We Welcome Your Feedback

There is much to be learned from the comments people write on news stories, both the stupid ones and the smart ones. The interesting point that the writer left out. The flaw in their logic. The heartfelt, personal responses. The unbelievable prejudices that some people hold - all censors on this lifted by the anonymity that the internet provides. Or the thing you're simply surprised that nobody said.

I find it either fascinating or exasperating, depending on how close I am to the issue. After one too many frustrating reads of mindless finger pointing from both sides, I have banned myself from reading comments on BBC news stories about the Tamil-Sinhalese conflict. I am also starting to develop some snobbery about the quality of readers' arguments in different publications.

One of the nice things about present-day journalism is the ability to get instant global feedback, to literally watch (read) the dialogue over your article unfold, and to watch the hits and tweets and 'likes' and 'favourites' and roll in.

One of the less nice things about a world where everyone reads everything online from a multitude of sources, for free, without allegiance to (or habitual buying of) any one newspaper or publication, is that it's much harder to find your following, and to make it pay your bills.

The optimist in me thinks that in the long run it will probably make journalism better. But you don't want to know how the pessimist in me wanted to end that sentence.

Project Work

If I have to hear the words

remediating,
resourcing,
or
rebaselining

one more time...

The Age of Applications

Lately I feel as though I am entering a period of applications for dropout-related activities. Mostly unpaid standalone experiences or internship positions, and one academic course. All of the applications involve some writing, either about myself - my experience and motivations - or about a given topic related to my current interests.

It's almost like a light version of the actual work/course/experience, and although I feel overwhelmed with trying to fit these things into my life while I have no internet at home (thanks a lot Sky Broadband), and intimidated by the tasks at hand and the calibre of the other applicants, the actual work involved - the sitting down and thrashing out the submission - gives me so much hope and energy, and knowledge or clarity on my own thoughts. I feel like I become better with each one.

Of course with applications come rejections. I haven't had too many direct ones, but I have one or two I can infer from a lack of response. I don't feel too bad about them - glad I tried, feel like I learnt from the process, etc. But in 20 rejections' time I'll have to see how I'm feeling.

Coconuts Keep Falling On My Head

How am I supposed to work when there is so much juicy stuff going on in the world today?!


Arguably two of the most politically interesting countries - India and the US - come together today as Obama visits India, during Diwali, an Indian microfinance crisis, a US mid-term backlash against the Demo's, and a clean-up of coconuts from the trees of Mumbai to protect Mr Obama's head. There are too many interesting articles on diplomacy and foreign policy to be read, Sri Lanka beat Australia in cricket, again, and Sarah Palin is entertaining me too much.

Moreover, all of this reminds me that I'm going to be in Sri Lanka, and maybe India, for over a month in Dec/Jan. I'm actually leaving this job, after complaining about it for the better part of a year. Fixed my leaving date. It's really happening this time. And as I was going to Sri Lanka anyway, and January is not a great time to be looking for work, extending the trip just made sense. It will mostly be an amazing holiday, but I should also be able to explore a few of my dropout-related interests.

So, with all of this in mind, how can I possibly work today?