What do I need to do to achieve my goals?

[Anonymous]

PaleoConPrep wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

PaleoConPrep wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought you wanted to go to Hampden-Sydney and become a lawyer and politician. Out of curiosity, what changed your mind?

Well I had Idealized Hampden-Sydney as this "Southern gentlemen's" school. After doing some research and speaking to friends who know people there, I discovered that HSC is ful of kids who party, drink/get drunk, and don't care about learning. I wouldn't fit in at a place like that. I love prepdom, but I'd call myself a preppy scholar. I'm a quiet scholarly type who enjoys reading classical literature, studying political philosophy and theology, and listening to classical music. As far as politics is concerned, I'm no longer interested in ever running for any public office. This is for two reasons. First of all, over the last few months (while closely observing the election) I became much more of a realist about our political system. Donald Trump is WAY WAY WAY to the Left of me, and he's treated like a monster. Imagine what the media and the public would do to me: a fairly intellectual guy on the Far-Right. I'd have ZERO chance of winning anything. The other reason I'm no longer interested in political office is because I've totally rejected democracy as a competent form of government. I agree with H.L Mencken's view that democracy is a system in which inferior men dominate their superiors. I am now a Monarchist ideologically. I'd support a return to the old order. My ideal form of government would be a Protestant monarchy with strict social classes: aristocracy, clergy, warrior/military, merchants/white collar workers, and serfs/blue collar workers. I also support a return to traditional gender roles.(I hate all forms of Feminism) I firmly believe that "equality" is a pipe dream. No one is ever equal. Hierarchy is a natural part of society. Seeing as I'm radically anti-democratic, I'd be a massive hypocrite if I ever ran for anything. I don't want to waste my life pandering to the masses. I'd be very content with a quiet life of scholarship.

NP here. Paleo, what attracted you to this ideology and to preppy culture in particular? I'm genuinely curious and don't mean this in a snarky way; I know several self-professed paleocons who are incredibly happy with Trump.

An anti-democratic, anti-egalitarian Monarchist/aristocratic ideology is the logical conclusion of Conservatism. Democracy is by definition an egalitarian ideology, and therefore Liberal. I hate these talk radio hosts who turn the Founding Fathers into Demi-gods. I believe the founders/framers were great statesmen and excellent writers, but I oppose what they stood for. I guess I'd tolerate a Republic with a VERY limited franchise, ut Monarchism/aristocracy is preferable. If you want to get a clearer understanding of my ideology, look into Paleoconservatism and the Dark Enlightenment.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Enlightenment
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paleoconservatism
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traditionalist_conservatism

BTW, I'm not necessarily unhappy with Trump. I was just making the point that he's WAY to the Left of me.

I see, but what about the preppy thing, to echo another PP?

[Anonymous]

PaleoConPrep wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You need to drop this whole unrelenting "I am a Paleoconservative Prep Man" and just...go with the flow. It is good to know your values, but it's simply not healthy to be so wrapped up in your personal "brand"/identity.

I almost wonder if it's a control issue or OCD or anxiety or something.

oh come on

Even if there isn't any underlying issue, dogmatic students are incredibly frustrating to teach. If you don't have enough intellectual flexibility, you won't get the mentorship you need to reach your goal.

[PaleoConPrep]

Anonymous wrote:

PaleoConPrep wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

PaleoConPrep wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought you wanted to go to Hampden-Sydney and become a lawyer and politician. Out of curiosity, what changed your mind?

