Whew, sorry about that excessively long post.
Your news in brief:
Teaching is going well. Still barely ahead of the students in reading, but beginning to get into the groove of teaching. Realization for the week: the down side to teaching is that you can't just wake up and decide to skip class. This will be the first semester - ever - that I attended every session of every class.
Started seeing clients. If anyone you know expresses a desire to seek counseling, feel free to give them my name and number. Unless I know them, of course, as that would be unethical. Not that I want to know any of my friends that well anyway.
Finally beat GTA:San Andreas. Just the missions, not all the other little stuff. Damn long game, and I enjoyed it.
Super Bowl party, anyone?
Monday, January 30, 2006
reality is a nice place, but i wouldn't want to live there
It occurred to me the other day that our concept of reality is quite slippery. Each person is largely responsible for recognizing what is "real" to them, and thereby create their own sense of reality, to some extent at least. However, because some portion of a person's "reality" will inevitably vary from another person's "reality," we are left to argue over which reality is correct.
An example of this is the SNU bubble. I asked the students in my Gen Psych II class to complete a story based on a short prompt provided to them. Without fail, all five groups developed the story as if the main character was a student at SNU. While something similar to this university-centric pattern may or may not occur at a larger university (e.g. University of Oklahoma), the point is that the students in my class shape their reality by the environment they experience everyday.
The difficulty I have had this week is when people say something to the effect of "Well, just wait until you get out in the 'real' world," or "Wait 'til 'real life' hits." It seems to me that those statements are used to put down the person who is doing the "waiting," as if to imply that their lack of experience in the "ways of the world" have somehow made them inferior. Commonly used in the context of people who are sheltered from "bad things" in life, they are viewed as being immature and inexperienced. Is their situation in life considerably different than a Bushman from southern Africa who sees a city for the first time? Or any different than an individual who was raised on the streets of Harlem attending the University of Iowa? (I can hear the flame war beginning...)
Sure, maybe the Bushman would have a hard time adapting to life in an industrialized nation, and so he remains with his people in Africa. Sure, maybe the hoodlum will find it difficult to believe that people on campus care about him, and go on to sabotage those relationships. And sure, maybe the sheltered SNU student will live their entire life in the Oklahoma City area and only experience the "real world" through biased mass media presentations. But, should any of these three example people venture out into the new "real world" that they are privy to, they would still only be able to experience it from one vantage point.
My argument here is for tolerance. Tolerance of other's experiences, however myopic they may be. If you have a wider variety of experience than someone else, share it with them! Talk to them, tell them about your experiences and let them make the comparisons. Berating someone for not immediately or innately understanding what your perception of the "real world" does nothing, save for possible solidifying misconceptions they may have about you. Just because someone doesn't "know" doesn't mean you should write them off. Patience. Talk. Live. Love.
An example of this is the SNU bubble. I asked the students in my Gen Psych II class to complete a story based on a short prompt provided to them. Without fail, all five groups developed the story as if the main character was a student at SNU. While something similar to this university-centric pattern may or may not occur at a larger university (e.g. University of Oklahoma), the point is that the students in my class shape their reality by the environment they experience everyday.
The difficulty I have had this week is when people say something to the effect of "Well, just wait until you get out in the 'real' world," or "Wait 'til 'real life' hits." It seems to me that those statements are used to put down the person who is doing the "waiting," as if to imply that their lack of experience in the "ways of the world" have somehow made them inferior. Commonly used in the context of people who are sheltered from "bad things" in life, they are viewed as being immature and inexperienced. Is their situation in life considerably different than a Bushman from southern Africa who sees a city for the first time? Or any different than an individual who was raised on the streets of Harlem attending the University of Iowa? (I can hear the flame war beginning...)
