would it be rude to knit?

[DottyG]

I'm going to have to disagree with everyone else (even with Miss Manners).

I do think it's rude to be actively doing something else while attempting to listen to a lecture.  And I am also someone that is always doing two things at once.  There's more than a good chance, especially since this is an open lecture, that it's going to distract others - no matter where you sit.  Aside from this, listening/audience participation requires that your attention be on the speaker.  Yes, I realize that people can do more than 1 thing at once, but the fact is that your attention is still divided.  Think about it from the speakers perspective also.  I cant imagine a speaker being pleased that members of the audience are doing something else, while he has taken the time to speak to them.  I also find the notion that learning isnt productive is counter-productive.  jmo. ymmv. 

I'm going to agree to disagree WITH you.  In other words, I agree with what you said completely.

People are there to pay attention.  And, despite what knitters think, the impression given is that you're NOT paying attention.

Not only that, but if someone were knitting near me, it would highly distracting to me.  I would not have brought outside things to amuse me, and having the clicking and/or movement would annoy me.  Things like that - as well as talking, rattling things, and other distractions - really don't sit well with me in lectures, movies, plays or anywhere else that people should be sitting still and quiet.

Sorry, but I'm saying absolutely not to knitting at the lecture.  I think it's rude to both the speakers AND the people around you.  You need to learn to sit still and quiet.  You ARE being "productive" by listening to the lecture and not being a distraction to others.  You can think of it that way, if you're that bothered by not doing something with your hands.  Heck, twiddle your thumbs, if you have to be moving around.  But, don't do something that's rude to the people around you.

[demarco]

I'm going to go with not knitting.  It can be annoying to the people around you and disrespectful to the speaker.  I might feel differently if you had some small project you could keep in your lap that wouldn't make a clacking noise, like crocheting (one hook, no clacking). 

[sasha]

part of the reason I want to take my knitting along is that at about 30% of these lectures the speaker is either boring or using language that is waaaay over my head.

Then why are you going?

Count me among the folks who think knitting during a lecture is very rude. As a student I would find it distracting, and as a lecturer I would find it insulting. I imagine it will not reflect well on your DH, either.

Sasha

[amaiaisabella]

I am myself a knitter but I would not knit in a class.  Everyone says how it relaxes them, keeps their hands occupied, gives them something to do.  Unless you really can sit in a corner away from all the others don't do it.  The movement and sounds drive certain other people to distraction.  I'm sure some of the people at this open lecture want to hear every word and some of them may be easily distracted.

This is perfectly stated. One thing this site has taught me is that it has increased my awareness of others, and subsequently my consideration of them, both in public and in private.

[ShadesOfGrey]

part of the reason I want to take my knitting along is that at about 30% of these lectures the speaker is either boring or using language that is waaaay over my head.

but wait - that's flat out rude.  You are directly saying that you'll actively participate in something else while your attention should be on another activity.  Sorry, in this case, I think it's best to leave the knitting at home. 

[jimithing]

I'm going to have to disagree with everyone else (even with Miss Manners).

I do think it's rude to be actively doing something else while attempting to listen to a lecture.  And I am also someone that is always doing two things at once.  There's more than a good chance, especially since this is an open lecture, that it's going to distract others - no matter where you sit.  Aside from this, listening/audience participation requires that your attention be on the speaker.  Yes, I realize that people can do more than 1 thing at once, but the fact is that your attention is still divided.  Think about it from the speakers perspective also.  I cant imagine a speaker being pleased that members of the audience are doing something else, while he has taken the time to speak to them.  I also find the notion that learning isnt productive is counter-productive.  jmo. ymmv. 

I also completely agree.  I have been a teacher in many scenarios, and when I see people doing other things, it really makes me think I am a horrible teacher or lecturer.  I believe that if you are going to listen to a speaker, that's what you are there to do.  This really does give off the vibe that the person in the audience would rather be anywhere than there.

[Carnations]

I have to agree that it would be rude to knit.   The lecturer may think that he or she isn't interesting enough to hold your attention and the other attendees may be distracted by the noise and movement of your knitting.  In general, I think it's best not to draw attention to oneself while in a situation like this and I think doing something unusual like knitting is bound to do just that.

[Aeris]

To me, it all comes down to size.

If it's a classroom, with 30 people - no. It can, occasionally, give the impression that you aren't paying attention (even if you totally are). It's also rather obvious in that setting.

If it's a huge ginormous lecture hall with 400 seats and 75% full - I think it's fine. The lecturer isn't going to notice, and there are going to be people multitasking. (At least, that has been my experience with lectures of this size/type).

