What is the Fundamental Question of Existence?
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On another thread our staunch theist Paisley is juggling tigers over the claim that the key mystery of existence is "Why is there something rather than nothing". Now while people over there have argued with Pais about the implied prime mover and called into doubt the veracity of Pais' most fundamental question of existence, what I wonder is what atheists and theists alike think are the fundamental questions of existence from their own perspectives.
We know Pais thinks the big question is why there is something rather than nothing. From my perspective, the big mysteries are: "What are universes made of" and "What was the natural cause of self replicating life". I wonder about the first because knowing what the universe is actually made of may allow us to understand potential causes of this and perhaps other universes. I wonder about the cause of self replicating life because even on our titanic cosmic yo-yo surrounded by winking nuclear furnaces the development of self replicating life remains awe inspiring in macro.
Both these suggestions are subjective but what isn't? Anyway - that's me - what do you think are the most fundamental questions of existence?
"Experiments are the only means of knowledge at our disposal. The rest is poetry, imagination." Max Planck
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Maybe it's is just fundamental to who I am but I have always felt the most important questions are "what is possible?" and subsequently "which possibilities have value?"
.hmmm... now I have de ja vu.... has this question been asked before?
Theist badge qualifier : Gnostic/Philosophical Panentheist
www.mathematicianspictures.com
I'd say mine is 'how best do I live my life?' I know things like astrophysics and quantum mechanics can prove useful, but for me, personally, knowledge of them has little pragmatic value. How to interact with people, be successful, and enjoy life do. That's my stance.
My Website About Roller Coaster Design
"How can you live so that you die content with the life you had." Or, "What kind of life creates the most satisfying experience."
Nothing else matters.
(Edit: Goddamnit! Take the wind out of my sails, will you!)
Everything makes more sense now that I've stopped believing.
"Just when are we going to stop digging the fricking hole we are in deeper and start working to get out of it?"
This applies to - the environment, the economy, personal lives, society, you name it. We all need to stop saying "it should be this way" and start in on here we are, this is what we have to work with, this is where we need to go, grab a shovel and let's build a ramp instead of digging a hole!
Stupid fricking senator from Oklahoma has blocked extended unemployment benefits - this is the second repug to do this - though at least this time I can plan for being without money for a week or two. With the same stupid fricking arguments as before - "all those lazy out of work people are not really looking for work" and "we should pay for it first". The first argument doesn't deserve to be discussed. As to the second argument, taking the money out of the unused stimulus funds now, or later when the unused stimulus funds are returned to the general fund, makes no difference. It is just shuffling money around, now and later. This is digging the hole deeper - all those people are not going to be able to pay bills or mortgages, and some will have to do without food. Just how is this going to help the economy?
I'll get excited over the whichness of the why after I get a job.
-- I feel so much better since I stopped trying to believe.
"We are entitled to our own opinions. We're not entitled to our own facts"- Al Franken
"If death isn't sweet oblivion, I will be severely disappointed" - Ruth M.
You shouldn't mess with ninjas. They always win against pirates.
Spoken like a true engineer. (You did say you were an engineer, right?)
My Website About Roller Coaster Design
BS Systems Engineering, Tau Beta Pi Arizona Alpha
Mind you, I have never actually had an engineering job, except when I was a student. But I find the attitude never goes away. When IT has an engineer who is having computer problems, the other IT guys have a tendency to say, "CJ has time to work with ....."
-- I feel so much better since I stopped trying to believe.
"We are entitled to our own opinions. We're not entitled to our own facts"- Al Franken
"If death isn't sweet oblivion, I will be severely disappointed" - Ruth M.
I think about a kid, say 3 years old or so, "why?" you give them an answer and again "why?" So, one big fat general WHY?
Faith is the word but next to that snugged up closely "lie's" the want.
"By simple common sense I don't believe in god, in none."-Charlie Chaplin
The way I see it, if a bunch of companies that are consulting firms or non-engineering businesses show up to an engineering career fair, there is something desirable in the way an engineer works. In a way, that general 'problem-solving' mentality that is common among engineers is what is important.
