Capitalism pushes us towards private affluence. We aspire to acquire our own things. Shared things are seen as second best, something of an inconvenience. Politics responds accordingly, prioritising economic growth and ‘more money in your pocket’, rather than shared goods and services. So everyone has their own lawnmower while the grass grows long in the park. People get their own exercise bikes or rowing machines, and the gym at the local leisure centre starts to look tired and under-funded. The wealthy pay for childcare or hire a nanny, but the early years nursery closes down.
Having access to your own things looks like progress, but there is a cost. Community is one of the victims. Shared spaces are places where community happens, where people mix and meet. Nobody makes new friends on their own rowing machine, in front of the TV. Inequality is another. Those who can afford their own won’t notice, but those on lower incomes rely much more on shared resources. When a library closes, it’s those on the margins of society who lose access to books, internet access, or a warm place to sit and do their homework. There is also an environmental cost, as private ownership means endlessly duplicated goods, many underused objects across many owners rather than a few well used objects that are shared.
I don't think it's the chat thread-starter who sets the tone.Oh yay, another Kory win. Another guaranteed 40+ pages of chat about academia and how much the world is doomed!
Can't we just stick to current events, shitty people, food, & poop like the good old days? Life is heavy enough, and the CT used to be a nice light escape. Perhaps Biff can start the sarcastic/lighthearted CT we need and deserve.
Oh yay, another Kory win. Another guaranteed 40+ pages of chat about academia and how much the world is doomed!
Can't we just stick to current events, shitty people, food, & poop like the good old days? Life is heavy enough, and the CT used to be a nice light escape. Perhaps Biff can start the sarcastic/lighthearted CT we need and deserve.
Thanks for that explanation, phdeac. I think as long as it's the faculty (even better if it's on the department level) making a decision about what's best for them and their students then it should be a good thing.
So would the teaching faculty do most of the lower-level teaching and the small commitment required of the research faculty be focused on upper-level seminars?
Perhaps it's specific to my discipline and personality but I can't imagine doing research without wanting to teach it.
Got an electric blower handy down from your mom. It did suck.Back to the prior thread, I have an electric blower that was a hand me down that I thought would suck.
Obviously, battery technology has improved leaps and bounds over the last 5-10 years.
I’m intrigued by this F150 Lightning.
I like teaching my research but it’s a pain to either do a new prep or teach something I haven’t taught in a few years.
Yeah big disagree on TigerWoods post. I’ve liked the evolution of the CT, it’s a nice balance of serious and unserious.
Also whoever “runs” the CT has zero control of where it goes. If you want to talk about farts or whatever, you can do that here.
Haha, I just pulled up my notes: in the last four years (eight semesters) I've taught eleven new preps.
(One of these being a significant adaptation of a previous prep for distance learning.)
Next semester: one class I taught in 2018, one I taught in 2013, and one I taught last semester.
Also Kory is a real one, fuck the haters.