This won't be a traditional blog entry because I'm lazy, it's fucking hot here in Montreal and I don't feel like rambling on talking about shit no one cares about when I just have two inquiries and some other things to note.
First off: I bought some Horse Meat today, thinking it'd be tastier, juicier and much more delicious. Now it is haunting my refrigerator and smells like utter shit. The reason I also bought horse meat was because I was deceived by its coloring. It was a lot more red and it dripped liquid from the package, so I thought it was packin' more heat than a bro who just learned how to use his penis properly (whatever that means).
Turns out it smelled like shit and it tasted okay (a bit dry, despite how much I tried to kick it up in taste). I couldn't finish it and dumped in the fridge. The claw of its smell practically seeping out from the shut door.
That's point #1.
Point #2 is that I finally got into master's. for those who do enjoy extensive reading of my blogs (because somehow Reader's Digest and Chicken Soup for the Soul doesn't suffice), I was having trouble winning my games on the ladder. I couldn't read my opponent, couldn't tell if he was doing some rushed play of fast DTs, proxy Stargates or just playing standard. I've come to learn that I am terrible with two-base play with Zerg. I feel they can't simply do it unless it is an all-in and since I can't even 6-pool properly, I didn't have much achievement in doing all-ins.
But it doesn't matter.
Read 'em and weep boys. How the hell did I do it after being at a 25 loss deficit? I played very late at night. The skill-level must drop late at night, yet the rankings and MMR remain the same allowing to climb my way back up the ladder and into the comfort of a new league (even though I loved being in Diamond more than Master's). Then again, I do play aggressively drunk and terrible, may have said some things or done some things in-game to people I don't know, I apologize: rough nights.
And look at that... this blog is getting too long...
Point #3 is about my future. In fact, I have no idea what I'm doing with my future. I'm getting a degree in something I don't care about. In fact, I'm going to school for a reason other than my own future. Why? I'll tell you this when I'm in a stupor, but I can reassure you that it is remotely valid (I believe I told someone about it).
Point being that a degree in Sociology doesn't really have many career choices, right? I did some modern-day research (Google) and the jobs ranged from Social Worker (blah) to some other job that doesn't really need a degree, just sociological imagination ((C Wright Mills) The ability to understand not only what is happening in one’s own experience but also what is happening in the world and to imagine how one’s experience fits into the larger world experience.)
Real difficult to achieve without blowing thousands of dollars on an institution that validates you've wasted your time and money getting a diploma than hitting the public library for the same information, knowledge and ultimately, presumed expertise in the form of theoretical scenarios discussed among equally drone-dead peers.
Secondly, I need to pick a minor and I have no idea what it does or is it really worth it. Do people care about a minor? Is it just to say you dipped your feet in the water in some other aspect that isn't your main drive or know-how?
The point being, I have 3 years to finish my education (my parents are paying for tuition). I have literally no goals, ambitions or remote interests that I can see through the fog as being a career choice. I was thinking of graduate school (which will have to come out of my own money, so I have to really be sure of what I am wanting to do), but I know nothing of it and don't even know what it can offer, what it does for you, etc. Is there graduate school for Sociology?
Mind you, I didn't apply and I probably won't (until I finish my education, again for reasons outside my control). But Social Media and Community "Guru" sounds really fun and interesting. As you guys already know, I'm on the forums here excessively, and when I'm not, I'm on another forum and/or IRC and/or Liquipedia on my free time. I have a lot of other things I could be doing, but I enjoy the whole aspect of the forums: the diverse topics, the range of personalities and people and the inside-jokes, events and happenings within the forums that create such a tight-knit group.
Here are the details of the job:
-Responsible for strategizing and executing social/community marketing initiatives.
-Manage and update Thermaltake and Tt eSPORTS’ social media platforms and communities (Facebook, Twitter, Official Forums, other relevant gaming / PC hardware communities)
-Works closely with internal Marketing team to drive company marketing campaigns
-Be the public voice for Thermaltake and Tt eSPORTS brand in both online and offline platforms
-Manage and execute online/offline events including gaming tournaments and contests
-Research and maintain key communities relevant to Thermaltake and Tt eSPORTS’ key target consumers
Not bad right? Seems relatively easy and it offers some hands-on experience. Again, I didn't apply for TT Esports, but I'm hoping that there are other companies or places that have an equal position, do they?