My Website About Roller Coaster Design
That mentality is important in IT, too. I think the reason most of my co-workers didn't want to work with the engineers is because of that very same attitude. Working with someone who wants to know, has the expertise to understand why, and won't make the same mistake twice if you just take the time to explain, is my idea of the ideal user. That extra five-twenty(?) minutes of time explaining how to avoid the problem in the future and the ins and outs of policies and procedures and malware and servers and firewalls was fun for me, not so fun for some of the other IT people.
There is a line you dance along as a support person. There is too much information for some, too little for others. Some people NEED to know the details in order for it to make sense. I NEED to know the big picture - I'm systems, after all. Others just want to know what key to push. It is the last kind of user that drives me insane. "Fine! Now push the damn F12 key, OKAY? That IS what the screen tells you to do, right HERE."
You are mechanical, right? Guessing from your pic and your sig cartoon.
-- I feel so much better since I stopped trying to believe.
"We are entitled to our own opinions. We're not entitled to our own facts"- Al Franken
"If death isn't sweet oblivion, I will be severely disappointed" - Ruth M.
It's a trick question.
Yeah. I basically want to design roller coasters/roller coaster mechanics.
But yeah, I know what you mean. My one friend is also in ME, but she's pretty much hopeless. She's in it because she wants to work for Disney (or a similar company) within the Amusement Park industry. When we work on homework, she seldom understands the concepts, and instead gets frustrated and just wants the answers. I typically like to understand what I am doing, but it is getting to the point where my classes are of little to no use whatsoever for what I want to do. Roller coasters use kinematics, which is fairly simple, and occasionally use more complex subjects. The problem is that those extra subjects are hit-or-miss or are only touched upon briefly in classes. Also, I've got a beef with college because it tends to lack in actual hands on projects. We learn how to use 3D modeling software as freshmen, and then don't use it again until we're seniors. Wouldn't it make sense to use it while we're learning strength of materials? AKA when we analyze beam loads, wouldn't it make sense to explore design considerations and how they reduce stress in different areas, with 3D software simulations? No. Instead, we just learn how to calculate the loads. Little application in a field whose specific purpose is application. Maybe it's just because my school is focused on research (or professors are). Basically, what I am doing on my own will prove as important if not more important than what I have learned in classes. That seems wrong to me, but again I suppose it is more about the 'process.'
/rant
Oh well, I've known for a while now that you can effectively make what you want of things.
My Website About Roller Coaster Design
My advice is to talk to your adviser about doing independent studies. I did a couple for 3 creds each. You will have to produce a paper and a design, but that is a lot more fun than another boring class and your adviser can arrange that they count toward your total graduation requirements. Also, see if there are any internships at the placement office that are close to what you are interested in. Most companies will want you to have at least enough creds to be a junior. The break from classes and some real money - usually substantially more than flipping burger money though less than what you will get after you graduate - can be a real motivation.
If your adviser doesn't go - wow! - when you talk about your passion for roller coasters, ask to switch to another adviser. They are usually glad to hand you to someone with an interest similar to yours. The professors really do want you to succeed. If you don't have an adviser yet, ask the nice person at the front desk of your department offices. And be persistent. Get to know your adviser, be there at office hours, ask good questions.
You can get deferments for your student loans while out on an internship or you can pay them - whatever fits your situation. And the universities are used to people stepping in and out - you won't be the first or the last. I took two semester breaks as a full time intern as well as working for same the company during the summer. It really helped me cope with the grind of class - I was all relaxed and ready for my senior year. It took five years to graduate, but so what?
Good luck!
-- I feel so much better since I stopped trying to believe.
"We are entitled to our own opinions. We're not entitled to our own facts"- Al Franken
"If death isn't sweet oblivion, I will be severely disappointed" - Ruth M.
