how rude can you be?

The professor in my Western European politics class can be difficult to handle. This is her first year here, coming from the French system. As such, she is very much feeling her way through things. She teaches in the French lecture style. When we learned that meant no books were required, and we could simply borrow related books from the library if we chose, this was good. To me, she was pretty clear what her expectations were...namely, we follow the news on U.K., French, German and Italian politics, and each week she would mention what we would cover the following week...or we could always look at the syllabus, which had the same information...not exactly strenuous work load. We have, for our grade, 1 20 minute, 3 or 4 person presentation, 1 4 - 5 page paper, 1 quiz consisting of 10 multiple choice questions and 5 2 - 3 sentence answers, and 1 10 - 12 page paper on a subject of our choosing. Again...not exactly a high course load.
Okay, so in lecture, she has a very heavy accent and some...interesting pronunciations of words. Remember, this is her first year here.
So yes, I admit, it can be a bit hard to follow her lectures, but that is just how it is. I could say the same thing about many of the professors I have had throughout the years. And one thing doesn't change.
Talking to your neighbor in class is rude. Not just to the instructor...also to your fellow students. Reading a newspaper during class is rude. Doing crossword puzzles is rude. I could go on, but why? You get the point. This is, by far, the rudest class I have ever been around. There are 4, 5, 6 conversations going on while she is lecturing, people doing their e-mail on lap tops, I have seen people doing the crossword puzzles, seduko (sic), reading the Willamette Weekly, etc. If I were the teacher, I would be throwing people out of class. She...just lets it go.
Then the students want to know why they fare poorly on their tests. Here is a clue...you weren't paying attention to the lecture? You have left early every week...or at least, every week when you bothered to show up? And I am willing to bet you have not done the work outside class, either...studying the news, doing independant reading, etc.
I don't feel a bit sorry for them. In fact...I pretty much despise my fellow students in that class and find them, pretty much without exception, to be jerks. I would love to stick a spork in their eye. But I don't want to waste a spork. Unlike them, sporks have value.
I am still trying to figure out how these students decided this behavior was acceptable. Maybe I am just from the wrong generation. Maybe I am just old fashioned and believe courtesy and respect still have a place in the world. Or maybe...just maybe...some spoiled brats need a whooping.