This class is getting more and more frustrating. I just found out we're using VoiceThread for in-class discussions. If you haven't heard of it, it's a web-based communications client that lets a bunch of people record and upload comments in chronological order while simultaneously viewing a powerpoint. Why is this silly? It has literally no advantage over the
already built-in text based format that all other online classes at this college use. (Read: a forum.) Some people don't have microphones and have to type everything out anyway to appear in annoying popups. Most people talk
like this into their microphones, but later realize their mistake and
SHOUT into the microphone. Everyone is at a different volume level. It's hard to pay attention when you have one hand on your volume control knob, hoping your shitty speakers don't blow out when Mrs. 60-year-old-community-college-student starts screaming bloody murder instead of calmly introducing herself. And
of course the previous person will whisper into the microphone so that you have to max your volume to hear them. (And then it immediately and automatically jumps to the next comment.)
My intercultural communications teacher is citing bullshit polls about how '90% of Americans can't find anything on a map, we're multiculturally retarded herp derp' as fact, and assumes that we are all similarly bad at geography.
Okay, they might be right about this class. Someone just introduced themselves and said that they'd like to travel to Australia because *giggle* [sic] they like kangaroos *extended giggle* [sic] and the language. (WHA- *facedesk* I was sure yon Aussies spoke English, too.)