CJ, this is what differentiates excellent IT people from the average. I don't know how many times I have run into IT people who are more interested in talking about how "dumb" the end users are rather than actually taking the time to be nice, courteous, and helpful. It is the hardest part about IT, but the customer service side of IT is what really differentiates those who know and those who are really an asset to the company.
When I help a customer design or redesign a network, I am looking first and foremost to find out what their network philosophy is. Do they need to have extremely stringint security (such as a financial institution), or do they need to be a bit more relaxed because of acedemic freedoms (college campuses). How do they currently manage their network? What works now and what are their pain points? Most of all, I go in there and let them know that my main goal is to make them look good. I help with the design, get the gear, and help with the implementation, but I let the IT people take all the credit, and let them pass the blame to me (and if I do my job correctly, that should be minimized...but we are talking real world, right?) It is humbling, but very rewarding.
Whenever I hear an IT person talk with a god complex, I remind them where they are in the totem pole of the organization. Even the janitor has a computer at many companies, and that person will ride your ass when their computer isn't working. However, as and IT person you get to learn (sometimes at a faster than planned pace) new things all the time. The god complex many IT folks have hinders that learning process, which seems counter productive. Learning is why I got into the industry. Why would I want to stop?
From what I have read from your posts, you are still in-between jobs. Keep at it; you are the kind of IT person that most teams dream about, and I hope you are able to find a place soon. That company will be very fortunate.
Dolt:"Evolution is just a theory."
Me:"Yes, so is light and gravity. Pardon me while I flash this strobe while dropping a bowling ball on your head. This shouldn't bother you; after all, these are just theories."
Hippie.
BOFH.
Everything makes more sense now that I've stopped believing.
'Cause Chevy didn't make a 327 in '55, the 327 didn't come out till '62. And it wasn't offered in the Bel Air with a four-barrel carb till '64. However, in 1964, the correct ignition timing would be four degrees before top-dead-center.
www.RichWoodsBlog.com
Probably best to drop the IT service topic as I am sure most are bored with it.
Thank you for the kind words. I have a hot prospect - according to the head hunter - and I am trying not to be too optimistic. Always better to be surprised than disappointed.
-- I feel so much better since I stopped trying to believe.
"We are entitled to our own opinions. We're not entitled to our own facts"- Al Franken
"If death isn't sweet oblivion, I will be severely disappointed" - Ruth M.
Yeah, I will definitely do at least one independent study, I suppose I should look into it because what I am doing now on the side of my internship would qualify... thanks for the reminder that they exist!
As for advisers, the issue here is that I am at Ohio State. There are a LOT of engineers. As such, our internship/co-op program, while good, is bad in how employers use it. You submit your resume, and then the employers will typically pick the high-gpa's for interviews. I have a 3.0(ish), so I won't get picked by the companies I'd like to work for. I excel in project experience, through the group I am heavily involved in (Theme Park Engineering Group), but it is hard to represent that in a resume. The career fair has become useless, because the recruiters just tell you to apply online. Their is little personal contact in the very beginning of intern/co-op hunting anymore.
I suppose I can't really bitch, right now I've got an internship building wooden roller coaster trains.
I just like to complain since the school played no part in helping me get it.
Our advisers aren't bad, but since roller coasters reside in such a niche industry, they really won't be able to offer me much. And again, most of the professors are there for research more so than teaching, so it's tough to get them interested in anything.
Yeah, if my loans didn't defer I'd be f'ed. lol This internship I'm on now had me miss two quarters of classes, so right now I am on at least the five-year plan. I can't really complain about staying in college, though, can I?
Thanks, I'm not too worried about it. At the very least, my degree will get me a job somewhere. Top it off with project experience and I ain't worried about nothing. Good luck to you and your job hunt, I hope you get that job you want!
My Website About Roller Coaster Design
LOL! Hehehe....
Dolt:"Evolution is just a theory."
Me:"Yes, so is light and gravity. Pardon me while I flash this strobe while dropping a bowling ball on your head. This shouldn't bother you; after all, these are just theories."