Can I vent about people and their crap for a minute??Day TWO!!!

So, a majority of my job is doing presentations - usually intensive, 3-day trainings with a great deal of information - I use PowerPoint, videos, and hands-on activities. I try to keep it fun and interactive.

I train therapists, teachers, parents, etc.

Usually I get great groups who make it fun, we all have a great time.

So, today and for the next 2 days I am presenting in a district that will be starting autism classrooms and programs.

All through the training, there were 2 women chatting and talking all through the presentation. Several times, I actually had to stop and ask if they had to discuss something, to please do so outside (it was a small group)

would you believe they STILL talked all though the day? It really is distracting, not to mention rude. I try to be nice about it, but after the 5th time, I started addressing it directly. I even joked when one of the women said - "Is this REALLY going untl 3pm?" (also rude) And I said, "Oh yes - and you may need to stay later because you missed so much information while you were talking away over there" Which resulted in everyone laughing (and her shutting up for a while)

THEN - the OTHER lady (The other talker - after standing in the back and continuing to gab to anyone near her) sits down in front of me and pulls out a friggen CROSSWORD puzzle, and does it - in the front row, in front of me

After 30 minutes (it was towards the end of the day) of her doing the puzzle, I made a mention to her that the next few days, I am going to need her to focus on the information because it will become more intensive, and this is information she will need to work with very difficult students. She quipped, "This is how I concentrate. I'm a little autistic too."

The next 2 days are going to be REALLLLLLLLLYYYYYYYY long!!!!!!!!!

Message edited 5/14/2009 12:26:33 PM.

Re: Can I vent about people and their crap for a minute??

Sorry you have to put up with that. Maybe you can pull her aside tomorrow and say, "I don't want to put you on the spot in front of the whole group, but you do need to focus, and the first thing you need to learn if you're going to work with these special kids is not to throw that word around like that in front of them and their parents."

Re: Can I vent about people and their crap for a minute??

All I can say is WOW!!


I'm a professional developer as well -- is there any way you can break the chatty duo up --- maybe create group tasks and assign them both to different groups?

Re: Can I vent about people and their crap for a minute??

wow..

I am quite afraid for the students miss crossword will be teaching....

it must have been frustrating to be trying to present material you care about to them and have them behave in that manner...very unprofessional of them...

Re: Can I vent about people and their crap for a minute??

I would seriously tell her supervior/principal and ask them to maybe pop in to check the group. That was totally unprofessional not to mention the fact that they should be NO WHERE NEAR CHILDREN!

Re: Can I vent about people and their crap for a minute??

Message edited 11/28/2011 9:23:49 PM.

Re: Can I vent about people and their crap for a minute??

Re: Can I vent about people and their crap for a minute??

Message edited 9/1/2011 7:12:59 PM.

Re: Can I vent about people and their crap for a minute??

What scares me most is that these people are shaping the youth of America. I hope they realize how ridiculous and rude they are. Sorry you have to deal with that

Re: Can I vent about people and their crap for a minute??

Posted by JoesWife628

What scares me most is that these people are shaping the youth of America. I hope they realize how ridiculous and rude they are. Sorry you have to deal with that

Re: Can I vent about people and their crap for a minute??

Re: Can I vent about people and their crap for a minute??

Re: Can I vent about people and their crap for a minute??

Re: Can I vent about people and their crap for a minute??

SO sick!!!!!

I hate how people act when 'presentations' are their days off. NO! You need to LEARN!!!!!!!

Re: Can I vent about people and their crap for a minute??

i am so sorry you had to deal with that. i am a teacher and have seen my share of OBNOXIOUS teachers at conferences talking incessantly, etc. Some people just think there is nothing more than learn about their practice and that's a shame!

Re: Can I vent about people and their crap for a minute??

I's so sorry that you had to deal with that. That is beyond rude and disrespectful. I have no tolerance for people who act like that. Some people really have no manners.

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Ugh that is so disrespectful! We had training yesterday and I was probably the only person who didn't, at one point, put their head down and sleep.

I was horrified that adults would act like that at their JOBS!!!

Re: Can I vent about people and their crap for a minute??

Yikes. I would have had to open up the tiniest can of whoop azz on those two beauties.

Re: Can I vent about people and their crap for a minute??

Wow that is awful! I mean crosswords and chatting the whole time! It is just plain rude!!

Sorry you are dealing with these people

Re: Can I vent about people and their crap for a minute??

Wow! I think it's rude when KIDS do that. An person SHOULD be able to sit and listen and not be rude by age 8, give or take. I don't let DS do that if I'm reading to him or something, and he's 6....

Re: Can I vent about people and their crap for a minute??

Posted by nrthshgrl

Posted by My3Shmoos

I would seriously tell her supervior/principal and ask them to maybe pop in to check the group. That was totally unprofessional not to mention the fact that they should be NO WHERE NEAR CHILDREN!

I agree. Looks like you know the one person to direct every single question to - since she's concentrating so hard.

Re: Can I vent about people and their crap for a minute??

Re: Can I vent about people and their crap for a minute??

So this morning I start by saying as an educator, I like to lead by example. Its my personal opinion that If I present my expectations onto a group I'm working with without outlining and defining them, and the group fails to meet them, its my fault as an educator. SO, rather than assume and expect, let me list and define. I explained that more than one person talkingn At once interferes with the presentation, but I understand people need to discuss issues and you may have difficulty reaching each other, so just go in the hallway. I also said the content is heavy, and I try to give regular breaks, but If you need an extra break to regroup, make a call, do a crossword, etc, to feel free to excuse yourself to do so, and come back when you are ready. I would rather a little At 100% than a lot At 50% or less. Would you believe those witches snapped At me and told me they were insulted that I was speaking to them like children??? I calmly said this is what I need to make this presentation flow successfully, and If was not something they were comfortable with, they can leave. One said "I don't need to leave, I have someone to talk to about this" I was like, great, thank you for agreeing to stay! People are truly amazing sometimes!!!!!

Re: Can I vent about people and their crap for a minute??Day TWO!!!

holy cow!!! i would have been livid too!

Re: Can I vent about people and their crap for a minute??Day TWO!!!

I have no words for these two. What would happen if you asked them to leave your presentation and then explain to their supervisor why they were removed?
Awful that you even had to deal with that BS.