The Domicle

Aren't you tired of that guy in your big lecture class? The one who always has a question, who holds up the class from getting out on time, and who seems to just want to hear himself talk?

I'm confident that you could name someone in each one of your classes that you think talks too much. It's funny, because when you're walking with a friend, and see that guy from your philosophy class across the quad, you say to your friend, "dude, that kid is totally that guy from my philosophy class. What a tool." Only to hear your friend say, "Are you serious? He was in my poli-sci lecture last year and would never shut up!"

I think, though, that we have the whole wrong idea here about that guy at Tufts. These people are getting a raw deal. Now it's true - there are plenty of people who are talking to hear their own voice, or are kissing up, or don't have anything intelligent to say. But barring those people, why do we make fun of students who actually talk in class?

I had a professor a few weeks ago ask if everyone understood the topic and if anyone had any questions. No one in the 40-person class moved. And the professor responded to this silence with, "I think that I'm learning something about Tufts. When people understand things they will just stare at you and not say anything at all. If they have a question, maybe they'll ask."

Why is this? Why must we only speak in class if we don't understand something? I think that for some reason, there is a pervasive attitude here that although we value academic success, we do not always value intellectualism. When teachers ask if there are any thoughts on a reading or movie, or if anyone has any comments, all-too-often the prof. is met with blank stares. I would be willing to bet that the majority of people in the room have an idea or question. Why won't anyone speak up? Why, when someone does speak up, do we turn to our neighbors and roll our eyes?

If we have 50 minutes for a class and it's certainly not going to let out any sooner, why not fill it up with some discussion? I'm pretty sure that the professors here have heard themselves talk enough - they don't need to hear the lecture for the 24th time.

And so it seems that in a room of blank stares, the one brave soul to speak up has so callously been branded that guy. Now listen - I'm as big a proponent of the phrase "that guy" as much as anyone else - but this cruel label should not be placed upon someone who has the mind to think of something intelligent and the guts to raise his hand.

It seems so backward that at a University - where learning is the explicit point - we would cut down those who spark intellectual debate. It would be a beautiful thing instead if participating in class discussion were the cool thing to do. Instead we have 200 trembling freshmen (and 3 seniors) alternately waiting to see who will be picked to answer a question in Econ 1 and ready to pounce on any that guy who dares to ask a gratuitous question or offer a gratuitous comment.

If the social classroom is rearranged, and it becomes cool to talk in class, I want us all to keep in mind that there still will be that guy. We should all still hit ourselves on the forehead in honor of that guy when he A) wears Oakleys in class, B) answers his cell phone in class for a reason other than a sports score update, or C) talks on and on for 20 minutes about how the lecture relates to "some movie" he once saw.

That guy is everywhere - in every class, at every party, in every group of friends. Sometimes, he's so oblivious about his status that you can even greet him with an enthusiastic, "this guy!" upon his arrival and he has no clue. There's nothing wrong with dissing on that guy, because after all, that's who he is - that guy... that you diss on.

But next time you're about to put the thoughtful smart kid from class on your that guy list, think again. Because when the revolution comes and it's cool to pee in your pants, you'll be sorry.