Angry people

Poli sci students...ahhhh....that's what I used to call myself, rather proudly. 

I'm talking about political science students or the study of a political science major in university or postgrad education.

When I graduated from highschool and entered my first year of university, I was a science student, meaning, I chose biology as my major and I wanted to do lab work, study some DNAs, work with some cells.....etc etc etc.

But after first year biology, I gave that up.  It's not so much that I wasn't interested in biology or chemistry anymore; it was more that I didn't like the environment.  I didn't like how everyone just accepted the scientific fact, followed the scientific procedure, and concluded that that was the way to go...that was the way to do well, that was the way to get an A. 

I didn't like that.  I wanted something that was more challenging.  LOL...by that, I don't mean more difficult; I mean, more critical.  More critical of the world, challenging existing assumptions about the world.  I wanted to change the existing social order.  Essentially, I was one angry student.

So, what did I do?  I switched my major to political science.

Looking back, this is now 10 years ago, now I know why I did what I did.  Finally, after 10 years, I finally understand why I did the 180 switch.

At the time, everyone was very surprised because I was the science student.  Even me, I was surprised that I had felt that way towards a subject I had known and loved for so long.  Political science was something that I didn't know.  I didn't pay much attention to politics, but I knew that I like the idea of political science - that critical aspect, that unyielding desire to challenge assumptions....etc etc etc.

Looking back, of course, it was a risky move.

So yesterday, it finally clicked.  I finally understand why.  And my theory is that angry people are angry because they feel that the world has, in some shape or form, done them wrong.  Hence, they want to get their revenge and change the world.  To do that, you need power, strategy, method.....and I think this is what political science is about.

The study of political science - the study of politics - is a study of power relations in social relationships.  It's about who gets what, when, and how.  So, it makes perfect sense to me that if you put the two together, it explains why I chose to study political science.

I chose political science because I felt like finally, I was surrounded by like-minded people.  People, like me, who were also unhappy with the current social order and wanted to change things for the better.  And what better way to do this than to study politics.....where essentially, you read textbooks and articles about how angry people - those who have been mistreated, kicked to the curb, pushed to the sidelines, the 'have-nots' - get their game going and right the wrong.

So, that was me 10 years ago.  Come 10 years later, I realize I'm not angry anymore.  That teenage anger, that fire, is gone.  I don't want power and I no longer feel that the world has done me any wrong anymore.  So, politics to me is now quite annoying.  It's just a bunch of angry people complaining about everything.

I realize this as I was sitting next to several graduate students yesterday at a seminar.  I overheard their conversation....

Grad student 1: They are trying to make people go to these events....
Grad student 2: Yeah, but you can't really force us
1: it's like spontaneous order....
2: well, not really, they are intentionally trying to plan this....
1: Yes, but they can't force us

Ultimately, their conversation made no sense to me.  To me, they were just complicating a very simple social event.  Over-analyzing and making use of whatever fancy terms they happen to come across in the readings that they were doing recently.  To me, it was as simple as, "If you want to come, come.  If you want to go, go."

And that's when I realize that politics is for angry people.  At least, that's my theory.  So now that I'm not angry and I don't want power......so do I do?

I take pleasure in cooking and music.  The joys of life. =)