I don’t even have to say one word about how much time on average a student spends per day just browsing through Facebook. We all know how much time we spend, and how that is affecting us and our grades. There is obviously no problem with spending as much time on Facebook as you want as long as you are using your own computer and NOT a public computer such as the ones in the computer labs throughout the campus or the library. That is a problem, and in my opinion a big one.

Often I see that there’s a fairly long line with anxious students who are desperately trying to get their hands on a computer just to finish typing their essays, or make their last corrections to their papers before printing and handing it in, but then there are those on the computers who are just sitting there very relax, taking their sweet time and just looking at pictures or playing the “farmville” game on Facebook. They just sit there for hours behind the computer and watch videos on YouTube, put their headphones on and listen to their favorite music, and play all sorts of different games. You name it, they’ll do just to have fun. Once in a while they look up and see those faces who are thinking when is it going to be their turn?  They know too that there are people waiting to use the computers for more urgent and serious matters, but then again they don’t have to be courteous and they are NOT. They look back down to their screens and continue on doing what they were as if there is nobody waiting to use the computers.

Are those students who play games, watch videos, listen to music and simply use the computers for entertianment doing something against the school policy?

I don’t think so. I have never heard of, or seen a post saying that you CANNOT use the computers for purposes other than academic and school related matters. In fact it shouldn’t be that way. Policing computers and having somebody walk around making sure such a rule is being enforced would seriously hurt the image of the school. At last we are all adults and we are college students. I remember they did that in high school but this is not high school anymore.

However if policing computers and enforcing policies to eliminate this problem is not a good solution then what is?

I just think that students should be more considerate about other students. It should not be enforced, rather it should be addressed and discussed. It is up to students to make sure that they care for their fellow students and their problems. To Increase one’s level of understanding, care, respect, courtesy and tolerance for others is an inseparable part of the learning process. It is not just about your GPA and the A’s that you get in your classes, things as insignificant as the problem discussed above are just as important, perhaps even more important.

Please remember that though it is OK to play games, browse through Facebook, listen to your favorite music, and watch videos on YouTube while using any of the public computers on campus, it is NOT OK to do those while there are people waiting to use the computers.

Try to use the computers during the free hour for urgent matters ONLY for that is the time many people would run to computer labs between their classes to simply print a page or two that they need. Earlier in the morning and later in the evenings usually after 6 PM computers labs are less busy, therefore you can enjoy using the computers freely.

Just respect others.

Treat everyone just the way you like them to treat you!