Well I had Idealized Hampden-Sydney as this "Southern gentlemen's" school. After doing some research and speaking to friends who know people there, I discovered that HSC is ful of kids who party, drink/get drunk, and don't care about learning. I wouldn't fit in at a place like that. I love prepdom, but I'd call myself a preppy scholar. I'm a quiet scholarly type who enjoys reading classical literature, studying political philosophy and theology, and listening to classical music. As far as politics is concerned, I'm no longer interested in ever running for any public office. This is for two reasons. First of all, over the last few months (while closely observing the election) I became much more of a realist about our political system. Donald Trump is WAY WAY WAY to the Left of me, and he's treated like a monster. Imagine what the media and the public would do to me: a fairly intellectual guy on the Far-Right. I'd have ZERO chance of winning anything. The other reason I'm no longer interested in political office is because I've totally rejected democracy as a competent form of government. I agree with H.L Mencken's view that democracy is a system in which inferior men dominate their superiors. I am now a Monarchist ideologically. I'd support a return to the old order. My ideal form of government would be a Protestant monarchy with strict social classes: aristocracy, clergy, warrior/military, merchants/white collar workers, and serfs/blue collar workers. I also support a return to traditional gender roles.(I hate all forms of Feminism) I firmly believe that "equality" is a pipe dream. No one is ever equal. Hierarchy is a natural part of society. Seeing as I'm radically anti-democratic, I'd be a massive hypocrite if I ever ran for anything. I don't want to waste my life pandering to the masses. I'd be very content with a quiet life of scholarship.

NP here. Paleo, what attracted you to this ideology and to preppy culture in particular? I'm genuinely curious and don't mean this in a snarky way; I know several self-professed paleocons who are incredibly happy with Trump.

An anti-democratic, anti-egalitarian Monarchist/aristocratic ideology is the logical conclusion of Conservatism. Democracy is by definition an egalitarian ideology, and therefore Liberal. I hate these talk radio hosts who turn the Founding Fathers into Demi-gods. I believe the founders/framers were great statesmen and excellent writers, but I oppose what they stood for. I guess I'd tolerate a Republic with a VERY limited franchise, ut Monarchism/aristocracy is preferable. If you want to get a clearer understanding of my ideology, look into Paleoconservatism and the Dark Enlightenment.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Enlightenment
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paleoconservatism
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traditionalist_conservatism

BTW, I'm not necessarily unhappy with Trump. I was just making the point that he's WAY to the Left of me.

I see, but what about the preppy thing, to echo another PP?

Well part of it is nostalgia, and part of it is because I just like the fine, clean look that dressing preppy gives a person. It's part of my revolt against modernity? I associate prepdom with an older, more refined culture. As culture has declined, so has dress. A gentleman at Harvard in 1900 would've dressed in coat & tie on weekdays. Now, plenty of guys at Harvard probably dress in tight jeans. I see it as a tiny part of the decline of culture. BTW, I find modern "prep" culture laughable. Modern preps are usually guys who drink their faces off in frat houses. There's nothing refined about it.

[Anonymous]

OK, but you're going to need to work with all kinds of people, including people whose world views/hobbies/style of dress/etc. are very, very different than yours. You asked for advice, and so here it is: it is not good preparation for the real world/your intended career to surround yourself solely with people who think/act/present themselves just like you.

[Anonymous]

My advice to the OP is this - get off the internet and spend your time more wisely.

[Anonymous]

If you think women are intellectually inferior to men, I think you'll have a hard road in academia.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Top PhD programs want to see glowing recommendations from faculty whom they respect and they want to see a research agenda that looks interesting and important. Writing will be a central part of your career, so an impressive writing sample could help. Presenting or publishing scholarly work, while certainly not required at this stage, can also be a big plus. Bottom line: the best candidates for top PhD programs are applicants who look like they might make real contributions to the discipline.

+1 on this post.

Also -- network, network, network. Get to know your advisor well and ask for recommendations for others you should get to know. Then ask the same of this network of contacts. Attend workshops and conferences as your time permits. And keep your GPA up!

[Anonymous]

Academia values (what it perceives to be) originality, so "I want to go back to a time when people did/believed X, Y, and Z" will get you nowhere. It can be your motivation, but your scholarship would need to provide a new perspective on the era/texts/societies/people you admire.

[Anonymous]

Paleo, as a woman with a Ph.D. I will share with you some valuable advice given to me by a professor very early in my doctoral work. She said "Embrace your ignorance for if there were no ignorance, you would have nothing to learn. Don't feel ashamed of what you don't know or understand but embrace and celebrate it, for that is your opportunity to dig in and learn."

[Anonymous]

PaleoConPrep wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought you wanted to go to Hampden-Sydney and become a lawyer and politician. Out of curiosity, what changed your mind?

