Breaktime Whatever Number

[maycocksean]

1. Where do you go to discuss things besides fym? Facebook mainly, although I never bring up topics myself. Like Irvine I tend to avoid bringing up political issues on Facebook but I may join an ongoing discussion. I actually don't like to discuss politics, religion etc face-to-face except with certain people. I don't like to upset people and I tend to look for common ground whenever I can rather than highlighting differences. There are a few people: my wife, and couple of close friends (a few of which are more conservative than I--something I value deeply) who I feel I can get into those kinds of discussions, and then it is very rewarding.

2. What part of the newspaper do you read first? What part do you never read? We get the Columbus Dispatch three days a week and most of the time I never look at it. When I do, I tend to look at the front page first and then skip over to Arts and Leisure. I get most of my news from NPR which I listen to in the car and Time magazine which I've had a subscription to for the past twenty years or so. I also check to see what people are talking about here in FYM and I get e-mail updates from The Week and The Huffington Post which I read daily.

3. Describe a moment when you had an epiphany. This question and the following one were why I delayed answering these questions as long as I did. I just wasn't sure of the answers. I remember the moment when my faith experience with Jesus became real to me--the spring of 1994. Also in the spring of 1994 I finally woke up to how emotionally unhealthy a friendship I'd had for the past few years had been for me and I let that friendship go. I had an epiphany this past June when I realized that teaching really is my calling and my passion.

4. Describe a moment when you stopped believing in something. I don't know that there's ever been a moment. It's always a gradual process. My personal beliefs about some fundamentalist beliefs about the Bible are very different from the standard teachings of my church, but those changes have been gradual. I do remember that reading "Under the Banner of Heaven" in the mid-2000s shook my faith to it's core, though ultimately I ended up with a stronger faith in working through that. It's around that same time that the U2 albums "Pop" and "Zooropa" went suddenly from being unlistenable to among my favorites.

5. What is your greatest fault in/your greatest contribution to fym?
I know it's a bit vain, but I think I'm a pretty good contributor to FYM. I can't think of any real faults I'm sure others can quickly identify some and that'll bring me down a few notches. My greatest contribution is one of my greatest strengths in general, my ability to see things from others point of view.

6. If you left a religion, is there anything you miss from it and if so, what?

I haven't left a religion, and what changes I've made in my personal belief I don't miss.

7. What have you gained from the advances in technology? What have you lost?
The ability to stay in touch with people that I love and appreciate from all the many stages of my life. I'm terrible at staying in touch and Facebook is deeply rewarding to me because it allows me to keep wonderful people in my life. Like Irvine I've lost the ability to "turn off." Although I wouldn't say that I've lost it so much as that technology enables that. I've never been very good at just sitting still and letting my mind be. If there wasn't technology I'd just always have a book at the ready so that in any "down" moment, my mind would be occupied. This can't be be good, I'm sure.

8. Do you speak another language other than your native tongue? I wish. The only thing I wish more is that I played a musical instrument.

9. What is your most natural way of learning something? Reading. Academically, that's how I best retain information. Practically, I am a big fan of reading and following instructions. I'm terrible with anything hands-on. I have found that I tune out very quickly if someone is talking (unless they are entertaining). My teachers, professors, educational superintendent etc have always found me annoying because I was always the guy with a magazine open on my lap during class (in the old days) or sneaking a glimpse at Slate.com on my phone or the laptop on which I'm ostensibly taking notes (these days).

[Kieran McConville]

Just a break. Answer if you'd like.....

A break? I've been on holidays for years.

1. Where do you go to discuss things besides fym?

Many, well one, place.

2. What part of the newspaper do you read first? What part do you never read?

None and none. I read online and am directed secondhand, if at all, to newspapers.

3. Describe a moment when you had an epiphany.

No.

4. Describe a moment when you stopped believing in something.

No.

5. What is your greatest fault in/your greatest contribution to fym?

No.

6. If you left a religion, is there anything you miss from it and if so, what?

Well, I didn't, so, I don't know.

7. What have you gained from the advances in technology? What have you lost?

A bit, not much.

8. Do you speak another language other than your native tongue?

No.

9. What is your most natural way of learning something?

Dissection.

[Axver]

1. Where do you go to discuss things besides fym?
We have very long and rewarding political and economic discussions at work. Pub gatherings with certain friends lend themselves to conversations in FYM territory. As for online, Facebook occasionally.

2. What part of the newspaper do you read first? What part do you never read?
I don't read a physical newspaper, but in terms of online, I'll skim the headlines, see if anything leaps out, repeat for the opinion sections, then thoroughly scour sport before heading back for an in-depth look at the national, international, and opinion sections.

I never read the awful fucking car sections. Ugh, newspapers for bogans.

3. Describe a moment when you had an epiphany.
I like Irvine's answer.

4. Describe a moment when you stopped believing in something.
My process out of believing in anything was always gradual, with no single moment I can pinpoint.

5. What is your greatest fault in/your greatest contribution to fym?
I like to think I contribute meaningfully to Aussie/Kiwi stuff. I know a bit of a fault of mine is an outright refusal to engage with any right-wing views I perceive to be extreme.

6. If you left a religion, is there anything you miss from it and if so, what?
I had a brief but intense flirtation with Christianity, in which I passed through various forms before emerging out the other side the same atheist I was beforehand. I miss absolutely nothing about religion. What a complete waste of my time.

7. What have you gained from the advances in technology? What have you lost?
My research interests in my career are only possible thanks to technological advances. Whether I consider that a gain or a loss depends on my mood and how well work is going!

8. Do you speak another language other than your native tongue?
Unfortunately not.

9. What is your most natural way of learning something?
Reading, absolutely. Nothing else even compares.