Dear readers,
I’m overworked and exhausted to the point of hugging strange dogs out of sheer desperation. (See visual proof here.) And you know what needs to happen when I feel this way. Right you are, you get to cheer me up by voting in a new poll. You can see it in the sidebar.
Let me remind you that it makes me really really happy when I see people vote on my polls. I have no explanation for this endearing quirk but I will share it if I chance upon it.
Clarissa's Blog 
I voted. I’m especially hoping for more book reviews.
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Thank you for being a trailblazer on this poll!
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Also fewer protected posts please because it’s disappointing when I can’t read them. 😦
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This request should be addressed to the bureaucrats at my place of employment because all of the secret posts are about their frequent displays of lunacy. 🙂
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Isn’t it kind of pathetic that the only secrets in my life are about academic bureaucrats? Maybe I need a more exciting life.
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That’s good to know; I would be sad if they were book recommendations.
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Secret book recommendations? Like pornography? 🙂 No, I wouldn’t make those secret. 🙂
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🙂
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I voted!! 🙂 However, I haven’t been here long enough to know what I would really prefer. I have only read a couple of posts. I guess I just wanted to make you happy.
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Thank you, that’s really kind! 🙂
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Glad that this poll allowed more than one response.
What I would love love love is more posts on psychoanalysis and therapy in general. You mentioned in the other post how your psychoanalyst helped you in overcoming your fear/hatred of dogs. That to me is unbelievable. How could psychoanalysis do that? If I had to overcome my fear of dogs I would just start hanging out with old, especially mellow dogs, and slowly gain the confidence to interact with more ‘normal’ ones later. How does this issue gets solved in the doctor’s office?!!
I’m very curious about the process. Of course you don’t have to reveal any details of your own sessions. Even general posts would be great.
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I will gladly share my psychoanalytic journey away from my abject terror of dogs. 🙂
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My very strong fear of dogs almost completely went away when I moved to another country. Hidden advantages of immigration.
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I second. More posts on psychoanalysis and therapy would be great. I too am very curious about the process.
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I agree with Sarah about book reviews.
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They never get comments so I assumed people found them boring. But it’s good to know that’s not the case.
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More dog photos!
That picture of you and Snowflake together was also one of the best pictures of yourself that you’ve ever posted. See how good dogs are for your psyche?
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Thank you! Although I have to confess that I am experiencing an overwhelming need to keep explaining that usually I look much, much better.
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I voted for more posts on “life in Russia.” I’m so happy that many people voted the same way.
More posts on life in Russia comes closest to expressing what I’d really like to see. Let me explain. I think many of your posts are of an intellectual, academic, theoretical or historical nature. I like those posts. But I’d also like to see us bring the academic and theoretical etc closer to discussing how these developments are affecting or will affect the real life of ordinary people. And what we can do in real life to prepare for, accommodate, or resist the changes that are happening or will happen in the future. Sometimes I’m tempted to think that the “survivalists” have it right, i.e., individuals or small groups should prepare to survive by their own wits.
So yes, I’d like to see more about life in Russia, but also more about life in the former USSR states and the rest of Europe, and America and Canada. And more on how the rest of the world, the part that’s not Europe or North America, will fare. We know that life in many ways is more primitive, brutal and short in Africa, much of Asia, South and Central America. Spain seems to be a sort of separate situation, not typical of the rest of Europe, and certainly not like the lesser developed world. So in a way, life in Spain and how it differs from Europe or Asia or Africa might be particularly interesting and instructive.
I realize the above paragraph is a tall order, an impossible order! No one person could possibly report knowledgeably and in-depth on the entire world (although some commentators, for instance Tom Friedman of the NYTimes, sometimes try to).
But yes, I am interested in bringing our discussions closer to the realm of real life in Russia and North America, at least. Perhaps Spain, which is a special area of study for you, would be a good laboratory because it’s, if not unique, at least unusual.
On another subject, I’d like to know what you think is the “secret” of the great success of your blog, in terms of readership and number of comments.
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Thank you, John! These are really great suggestions and I will definitely put them in practice.
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We should all hug new polls
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Just done your poll too, sorry I’m late. Not concentrating…
…and I agree, more about life in Russia and Ukraine, psychoanalysis & therapy and book reviews please. I know I don’t comment often, bu I do read, admire and enjoy your posts, Clarissa the fascinating blogger!
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I could vote twice.
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