Warm welcome to you Heather! Glad to see you found us and finding like minds is not always the easiest of things to do, but the Internet has made all of it possible. We look forward to your participation on the forum and always pleased to see some female balance in these forums. Make yourself at home.

Thanks goodness for the internet, right?

Welcome, Heather.

Welcome Heather,

Well I can tell you why you had such a problem studying philosophy like that? you were doing it in a vacuum. That's like trying to construct a house of cards in a wind tunnel. Especially if your vacuum has whirlwind technology.

Are you interested in any particular area of philosophy?

Well, what originally got me hooked was a class I took in Ancient Philosophy, then lately my interest has been focused toward existentialism/metaphysics and in particular I've been reading Camus lately (even though he would deny being an existentialist, or perhaps even a philosopher).

I hear you about the house of cards in a wind tunnel...hahah. I think philosophy has to be discussed to even have a remote chance of reaching toward understanding. I realized I wasn't getting anywhere when all I got was blank stares and rapid subject changes from people who I try to discuss this stuff with (i.e. everyone in my immediate circle, lol).

That's great! I originally got into philosophy when I took a course called "sophists and higher education." I was doing pre-med at the time, so I was completely floored by such a drastic change in thinking. But there seems to be a natural flow from an ancient philosophy course into metaphysics. I'm particularly interested in Greek metaphysics, but other perspectives are interesting as well. It's interesting that you mention Camus, there was another new member who was studying it this upcoming semester. To me? Camus is absurd? get it? Anyone? No? LOL!

But you are right about philosophy having to be discussed to even remotely understand it. There is always an intrinsic need for relativistic accounts of the same thing. Gives you a deeper perspective I think. I also hear you on the blank stares and change of subject thing. It happens a lot. And it's not like the potential topic is totally unsubstantiated? usually other people bring it up. But I fear that not a lot of people possess the ability carry a philosophical discussion to the end. It always ends up? messy. But who are we to question why things are what they are. What are we? Philosophers? LOL! But you will be happy to know that there are a few on the forum who can carry a discussion to the end and in a cogent manner. But there will always be some way for people to deviate from the topic when the discussion starts getting deep. I call it APADD? amateur philosopher attention deficit disorder. LOL!

But you sound very cogent to me, so I look forward to hearing from you 'round the forum. If you have any questions and such, don't hesitate to ask. And again, welcome!