I hope so, but this is my only target on the dart board. I literally can't think of anything else unless Sociology somehow fits in managing or overseeing a world of MMOs (I don't even think such a job exists).
I spoke with Mike Ambinder awhile back, asking how the hell does a Experimental Psychologist fit in with Valve and he told me something I never realized (http://www.valvesoftware.com/company/people.html): He told me that his job was unique, that he really has no "duties" so to speak, that they told him to make himself useful and that was it. He performs visual cognitive playtests with the developers, etc. etc. How he got the job was basically pitching his use to Valve and Valve taking a bite into the apple that was offered.
That's my second shot for the net for me I guess. Try and create my own job and worth for a company and hope it sticks.
So basically:
Apply for some kind of Social Media job in various companies
Try and create my own use of a position in a company with a great pitch
Grad school
Sociologist for MMOs (huh? Don't even know what that means or entails)
Oh and I need to pick a minor, I had political science, but the first two intro courses I took were terrible and I hate the whole fucking thing.
*I don't think it is possible for me not to write a long blog, which is unfortunate and I'm sorry
Throw the meat out dood. Or give it to a homeless guy. grats on masters, im jealous Minors in business and comp sci are interesting and can open up a lot of jobs.
On June 09 2011 02:09 ComaDose wrote: Throw the meat out dood. Or give it to a homeless guy. grats on masters, im jealous Minors in business and comp sci are interesting and can open up a lot of jobs.
Here are all the majors/minors I can do. Sadly, business and/or comp. sci requires a 3.0 GPA or knowledge in Math.
My GPA is like 2.68 and my Math is a 516 (otherwise known as 426, which is intermediate math for the 10th grade -- High-school only has 11 grades in Quebec).
Thanks and I might throw it out.
On June 09 2011 02:11 Alejandrisha wrote: You have 2/3 of the posts THIS WEEK that I have in my whole career xD Grats on masters, man!
On June 09 2011 02:14 Blazinghand wrote: Horse meat actually isn't so bad when it's prepared properly-- it's kind of like beef. I haven't noticed that it's unusually fragrant, though.
Also, super congrats on making it into Master's! Looks like you had to learn some good timing windows to get in though, if you know what I mean.
I made meatballs, spiced it up, dumbed some BBQ sauce and stuck it in the oven for like 30 minutes maybe?
Man, I spent a long time trying to figure out what "Master Horse Meat" was.
Anyway, if you have three more years of school to go, you have plenty of time to figure out what your direction is. Hell, many people don't figure it out until they've been out of school a while.
On June 09 2011 03:08 turdburgler wrote: wtf canada
you eat horses!?
have you ever looked into the eyes of a horse?!
Have you ever looked in to the eyes of a cow/chicken/crazyfuckingpig? Same shit.
Also, I am kind of in the same situation as you. I am taking a B.A in Communications(wtf?) and have really no idea where I am going. I guess the only thing keeping me going is the thought that it will work out, I know that I will put in the effort to get a good job that I enjoy somewhere using my degree. I suppose you could say I have got hope.
On June 09 2011 01:59 Torte de Lini wrote: [*] Apply for some kind of Social Media job in various companies
We're tracking similar directions here, so I'd be curious to see what you go on to do. I worked as the Twitter/Blogger/Facebook(er?) for a large web-based business here for about eighteen months after I finished my degree and it was among the best and worst jobs I've ever had.
The work was phenomenal, but the environment was pretty atrocious. While I was working there, the company got bought out by a company in Holland. We came to work one morning to find that to find that the company PCs were all in Dutch. When we complained about it, our boss told us that he would be, "pushing for English installs of Office."
There was a lot worse than that, but I'll save it for a rantblog/autiobography. Suffice it to say, things were unpleasant.
