my dissatisfaction with studying politics

What is it about studying politics at university that makes it so fucking pretentious? These academics spend their whole time thinking up fancy names for what would otherwise be simple political concepts. They even get the shits if you don't adhere to their over-specific definitions for essentially contested subjects like "security", "power", and the like. It makes studying and trying to relate the things i study to my own personal experiences exceedingly difficult. If i can't apply what i learn to my own experiences, what the hell good is it? Basically, it's like these academics are sitting in their offices, dicks in hand, saying: "haha let's think up funny names for this rubbish that we're supposedly knowledgeable about..."

I wonder if i might have preferred to study something like psychology. "What?! Psychology? That's even wankier!!".. i hear you cry. But hang on, sure, it might be wanky the way that it is taught in universities (i don't know, i haven't done it), but at least you would be able to consider it on an extremely personal level. You would be able to confirm studies simply by delving into your inner thoughts and know instantly whether or not you 'feel' what they are talking about.

Politics, on the other hand, seems to be one step removed. It is assuming that the practitioners of politics already know all there is to know about the "first tier" of knowledge (the personal level), but it is so disillusioning! How can they claim to know all this stuff about politics when they don't even demonstrate a solid understanding of their own epistemological processes!? Politics at uni centres, naturally, on 'the nation-state': the singular embodiment of large collectivities of individuals. But the people teaching it seem to be shallow and insecure in their own human condition. How can they purport to be experts in the field when they don't even seem to understand their own minds?

I think practical experience in the field would change things, obviously. Real politicians (as opposed to wanky academics) deserve respect. Sure, there is room for academic research in policymaking, but the hands-on approach of real politics is, i think, a much more valuable experience.

To be continued...