When Not Being Stupid Is Not Enough Mon. Dec 3rd, 07

Let’s start off with an easy one:

You show some interest.
I respond.
I respond again, with no response.
I hang my hat. And move on.
You show interest again, even more inviting this time.
I figure, okay, why not.
But again, I respond.
I respond. And no response.
I once again hang my hat, this time with conscious temerity in the terminus.
You show interest yet again.
This time Bogart a la Rick Blaine comes to my aide and I respond, in my own fashion, “Sascha, see her to the door.”

Alright, the next one isn’t really any different from the first, only it’s more involved.

The scene: several interrelated questions are raised: Is de Tocqueville ultimately giving American democracy a thumbs up or thumbs down? Would he do the same today? Is it necessary to even question or even think of another system besides democracy? This last question is asked rhetorically, some objections are raised, but they are brushed aside or placated by once again counting up the benefits of democracy.

Thinking to self: wow, it’s incredible. Here it is again, that jolly optimism about the US of A. It really is amazing how people generally have a strong aversion to criticizing anything at the foundation of things. I wish grabbing someone by the collar would do some good. I feel like I just boxed this employee on the ear and didn’t even get a shrug . . . maybe there’ll be a delayed reaction? Did I really have to explain that the ability for a genuinely critical perspective of an idea is surely connected to the ability to question the very existence of the idea in general? (in this case, democracy.) I’m flabbergasted.  And I think he caught me staring at him with frustration and general ill will in my eyes.

Then a fellow student remarks on the place of education in a democracy (representative democracy, however you slice it) and how its failure further proves the failings of the current system. Anecdotal evidence is brought in to the tune of that conference back in 1942 wherein a number of people in Germany decided to give a green light to a plan that would later be known as the holocaust. Fourteen of the people that voted yes had doctorate degrees in the humanities. This is then used to express a disbelief of the importance of education in democratic nations, USA in particular, and at the same is used to expess that the universal good of a democracy is beyond the reach of education and its possible pitfalls and is somehow unquestionable.

Thinking to self: wow, I can’t believe he thinks that is even worth considering as compelling evidence in this argument. One, it’s sensationalism. Two, as far as research methodology goes, it’s a wicked bad sampling. Three, and this is really kids stuff, correlation does not mean causation. I feel like I should scold him. But I’m not that kind of boss.

The point of all this is that this song is so right, right now.

When Not Being Stupid Is Not Enough.mp3 by Built to Spill Caustic Resin. Turn it way, way up.

Facebook and Young Scholars Tue. Jul 10th, 07

Interesting post on Facebook use:

But a sideline surfaced there that I though was quite remarkable. Among the 30-odd participants, I happened to be sitting at a corner where some of the younger folks, primarily grad students, were sitting. Somehow, Facebook came up in the conversation, and within minutes, there were a flurry of invites, acceptances, and the creation of a SCI group for our own internal communication. Like a fast moving blizzard, the formation of our new micro-network was over almost as quickly as it began. Notably, none of the older SCI participants - not a Luddite among them - had Facebook accounts, nor were they carrying portable electronics that would have permitted real-time participation.What I learned, and what was new to me, was just how intrinsic the use of Facebook is today among younger scholars - grad students and junior faculty - in their scholarship and teaching. Facebook, for now, is often the place where they work, collaborate, share, and plan. Grad students may run student projects using Facebook groups; they may communicate amongst each other in inter-institutional (multi-university) research projects; they may announce speakers and special events to their communities.

Read the whole post at radar.oreilly.com