Let’s backstory just a bit.
Yesterday — taught class on Google Docs.
Today — attendee invited me to share a presentation. Caption on slide — out with the old, in with the new.
What I did — took a screen shot, placed it on twitpic, bragged about her a bit.
What I heard — when showing off the slide to some other staff and how many people viewed it was – “Wow, some people just have too much time on their hands.”
Hmmmmm
Let’s see — well except for when perhaps we might travel through time zones — we both have the same amount of hours in our days.
And my time is just as valuable as yours.
So when you say “some people have too much time on their hands”, I hear that as a chastisement or perhaps a judgement on how I choose to spend my time….when in actuality, I don’t have too much time — I have the same as you do.
And when you say “some people have too much time…..” does that mean that you don’t have time for frivolous things such as twitter — because I can assure you that twitter is not frivilous. This last week — I needed help with finding out about Interactive White Boards because I was clueless — so I went to my network and asked for help and received 198 replies. Hmmm, how many replies did you receive the last time you were stuck and needed guidance.
And when you say “some people have too much time…….” does that mean you feel that I am not doing my job…..because actually I have found that I am even more productive thatn I was before because I prioritize pretty well and don’t waste a great deal of time searching for answers when I know of many experts who are but moments away ready to help on my network.
And when you say “some people have too much time……” does that mean you see this as “fun time” rather than productive and educational time……because don’t get me started on that one.
And finally, when you say “some people have too much time……..” are you perhaps not even intrigued just a bit how this all works out so well that we are able to accomplish so much ………….
in the same amount of time that everyone has??
Just my thoughts today.
Jen
Some people don’t take enough time to learn and explore to see what some of these tools can do for them. They are short-sighted. You are not. It’s always easier to put someone else down than to pull yourself up – that’s what I hear with”some people have too much time”.
Kuddos to you. I agree that I find so much valuable information from you and other experts on twitter that I save time from researching and reading on my own. Twitter is fantastic in that it limits the talk and just provides the facts. Love it to the max!!!!
Enjoyed your post. I used to always get comments like that and was never sure how to respond. My latest school is much more in touch with tech and I hear less. Still, I’ll find something interesting from someone (like you ) and I’ll share it with my peers only to get a few comments about having too much time on my hands. Oh well, …..
I’ve heard that many times. Sometimes I laugh it off but other times of think of Clay Shirky’s response here:
http://www.shirky.com/herecome.....mouse.html
People often wear their “busy badge” with honor and anytime you ask them how they are doing, you get the same response. Whatever. We’re all busy in that we fill up our lives with all kinds of things that we feel has value. As you’ve explained above, it has value to you.
I do think there is also some jealousy in these comments. The fact that you love your job and that you have chosen sharing as your default mode is unthinkable for many. For many, the productivity you have is beyond their comprehension. You’ve invested the time to be more productive, to engage with more people and consume and create at a level the average teacher cannot fathom.
I’m not sure if you’re like me and had the luxury of time to learn outside teaching a regular classroom, but that makes a huge difference.
At times, I’ve been like Shirky and semi lost it on people, other times, I laugh it off. But yes, it bugs me.
[...] though the effort not only fails abysmally but gets thrown back in my face. Jen from Tech Thoughts By Jen blogged about this very situation yesterday. She recieved the oh-so familiar phrase, “some [...]
Dear Jen,
Thanks for supplying me with the answers that I have been looking for to that same comment from people who do not think they need Twitter or Facebook and find a need to almost “make fun” of those of us who find these very useful and productive as PLN’s. Thanks for the words i needed!
Thanks! I LOVE this…
Did you see Doug Johnson’s post in Blue Skunk Blog?
http://u.nu/7gab
It was the reverse–sort of: ““I don’t have time to read blogs.”
I must admit, though, that I think some people must have at least 48 hours in each of their days. They get so much more done than I do!
Thank you, Jen, for putting this into the words many of us hear and feel. I find it funny that many feel this way about those of us who are continuing to learn about this fabulous means of communication and even funnier that we are the ones they come to when they need something done quickly and efficiently and in an interesting, engaging way.
This was absolutely wonderful! I hear that a lot and it makes me feel irritated like I should be ashamed of doing what I do. You gave me lots of ways that I can respond to that and if others feel they can make that comment, I think I have a right, no, an obligation to set them straight.
I agree with Dean here. Jen, Thanks for bringing to light what we hear so often. It sometimes seems like the elephant in the room. We do all have the same 24 hours. I feel like I have such an opportunity to be enlightened and assisted along the way with my network, and feel fortunate to have all of you in my network.. Thanks for being the extended educator family that you are, and as for the folks who are the nay sayers, I think that as we continue to share and grow the writing will be on the wall! We need to just keep modeling and growing.
I just did a session on Personal learning Networks for educators, and had such a nice reception. Very nice people. Some folks were not totally into Twitter, as I was trying to engage them in that network as a first step, but at least the concept of the power of the PLN was left firmly in the room. WE can do what we can, and in the end, that is what we can do! I am proud of the work we do, and how we think and multi-task, and multi-think and share. It is very exciting, and I believe we will bring folks with us, as they see the power in the gifts we receive and share.
I am comforted by the fact that you have so chosen to spend your time valuing children and nurturing their interests. These kind of comments have been made repeatedly to me since being named 2009 TCEA Teacher of the Year. On my blog, I published a post about making choices. This is how I choose to spend my time and for that I am faulted. So be it then. It was actually said to my face by a “friend”, ” I would like to be able to learn to use technology too, but I have to actually teach children during the day.” Seriously, I have taught Special Education for the past 25 years. These are children too!
Thank you again for putting these feelings into such meaningful words.