I’m enjoying pretty much all my classes. I’m finding History of Ancient Philosophy and Metaphysics are serving to put the nail in the coffin of the formal study of philosophy for me. I’ve always known that I didn’t want to study it long-term, and I think it’s cool that I’m just now starting to get that ‘that’s enough cookies’ feeling here at the end of my planned study.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s been tons and tons of fun, and I feel like I’ve learned an enormous amount from it. I definitely feel that it’s been a valuable pursuit for me. But I’m just about done. I’ll probably keep my hand in forever, there’s lot of interesting stuff to read, but I definitely don’t want to pursue it professionally.
In other news, I have two major research papers this semester, both of which I’m very excited about.
In my social stratification class I’m writing a paper on the digital divide. I may take the time to give it a slight twist, suggesting that the digital divide is especially crippling since it deprives those without computer/net access from interacting in so-called ‘third spaces’ to the same degree as those with such access. If I had time I’d love to look at the third spaces that those without net access are relegated to using, which I get the impression tend to be somewhat dangerous.
In my deviance class I’m writing a paper I’m very excited about. I’m discussing how the deviant status that we assign to using internet pseudonyms in everyday conversation prevents us from discussing serious internet spawned ideas from cultures that are big on pseudonymous interaction. This, in turn, artificially fragments communities because while I may interact with two groups that share the same interests, I can’t easily share the ideas from the online group with the local group. Fun stuff!
Thomas