I’m always impressed by how well you are able to articulate thoughts on different subject matter, and integrate it into your own life. You don’t know me, and I can’t even remember how i stumbled on to your blog a year ago or so(though i think it had to do with a google search titled “moving to new york” back when I was considering a similar move), but I always appreciate your social commentary.

This post in particular was striking to me, as I believe you have hit the nail on the head in a way I’ve never really considered (or thought to consider before). I’m a fan of some pretty awful professional sports teams, and there is never anything as satisfying as opining their plight with other members of the fanbase. Your post made me realize when I’m watching a game, and a particularly lame outcome to a play has occured, the first thing I do is text every person I know who has a similar interest vested in the game to complain about it. It left me thinking, what would I do if there was no other accessible fanbase for me to associate with? Would the highs be as high, or the lows be as low when celebrating for the team?

Additionally, my dad is an MIT alum, and was very amused and waxing whimsical at your vocabulary section.

Anyway, sorry for the long post, always appreciate your commentary. Cheers.

And lest I be accused of being anti-social, I should say that I’m a teacher who has created a lot of small group activities for my students. But social learning can easily become more social than learning. I don’t want a student turning in a group project, I want them to have done reading, to have thought about the topic, considered it, and taken the time to craft a personal and meaningful response to the question or issue posed. These are activities that could be done as part of a group but I will only know that a student has learned if I can see what he can produce by him or herself. It’s best done alone.

This is just one example but there are others I could come up with. You can exercise with others but spending time walking the dog by myself gives me an opportunity to think about the day that has passed and what lies ahead. Walking with another person would make the time pass more quickly but the silence would be full of chatter. I’m not against conversation it’s just that with iPods and televisions everywhere, the chance for a little silence (except the chirping of birds or the distance sound of a train) are moments I cherish.

Bottom line: Not everything is better when you do it with a group of people and each person should know how to appreciate the solitary moments of life without having every moment filled with distractions. JMHO.