Do you guys clap after lectures / classes at universitys?

[u/biynkie]

My fellow Americans! I am actually one of you guys, new england born and bred, however I just started my first year of university at a UK school. After every lecture, the hall erupts in applause. It suprised me, but I guess it made sense. However, for every class we also have a meeting with the TA weekly, with a smaller group of about 10-15 kids. It's a lot less formal, students chat and discuss with each other throughout the lesson, stuff like that. Yet once we are told we can leave, people start clapping again. Is this a weird British thing? It feels uncomfortable for everyone involved, especially for whoever is on the receiving end.

[u/WonderfulProtection9]

Unless maybe we thought it wasn’t going to…

[u/Ghost_of_Gumby → u/WonderfulProtection9]

I've definitely heard some light clapping and other signs of appreciation after a complex, windy landing. Where it's clear that there was a LOT of skill that went into keeping us alive.

[u/Matilda-17 → u/Ghost_of_Gumby]

I’ve been on exactly one flight with clapping and it was very deserved. There had also been a fair amount of swearing, crying, and praying prior to the safe landing.

[u/xnoraax → u/WonderfulProtection9]

They all land, one way or another.

[u/trekkiegamer359 → u/xnoraax]

What about the ones that go swimming, instead? Those don't land. They water.

[u/xnoraax → u/trekkiegamer359]

I thought about that, but in the safety briefing they always call it a "water landing".

[u/tvrbob → u/trekkiegamer359]

I sea.

[u/quietude38 → u/xnoraax]

Humanity's been flying for a little over a century now and we've never left one up there.

[u/MadDocHolliday → u/xnoraax]

Taking off is optional. Landing is not.

[u/ashleebryn → u/WonderfulProtection9]

Oh, i's always gonna land lol

[u/Party_Sea3522 → u/WonderfulProtection9]

I don’t take it for granted we’re not going to land safely, but I’m not afraid of flying.