Posted by Luke in Welcome to my first post on this blog. What can you expect to find here in coming months? Lots of articles, podcasts, things and more things! To start off this new venture I have embarked on I decided that the best thing to do would be to give you some kind of idea as to what you might find on this site. So here we go: what are problems?
The oft quoted definition of problems (by way of Herbert Simon no doubt) is that they are a gap between what we expect and what eventuates in life. So a better way of saying is that problems occur when our expectations are not met. So, for example, I recently didn’t get a journal publication I was really hoping for so a problem arose for me when I noticed that it was an issue. However, I wouldn’t go so far as to say that ‘reality’ gave this problem apart from me expecting it. That is, I really wanted to get that publication out and I really wanted it published. I had the expectation and hope that it would get up and I would have it but when I didn’t my expectations changed. The problem technically existed before I was rejected from the esteemed publication in question. More to the point the problem does not exist in reality because I have formed the problem in my mind. If I changed my mind there is no problem.
When we set expectations above our capabilities and think that the world will accommodate us we are sadly mistaken. Why? There are standards people set in these journals for whatever reason (academic gatekeeping ) that I think I could never really meet. At the same time, I want to publish my work and have a reputation. Getting into these journals is a career requirement for us academics. The problem came about by me perceiving the situation at work to be one where I am required to get high ranking publications in order to get my career going. This is a condition imposed upon academics in general and one that is of debatable value.
So my problem resulted out of the pressure of my work environment through me perceiving the need to publish in such a journal and through the various reasonings I had formed in my mind as to what the problem I really had actually was! In plain English: I made it up in my head based on what people told me to expect. Should we do this? No. Why not? Simply because the problems we perceive are the problems we receive. I cannot say for sure that I even need to get into this journal to have a career… perhaps I don’t nevertheless while I think about it … the problem remains.
I thought about it some time later and realised that perhaps I had the wrong kind of expectations and maybe this kind of journal wasn’t for me. If I accept that view then the problem ceases to exist. I can change the way I think about the failure and find another avenue for delivery. I can find somewhere to put that publication where it can still get some exposure but maybe not as much. But, the problem still remains in my expectations. At some stage I would like a publication in that journal! So not getting the publication wasn’t the problem as such it was me expecting to get the publication… that’s the problem!
So there you have it. I am not sure what I have written makes a great deal of sense … but I am new to this whole environment so forgive me while I learn the ropes.
Technorati Tags: problems, expectations, gatekeeping
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Finding the occasional straw of truth awash in a great ocean of confusion and bamboozle requires intelligence, vigilance, dedication and courage. But if we don’t practice these tough habits of thought, we cannot hope to solve the truly serious problems that face us and we risk becoming a nation of suckers, up for grabs by the next charlatan who comes along.
Yes that is a good point. There is a modern trend towards being “one mile long at one inch deep”. Thanks for the comment, very thoughtful.