Answering questions at Boston College O’Neill Library
The responses are in Courier, derived from the font created for IBM selectric typewriters in the 1950’s. One of my other favorite fonts is a recent one: UglyGerry. Go to UglyGerry.com to see it for yourself, or @UglyGerry on Twitter.
One possibility is to think of it as a challenge, and all challenges are character-building. What you do to adapt to the flaw becomes part of your character – perhaps even one of the best parts of your character – that you wouldn’t have without the flaw. In essence, turn the “flaw” into a source of growth, something that anyone without that flaw doesn’t get to experience. Another possibility: recognize that everyone has limitations of one kind or another, many of them invisible. IOW, you aren’t alone in the challenge of accepting yourself as you are.
The “sculpture” is actually display shelving designed and built by Prof. Mark Cooper. Students in the ceramics classes will be displaying their artwork on the shelves. The exhibit will be up from Nov 18th to mid-December.
Because they are great friends and just too much fun! Three possible solutions: find some study buddies who aren’t your regular friends, but are very serious students; make a pact with your friends to study for x amount of time and reward yourselves with a specific fun activity; or make studying a solitary habit, and meet up with your friends later.
I don’t know! But I can have my assistants find out.
I’m not sure if you’ll get the results you’re hoping for in about a month’s time, but initiative is key.
Not sure what you’re asking, but I am strongly in favor.
Pretty much. Very occasionally there’s something mentioning a specific person or some other reason I need to redact some info when answering, but I hope to consider any questions with the gravity (or levity) they deserve. It is the meaning of my existence.
Stress can do that. Make space in your schedule for the parts of it you enjoy, rather than the stuff you’re working on for class. Or take a break for a while and do other things. Sometimes coming back to it fresh helps with that kind of thing.
Mine do too; ridiculously stupid happy. Revel in it!
It’s beautiful, useful, and necessary. I know some folks differ on this opinion, but they are just misguided, confused, and wrong. 😉
It’s okay if you don’t know what your point is, just know that everyone has a point. You’ll discover yours eventually- no rush. There is a great recording from 1970 called “The Point!” which uses a fable to say essentially that. Sadly, the library doesn’t own it, but there is a good plot synopsis here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Point!
One of my helpers had a chat with Maureen Burke in the Dean’s Office (Gasson 103), and she said that while there’s no policy about this, if you want to take out a book, just bring it to the office and she will OK it. However, I should add that the Gasson Commons is currently closed until the 16th.
A recent post had the math dept. restroom (with shower!) on a bucket list, so it must be pretty special. It also has the virtue of being nearby… which could be the most important criterium when it’s, uh, urgent.
![Do the ends justify the means? (...ever?) [Kant says no]](https://library.bc.edu/answerwall/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/AW11142019-04.jpeg)
Kant says no; that’s correct. Aristotle has some useful things to say on this matter, too, in the Nicomachean Ethics (O’Neill Library B430.A5): action falls in a situation-dependent range, and virtuous action generally falls somewhere in the middle–the “golden mean” (e.g., neither overly brave nor overly timid, but adapted to the needs of the situation). You could take a deeper dive into ethics by looking up virtue ethics, deontological ethics (duties and rules) and consequentialism in the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (plato.stanford.edu).
Though there are some philosophers who argue that Machiavelli is not merely a political and historical thinker, but a political philosopher, few would credit him with a consistently reasoned ethic. Read this entry in the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: bit.ly/SEP-machiavelli. He was concerned primarily with the behaviors of heads of non-democratic states, who, he argued, were not bound by the morals that constrained non-rulers. If this concern is important to you, I recommend a course in ethics in the philosophy department, such as Ethics of Peace and War or Ethics, Religion, and International Politics.
Here’s a recommendation in podcast form: The Incomparable network hosts podcasts with smart funny nerds talking about the movies, books, and TV they love, and one of their annual traditions is reading all the books nominated for the major sci-fi and fantasy awards and talking about them: bit.ly/bc-incomparable
It is paid. You can tutor for one or more courses. To become a tutor for a course, you need to have gotten at least a B+, and have a recommendation from your professor. The CFLC suggests you talk to the professor about the recommendation first, and then drop in to the center to fill out a form. It’s serious work and you will need to get some training, but it seems like a very worthwhile and rewarding job.
Being physically miserable often goes along with depression, so you might try focusing on getting cozy. Hide under a heap of blankets until you warm up, or crank up the heat in your room until it’s comfortable to walk around in clothes you like. One of my helpers did the turn-up-the-heat trick and had a beach party in February. And yes, talking to other people can absolutely help too, so you might try that as well–another part of depression is often isolation. And of course, if the depression continues it’s a good idea to consider talking to someone at Counseling Services. http://bit.ly/BCCounselingSvcs
I am friends with them – they’re sweet and very smart – but unfortunately, they are a problem in the library. At times, they can be found in many areas. Our policy of allowing food in the library (which I strongly support, since it makes you humans so much happier and more productive) is also very attractive to my mousie pals.
Little known shower. Kudos for finding & using! May the rest of the items on your bucket list be equally achievable.
