All the different types of people you will find in your Lancs uni online seminars

Now that we have had almost six weeks of online lectures and seminars, it has become pretty clear the different types of people that populate them. Online learning has made everyone go a bit crazy, so seminars are no longer boring and painful to get through, instead they offer some very bizarre elements of comedy. The only thing missing is being able to go to Greggs afterwards and watch the ducks waddle through Alex Square, but we will have to wait until next term for that (fingers crossed).

So, for now, these are the seven types of people you will find in your Lancs uni online seminar, and if you don’t, then you’re definitely missing out.

The one that answers all the questions

This is the most obvious one. Even in in-person seminars there is always that one person that does not know how to shut up. The tutor and this one person may as well just have their own Teams call (you would tell them to get a room but that’d be breaking lockdown rules) because everyone else is just sat there like lemons, wondering why they even bothered to join the call in the first place. However, on Teams you can mute them whereas you can’t do that in person, so it’s a win win situation really. Another perk is you’re not asked any questions which is a bonus, because you probably didn’t do the reading anyway.

The one that joins then leaves after five minutes

The next person you will find in your online seminar is the one that gets the check in code and then leaves as if they were never even there. Just like checking in outside the lecture when we were on campus, this is the new online version of cheating the system. However, you can do it from the comfort of your bed. The only downside to this is everyone getting the notification in the chat and getting jealous of you having the confidence and audacity to check in and leave. An absolute daylight robbery.

The one that forgets to turn off their mic

Now this is something that we are not used to, but it is definitely a new added bonus. There is nothing more entertaining than someone having a conversation with their flatmate or even talking to themselves without realising that everyone else can hear them. Whether they’re slagging off the seminar/tutor, or just talking about their cat, it’s something that adds a lot of entertainment to everyone’s day.

The one that leaves their camera on when everyone else’s is off

Again, another unexpected but also comical element to online seminars. It’s always funny watching what people do when they don’t think anyone can see them. It’s something that I never knew I needed in a seminar. This somehow makes online learning more bearable, potentially the only good thing to come out of lockdown.

The one that joins 40 mins into the seminar

This is a bit less subtle than joining at the start then leaving. By doing this you’re most likely going to get the tutor’s attention. However, by this point the tutor is far too engrossed in their own seminar, that your risk could pay off. But it’s a dangerous game, yet I applaud your bravery.

The one who pretends their connection is bad so they don’t have to answer a question

Now this is something that I have seen all over TikTok. The idea is to play a crackling sound, so that you don’t have to answer a question that you don’t know the answer too. I have yet to try this myself, but it seems like a great way to get out of a very awkward and embarrassing situation. But you don’t want to make it too obvious, you don’t want to be caught out. That would be even more embarrassing than answering the question and getting it wrong.

 A crazy, over-sharing tutor

Seminars online have made the tutors reveal everything about their lives. Their dog joins the Teams call, they show us their baby scans, they play music. They share their whole lives in a one-hour seminar and to be honest on one hand it’s quite fascinating but on the other hand, rather odd.

Nevertheless, I actually quite enjoy going to my online seminars just to witness all these strange and comical things that happen. Each seminar provides me with some new form of entertainment that I didn’t even realise I needed. So, although we don’t get to leave our rooms, these bizarre Teams calls are at least offering a small bit of humour in these unpredictable times.

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