Well I had Idealized Hampden-Sydney as this "Southern gentlemen's" school. After doing some research and speaking to friends who know people there, I discovered that HSC is ful of kids who party, drink/get drunk, and don't care about learning. I wouldn't fit in at a place like that. I love prepdom, but I'd call myself a preppy scholar. I'm a quiet scholarly type who enjoys reading classical literature, studying political philosophy and theology, and listening to classical music. As far as politics is concerned, I'm no longer interested in ever running for any public office. This is for two reasons. First of all, over the last few months (while closely observing the election) I became much more of a realist about our political system. Donald Trump is WAY WAY WAY to the Left of me, and he's treated like a monster. Imagine what the media and the public would do to me: a fairly intellectual guy on the Far-Right. I'd have ZERO chance of winning anything. The other reason I'm no longer interested in political office is because I've totally rejected democracy as a competent form of government. I agree with H.L Mencken's view that democracy is a system in which inferior men dominate their superiors. I am now a Monarchist ideologically. I'd support a return to the old order. My ideal form of government would be a Protestant monarchy with strict social classes: aristocracy, clergy, warrior/military, merchants/white collar workers, and serfs/blue collar workers. I also support a return to traditional gender roles.(I hate all forms of Feminism) I firmly believe that "equality" is a pipe dream. No one is ever equal. Hierarchy is a natural part of society. Seeing as I'm radically anti-democratic, I'd be a massive hypocrite if I ever ran for anything. I don't want to waste my life pandering to the masses. I'd be very content with a quiet life of scholarship.

You'd fit in perfectly in Saudi Arabia. Just convert to Islam.

[Anonymous]

PaleoConPrep wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought you wanted to go to Hampden-Sydney and become a lawyer and politician. Out of curiosity, what changed your mind?

Well I had Idealized Hampden-Sydney as this "Southern gentlemen's" school. After doing some research and speaking to friends who know people there, I discovered that HSC is ful of kids who party, drink/get drunk, and don't care about learning. I wouldn't fit in at a place like that. I love prepdom, but I'd call myself a preppy scholar. I'm a quiet scholarly type who enjoys reading classical literature, studying political philosophy and theology, and listening to classical music. As far as politics is concerned, I'm no longer interested in ever running for any public office. This is for two reasons. First of all, over the last few months (while closely observing the election) I became much more of a realist about our political system. Donald Trump is WAY WAY WAY to the Left of me, and he's treated like a monster. Imagine what the media and the public would do to me: a fairly intellectual guy on the Far-Right. I'd have ZERO chance of winning anything. The other reason I'm no longer interested in political office is because I've totally rejected democracy as a competent form of government. I agree with H.L Mencken's view that democracy is a system in which inferior men dominate their superiors. I am now a Monarchist ideologically. I'd support a return to the old order. My ideal form of government would be a Protestant monarchy with strict social classes: aristocracy, clergy, warrior/military, merchants/white collar workers, and serfs/blue collar workers. I also support a return to traditional gender roles.(I hate all forms of Feminism) I firmly believe that "equality" is a pipe dream. No one is ever equal. Hierarchy is a natural part of society. Seeing as I'm radically anti-democratic, I'd be a massive hypocrite if I ever ran for anything. I don't want to waste my life pandering to the masses. I'd be very content with a quiet life of scholarship.

How do you reconcile this with being a self-professed Christian? Jesus was a feminist. What about his teachings do you believe supports strict sex-based role assignment?

[Anonymous]

If you remember one thing from all of your postings on dcum, PCP, let it be that you turned, time and again, for help from those same people that you would wish to be banished from your idealized nation, and they helped you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you remember one thing from all of your postings on dcum, PCP, let it be that you turned, time and again, for help from those same people that you would wish to be banished from your idealized nation, and they helped you.

+1

I would only add that it is striking to me that PCP seeks a classical education in the context of being so very sure that everything he believes to be true is immovable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you remember one thing from all of your postings on dcum, PCP, let it be that you turned, time and again, for help from those same people that you would wish to be banished from your idealized nation, and they helped you.

+1

I would only add that it is striking to me that PCP seeks a classical education in the context of being so very sure that everything he believes to be true is immovable.

Let's remember he is only 17-18 yr old kid. Give him chance to grow.