(no subject)

Some courteous thoughts on public breastfeeding.

postulate about academia

Academics have a reputation for being personally passionate about their subjects. It's often said that if you aren't passionate about what you're doing as a researcher, it's not worth it, because of the amount and quality of work that's required. Apparently you can't do a very good job of it if you're not totally in love. We know from social psychology research (I think the original citation is Deci, JPSP, 1971) that people's intrinsic motivation declines as their extrinsic motivation increases.* The obvious conclusion, to me, is that academics should be paid salaries that are small relative to their education level. Oddly, this approximates reality.#

* (miang, Our Lady of Goals: once you are out of prelim hell, you should tell me if people still believe this; my UG advisor pointed me to it but it wasn't his field as much as it is yours)
# (though at my current level of education, and with my current employment qualifications, starting salaries of academics look pretty damn peachy)