I was at the RSE conference in Newcastle, along with many people whom I have met, worked with, and enjoyed talking to in the past. Many more people whom I have met, worked with, and enjoyed talking to in the past were at an entirely different conference in Aberystwyth, and I am disappointed to have missed out there.
One of the keynote speakers at RSEcon22, Marlene Manghami, talked about the idea of transcendence through community membership. They cited evidence that fans of soccer teams go through the same hormonal shifts at the same intensity during the match as the players themselves. Effectively the fans are on the pitch, playing the game, feeling the same feelings as their comrades on the team, even though they are in the stands or even at home watching on TV.
I do not know that I have felt that sense of transcendence, and believe I am probably missing out both on strong emotional connections with others and on an ability to contribute effectively to society (to a society, to any society) by lacking the strong motivation that comes from knowing that making other people happier makes me happier, because I am with them.
