Gould Effect

In my first Columbia law school class, the chattering of smart fingers typing on laptops was like a swarm of locusts. Standard lecture hall style. Professor looks, and talks, exactly like Alan Alda in GlenGary Glen Ross.

The next class, a seminar in a small room with 15 people around a circular table, is deadly still. Everybody sits like statues with laptops open and listens to the professor but takes almost no notes for some strange reason. To avoid drawing attention to myself, I learn to type ninja-style, softly, 100% silent, and rather than use the button to click I tap the slide pad which doesn't make a sound.