Post #1831754

2026-04-30 23:01 UTC

What I try to teach my students is to follow your conscience, and listen to your heart. In life there are many temptations, and professional environments sometimes warp your point of view until you start to think that by following your conscience you are doing wrong rather than doing right, or that you will be left behind if you do not comply. Sometimes the temptation is to “pivot to AI”, or otherwise represent your work as something it isn’t in order to be heard. Sometimes the temptation is to self-censor rather than confront rotted information environments. Sometimes the temptation is to believe that you or your ideas are worthless or not esteemable by others. Sometimes the temptation is to make oneself fit into a box that feels wrong. We don’t always do right. But serious regrets happen when you don’t follow what you know to be right at the time; I have a few of them. You may change your mind too, that’s ok, but a changed mind is more of a relief than a regret.

Replies (3)

@da1729@mathstodon.xyz 2026-05-01 01:10

@jonmsterling@mathstodon.xyz at the end of the day, don't you think our decisions and actions are sort of "fundamentally" influenced by one such temptation? For instance, a researcher may not consciously intend it, yet is often drawn toward projects and ideas shaped or encouraged by funding sources and institutional priorities. I have not read much about the cynic philosophy, but I think complete abandonment of these "temptations" would make you a cynic, but even that, I can argue is influenced by the temptation of being "different" and not following the social norms.

Open ##1831753
@Mr0@privacysafe.social 2026-05-01 08:20

@jonmsterling@mathstodon.xyz I agree that said this assumes ones conscience is a reliable signal, I for one have followed my conscience and listened to my heart and it has led me to regrets so at least just my personal conscience isn't as reliable... perhaps various reasons I won't say lol

Open ##1836082
@liamoc@types.pl 2026-05-01 01:31

@jonmsterling what worries me is that there seems to be many people who, despite innumerable technical gifts, have very underdeveloped consciences.

Open ##1846699