Duppies: Tales of the downwardly mobile

Hi Boyd,

Thanks, interesting article and quote!

> [quote]

> One of the most difficult adjustments?
> Learning to lose an intellectually
> challenging job for one that is, well, less
> than rigorous on the brain cells.

> "I used to work with people who
> programmed artificial intelligence who are
> brilliant and fun and interesting. Then, all
> of a sudden, I'm working with someone who
> talks about the way someone's butt looks in
> a pair of pants," says Miranda.

> [unquote]

This makes me wonder - will people pay for intellectual stimulation? I have a feeling that some certainly will.... (Intellectual stimulation in the right way is pleasurable.)

I know about physicists and mathematicians who (in the extreme cases) may have gone from doing a Ph.D. to a completely unrelated job, and are probably missing some of the "intellectual atmosphere" they left behind at university. I'm sure there are others like that too - I think there is a "want" here to fill...

In the last few months, I've attended some classes which have been held about philosophy, run by a retired philosophy professor in his home. I wouldn't say his are very successful, but I think it's a matter of marketing - he's not a marketer (I've seen his brochures, and they are very dry and boring and ramble on, when they actually could be much more exciting, in my opinion). However, if marketed the right way, I'm sure something like this could be a success.

Thanks for the "stimulation" Boyd!

- Dien