Thursday, 8 March 2018

#466 Getting shouted at

Most lecturers I'd had so far were intelligible. Their accent mattered but less than their inclination to mumble. After two or three with the same person, I'd figure out the pronunciation differences. Half-way through the second week, I had a lecturer who was hyper-intelligible.

I could not believe this woman. Her entire philosophy of speech must have been borrowed from a Soviet army sergent who woke up on the wrong side of the bed, ran out of coffee and found that someone had dented her car. Then she lectured the audience as though all three of those things were their fault.

Most lecturers gave talks. For this person, talking was the wrong word entirely. She hadn't talked a word in her life. She barked. A relentless stream of angry sarcasm. It didn't matter where we sat. Even in the back row, it would've felt like she was yelling at us right in our faces.

Sometimes she'd forget how she was going to end a sentence. There'd be a one second pause and then to make up for it, she'd yell the last word even louder and more angrilly. I looked down at her boots. They were lined with spikes. I wondered how she'd even been let into the university in the first place.

I knew it was probably just her style. That she might somehow be an ok person in other ways. Anger can be contagious though. In between taking the notes, I must have had a mild scowl on my face. I tried to regulate my breathing to stay calm.

If I'd been a student, I might have complained. Maybe I would anyway. Her tone was uniquely offensive. I'd never heard anything like it. I tolerated it for an hour and came out wanting to kick something. Thank goodness I'd only see her once a week.

4 comments

Fizzfan said...

Totally on board with the spike lined boots thing. Anyone wearing them should be sedated and carried off for an emergency anger management course. Very weird n nasty fashion trend.
I think my least favourite types of voice are droney bored ones with no inflection. I’ve listened to quite a lot of them in work related sessions, and have to dig my nails into my palms to stop overwhelming bouts of yawning whilst jiggling my legs up n down.
Yeah angry people have no place in a lecture room, (unless there’s something to be angry about of course) and unlike you I’m not going to give her the benefit of the doubt and would bet quite heavily on her not being an OK person.
Anyone that gives off a military air and shouts a lot in spiky boots is horrible.

Bad luck on having to go through it all again next week.

Other than that, hope it’s all going well:)

Profound Familiarity said...

Your stance on this woman surprises me.

I was so close to being convinced that my own reaction was the problem.

Maybe you're right though. Maybe she really does have issues.

Fizzfan said...

I have a bit of an authority figure problem, so I’m not that keen on shouty lecturing types at any time. If they wear spiky boots, they’re a definite no no:)
I was being a bit tongue in cheek but do like to jump to conclusions about dictatorial types because life has taught me that first instincts are generally correct.
She was giving out a lot of I want to rule the world signals.
Either that or she’s making up for a heaving mass of insecurity. Either or, it’s a problem.

Your instincts are sound, and I’ve decided she’s annoying.
I’m very definite about people I know nothing about and will never have to encounter;)

(If she’s more chilled next week and has suede boots and a silk blouse on I’ll be quite prepared to change my mind)

Profound Familiarity said...

I will keep you updated, you can be sure of that.