I'm not sure where this particular habit comes from, but, for as long as I can remember, I have always felt the need to step up and try and answer questions in class when everyone else refuses to bite the bullet. There's just something so depressing about seeing a teacher trying to stimulate a class only to see the enthusiasm drain from their face when they realize it's so obviously not working. It honestly breaks my heart. Some teachers bounce back from their disappointment alright and just put people on the spot to answer, but from my experience it's the younger teachers (such as my Intro to Philosophy teacher) that take it harder and seem to refuse to call someone out and force them to start the collaboration.
There's something so satisfying when you inevitably raise your hand and see the blood rush back to their face and a new exuberance to discuss whatever monotonous topic they brought up to begin with. There is almost an unspoken "thank you" to express how grateful they are to escape from a rather awkward situation. Typically, their appreciation allows them to not judge whatever bogus reply you blurt out in the process. You can try and claim that Paul Revere defeated Hitler at The Battle of Bunker Hill in 1492, and they would still let you down gently just to ensure that others wouldn't feel threatened to join in the conversation. I may not be curing Polio or rescuing a kitten from a tree, but, every time I get to bail a teacher out by speaking up in class, it makes me feel like I did my charitable deed for the day.
Haha, this is awesome. I know exactly what you mean, and I'm a little ashamed to admit that I usually wasn't the one who set my poor professors free. On a semi-rare occasion, I would put in my two cents just to contribute something, but for the most part, I was the quiet kid who only spoke up when I felt like I was being singled out in some way. It's a miracle I received the grades I did in my small English courses, where speaking up was a must. Perhaps my professors simply liked my papers. I was always a much stronger writer than speaker after all.
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