I've since moved into a postgraduate course, which has been a lot kinder on my psyche... I love the idea of doing a sociology (or in my case, an anthropology) of an MMO; there could be all kinds of interesting cultural observations made
Anyway, the whole point of all this is that there's work out there for social-sciences graduates, don't panic.
Please give me one star on my blog. It's traditional and expected.
On June 09 2011 03:08 turdburgler wrote: wtf canada
you eat horses!?
have you ever looked into the eyes of a horse?!
I used to do horseback riding and the mother fucker went wild and made me jump over gates or those competitive bar thingies. Never again will I look into its eyes.
On June 09 2011 03:13 Lysenko wrote: Man, I spent a long time trying to figure out what "Master Horse Meat" was.
Anyway, if you have three more years of school to go, you have plenty of time to figure out what your direction is. Hell, many people don't figure it out until they've been out of school a while.
Was trying to fit Master league, Horses and the meat I ate.
I can't change degrees because I'm already one year into it, so I have to try and make due with it. I don't like the idea of uncertainty, I don't think anyone does, but I have a real social insecurity about it.
On June 09 2011 03:08 turdburgler wrote: wtf canada
you eat horses!?
have you ever looked into the eyes of a horse?!
Have you ever looked in to the eyes of a cow/chicken/crazyfuckingpig? Same shit.
Also, I am kind of in the same situation as you. I am taking a B.A in Communications(wtf?) and have really no idea where I am going. I guess the only thing keeping me going is the thought that it will work out, I know that I will put in the effort to get a good job that I enjoy somewhere using my degree. I suppose you could say I have got hope.
I could use some of that. My fear is that I end up doing some trivial, redundant and repetitive. I haven't experienced as much as others and to be honest, I want to know to be able to bitch and moan fairly like everyone else, but then again... I just want a secure 9 to 5 job of socialization and basic levels of productivity that I can be proud of.
On June 09 2011 01:59 Torte de Lini wrote: [*] Apply for some kind of Social Media job in various companies
We're tracking similar directions here, so I'd be curious to see what you go on to do. I worked as the Twitter/Blogger/Facebook(er?) for a large web-based business here for about eighteen months after I finished my degree and it was among the best and worst jobs I've ever had.
The work was phenomenal, but the environment was pretty atrocious. While I was working there, the company got bought out by a company in Holland. We came to work one morning to find that to find that the company PCs were all in Dutch. When we complained about it, our boss told us that he would be, "pushing for English installs of Office."
There was a lot worse than that, but I'll save it for a rantblog/autiobography. Suffice it to say, things were unpleasant.
I've since moved into a postgraduate course, which has been a lot kinder on my psyche... I love the idea of doing a sociology (or in my case, an anthropology) of an MMO; there could be all kinds of interesting cultural observations made
Anyway, the whole point of all this is that there's work out there for social-sciences graduates, don't panic.
On June 09 2011 02:11 Alejandrisha wrote: You have 2/3 of the posts THIS WEEK that I have in my whole career xD
My word, I genuinely assumed that this was a joke...
How do you go about finding such jobs as you described above? My only really good qualifications for jobs such as social media representative is that I can spend long, silly hours on a site so long as it is active or have a reasonable number of people to interact with, then again... who can't do that (can anyone see how long a user spends his time on a site?)
I guess maybe I'd be quite suited for MMOs because of the size of the game, area and people (though I don't play MMOs really).
What did you do on a day-to-day basis? What did you do when you had nothing really to do? I was thinking of doing a minor in Anthropology, purely because it'd be easy since I'm already doing Sociology, but it's a bit redundant no?
Yeah, I guess I have nothing to worry about. I'm just really inexperienced of real life.
On June 09 2011 04:17 Torte de Lini wrote: How do you go about finding such jobs as you described above? My only really good qualifications for jobs such as social media representative is that I can spend long, silly hours on a site so long as it is active or have a reasonable number of people to interact with, then again... who can't do that (can anyone see how long a user spends his time on a site?)
