• saltesc@lemmy.world
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    10 months ago

    As someone that works at a university, this perfectly summarises the childish stubbornness that is academics’ resistance to change. It is impossible to tell an idiot they’re an idiot when their entire identity is groomed in a niche echo chamber of praise for knowing what’s best.

    “I’m excellent at one thing. Therefore I am excellent at all things. Therefore things I don’t like must be stupid. This fishing pole and foam hand is not stupid, laser pointers are, as are all those that advocate them. I will not participate in… points to word and appears to attempt an underscoring action…stupidity.”

    • Funderpants @lemmy.ca
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      10 months ago

      A different take, the professor doesn’t give a shit one way or another about laser pointers but knows a ridiculous foam finger will get attention and help students remember important stuff.

      Google von Restorff effect.

      • Ephera
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        10 months ago

        Yeah, and it is absolutely more visible. If I had to take notes during this lecture, I would absolutely appreciate not having to search for the dot every time I looked up.

      • saltesc@lemmy.world
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        10 months ago

        We do have those academics. It’s funny, they’re the most paid and don’t seem to give a shit about it all, where as those below them seem to be constantly trying to earn more than each other to be seen as better than each other. The top academics and most of the research academics seem to all succeed because they’re connected to reality, not the academia schoolyard games.

    • seang96@spgrn.com
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      10 months ago

      To be fair I have accidentally lasered people during a speech. Laser pointers are great, but it can be a safety issue.

    • reddfugee@lemmy.world
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      10 months ago

      I kinda love this for webcasts though. We use Panopto and it shows you the digital slides and a camera view of the lecturer, so whenever the speaker uses a laser pointer the remote audience can’t see what they’re pointing at.

    • Kecessa@sh.itjust.works
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      10 months ago

      Hence why there’s a butt load of scientists that express opinions that go against the scientific consensus, most of the time they’re talking about stuff that’s out of their actual specialty.