Intentional Research over Algorithms

Search: Part 1

For a while, I’ve been wanting to be more intentional about my searches. And more intentional about my activities. What I’m reading and why I’m reading it. What I’m engaging with and why I’m engaging. The mediums I’m engaging with—especially social media platforms—and why.

This is in the air right now as, once again, many members of the literary community are talking about flocking to Bluesky. (Yes, I’m there, and so is ONE ART.)

I’ve been wanting to find ways to cut back my social media use… for years. Well, ok, not so much during the pandemic.

Quick aside: While I don’t agree with everything he says, Jonathan Haidt makes some good points in conversations surrounding his book The Anxious Generation. As I’ve been saying for a while now, the interviews are often better than the book when it comes to pop nonfiction (or, as the If Books Could Kill guys call them— “Airplane books”).

Back to intentional searching…

I’ve been wanting to do this more because it’s frustrating and obvious and yet all too easy to get funneled into engaging with content that is foisted on us as opposed to material that we deliberately set out to engage with.

I try to ask myself questions. Like, what do I want to know more about? Then, I make lists.

And then I fail to use the lists. Ugh.

Here’s a list of some things that, in 2024, I thought to myself, “Hey, I’m interested in these areas and would like to know more about them.” I’m sharing to share. But, I’m also sharing with the hope that this will inspire you to make your own list(s).

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Things I actually want to know/learn more about.

• Evidence the world is not ending and that we still have a chance to save Earth for future generations

• Music worth listening to

• Good podcast episodes

• The ethics or travel — especial domestic vs. international

• Good new poems (or new to me)

• Improving memory (especially short-term memory)

• Poverty

• Homelessness

• Class issues

• Queer community top concerns

• Better feminism

• Raising good boys/men

• Digital citizenry

• World of work

• AI fears & potential

• Ethics & morals

• EA top issues

• Environment

• Modern philosophy

• Real climate impact now

• What people are doing differently in other parts of the world

• How people in the U.S. are similar & different

• Higher Ed

• Tech & early childhood education

• Behavioral economics news (research frontiers)

• Anthropology news (research frontiers)

• Sociology news (research frontiers)

• Psychology news (research frontiers)

• Pop science news (research frontiers)

• Art news

• Visual art trends

• Fear of Project 2025