Spring Break
Patrick Fancher VS: Texting: great way to talk or distracting?
Patrick Fancher
Issue date: 5/21/09 Section: Forum
Killer technology rears its ugly head yet again, as no one seems to realize just how much of a nuisance text messaging has become.
I wrote a column in February concerning this very issue, except I focused on presenting the negative effects it had on students in the classroom. For instance, the young woman in my morning class would spend roughly 45 of the 50 minutes we had in class each day texting.
This same person could be heard clicking away on her phone during our midterm exam last week, which was almost as irritating as the crunching noises that came from the guy eating Chex Mix a couple of seats down from me.
My question at the time I wrote the column was, "Can't we wait until after class to text our friends?"
Before, I simply viewed texting as another activity that annoyed the hell out of me, and I couldn't understand why students were unable to find better times to do it. Unfortunately, my concerns have only increased since then, and I believe it is far more detrimental all around than I had previously thought.
Anyone who tells you that he or she can text while listening to people talk, focus on driving while texting, or even walk while texting, is completely full of it. Case in point: most of the students I've seen texting in class seldom know what the professors are lecturing about, leaving the rest of us to explain to him or her what is being taught once he or she finally decides to put the phone away.
It isn't my job to make sure you're paying attention, just like it isn't the teacher's job to police you.
The same previously mentioned young woman admitted that she had gotten into a car wreck because she was texting, and her parents no longer insure her to drive. My stepbrother was once parking his car and his front tire bumped the yellow concrete slab in the parking space, deploying his airbag and sending his cell phone flying into the back seat. By the way, he was also texting at the time.
Other drivers who choose to text while driving may not be this lucky.
I wrote a column in February concerning this very issue, except I focused on presenting the negative effects it had on students in the classroom. For instance, the young woman in my morning class would spend roughly 45 of the 50 minutes we had in class each day texting.
This same person could be heard clicking away on her phone during our midterm exam last week, which was almost as irritating as the crunching noises that came from the guy eating Chex Mix a couple of seats down from me.
My question at the time I wrote the column was, "Can't we wait until after class to text our friends?"
Before, I simply viewed texting as another activity that annoyed the hell out of me, and I couldn't understand why students were unable to find better times to do it. Unfortunately, my concerns have only increased since then, and I believe it is far more detrimental all around than I had previously thought.
Anyone who tells you that he or she can text while listening to people talk, focus on driving while texting, or even walk while texting, is completely full of it. Case in point: most of the students I've seen texting in class seldom know what the professors are lecturing about, leaving the rest of us to explain to him or her what is being taught once he or she finally decides to put the phone away.
It isn't my job to make sure you're paying attention, just like it isn't the teacher's job to police you.
The same previously mentioned young woman admitted that she had gotten into a car wreck because she was texting, and her parents no longer insure her to drive. My stepbrother was once parking his car and his front tire bumped the yellow concrete slab in the parking space, deploying his airbag and sending his cell phone flying into the back seat. By the way, he was also texting at the time.
Other drivers who choose to text while driving may not be this lucky.
Note: writers will not reply to comments.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
A
posted 5/21/09 @ 1:39 AM PST
Patrick,
Why are you so negative about everything? I have texted in class before so that I may communicate with family members who are updating me about a family emergency that I, as a student, cannot personally be there for. (Continued…)
lea
posted 5/21/09 @ 1:11 PM PST
Whoa, A...chill out. I believe Patrick was referring mainly to people who, as you say, text about nonsense. He pointed out that he thinks texting is a great way to communicate. (Continued…)
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