I'm personally only concerned about disrespect to the lecturer themselves and distraction in a 'small group' environment. I understand what people are saying, but I honestly wouldn't be that concerned about distracting other people during a large open lecture - I'm assuming the knitting would be of a non-distracting nature, i.e., nothing enormous, sparkly, or overly complicated, no long needles, no complex setup. If something very small and relatively unobtrusive distracts the person next to me so much that they cannot hear, how in the world would they ever manage if I were furiously scribbling notes with a scratchy pencil, or furiously taking notes on my laptop... CLICKETY CLICKETY CLICK CLICK CLICK! That was law school. 125 Clickety clickers in a room all clickety clicking away at the same time. Knitting would have been many times LESS distracting.

[Hawkwatcher]

part of the reason I want to take my knitting along is that at about 30% of these lectures the speaker is either boring or using language that is waaaay over my head.

Then why are you going?

Count me among the folks who think knitting during a lecture is very rude. As a student I would find it distracting, and as a lecturer I would find it insulting. I imagine it will not reflect well on your DH, either.

Sasha

I agree that the OP should not bring her knitting.  Even if the lecturer is not insulted, some of her husband's faculty may notice and it may not reflect well on him.  Fair or not, graduate school can be very political and getting on the bad side of faculty can have serious consequences. 

[Monkey'sMom]

I also think that doing crafts in class or a meeting is extremely rude. My 6 yr old would call it "not respecting the speaker". She says a respectful listener has a closed mouth, open ears, and still hands.

My DB works with women who knit, and do so during all staff meetings. It drives him crazy. It gives the appereace that it is sooo boring that they need something to entertain themselves.

I don't have any problem with doing it while chatting, but to do so in a formal setting gives a very bad impression of yourself.

[Mammavan]

 You ARE being "productive" by listening to the lecture and not being a distraction to others.  

Exactly!  I think we've carried multi-tasking to ridiculous ends, and I find myself to be one of the biggest offenders.  It's gotten to the point where I cannot sit down and watch a television program or speak on the phone and give it my full attention; I have to be reading, sorting, folding, stitching, etc.  I've read several articles in the past few months about the problems this is creating.  You cannot give full attention to more than one task at a time, unless one is totally mindless, repetitive task, and even that can is problematic.  You're actually less productive when you try to multi-task.

Sorry to take this O/T, but that sentence was one that jumped out at me in the OP.

[mimi_cat]

I would leave the knitting at home.  While you may feel comfortable that you can knit AND pay attention to the lecture, the speaker has no way of knowing that.  

I once good a graduate class where one of my classmates would knit.  It was distracting as a fellow student, and when I had to give presentations, it was even more distracting.  

[Witty Username Goes Here]

I knit, but I would probably not knit in a public lecture.  Mostly because I only make large blankets, and I drop stiches a lot, which prompts yelling.  

[Bethczar]

To me, it all comes down to size.

If it's a classroom, with 30 people - no. It can, occasionally, give the impression that you aren't paying attention (even if you totally are). It's also rather obvious in that setting.

If it's a huge ginormous lecture hall with 400 seats and 75% full - I think it's fine. The lecturer isn't going to notice, and there are going to be people multitasking. (At least, that has been my experience with lectures of this size/type).

I'm personally only concerned about disrespect to the lecturer themselves and distraction in a 'small group' environment. I understand what people are saying, but I honestly wouldn't be that concerned about distracting other people during a large open lecture - I'm assuming the knitting would be of a non-distracting nature, i.e., nothing enormous, sparkly, or overly complicated, no long needles, no complex setup. If something very small and relatively unobtrusive distracts the person next to me so much that they cannot hear, how in the world would they ever manage if I were furiously scribbling notes with a scratchy pencil, or furiously taking notes on my laptop... CLICKETY CLICKETY CLICK CLICK CLICK! That was law school. 125 Clickety clickers in a room all clickety clicking away at the same time. Knitting would have been many times LESS distracting.

I have to say, for me, the distraction is in the motion. Therefore, if I am in a lecture hall with 400 people and you are sitting near me, it would still be distracting. It may seem unobtrusive to you (generic you) but knitting involves a different type of motion than writing and it "jars" me.

[kingsrings]

Echoing what others have said. Mostly, it’s a distraction to others. As someone who has performed on stage many times, we can see what is going on in the audience, and the constant flashing and movement of knitting needles would stand out and be distracting to the speaker as well as the fellow audience members. And like others have already said, it looks rude, as if you are telling the speaker that they are not that interesting to you, so you must bring along something to occupy your time.