Here’s another Peter Schiff video.
A day ago, I thought I regretted watching these. It turns out I don’t. Not any more than I regret science blogging.
Science blogging has fostered my determination not only to become a scientist, but to grow up. I’m sure I have many admirable qualities. However, I’m also sure that I’ve lived more or less like a teenager for the last ten years. There is nothing satisfying about that realization.
As I sci-blog my way through the science blogosphere, I notice that some commenters regularly forgo debate over post content in favor of bitter complaints over Dr. or Student Blogger’s personality. As examples of human behavior, that’s neither here nor there. But many of the bloggers against whom these complaints are lodged are likeable, successful people whom aspirants like me should emulate.
Read more. . .
I want to take this opportunity only to acknowledge my gratitude for the science blogosphere. Sure, scientific knowledge is available elsewhere. But where else can an outsider hang with scientists? Moreover, where else can an outsider differentiate between the attitudes that help a real-life scientist succeed, and the attitudes that don’t? Even when she lurks, she remains privy to the good advice they dispense online to one another. Even if she speaks to no one, she can still keep company with scientists who exhibit both brilliance and enthusiasm, and to absorb their habits and insights-- somewhat like she does in her meatspace peer groups.
Yes, I know that I have neither the expertise nor the ability to verify every claim made by a scientist blogging under a pseudonym. But, in a way, who cares? If kind-of-but-not-really hanging with scientists encourages a wanna-be to work harder, study harder, (try to) whine less, think more powerfully about her assumptions about the world, respect the time of professors, take care of her health, campaign for everyone’s civil rights, write her congresspeople, kick some ass, and stand on her own two feet, then it’s worth the risk of looking up to them.
Science bloggers have made it clear to me that science, like our economy, is a fierce world. (Except it's fun, unlike the economy.) They have emphasized the importance of authentic longing to know, and they have sailed into the fray with banners and heads high. They've been gentle and rough. They have been imperfect in the great and only business of being wrong. They have been a joy to watch.
(Well. The ones I take no joy in, I simply don’t “visit”. So it’s still true.)
BTW, I’ve returned to running. I figured, if Dr. Isis can do it, and if ScienceMama can do it despite a flood, then so can I. That’s pretty friggin’ arrogant, I know. I'm doing the best I can.
UPDATE: VRR of Virology Blog has offered some valuable comments on this post here.
UPDATE 2: I originally mentioned ScienceMother when I meant ScienceMama (Mother of All Scientists). But the real ScientistMother runs, too!
11 comments:
Hello
Great post Juniper - it's good to have you back! And while your self-admonishments to "grow up" are admirable in the sense of a perpetual quest for self-improvement, I just wanted to say that from your writing here you strike me as remarkably mature and self-reflective - don't try too hard to grow up...sometimes that equals a quashing of curiosity.
It's OK to feel and think immature thoughts sometimes, and to whine a little or a lot - it's only human and you may have noticed quite a lot of it on many of these blogs, including mine. It's how we deal with crap - whine about it in the blogosphere so you can get it out and move on to more productive solutions in real life.
I'm really glad to see more posts from you lately - I love reading here. Keep up the good work.
@Paul-- Hello!
@AA:
Thank you for reading! I love, love, love having you here. And I love being back.
And thank you for mistaking me for a "remarkably mature" person. :) It makes me feel a lot better. You'd better watch out, though, when you validate my whining. Lately I feel like I'll never get into a post-baccalaureate program, and I haven't yet figured out how to be funny about this whole silly process. I tell myself, if I get rejected, I'll appeal, or I'll apply next year. But it's odd to want to learn something this much. It hurts.
And I might want to whine about it. Or cry.
See! I warned you! ;)
It's OK not to be funny sometimes...when you want something so bad that it hurts it can be hard to have a sense of humor about it - don't feel like you have to!
Frequently the humor comes from a certain distance from the issue and a new perspective that doesn't make it hurt so much -- then you can look back and laugh at yourself for making such a big deal out of it. But when you're in it, you're in it. Whine and cry and stomp your feet and let the universe (or at least the blogoshpere) know exactly how much this means to you. If it's that important to you, you are entitled to have strong feelings about it and there's no sense pretending that you don't. I wish the you the very best of luck finding the perfect program for you - you can do it@
Juniper, what AA said about maturity and being funny. We love you and your blog because you're thoughtful and insightful and you communicate them well.
Sometimes that means funny. Sometimes that means I want to reach through the screen and hug you and tell you everything will be okay. Sometimes I want to go kick someone's ass on your behalf or shake you and tell you not to put yourself down. They're all part of why I'm here.
Stephanie-- thank you again for being kind to me on Dr. Isis's blog tonight.
Stephanie and AA:
You know, when I first started blogging, I expected to write a largely impersonal blog. I thought, you know, I'm not the only twenty-eight-year-old who's decided that she wants to be a scientist in the world. It would be good if I made something of my experience that would help others in my position. And by "something", I meant something practical, like tips on selecting a post-baccalaureate program, or on learning what kinds of science interest you despite the science illiteracy (or marginal literacy) you have to work with until you go back to school. Or on applying science to your everyday life, just to see what it's like.
Now that I write that, I don't know how I ever expected this to be an impersonal affair! Even if I'd adhered strictly to those topics, there's no way my blogging on them could be impersonal! What was I thinking?
The other thing I didn't expect when I began blogging was for anyone to read my blog-- not before I learned how to friggin' do it, anyway. I figured that would take at least a year. :) I also didn't expect people whose blogs I love to converse with me at length. Well, sometimes a light surprises.
Thank you for all your good wishes. And thank you for just being your wonderful selves. I love you both and your blogs too.
Welcome back! Ditto on what everyone say about growing up, too much emphasis on that! (mind you that is coming from a woman who still say nanana poopoo. Just a heads up, your ScienceMama link doesn't work (I think thats who you meant with ScienceMother)
Just a heads up, your ScienceMama link doesn't work (I think thats who you meant with ScienceMother)
Whaa? I imported all of the links you see here from my Google Reader. They all work. Including the link to your blog, ScientistMother.
Okay maybe its my Firefox, but the link isn't working on my mac. That said, I don't remember running during no flood. I did run despite stupid treadmills and illness though.
ScientistMother-- my bad. Thanks for the heads up.
The Isis and ScienceMama links still don't work. I have no idea what's going on-- all my other links do. And I've proofread my HTML. I'll try to fix it tomorrow.
HA! I thought I'd fixed it, Scientist Mother. For newcomers paging through my archives: all the links in this post work now.
Post a Comment