“Back in the day,” there was an expression that was sometimes directed toward children: “Don’t speak unless you are spoken to.”
My parents, when I was a kid, rarely used that expression with me and my sister except under one set of circumstances: crossing the U.S. border when we used to drive south over the March Break. My parents’ fear, to be frank, was that I would chose the opportunity to try to be funny. For example, if the border patrol officer asked if we had something to declare, I might take the opportunity to declare: “Yes! My sister is a meanie.” Or, declare my favourite hockey team.
At school, in class, we were also always told to raise our hand if we had something to say. It is curious to consider how things have changed and, particularly, the impact of online learning that offers students their very own button with which they can mute or unmute themselves.