There must be something in the air this spring? Do you notice that students are becoming more rude? I have had several instances in my classes during the past couple of weeks where I was sorely tempted to "blow my top." Instead I kept my cool and ignored it, but it wasn't easy.

Things like pairs of students whispering/laughing constantly during class, routine extreme lateness, or getting up and leaving the room & returning sometimes even more than once during class, etc.

I am not some authoritarian control freak, and I was never bothered by students who are slightly late occasionally, or have to get up during class to go to the bathroom. But this semester it is ridiculous, like a revolving door.

Where are they going? To smoke? Pee? Get water? Text? Take phone calls? Use the Internet (there are computers everywhere near the classrooms).

On the last day of each class (1 down 2 to go) I am bringing up the various behaviors - in a nonconfrontational way - to get feedback on what is made students act this way this semester. I'm trying to figure out if I should start addressing it in the syllabus and on the first day of class to nip it in the bud.
 

One piece of advice that I have gotten as a TA is that the rules for behavior should be laid down at the beginning of the semester so that the students know the boundaries upfront. I know some profs who do include their rules on the syllabus. That way, no one can claim ignorance.

As for students being more rude during this spring, I have no idea. I'm only taking two classes with 6 to 8 students each. The interactions between profs and students have been fairly informal so I wasn't really expecting or thinking about a blow up at all. (Although considering this particular prof's normal temperament and personality, I guess it wasn't too surprising.)