(Via John Quiggin) Oh for joy! Don Arthur has finally made a comeback to blogging, presumably having finally finished his doctoral thesis. I wonder if ruminating on Don's admirable self-discipline might help this armadillo to do likewise and get back to the PhD slog after the chaos of marital breakdown and chronic lack of enthusiasm for the topic.
For recently-arrived readers, Don is an academically-oriented blogger with a philosophy or sociology background. He combines an unashamedly post-modern gently ironic sensibility with a relatively centrist commonsense approach to most issues that made him the best Australian "essay blogger" in my judgment. Moreover, he's got a happy knack of presenting complex ideas in an accessible, engaging and entertaining way. Take my advice and bookmark Don's blog "A Wealth of Toil" for frequent visiting. I'll go and add it to my blogroll right now.
Ruminating on my "admirable self discipline" won't give you much to chew on Ken. I haven't finished the thesis yet.
I can help you with rationalizations though. Right now I'm telling myself that the new blog will contain lots of thesis related discussion. This means that time devoted to blogging is not procrastination but is actually work.
In my experience, a chronic lack of enthusiasm for your topic is a good sign Ken. The next stage is deep hatred, the final and decisive motivation for getting the thing finished once and for all. It's those who love their topics who always create the most trouble.
The five stages of doing a PhD are 1. Denial 2. Anger 3. Bargaining 4. Depression 5. Acceptance. Sounds like Don is on number 3.
I always thought that stage 5 was resignation to ones fate.
Ken Miles - Yes I agree, Stage 5 for me was 'Fatalism'. I still haven't reached Acceptance - perhaps that's Stage 6?
Ken, when are you going to get around finishing the descriptions for the blogroll? I've been waiting to hear what you have to say about me for 18 excruciating months and I just can't take it any longer...
Sam, I did a temporary one just to reduce your stress levels. I wouldn't want you going into an insane bout of 'roid rage.
Ken, thanks for the signpost to Don's blog. He writes tight and clear.
Arrrgghhgh...that was the whole reason I titled my site "A Yobbo's View", so it would appear at the top of everyone's alphabetic listings! Not my fault you got rid of the first word!
I thought that Stage 6 was leaving the country to teach at some miserable religous university within a day's drive of a country town on the prairies?
Still, after all that intellectual honing, it would be easy to learn the rules of gridiron.
Since I have til the 27th of August to submit my thesis, I must send this link to my supervisor for his edification - or would that indicate I'm still in stage 5?