped an old man use his debit card at the grocery today. He didn't understand the system. I suppose I feel proud for being an assertive and clear communicator, but I feel bad for the old man. He had a rather hard time and must have been emberrassed. Is it not belittling? To have something explained step-by-step, in a world where most adults require no such explanation?

He thanked me, so he must have appreciated the help. I suppose if I hadn't helped him, the teenage cashier might have spent several minutes trying to explain the system. The cashier is a good kid; he nodded to me with a look that said "we are good dudes for helping this guy out, isn't that pleasant." I appreciate that he gave me that look, and not the "we both know he's crazy" look.

Anyway, here follows the only useful thought within this post: if I travelled back in time forty years, and tried to explain how to operate a debit machine to a healthy and intelligent young man, I imagine it would have been a similar process.

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Professor: Is that clock on the wall correct? Does anyone know what time it is?
Young Douche: It's wrong. It's 3.15.
Professor: Oh, OK, I'll try to cover the novel as much as I can in five minutes so I can let you all go.

Then she launched back into her lecture. I am so passive that I almost didn't say anything. I didn't want to interrupt, and I felt like my window had passed. I fidgeted alot instead of interrupting. When she wrapped up and let us out, I stopped her, and told her that the clock was indeed wrong. She called the class back together.

Young Douche is one of the many people in my classes who don't seem to understand that they are among adults, and expected to act similar to an adult as well. The professor isn't a teacher trained to beware of clowns like you, Young Douche, she is a learned person offering her knowledge to us (in a very innovative and thoughtful way, I might add). Go back to high school if you prefer to win respect by taking advantage of your instructors' consideration.

Kids like him don't seem to understand that if they want to leave early, they can leave early. If they aren't listening and prefer to chat with their friends, they are authorized to leave with no penalty. So shut the fuck up or get out. You are paying to attend specialized lectures and seminars given by highly educated professionals, so that you might increase your knowledge and standing in society. How does it follow, in your mind, that you pay for this program, and then try to cut corners and skip out on the service offered to you?

I deal with children each morning, and that is enough for me. It is something I do not do for free. I can't wait to be out of this transition program and onto the main campus; hopefully there, in second year, there won't be children in my classes.