Author Archives: hessd

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About hessd

Here is all you need to know to follow this blog. I am an old man and I love to think about why we say the things we do. I've taught at the elementary, secondary, collegiate, and doctoral levels. I don't think one is easier than another. They are hard in different ways. I have taught political science for a long time and have practiced politics in and around the Oregon Legislature. I don't think one is easier than another. They are hard in different ways. You'll be seeing a lot about my favorite topics here. There will be religious reflections (I'm a Christian) and political reflections (I'm a Democrat) and a good deal of whimsy. I'm a dilettante.

I might be angry

Posted on June 10, 2022 by hessd

I think I have the standard array of kinds of anger. How would you know for sure? Still, I get angry and I watch other people get angry. I see people that I think are probably angry but who don’t … Continue reading →

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Older and Wiser, but TMV

Posted on May 31, 2022 by hessd

My brother Mark is kind enough to keep track of my blog’s birthday. It, thedilettantesdilemma.com is seventeen years old today. It has been a long time since the first blog, when I explored the question of where, exactly, we get … Continue reading →

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Having “Grit”

Posted on May 23, 2022 by hessd

Here is a line from Thomas Friedman’s column in the New York Times this morning. “In short, we are seeing a national movement that is telling us publicly and loudly: WE WILL GO THERE” The subject of “We..” is in … Continue reading →

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Desolate Old Men  

Posted on May 5, 2022 by hessd

Today, I would like to share a bittersweet reflection with you. Then I would like to poke at it a little. This anonymous reflection (below) about old friends was sent to me by an old friend of mine. He and … Continue reading →

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Act Your Age

Posted on May 3, 2022 by hessd

This phrase is an appeal to widespread knowledge and consensual values about how a person of a certain age should act. In a time where both widespread knowledge and consensual values are in decline, you would think that sentiments like … Continue reading →

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Time Spent With Old Friends

Posted on April 15, 2022 by hessd

I’ve lost track of how many times I have read parts, at least, of Neal Stephenson’s Anathem. Yesterday, I caught something new in my reaction to a scene and I’d like to tell you about it. I’m not sure what … Continue reading →

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Disordered Individuals

Posted on April 12, 2022 by hessd

Here is the text for today. I found this in an article in JAMA Psychiatry by Peter Sterling and Michael L. Platt (February 2022). “Every symptom of despair has been defined as a disorder or dysregulation within the individual.” First, … Continue reading →

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I’ve got more important things to do.

Posted on April 10, 2022 by hessd

Surely I do. I must. That would, at least, make sense of the way I eat. I’ve been puzzled about this for awhile. I eat in a decision-minimizing way. Here are some of the obvious implications. First, I eat/drink things … Continue reading →

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Toxic Masculinity

Posted on March 29, 2022 by hessd

Today, I want to think about the expression “toxic masculinity.” [1]. I have three major goals in writing this essay. The first is not to whine about the expression. The second is to try to persuade you that I am … Continue reading →

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It’s not a flaw. It’s a feature

Posted on February 23, 2022 by hessd

We sang a hymn this past Sunday I had never sung before.[1] I did pretty well in the first stanza but I hit a serious speed bump in the second. It goes like this: “Teach us, O Lord, your lessonsas … Continue reading →

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