Irina D. (2) (SEE) - On Explanations

When people explain things, it's hard for me to listen for a long time. My attention drifts during tedious explanations. Irritation sets in. Everything inside me starts to boil. I stop listening. In those cases, my reaction depends on who is in front of me. I might cut them off or bark, "Alright, that’s enough!" Or I might be soft: "Yes, yes, I get it"—and I’ll just sit and endure it. I get nervous if I don't understand anything—it’s a nightmare!

Sometimes I might say, "Excuse me, let's keep it simpler." From some people, I just walk away.

In class, I sit with my friends: the teacher explains, I listen with one ear, and if they suddenly say something interesting, I put on a "smart face" and listen as long as it's interesting. If they start going too deep into the explanation, I tune out and do my own thing. If they call on me and give me a "D," I don't care: a "D" is a "D," I'll fix it, no big deal! I was a very good student, straight A's. If I heard it in class, I wouldn't study at home.

I respect smart people; I’ve listened to them my whole life. I have a hard time absorbing highly specific technical information. My father was very smart and very kind. If people are saying smart things in my presence, I put on a smart face.

I have a certain "drive" (or pressure); I can present things in a way that people don't doubt me. Even if I don't know the subject very well, I can deliver information so effectively that rarely can anyone resist it.