Working and whining
posted by Michael E. at 7:53 AM
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
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4 Comments:
Wow. I'd say more, but I don't want to engage in meta-whining about the whining about the supposed whining.
Hmm. To the extent that the point is 'if you want to be ambitious and work hard, don't complain about how hard you work,' I agree. To the extent that the point is that one doesn't really *have* to work hard to be a productive member of this profession, I am not sure the perspective is representative.
I will say this, though, on further (quick) reflection: there is certainly a climate among graduate students that suggests if one isn't complaining, loudly, about how one's work is all one does, one is not Serious. The mythos built up around the All Consuming Nature of Orals-taking or Quals-taking (as it were) is overwhelming. Perhaps in response to external criticism about academics not being a "real" job, we seem disinclined as an overgeneralized group to admit that it can be approached as a regular job, with varying degrees of zeal.
That said, there really are few private sector jobs that so minimally reward very dedicated work.
Did MB ever clarify what his point actually was? And is there any consensus on what we gain by reflecting on the obsession with how BUSY academics think they are? I am eager to know.
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