Category: Psychology

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Being a Kid is the Hardest Job You Ever Had

My friend Christine posted this morning that it was her little girl, Michelle’s, first sleepover last night. Her daughter refers to her sleepover friend as a “friend” or “sister” and, as Christine points out “Occasionally as ‘brother’, but we’re working on pronouns”. A cute moment for sure, and it reminded me of something I bring up to people semi-regularly both in and out of the classroom: Being a kid is the hardest job you ever had, or will ever have. Here’s 6 reasons why.

By: fairuz othman

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Why I Don’t Watch The News

I don’t watch the news. Saying that to someone will likely raise an eyebrow, especially since television is flooded with an abundance of news channels today. Growing up in northeast Ohio we had one local station that, by my count, had over a quarter of their broadcast day devoted to local news (if you’re wondering, not that much happens in Cleveland), and that was in addition to CNN and early versions of MSNBC and FOX News. It isn’t that I’m opposed to knowledge dissemination over the airways – it’s that I’m opposed to how I feel when taking in news that causes me to turn off the set. Specifically, I struggle with experiencing the wrong emotions.

A news van sits outside Columbia on March 29, 2010. I took this photo as I walked toward my building.
A news van sits outside Columbia on March 29, 2010. I took this photo as I walked toward my building.

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Geek Squad Badges: Symbols Worth Faking!

One of the items I collect are badges. And while I like Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) badges*, I tend to steer toward badges that are meant to give a psychological sense of authority, rather than authority granted by law. It’s the psychologist part of me that finds these ‘symbols’ intriguing. And it’s the geek part of me that was drawn to Geek Squad Badges. Recently I was able to acquire a few on eBay for reasonable prices (after stalking them for some time), and found one that didn’t look like the rest. It was a Fake!

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On Information or Lack Thereof

It’s spring break here at Columbia, and that means our normal “information” board outside my office has no real information to display (i.e. nothing is going on). I was going to post this as a humorous ‘disinformation’ board, however it got me thinking. It’s displaying the time & date (which are right) and nothing else. I guess the moral is “If you have nothing to say, simply say what you know to be true”. Any of us out there that like to BS from time to time might find a bit of wisdom in that!

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Science & Engineering are Cool

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In the city this wonderful Sunday morning to judge the prelims at the New York Science and Engineering Fair.

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Should be fun. We’re about to get our ‘orientation’, so I guess I’d better listen up!

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Peer Pressure

For every kid whose parent warned them about peer pressure, consider this. Each morning this winter, I’ve stood on the train platform, safely enclosed in a small heated room, provided to commuters to wait in. The room isn’t very big, but its big enough, and its about 60 degrees, as opposed to the below freezing temps outside.

Each morning, a lady I don’t know, comes in with me for a few minutes. She then sees a friend outside and usually makes some comment about her rugged friend who is braving the elements. She then, reluctantly, goes out to join her. I don’t think she wants to, I think she’s somewhat hesitant to not appear tough. Why she cares? Who knows. All I can figure is that Peer Pressure doesn’t end after adolescence.

In the image below are the “roughing it” women I took it from the relative warmth of the little room.

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