Don't waste my time

As I get older (I am 43), I like to believe I am becoming more patient. The fact that I am an older, returning student confirms this -- I would never be able to tolerate an hour and 15-minute lecture when I was 20 years old.\nStill, for all the patience I claim to have, there is one thing I have less and less patience for -- having my time wasted. I have to take 100 and 200-level classes in order to satisfy degree requirements, and the student body in these classes are often less mature. But, for pity sakes people, can you let the professor do his or her job and allow me to listen to what they have to say? \nI just finished a 200-level required class for my major. I had an associate instructor who was a very patient person -- certainly more patient than I would have been. Every class session there was one person in particular that felt what she had to say was more important than the AI, or any of the rest of us for that matter. This became more annoying as this person's chatter became more infectious. By the end of the semester, there were two camps in the room -- those who listened and those who talked. \nPardon me if I sound old- fashioned (I probably am, see my age). But it just makes sense to me that the one with the credentials to teach the subject at hand should be the one doing most of the talking.\nI can understand trying to relate the information to your own thought process or trying to clear up something you do not understand -- I do that myself. But, to try to monopolize the class with your very limited insight into the world is a waste of my time and money (see the fee rates). I am paying to hear what the experts have to say. If your opinions have not been solicited, there is probably a good reason.\nThis is not just a student problem. I have on a couple of occasions had my time wasted by professors -- not AIs, but tenured professors! I once sat through a class where the professor surfed the Internet for the entire hour. I knew none of that material would be on the test, and this was something I do on my own time frequently. I came away frustrated that I had not spent that time studying or mowing the grass. That would have been more productive. \nI guess it could be a symptom of age or of the times. But it seems to me time is becoming more and more precious to everyone. We live in a world of multitasking. We have cell phones that enable us to talk to our friends or do business while we drive or while we are waiting in line. \nWe have radios that work in all places so we don't miss anything while we exercise or shower. We have wireless computers so we can read our e-mail or pay our bills while we are eating or even going to the bathroom (one of my favorite pursuits). Not to mention the fact that the fast-food business is still proliferating even though we know it is killing us. \nCall me an old fogy if you like. Respect for others, which is the most important value of all, starts with respecting what is important to others. \nMy time is precious and so is yours -- let's start there.