Some things change, some don't. In class, there's a level of being a comedian, a clown, or a performer up there. You can't make that outrageous statement because they may misinterpret it. I feel that pressure. It's like being under a microscope.
Students are also desperate.
It's their only contact with you, so every message is read. Every nuance or lack of clarity gets jumped on. Distance education, owing to its fast-paced medium, requires instructors to remain up to date in their disciplines. So in our discussions, people would bring in current material they'd found on the Net. Or the teacher would ask our opinions about current events.