My name is danah boyd and I'm a Senior Researcher at Microsoft Research, a Research Assistant Professor in Media, Culture, and Communication at New York University, a Visting Researcher at Harvard Law School, and an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of New South Wales. I received my PhD from the School of Information at UC-Berkeley. I spend 1/3 of my time in Cambridge, MA, 1/3 in New York, NY, and 1/3 in the air. Buzzwords in my world include: public/private, identity, context, youth culture, social network sites, social media. I use this blog to express random thoughts about whatever I'm thinking.

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last nite was more than interesting. after going thru the general day, attempting to do work and whatnot, jon and i went home to study. somehow we began discussing christmas and our mothers (both are divorced and single).

humans (or maybe just some) have this assumption that they will settle down with one individual and grow old together. this assumption is usually implemented in the form of a marriage, religious or not. A marriage exists when two individuals decide to live monogomously together until death. In modern times, this vow is often nullified by a divorce, leaving one or both members of the union alone. this loneliness is often detrimental, especially in situations where the solo individual was forced into such a situation (example: husband leaves wife for another lady). loneliness prevails.

why are we so dependent on other humans for solace and peace? why is loneliness so painful? how can we eliminate these pains in order to make lonely individuals happy in old age?

it is both depressing and painful to watch as our siblings leave the home, leaving our mothers alone. neither of us knows what the solution should be or how to help our mothers cope. we both got rather emotional with the frustration… the thoughts will continue…

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