Tip of my tongue
Tonight I was telling Steve about my statistics lab, and how my 30-something comrade Bryn and I are the only ones who will open our mouths AT ALL. To answer a question, to ask a question, to read a question out loud -- whatever. We'll wait for a while in awkward silence while no one says anything, and then one of us pipe up to help the poor TA out with a response. None of the teens and twenty-somethings seem to think their silence is rude or in any way out-of-the-norm. They have no expectation whatsoever that they should be participating in our small group discussion.
SO, Bryn and I -- in our old-ladyish, momly wisdom -- have chalked it up to a generational thing. And I was telling Steve this, but I couldn't and still can't remember the word that I want to use to describe this generation of reticent college students. Help me? The word means: expectant that they are deserving of everything. It's killing me that I can't remember. It can be used to describe a generation, Americans, children who demand allowance, and so on. Refresh my memory and I will make my very next blog post all about YOU!
Much thanks.
Also, on an unrelated note, Bryn expressed a theory today that might have some credibility. Tell me what you think. It is that men who wear bowties are predominately Democrat or liberal in political views. Hmmm. The only person I can think of right off is my friend Lindy's husband Keith Johnson, and from what I know of Lindy, I think he safely falls in that category (whether or not he thought the girl he just met at church on Sunday would be posting his presumed political ideology on the world-wide interweb for all to consider). Bowties = Democrat?
Comments
Tucker Carlson.
They have no need or desire to communicate in a real way; it's all through texting, cell phones, e-mail, etc.
can't believe you're taking a stats class right now! I can't imagine adding that to my busy life.
doesn't george f. will wear a bowtie?
like azucar, i'm not sure the theory holds water. i mean, George Will wears a bowtie all the time.
Speaking of numbers, I loved "The Wisdom of Crowds", and would like to read "Fooled by Randomness" and "The Black Swan"
Despite 3 stat classes, I still have no idea what heteroscedaticity means...
Emily, I'll have to get your help when I'm taking stats this summer via independent study. it's the last class I have to take to get a degree.
And I don't think it's generational. Stats is a required course, or at least it fulfills a general ed requirement. I think you have a classroom full of people who don't want to be there and don't care about the subject.
You, on the other hand, do. I think that's your difference.
What about specifically Provo, UT residents who wear bowties?
And, on a bigger level, are Americans ENTITLED to the financial bailout that is coming down the pipes? It sounds like many people think they deserve a lower mortgage, an easy way out, etc.
Sarah- most importantly, how do we train out children not to wear bowties?