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1L social dynamics in the spring
Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2012 2:15 pm
by thesteelers
Has anyone else notice how the social dynamic in class has changed in the spring semester? People who were cocky at the beginning of last semester are a little more quiet now and aren't raising their hands so much in class. Everyone seems a little more focused and over the partying scene. Some people even sound a little bitter and uncertain.
Also, the cliques seems to have solidified. A lot of people won't even say hi if you're not in their clique, even if you're in their section. And a couple of the 2Ls I was friendly with last semester seem a little more distant and less willing to talk now. One guy in my class, who I barely noticed last semester even though we sat next to each other in one class, is now so lonely that he's taken to tagging after me and my group of friends everywhere and is desperate to be included in everything - which is fine, obviously, but it's just bizarre that he feels so insecure. The atmosphere of High School 2.0 has become more real. Is firm culture going to be like this too?
And you know what I find really silly about the cliques? There are a couple of really cool people who I am interested in getting to know better, but you have to meet them one-on-one outside their clique just to have a normal conversation with them (I don't understand why), and that's so rare because everyone here walks in packs. But when you do get them when they're on their own, they suddenly start talking like normal adults again. So weird. :/
Anyone else noticed similar changes in their class?
Re: 1L social dynamics in the spring
Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2012 2:22 pm
by kwais
sounds like middle school
Re: 1L social dynamics in the spring
Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2012 2:24 pm
by Sirius
Your school sounds like it sucks
Re: 1L social dynamics in the spring
Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2012 2:31 pm
by thesealocust
Breaking news: Law school sucks, students strung out and obnoxious. More at 11.
Re: 1L social dynamics in the spring
Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2012 2:35 pm
by thesteelers
Sirius wrote:Your school sounds like it sucks
Yeah, but I think it's not uncommon. Do you attend Never Never Land Law School or something?
Re: 1L social dynamics in the spring
Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2012 2:36 pm
by kwais
thesealocust wrote:Breaking news: Law school sucks, students strung out and obnoxious. More at 11.
heard this a lot pre-LS and it didn't turn out to be true for me. Maybe my school is different or maybe TLS people are disproportionately poor in the social department
Re: 1L social dynamics in the spring
Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2012 2:39 pm
by merc280
closer to finals last semester people became pretty closed up in their groups an even outright backstabbing in some cases. I think it might loosen up this semester but the groups will stay united.
Re: 1L social dynamics in the spring
Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2012 2:59 pm
by Lasers
only thing i noticed is that people are a lot more focused on studying/jobs than they seemed like they were last semester.
Re: 1L social dynamics in the spring
Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2012 4:16 pm
by Antilles Haven
thesteelers wrote:Sirius wrote:Your school sounds like it sucks
Yeah, but I think it's not uncommon. Do you attend Never Never Land Law School or something?
No, your school sounds like it sucks. Nobody is denying that when you put a large group of people closely together that natural circles of friends will form, but it's normally not malicious to the extent yours sounds like it is.
Re: 1L social dynamics in the spring
Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2012 4:17 pm
by johansantana21
I did well 1st semester. I never volunteered. I doubt I'll ever volunteer 2nd semester.
Re: 1L social dynamics in the spring
Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2012 4:45 pm
by fatduck
no one will talk to anyone not in their clique, so high school
this dude outside my clique keeps following us around wanting to hang with us, what the fuck is his deal?
Re: 1L social dynamics in the spring
Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2012 4:59 pm
by MrPapagiorgio
kwais wrote:thesealocust wrote:Breaking news: Law school sucks, students strung out and obnoxious. More at 11.
heard this a lot pre-LS and it didn't turn out to be true for me. Maybe my school is different or maybe TLS people are disproportionately poor in the social department
Agreed. I feel like my LS is a good balance of bright people but who understand how to interact with others in a positive/normal manner.
In a general answer to OPs first point: LS grades are a humbling process for many. In the first semester, we had the luxury of not knowing where we stand relative to our classmates. Now that grades are in (not for every school but for many), many people who felt confident now feel distraught and bitter/uncertain because the reality of how difficult law school exams are has finally hit them in the face. For those who did poorly, they obviously may feel less inclined to socialize and more focused on improving on their performance from the fall. They may be acting differently because they are nervous about their future following poor performances on exams.
Re: 1L social dynamics in the spring
Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2012 5:30 pm
by Always Credited
fatduck wrote:no one will talk to anyone not in their clique, so high school
this dude outside my clique keeps following us around wanting to hang with us, what the fuck is his deal?
Re: 1L social dynamics in the spring
Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2012 6:39 pm
by jess
.
