Pete, fay and I were just talking about you today at the dinner table.

Uh oh. *preens* So, what were you saying, huh, huh?

Both Cardiff and York can be fine places to live. Cardiff is a little bigger if memory serves. Good luck wih chasing your Masters. It's all a bit above my head, really.

I think I'm going to pursue a Masters in Philosophy.

I don't mean to piss on your parade, SA, but if you get anything less than a Ph.D. in Philosohy you're wasting your time and money. I mean, even a Ph.D. in Philosophy is somewhat lacking in utility (my friend Josh has one from Johns Hopkins. Now he's in the movie business in Los Angeles), but at least it'll earn you some respect on your resume.

It's kind of an expensive folly to only get the MA in this field. The course study is so rigorous (you'd probably have to learn German for one thing) and soooo academic that I don't think it'd be as fulfilling as you think it would be.

Not that I'm anti-Philosophy - to the contrary. Just the getting of the MA only.

Uh oh. *preens* So, what were you saying, huh, huh?

We were talking about how we'd both thought about moving to Seattle at different points and I was saying that if Fay moved to Seattle, she'd never miss Britain because you are there, and then I did a really terrible version of you and her being British together. Which then got us talking about you and Jilli, and Fay's recent trip to see ya'll....

I don't mean to piss on your parade, SA, but if you get anything less than a Ph.D. in Philosohy you're wasting your time and money. I mean, even a Ph.D. in Philosophy is somewhat lacking in utility (my friend Josh has one from Johns Hopkins. Now he's in the movie business in Los Angeles), but at least it'll earn you some respect on your resume.

Well, I don't want to do philosophy as my career. Astonishingly far from it, really. I know that philosophy is lacking in utility, which is one of many reasons I don't want to try and pin a future on it; it's not really a thought about the future anyway, it's a much more limited-scope idea. It's something I would be happy doing for the year it would take to accomplish, and then, after that, I would hopefully have more self-direction about where I wanted to go next. Also, I doubt German would be involved; none of the course prospectum I looked at indicated anything about reading the philosophers in their original language, and it wasn't mentioned in the prerequisites either.

I think I want something challenging and meaningful, while not being life-fulfilling. I suspect I'm going to be faffing around for awhile yet, and a phi masters would just be a different aspect of that faffing.

I think I want something challenging and meaningful, while not being life-fulfilling. I suspect I'm going to be faffing around for awhile yet, and a phi masters would just be a different aspect of that faffing.

Well, it's not like I'm really trying to pimp Philosophy as a career choice for you. It's more how you'll be received in academe just shooting for an MA (as a dilettante), but lord knows I gleaned a lot of personal growth from studying philosophy and shouldn't be discouraging you from a very challenging and meaningful path.

Fwiw, I've never heard of having to learn German in the MA programs, just the PhD. I also know several people with MA degrees in Philosophy, and though none of them went into philosophy careers, many of them used the MA as a jump in career options. Sounds like you have a good attitude about it, SA.

MA in Philosophy is faffing? I love SA.

Um, hi. I'm alive and well.

MA in anything is faffing?

cough, sniffle.

Are you a sickie girl, Suzi?

eta: I skipped a whole, whole bunch.

It's more how you'll be received in academe just shooting for an MA (as a dilettante),

Well, they don't have to *know* that I'm a dilettante. I'm not going to put that on my CV or anything: "Masters, Philosophy, York University (Dilettante Department)." And I'm not even certain that I'll end up in the academe, anyway. I might actually get my shit together and become a chef. But I'm not brave enough for that yet.

I also know several people with MA degrees in Philosophy, and though none of them went into philosophy careers, many of them used the MA as a jump in career options. Sounds like you have a good attitude about it, SA.

I think it just seems like a goal I like, that I can reach. Which is more than I've managed in anything for the last eight months, so, yeah. I mean, who knows what will actually happen; but it's a thought, anyway. Besides, it's an excuse to stay in the UK for another year.

MA in Philosophy is faffing? I love SA.

MA in anything is faffing?

I suspect I may be a little weird. But then, didn't we all know that.

Um, hi. I'm alive and well.

Kate, hi! I'm glad to hear you are both alive and well! How are you?

Um, hi. I'm alive and well.

WOOHOO

Also, hi. I owe you email, but I suck.