Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Dave Washburn <dwashbur AT nyx.net>]

On Thursday 01 September 2005 17:35, Peter Kirk wrote:
> On 01/09/2005 22:42, Bill Rea wrote:
> > ...
> >
> >If you think that's what I was saying you should look back at the archives
> >and re-read my posts. ...
>
> Maybe you didn't quite say this, Bill, but it is how your position seems
> to have been understood. If you don't in fact think this, good.
>
> >... Several participants have run down the current
> >system of peer-reviewed journals, calling them things like ``incestuous''.
> >Such criticisms are just hot air. The shear volume of research output
> >requires some mechanism to sift the wheat from the chaff. In Karl's
> >case he has said that he had a chance to do a Ph.D. but is glad that
> >he didn't. He doesn't appear to work at any place which supports
> >research into the Hebrew language. Those are the choices he made, ...
>
> I don't know much about Karl's personal circumstances, but there may be
> compelling reasons which we don't know about why he has no choice about
> not working at such a place. One very probable one is that he probably
> needs to earn a living, and paid positions in Hebrew research are rather
> few. In other words, this may not be his choice at all.
>
> But speaking for myself, I did and do have the opportunity to study for
> a PhD at a recognised institution, and indeed seriously considered this
> (in fact I have done so three times in my life, and in three different
> subjects!), but then decided that there was really little point in doing
> so. ...

My situation is somewhere between Peter and Karl.  I was going to have the 
chance to take a Ph.D. in linguistics at a fairly major university, but my 
family was in a rather precarious situation in a city where we really didn't 
feel safe.  With 2 daughters ages 5 and 2 at the time, when my wife got the 
chance to land a very well-paying job in a small town in the next state, I 
had a choice to make.  I chose in favor of my family, and don't regret it.  
Unlike Karl, I'm not glad I never got the doctorate, mainly because it would 
have been a lot of fun, and at that time I could easily have become a 
professional student and loved every minute of it.  I would have loved to 
have the degree, but it never happened.  Now, at 52, I find that with the 
advent of the Internet, it's not that crucial any more.  

Look at this forum.  We have folks of every level of knowledge from the 
newborn to the lifetime-fluent, and we all talk to each other, share ideas 
and exchange information and topics.  It really doesn't matter that X has a 
Ph.D. and Y doesn't, everybody has an equal voice here.  We may occasionally 
get into some profound disagreements - Peter and I do that regularly :-)  but 
still, we all listen to each other and interact with each other more or less 
as equals.  That's why I tend to call the Internet "the great equalizer."  
Anybody can post their ideas - respectfully, of course - in a forum like 
this, and anybody can post their ideas - respectfully or otherwise - on the 
Web.  Because of this Great Equalizer, anyone is free and able to examine and 
evaluate those ideas, some of which, such as Karl's, might never see the 
light of day in the traditional forums.  Whether one agrees with Karl, or 
Rolf, or me, or anybody else, or not, we get to voice our thoughts and 
interact with some major players.  I can't speak for anybody else, but I love 
that.

I have also had the chance to make my voice heard in the more traditional 
forums, as well; I've published in several of the "refereed journals" (do the 
editors wear striped shirts?) and published a book through the SBL.  So with 
enough tenacity (and a tad of arrogance, I do not hesitate to confess), even 
a lowly MA from a relatively minor institution in the Rocky Mountain West can 
make his voice heard right up there with the big kids.  And I didn't have to 
sacrifice my children to do it.  Talk about the best of both worlds...I truly 
have been blessed, even without a Ph.D.

But Peter, you have me curious.  You say you decided there was little point 
in 
pursuing it.  What prompted that conclusion, if I may ask?

-- 
Dave Washburn
http://www.nyx.net/~dwashbur
"Maybe I'll trade it for a new hat."