Re: 1L social dynamics in the spring
Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2012 7:57 pm
by thesteelers
fatduck wrote:no one will talk to anyone not in their clique, so high school
this dude outside my clique keeps following us around wanting to hang with us, what the fuck is his deal?
Okay...let me make sure nobody misunderstands what I was saying. I'm not hating on some dude for trying to join in, I really don't mind if he wants to (as I said in my original post). He's a nice guy, I enjoy his company, and even if I didn't enjoy his company I wouldn't try to snub him or anything. The point I was trying to make is that he felt lonely/insecure to that extent.
My school is actually really sociable, but being sociable on a superficial level and making friends are two different things.
Re: 1L social dynamics in the spring
Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2012 9:48 pm
by AVBucks4239
I agree with a lot of posters that my section has a lot of really normal, cool people to talk to. There are cliques, but they are interchangeable and everybody gets along pretty well.
The only thing that is driving me nuts is people are relentless asking me about my grades. I told people last semester that I was going to keep grades to myself, whether I got an A or a C. But people keep on asking and it's driving me nuts.
I don't know whether to just tell people so they shut the hell up or just wait and let the obsession with first semester grades die down. I did pretty well (top 10%), so either choice seems like a lose-lose, so who cares.
Re: 1L social dynamics in the spring
Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2012 12:21 am
by thesealocust
AVBucks4239 wrote:But people keep on asking and it's driving me nuts.
The only winning move is not to play
Re: 1L social dynamics in the spring
Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2012 12:27 am
by D'Angelo
"The game is rigged, Cedric."
Re: 1L social dynamics in the spring
Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2012 1:48 am
by shock259
Random:
Our grades are still trickling in and classes haven't started yet, but everything seems the same thus far. I don't expect much will really change, to be honest. My class has plenty of annoying people, but most are decent enough that I don't mind having a conversation with them. We go out and drink together a lot, so maybe that softens the tension a bit. And yes, there are definitely cliques, but it seems like human nature to group up a little bit. Just gotta roll with it, as this is going to happen in pretty much all stages of life.
I think you are reading a bit too much into the social dynamic of things. I plan on hanging out with as many of my non-LS friends as I can this semester, just like last semester. I still probably split my time 50/50, but that keeps me sane. The problem with law students is that they tend to talk about law school all the time. And I generally socialize to take a break from my work, not to remember it or think about it some more.
Also: I've run into a few people that insist on telling me their grades and asking about mine. I'm just vague when LS acquaintances ask ("I did well" or "I'm happy with the result"). They can spill their life story if they want and I'll listen, but I'm not going to let it compel me to share. I'll tell my good friends my grades if they ask, though.
Re: 1L social dynamics in the spring
Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2012 1:08 pm
by romothesavior
Drink moar.
Re: 1L social dynamics in the spring
Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2012 4:11 pm
by AVBucks4239
shock259 wrote:Also: I've run into a few people that insist on telling me their grades and asking about mine. I'm just vague when LS acquaintances ask ("I did well" or "I'm happy with the result"). They can spill their life story if they want and I'll listen, but I'm not going to let it compel me to share. I'll tell my good friends my grades if they ask, though.
This is exactly how I've approached it. It's like they think, "If I tell him my grade, he will tell me his." No, unless you're one of my good friends, sorry.
Re: 1L social dynamics in the spring
Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2012 4:23 pm
by Extension_Cord
half of the people who always raised their hand in class are on academic probation at my school. I somewhat respect that they haven't changed, but it still annoys me.
The cliques, definately has become more obvious.
Re: 1L social dynamics in the spring
Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2012 5:12 pm
by dreakol
Extension_Cord wrote:half of the people who always raised their hand in class are on academic probation at my school. I somewhat respect that they haven't changed, but it still annoys me.
The cliques, definately has become more obvious.
how do you know they are on academic probation?
Re: 1L social dynamics in the spring
Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2012 6:57 pm
by Extension_Cord
dreakol wrote:Extension_Cord wrote:half of the people who always raised their hand in class are on academic probation at my school. I somewhat respect that they haven't changed, but it still annoys me.
The cliques, definately has become more obvious.
how do you know they are on academic probation?
If your gpa falls below a certain point you have to take a seperate class. They are in that class.
Re: 1L social dynamics in the spring
Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2012 7:06 pm
by thesealocust
Extension_Cord wrote:dreakol wrote:Extension_Cord wrote:half of the people who always raised their hand in class are on academic probation at my school. I somewhat respect that they haven't changed, but it still annoys me.
The cliques, definately has become more obvious.
how do you know they are on academic probation?
If your gpa falls below a certain point you have to take a seperate class. They are in that class.
...what school do you go to?