iTunes U and the loss of my human life

Well Apple has done it again. When I wrote my post for Monday, iTunes U was not yet available. Now, since the download of iOS6 on my phone, Apple has now made it easier for me to become an even bigger nerd than I had already expected to become. Dammit.

If you haven't updated your phone, or you are not YET an Apple user, you don't know about iTunes U. Its an app filled with hundreds of free courses on almost any topic from a wide range of Universities. As of this morning, I am listening to lectures and reading the course materials for a Philosophy class on Death hosted by Yale University.

Its amazing! Not the class per se but the app provides all lectures that the professor has held in the course available for free download. Additionally, the app offers the course readings free for download. The only thing that is paid for is if the professor would like the class to read a full book. The death class has 3 books the students should read, and those books are available to read on your iPad for $0.99. Pretty amazing. So now, when I am driving, instead of listening to music or every "This American Life" episode ever, I am listening to a professor lecture on Death from a philosophical standpoint.

The app even has features where you can write notes for the class on each reading and each video/audio element. Fuck, Apple is good.

Because of this, I'm afraid I have to make an announcement. To my real-life family and friends: I love you. I know we don't see much of each other as it is, however I am sad to say, this new obsession with Lynda.com and iTunes U and trying to learn everything possible, is going to turn me into a hermit. If you told me I was supposed to meet you at 8pm and I get there at 9:30pm, its cause I am learning something or am in "class". Don't be mad, just ask me what I learned today. If I say "you wouldn't understand" punch me in the face because I deserve it. However, don't be surprised if you get an email of a course from me saying "listen to this, let's meet up next week and discuss". I am already starting to hate myself for this.

Maybe when my actual school accepts me and I start going to classes I won't have as much time for this. Maybe I'll be excited to venture out into the real world. For now, I am finding it difficult to communicate with people in front of me or on the phone because my internal monologue has become so loud in my head due to lack of human interaction that I am finding it increasingly difficult to concentrate on anything else.

I wonder what my therapist would have to say about this? If she kept my appointments more, then maybe I could ask to her.