What did you do on a day-to-day basis? What did you do when you had nothing really to do? I was thinking of doing a minor in Anthropology, purely because it'd be easy since I'm already doing Sociology, but it's a bit redundant no?
For me it was quite lucky; a guy who had been my managing editor while I was working as a news writer called me up during the last month or so of my undergrad and asked if I would be available to write some advertorial stuff for him. The money was alright, but there were no jobs to be had so I accepted.
A few months later, they mentioned that they wanted to get into social-web stuff in a big way, crack up a blog and really go to town on Twitter, then at least have a reasonable presence on Facebook and some Irish message boards (there are a couple that are really huge nationally). So I was sort of put in control of all that.
I guess from day-to-day the biggest portion of my work was writing the company blog. They had said that there was a noticeable gap in the Irish market for web-based tech publications, so (whether that niche existed or not) it was my job to basically write news for their blog in the time I wasn't actively managing anything on the 'social media' side. I think I averaged about 4,000 words a day the entire time I worked there, with some days heavier than others.
The one thing writing news teaches you is that everything has a fanboy. There were guys who would comment hyper-aggressively if we made a tongue-in-cheek comment about Steve Ballmer; it was an educational experience in terms of learning to write in an absolutely unbiased fashion, i think.
Personally, I've not studied sociology, but I think the biggest difference between it and sociology is that it has a qualitative approach to research, rather than quantitative. It's a lot more about the 'cultures' of a place/group/category. It also helps a bundle with things like developing a rapport with the people you're working with... which can be a little uncomfortable when you're basically being asked to establish a trust with people such that they'll be easier to sell to.
It was interesting, the work itself was tough, but rewarding when it went well. We were nominated for a number of awards during my tenure too, which is always nice
I think I'd have enjoyed it a lot more if not for some really weird specifics of my situation there, but I hope some of this has been helpful
On June 09 2011 03:29 Torte de Lini wrote: I can't change degrees because I'm already one year into it, so I have to try and make due with it. I don't like the idea of uncertainty, I don't think anyone does, but I have a real social insecurity about it.
Believe me, you can almost certainly change majors one year in with no problem. (I mean, if you wanted to switch to a physical science or engineering you might have some issues catching up, but many majors should be perfectly accessible). Yeah, you'll need to catch up on a few things and maybe take a heavier course load for a few terms, but better now than later.
Even so, why are you so worried about your major in college? It doesn't have to be related to what you do for a living.
Here's a hint: if you want to do something other than what you're majoring in, spend your summers interning for people who do something more to your taste. Being a sociology major won't be a problem at all.
On June 09 2011 03:29 Torte de Lini wrote: I can't change degrees because I'm already one year into it, so I have to try and make due with it. I don't like the idea of uncertainty, I don't think anyone does, but I have a real social insecurity about it.
Believe me, you can almost certainly change majors one year in with no problem. (I mean, if you wanted to switch to a physical science or engineering you might have some issues catching up, but many majors should be perfectly accessible). Yeah, you'll need to catch up on a few things and maybe take a heavier course load for a few terms, but better now than later.
Even so, why are you so worried about your major in college? It doesn't have to be related to what you do for a living.
Here's a hint: if you want to do something other than what you're majoring in, spend your summers interning for people who do something more to your taste. Being a sociology major won't be a problem at all.
You can't finish most of the other majors because you have to take certain requisites before moving onto the other courses. Meaning they systematically set it so you have to waste a whole semester doing two courses in order to have access to four other courses.
The reason I can do Sociology in two years is because of how loose and free it is, something I can't say for all other majors. I have 3 years to finish my major, but I can do it in two and focus on my minor in the last year without a problem.
Even so, why are you so worried about your major in college? It doesn't have to be related to what you do for a living.
Because it's the only sense of direction I have.
Here's a hint: if you want to do something other than what you're majoring in, spend your summers interning for people who do something more to your taste. Being a sociology major won't be a problem at all.
I am not allowed to do internships or jobs during the summer as part of the tuition agreement (and another reason). All my summers are booked finishing my major as fast as possible (This summer, I'm doing 3 courses in Sociology).
EPT![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/hJ2RT.png)
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