Sure, maybe the Bushman would have a hard time adapting to life in an industrialized nation, and so he remains with his people in Africa. Sure, maybe the hoodlum will find it difficult to believe that people on campus care about him, and go on to sabotage those relationships. And sure, maybe the sheltered SNU student will live their entire life in the Oklahoma City area and only experience the "real world" through biased mass media presentations. But, should any of these three example people venture out into the new "real world" that they are privy to, they would still only be able to experience it from one vantage point.
My argument here is for tolerance. Tolerance of other's experiences, however myopic they may be. If you have a wider variety of experience than someone else, share it with them! Talk to them, tell them about your experiences and let them make the comparisons. Berating someone for not immediately or innately understanding what your perception of the "real world" does nothing, save for possible solidifying misconceptions they may have about you. Just because someone doesn't "know" doesn't mean you should write them off. Patience. Talk. Live. Love.
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
hipster trap
Hot Fuss finally arrived today in the mail. My first new CD since...The Ramones Greatest Hits, I guess. I wonder how long until CDs are completely obsolete...
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Yukon burning
Yikes! As I was driving home a few minutes ago, I noticed some smoke in the air. Turns out, there is a decent-sized grass fire burning about a mile south of our house. Ooh, wait, "Chopper 4" is in the air on the scene...
Okay, looks like the fire will probably continue to move to the east but remain south of our neighborhood. Good news for us, bad news for the folks that live across I-40 from us who are in the path of the fire. Hopefully the OKFD & YFD will be able to hold it at Czech Hall Road. Also, there is an active oil well not too far from the current location of this fire. That could be real bad.
I think I'll go water the lawn now...
Okay, looks like the fire will probably continue to move to the east but remain south of our neighborhood. Good news for us, bad news for the folks that live across I-40 from us who are in the path of the fire. Hopefully the OKFD & YFD will be able to hold it at Czech Hall Road. Also, there is an active oil well not too far from the current location of this fire. That could be real bad.
I think I'll go water the lawn now...
Monday, January 16, 2006
first day and conspiracy
I'm exhausted, so this will be short.
Managed to make it through the first day of classes today without too many problems. Bought new mountain bikes. Found this interesting site convering ten of the wackiest conspiracy theories. After just watching Syriana, they were especially entertaining.
Managed to make it through the first day of classes today without too many problems. Bought new mountain bikes. Found this interesting site convering ten of the wackiest conspiracy theories. After just watching Syriana, they were especially entertaining.
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
professor andrew moore
I will indeed be teaching three classes this spring at SNU: General Psych I, Gen Psych II, and Psych of Children & Youth. Much preparation is needed.
Monday, January 09, 2006
Herald Sun: See what the booze can do
Holy crap, check out this article. Woman did a Super Size Me type documentary on the effects of alcohol onher body. Interesting...and eye-opening.
Herald Sun: See what the booze can do.
Herald Sun: See what the booze can do.
academia
So it appears I may become one of the newest adjunct professors of psychology for the undergraduate program at SNU. More info on this in coming days.
In a somewhat related career note, I did finally get approval to do my LPC licensure supervision at Life Counseling Center, which is a considerable relief. Should receive my first batch of business cards relatively soon, however, if you know anyone who is seeking counseling, please feel free to give them my name and phone number.
In a somewhat related career note, I did finally get approval to do my LPC licensure supervision at Life Counseling Center, which is a considerable relief. Should receive my first batch of business cards relatively soon, however, if you know anyone who is seeking counseling, please feel free to give them my name and phone number.
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
Sunday, January 01, 2006
i want my free ipod, dammit
again, i thought i'd post my referral link so that i can get a free ipod. i've had one person sucessfully complete an offer, and so i just need 4 more. if you spend $5 on completing an offer for this noble and worthy cause, let me know, and as soon as it posts i will reimburse you, if you so desire. in advance, thank you.
here's the link: http://ipods.freepay.com/?r=15144288.
should you have any doubts on the validity of this offer, please read this.
here's the link: http://ipods.freepay.com/?r=15144288.
should you have any doubts on the validity of this offer, please read this.
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