to doodle whilst on jury service?

[stainesmassif]

today was my first day on a very boring case, first time juror.
for the first half of the day i had great difficulty sitting still.

after lunch i discovered that my pencil and paper - provided by the court! could be put to great use by doodling - which helped stop the fidgeting, and also aided my concentration.

so after about an hour of what was becoming fairly intricate doodling the man next to me tapped me on the knee and nodded at the pencil as if to say 'turn it in'.

AIBU to doodle? i appreciate, it is a very quiet environment, and possibly the noise of the pencil is a distraction? or am i within my rights? the pencil and paper are an open invitation to doodlers?

the judge would probably shove you off if he realised what you were doing.

i can't sit still either though, why i did jury service i spent the entire time chewing my lip, really hurt.

I suspect that the judge might take a dim view of someone doodling, because they'd assume it would take your attention away from the case, and the defendant and prosecution deserve your full attention.

I spent 2 whole weeks NOT being picked for juries (might have been the scouse accent).

Think I knitted 1 million squares for the blankets for Romanian orphanages.

YABU. You should be listening to the case. A persons future depends on getting the right verdict.

I doodle a lot in meetings and always used to during lectures at uni and lessons at school - I find, as you do, that it helps me concentrate. But it could look to other people like you're bored and not really listening, so whilst YANBU, it might be best to rein it in a bit if you can, especially in such a formal setting as a courtroom.

I don't know if its true but I was told once on a course that its proven that if you are doddling you aren't able to concentrate fully on something else so I do think yabu to the accused and possibly a bit annoying to the other jurors.

I very much doubt it's "proven" that doodling means you don't concentrate. I have the radio on all the time at home, and I find I can remember far more of the radio programs I've listened to when I've been occupied with some other task - cooking, washing up, cleaning etc - than if I'm just sitting listening.

Is the pencil and paper there for you to make notes rather than doodle on? TBH, I think YABU doodling, and it could give people the impression that you're not listening and are not a very reliable juror. Best to hide the pencil

Do you live in/near Staines?

I have started 'doodling' by writing things that people are saying. Even if its only random words, it looks like you are listening!

I read somewhere, a science journal I think, that doodling actually helps you absorb and retain information, and that it is being encouraged by certain education establishments - there was with it a psycho-babble explanation explaining why, but I can't for the life of me remember what it was - I obviously wasn't doodling while I read it.

That said (unless you can find an produce said article to everyone in the court) YABU as it will look to others like you are not paying attention - even though you are (maybe)!

I definitely find that doodling helps me concentrate, but there is obviously no way of proving it unless the judge was to shout random questions at me on the previous 10 minutes evidence. which would be a distraction to everyone. surely i can't be the only one.

eek!

i am not listening to music btw

if you're intersted, here's the article vindicating doodlers

Doodling in a big and long meeting - maybe. Doodling in a courtroom when you're meant to be listening to evidence - not great. Sorry!

Come on do tell, do you live near staines? Are you massive? Is you Ali G?

kimi - sorry, i do live near staines, when i joined mn i was massive - 9 mths pg, and yes, name is reference to Ali

we live on the east side.

I am not far from Staines myself

i expect i'll see you in a well known coffee chain, kimi!

Maybe you could get a job as the court illustrator.

ooh, no, not saying the doodles have artistic merit. unless the witnesses were triangles or houses for example.

I doodle in court.
helps me conc when very bored about calibration of LTI 20 20s

I dont like this at all actually - it may well be very boring to you but not to the person on trial or victims or anyone else involved.

If this is a wind-up fair enough but otherwise yabvu.

lol @ witnesses being triangles