I’m experiencing the *exact* same thing – although not with knitting. Family is playing more games together: I highly recommend Qwirkle (check bn.com). We’ve been on several guilt-free geocaching runs. Plus, I’m jumping off into… gasp… leisure reading (have two books going currently)… and digging more seriously into photography.

Not having that little “you should be working on your dissertation”-bug buzzing in my ear no matter what I’m doing is VERY nice. I’m enjoying that more than the actual accomplishment (at the moment

-cmd
(That’s Dr. CMD to some

I’ve heard others state what the PhD means to them and why they pursued this challenge. What is your story? Any tips for when I venture out into the PhD Wilderness?

So do you think “quality” enters into the above three categories as well? Quality of play, challenge, etc. I realize the problem with such a subjective term but it seems that’s partly what it comes down to. Namely, that one person’s idea of a challenge and a reward in foursquare might be enough to qualify that experience as a game/play for them because they see the merit and enjoyment. Another gamer might try foursquare and not find any correlation to the experiences they define as play or gaming.

somewhat related, is the question of motivation and characterisation of play activity (exploring, achieving, killing, socializing, etc) here. I’m presently working on a paper expanding on Bartle’s Player Types (via Yee) on play styles/activities – the place of such in the classroom. And the (somewhat risky/transgressive) thesis that some of the more questionable forms of play (combat in particular) might have a place in the classroom.

Do i alway want to do well? Yes, and no. I take more than one class, and the demands of the classes is up against echother, always. I will never think i have to much time.

Is it insulting to the teacher to suggest that something may not be important? Don’t you remember the teachers who love their field so much they forget to be sober about the size of the curriccilum? Who forget how hard it is to even get to know the big outlines of the fields, who add articles that really demand experience and a thorough knowlage of the canon of the field to even start to coprehend the core lements?

Different teachers, are different style. Some include everything you have to read, others have a core material, and have suggested reading on the side, others expect you to findt the stuff yourself. If i understand what you expect of me, i will not ask.