whatever works

While I crave a life of understanding and contemplation, at the same time, I feel like I must prepare for a proper job. I love philosophy and the purity of abstract thought and contemplation, studying another general arts-type subject (after degree in politics and IR) is probably too much of a gamble with my long term future to take the leap.

I enjoy/have an interest in global political economy and critical perspectives on the world system, but to get a job in it, requires accepting it and becoming a cog.

If economics is all about trade offs, is this just an example of a trade off between my financial future and probable "life prospects" versus the clarity of my conscience and deeper understanding of the world?

Any thoughts or ramblings?

I work in an office with a girl, another guy who returned from an absence recently, and my boss who is there occasionally.

Since the other guy came back to take up his job again, this girl has started calling me by his name. She has been doing it now for at least 2 months, even though the other guy has been back for 4 months. Every day she calls me by his name about 5-10 times, or about 75% of the time.

The first month or 2, I didn't mind. I just thought that she was forgetful, and even if she was intending it, I didn't care.

But I am now sure that she is doing it intentionally and it has really started to get to me. It's like that torture technique where they hold someone in place and have a drop fall on the head every few seconds. After a while, it feels like a sledgehammer.

The last week or two, it has made me angry and has prevented me from returning to work later to do unpaid overtime that I am expected to do, something she has never done.

But now it is starting to affect me differently and I'm starting to feel really depressed and hurt.

I feel like she is doing it so that I leave the job, but I really like the job I do.

I'm afraid of confrontation and I think that she will feel like she wins if I admit that I feel hurt by something so small.

If I go to the boss and tell him, I'm sure that he'd think I was overly-sensitive and I never go behind people's backs. Plus, I think he would prefer me to go rather than her. Any advice?

Because life is not worth living without love, you may as well light a fuse and hope.

I have 11 days holidays coming up, and would like to do a week long hike in Scotland. I've only been to Edinburgh before for a weekend so don't know the country well. I'm thinking maybe the West Highland way because it sounds good, but does anyone know any better or different ones that are good, or have any advice for me in general? Thanks for your help. Dave.

Would you do it if he said the world was going to end?

In your opinion?

What are your thoughts?

(2nd half)

That you have just thought about and realized since you've read this question?

Please don't answer the obvious quick one liner cynic answer (how do i know if it is subconscious?), I've already thought of it, it is not what I want to hear, I will dislike, ok I won't, but would prefer a more and insightful and inciteful answer. :)

Note:

some suggested topics might include hegemony/politics/film/culture of all kinds/religion/tv/gaming/ads/schooling/etc. These were meant to stimulate a process of reflection about your own experiences with the manipulating powers that be, and also were meant to prime you just a little bit. Only because such a list is inherently priming, it cannot be helped.

Also, some observations about propaganda that you have detected without being unconsciously subjected to is also fair game.

In addition, creative theorizing about this has the potential to sublimate subconscious knowledge to the surface. Our conscious minds are only the tip of the iceberg.

For instance, I believe that the film, The King's Speech is pro-monarchical, class-based propaganda to renew the fetishization of the ruling classes, the monarchies, and the aristocracies (which still exist btw) and which are constantly also renewing themselves on the global stage in new forms. It emphasizes the subordination of the "plebs" into their subordinates' mindset, accepting their "natural" rulers, and a class system which is irrational and illegitimate, being humanized and inducing sympathy among those it dominates. (How else would such a boring piece of drivel become such a worldwide success? Admittedly there was marketing, and also perhaps there was a longing for this kind of subordination in belief besides the marketing. But overall, I believe that one has to see these things for what they are, propaganda aimed at normalizing the unnatural power relations within society.

This is an example. I am not really looking for a discussion on this topic, I am pretty set in my ways with this one, and do not want to hear about this particular film, but then again, you are your own person, and are "free" to do what you want. I wish you all the best in your theorizing, and I thank you sincerely for entertaining me with your answers.

Thank you again. WW :)

I'm just about finished a politics and international relations degree, and have been very interested in finance/economics/international political economy as a post-grad option. btw, I'm Irish. Seeing as economics and finance departments have been teaching neoliberal economic dogma in recent decades, and given the widespread acceptance of the failure, increasing opposition, and perceived illegitimacy, of neoliberalism, I was wondering if university courses are now reevaluating their courses, or whether they are continuing to churn out the same mindless free marketeers as before? (please specify whether you are American or European, or from another part of the world, as I presume US universities are not going to change from their empirical justification of neoliberalism just because it has caused a global financial crisis).

Any comments appreciated. Thank you.

Are we there yet?........................

So, you know on non-timeline facebook, when you see what friends are online, and sometimes there is a white rectangle instead of a green circle which would usually indicate that someone is available to chat? What does that mean?

or are they just ameliorating neoliberalism's worst aspects?