The dangers of specializing and forgetting what you're doing.

Hello there. I wanted to make a thread about the dangers of specializing. We're quite aware of what's going on in the world. I just want to bring up the dangers of specializing in one particular area of interest. For a long time- I was especially interested in political science. I still am interested in that area. However, I at first assumed that I had to be good at political science to get a journalists degree. Now I realize that I can just get a journalist degree, get a minor in political science, and then perhaps get a double major in another subject. I would like to bring up this idea to you... because... for a long time I thought about majoring in political science... because that's what I guess I was extremely interested in at the time. I still am interested in it now... but I completely forgot that regular colleges and regular universities can teach you more journalism classes than a community college course can... and I almost completely forgot about the journalism aspect of what I was going for.

So I wanted to write about the dangers of specializing. We often forget why we do things if we focus in a particular field too much. Political science for me is meant to be an accomplice to my journalism degree. I really almost forgot why I was going into political science in the first place. It was not to major in it. It was so it would be for a compliment to my journalism major when I go to a four year college/uni so I would show that I am knowledgeable in that subject... I don't need to ground myself in statism or the university's socialist way of thinking... to get into a subject I want.

I realize now that there are other areas of which I could go into for my double major. I was just thinking a bit short-sightedness. I forgot my goal. I forgot what I wanted. My goal is not to get a job with the government. My goal is to get a degree in journalism. Somewhere along the lines I forgot this... and... now I remember it... so I think what I would say to you- is- not let your mind get so narrow minded that you forget why you're doing something in the first place. You may change your mind around many times. As to what you want to do. But you shouldn't forget what it is that you've been doing.

That's happened to me. I also forgot about many other subjects that I like while I was so inclusive in my mind thinking that I was going to do poli-science, when, I forgot what my true goal was. Which is journalism. I forgot that I like reading about various books for knowledge and stuff... I forgot why I was doing what I was doing in the first place. I admit I have an agenda- a truthiness agenda... but... I forgot the main reason why I want to do it is not so I can become a poli-sci major and just write a bunch of articles no one would read... it was to become a journalist and tell people the truth every day...

I want to caution you... I don't know why it's just on my mind today. We should not lose sight of our true goals. We should not ever lose sight of why we think about what it is that we're doing. We should NOT forget why it is we're doing what we want to do.

So... these are just a few words of advice from moi. The past year and a half I studied political science... I told everyone I was going to be a political science major... and basically I forgot why it was what I was doing it in the first place. There were times that I remembered... but it's like... by the end of it... I had my mind set on political science. Like it's the only thing I wanted to do at the time.

I mean, I just want to know what your experience with this is. This was only my first year at college- but- I came pretty close to almost forgetting what I truly wanted to do at various points in time. So... if you're specializing and you're learning another subject to go with it- just remember- you should not forget what your original goal was coming into it.

Has something like this ever happened to you? I'm glad that I just remembered what I wanted to do recently. I could imagine going and doing that more and more- forgetting what my true goal really was, and, having to do something else later on in life because of my mistakes and forgetting what my true dream was. I want to do what Lou Dobbs does, or, what Alex Jones does every night. I want to tell people what's going on and tell people the truth. It's just that there were times when I had tunnel vision... and... it's like I completely lost track of that. I'm sure that I can't be the only one who has had this experience. I certainly almost lost track of what I wanted to do. I mean I always had in mind that I wanted to be a journalist- but- I let my mind get lost in another area of specialization. I'm sure there are other people who have had this time in their lives where they lose focus on their real goals as to what they want to do in life.

reply to post by Frankidealist35


That's why I specialize in printing you-know-what.

You can be specialized - but in your free time read as much as possible of everything you can.

Originally posted by Amagnon
You can be specialized - but in your free time read as much as possible of everything you can.

I actually heard the opposite - that oneself should NOT try to know as much as possible about everything they can. Buddhists make mention of it too (don't quote me on that).

reply to post by Frankidealist35


I wholeheartedly agree. One can specialize and become VERY good at something, but at that point they paint themselves into a corner. You always have to give yourself an out.

In my short working life, I have worked in live theater (electrics, pyrotechnics, set design and construction, prop design), audio and video systems design and construction, home construction, and now software design. Quite a varied fireld, and I do focus hard on whatever I am doing at the time, but I never forget my roots. I do my own remodelling work in my house, fix my own vehicles, all of that.

My grandfather has a saying, "if you know how to do something yourself, then do it. If you don't know how to do something, hire someone to do it and learn from them."

That's why I like the motto of this site. Deny ignorance. Don't settle for "I can pay someone to do that", because there may not always be someone around to do it.

In the future education will be over the internet and basicly free. Paying for an education is not somthing ANYONE should be doing. Money down the drain... just like the car i bought right before the economy went south.

A renaissance man is a good thing. Look at what Davinci accomplished.

reply to post by Watcher-In-The-Shadows


I would completely agree. One can be good one thing so well and be ignorant of many others. I just used to have like this kind of tunnel vision though... like I thought political science was all I would do other than my journalism degree. Now I realize I can do that as my minor and I could be a communications major! I've always wanted to get into the sciences. Perhaps I could do that at the college level. I have a lot of ideas about communication... and I've completely forgot about all of my theories about communication, the individual, and the society and other things when I had my mind too set on political science. I mean, political science is my minor. I almost forgot about other things I am good at. That's how narrow-minded I was then. You should be good at a broad range of topics. You shouldn't just see things from one point of view. That's what I was doing.

reply to post by rogerstigers


Exactly. You should always have other opportunities open to yourself. Don't become so fixated on one goal that you forget what you're good at. In my previous post I already mentioned how I seemingly forgot everything I was good at... or... how I forgot what other things I could be good at and I let my mind get side-tracked... I was like well there are other people doing that already... or... this is the only thing I thought I could be good at. I didn't realize how being good at more than one thing- could- really benefit me. People need to stop majoring in one thing, and, stop only being good at one thing, and, be good at a number of different things so they have that many options to choose from.

reply to post by Frankidealist35


I salute your insight and ability to "check yourself".

Originally posted by Nventual

Originally posted by Amagnon
You can be specialized - but in your free time read as much as possible of everything you can.

I actually heard the opposite - that oneself should NOT try to know as much as possible about everything they can. Buddhists make mention of it too (don't quote me on that).

The term is 'one-pointedness' if I recall correctly. However, it does not imply not being diverse. Instead, it means that whatever you set out to accomplish, put your focus on meeting the goal by concentrating your efforts on doing it as well as you can.

One can learn deeply about more things this way than by doing things in the attention-deficient manner that is now so prevalent.

You should realize the whole idea behind obtaining a college education is to become a more well-rounded individual. That's why if you intend to seek a degree in let's say political science, you're still required to take courses in science, mathematics and the fine arts.

Also, there's something to be said about maintaining a sharp focus upon a particular area of study. Depending on the career you wish to pursue, having a thorough grasp of the subject matter is essential to helping you achieve success. There's a phrase that comes to mind: Jack-of-all-trades, master of none. Just a little something to dwell upon.

I'm not sure that specialization is a good thing. Most of the people that I graduated from University with, wound up doing something entirely different than what their degree was in. Most of them, as do I, regret not at least getting a smattering of business.

Even my friends in the hard sciences are struggeling to find work and one of the reason they majored in the sciences and math was because they thought that it would insure them job security.

My MFA and $4 will almost get me a cup of coffee at Starbucks. But I didn't go to College with any illusion that it was anything other than a place to party.

It's a new day.



[edit on 27-6-2009 by whaaa]