Some people are slow

Now what I am about to say is a total and complete rant like no other. I vented about this last night and it’s really not that big of a deal; so I’ll add some humor and I’ll indulge the story a little to make it more fun. :)

The first semester of school came to a close last week and I had a few days off before hell starts in my life. Hell being: class Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights. Work is from 8am – 5pm and class from 6:30pm-9:30pm … it takes me about 35-45 minutes to get home from work and 10 minutes to get to school from home. Day one of hell was last night … little did I know how “interesting” this class was about to be.

So let’s just get to the meat of the story. The teacher is reviewing the course syllabus and guidelines, typical first day. The assignments can be done in the lab, the lab is located down the hall…he’ll stay as long as the lab is open to help the students. He also says that most of the people that go to the lab will get their assignment done that night in the lab…you are not required to do your work in the lab, but it has to be submitted to him online when you turn it in. He [teacher] says that homework assigned Monday is due by midnight Tuesday and homework assigned Wednesday is due by midnight Thursday.

–PAUSE–
Right here my wheels start to spin and I really want to ask a question, but I do NOT want to be “that guy” within the first 5 minutes of the first class. I wait, but no one asks a question. I don’t want to ask what’s on my mind because I know I will regret it, but I have to know; the answer isn’t worrying me, it’s just asking the question … continuing on …

So no one asks a question and the teacher continues to the next topic, test or grades … I don’t honestly know because I can’t figure out why out 45-50 college kids that are supposed to be in their 3rd or 4rth year of school it just so happens that I am the only one with a question. I hate these moments. I know what it’s going to come down to: I have to ask. I KNOW there is at least one other person in class that has to be thinking what I am thinking …

The moment of truth arrives and I am not happy to go for the sacrifice.

teacher: Are there any questions?
me: [hand up, called on] Yes, um I don’t want to be a stickler or over technical here, but …
t: [smiles] no no! Please ask!
me: Well you said the assignments for Monday are due by midnight Tuesday …
t: yes
me: well when you say midnight do you mean a few hours after class or // cut off
t: no I mean midnight.

–PAUSE–
This is a common mistake that everyone makes, I even make this mistake. However, it is FACT that midnight is the first moment of the day. 11:59 pm is the previous day and midnight is the next day. At this moment I know the teacher is a smart guy so I want to give him the opportunity to clarify and make it look like I am just a typical confused student and not a smartass … while he can look like he just made a little mistake. That’s all it is, a little mistake.

me: right, but midnight is in the morning
teacher AND 20 students in class: no midnight is at night
[dirty looks from students and snickering]

–PAUSE–
Now I’m pissed. Apparently even with the benefit of the doubt, my fellow students are all on the same “I’m a f**king moron” bandwagon. At this point I should shut up, but now I’m torqued and I am going to prove my point that half of my class is a bunch of morons and I can’t believe that more idiotic people are going into the business world.

me: [embarrassed and turning red] midnight is at night; midnight Tuesday is between 3 and 4 hours after class on Monday. Do we have 3 hours to do the assignment or 26 hours?
CLASS: NO! Noooooooo …
teacher: No, midnight Tuesday… //cut off…yup I cut him off
me: You mean, assigned homework on Monday’s class is due Tuesday by 11:59 pm. There is a difference between midnight and 11:59 pm
t: [smile] well yea, midnight Tuesday so you have a full day … well a day and a 1/4 of a day.
me: Right. 11:59pm Tuesday and 11:59pm Thursday — not midnight. okay, I just wanted to make sure.
t: fine.

So at this point half of the class still thinks I am the moron when really I’ve just asked a question and crucified myself over a mistake the teacher made. His comment about the lab and getting the work done in the lab vs. going home to finish it gave his comment about it being due at midnight validity – and I didn’t care if I only had 3 hours. I just wanted to make sure I didn’t head home and do other homework when I really needed to do that class’ homework. Is that so bad? Next time I’ll just wait until after class and be the only one with the right answer …

Get the facts, or the facts will get you. And when you get them, get them right, or they will get you wrong.
– Dr. Thomas Fuller