I do know, though, that the tasks which fall into the urgent category have
important long term consequences-- getting a papers published, completing
coursework, qualifying, earning $$$ to stay in school. It is not that
I never get a chance to relax or play, but that after a 6-12 hour
day in front of the computer-- I have to get away from the computer. By
then, I have experienced one or more of the following: tingling arms,
back pain, sore fingers, head ache, 'monitor' eyes and poor concentration.
Often, reply to xmca messages gets postponed for the next day (that is, if
I have had time to read all the mail). By then, I have seen several pieces
of my point of view represented-- or am too busily engaged in some other
urgent task. Sometimes, I make a connection between a conversation thread
and some earlier discussion, but I rarely e-mail those connections.
Admittedly, these occasions are a form of self-marginalization-- albeit
socially constructed. I used to, however, post more frequently to this
list (and other academic lists) as an undergraduate. I received few
replies to many postings (one supportive, two responding to a query for
help, and one critical); I felt "unscathed" by the experience. Having now
invested four years in academia I now feel more intimidated. Instead of
an interpretation at stake, I now feel like I'm gambling with a career.
vanessa
p.s. As is typical for me, I now feel guilty for having procrastinated my
"real work." I also "hear" this voice that says, "who cares" and "I bet
somebody else posted a message like this (that I missed)."
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Vanessa Gack
UCSD Communication / Cognitive Science &
Laboratory of Comparative Human Cognition
<vgack who-is-at weber.ucsd.edu>
Tel.(619) 534-7487
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