life of a researcher
January 2, 2008
Watching the movie The Lives of Others, made me think about how much I, myself, am a voyeur of sorts. As a researcher, I’ve been tapping into people’s feelings, emotions and experiences for years…I’ve listened to people describe their behaviors, I’ve read countless paragraphs in online communities about all manner of topics — from pest control to how they use deodorant to their most meaningful holiday moments. I could probably even write a book about it — The Habits of American Moms. Sometimes these consumers can be funny and engaging. Other times, they can be downright scary or simply disheartening…for example, when they express their prejudices or when they say they are not interested in recycling. But, most of the time, they are warm and caring, creative, productive and…human.
