*Disclaimer: I swear I’m not moaning in this one*
As a student, I get sick of a couple of things;
- Being called a tax dodger – I have worked for the entire time I have spent at university, and paid taxes. Unlike some students I have spent no time in A&E due to drinking related activities and have never wasted police time. I’m a very good citizen thank you.
- Statements like – “10am, what are you doing up at this hour, aren’t you a student?” – honestly, it gets tiring just responding to that you know.
- ..and many more.
But one thing that has recently caught my eye, was an article in The Times. Another sly way of picking at students and their lack of concentration if you ask me. The shift in blame for lower grades is constantly changing, I suppose it was only a matter of time before they started to blame Facebook (anything but the teaching itself).
Well, I thought I’d leap to Facebook’s defence. Maybe not in a crazed Britney fan style “leave Facebook alonnneeee” way, but the positives are often overlooked.
Yes, yes, it is a very big distraction, but there have ALWAYS been distractions to getting on with your work, it’s just that the internet is the newest one. Procrastination is the key to any good piece of work if you ask me, gives you time to gather your thoughts.
My second defence is this – it is a social networking site, and networking is exactly what a university course is about. I’m working on a piece of work at the moment, for which the assignment brief is quite..well, brief. If it wasn’t for Facebook and the mediums it allows users to communicate with each other, my phone bill would be huge.
I can communicate with so many more people, and gain a wider perspective, rather than listening to random pieces of information that have been passed through the masses on the course. Though my peers, I’m now much more confident with the work that I am doing, and have also been able to pass on ‘advice’ (I use the term loosely) to others too.
It’s a support network, as well as socialising and I feel strongly that this is one of its important perks.
So, come on, leave Facebook alone. It has its bonuses!
Does anyone else have any thoughts? Am I maybe a bit blinded for my love of the ‘book?
