Hi Teek, sorry, yeah, I wrote that in haste. I confused the two, thanks for pointing that out. I agree that it's good to have all views here, I'm not saying it should be one sided (or veen that it is - people usually say things on te lines of it's your decision etc), just that if people think it is biased, whicis very possible given our agenda, then perhaps they should do something about it and create something of their own to balance that. The poeple here are genuine and are tyring to help, when they don't have to, so complaints like this irk me. I saw red I suppose.

I went from the 'real world' to academia. And yes, academia is full of a considerable amount of b*******, but so was my 'real world' working life, and I didn't value what I was doing enough to stick that part out; I am with academia - I've been teaching for five years, doing a p/t PhD for 2, and it is very hard, but I would not swap it for anything.

When I left school I took a practical, manufactring qualifiction (HND), and I felt exactlyy the same way about that as you did about your PhD - not wanting to be there, feeling my life was going down completley the wrong path, and feeling I was lost, and my talents wasted.


Yes, I love my PhD! It is very, very hard, but that is part of what I like about it: ask people who climb mount everest, or run marathons why they want to do that - that's my idea of hell, but I accept their joy in what they do - would you say they protest too much?


As for the usefulness of a PhD, that's very subjectve, and also impossible to discern in our situation, so we can't advise on that basis, it must come down to the indivdual student to make that judgement.

I'm really happy you've found the right path for you, and if you feel strongly about our advice being one sided, then maybe an alternative forum for students who are thinking of quitting would be a good idea, we're just providing some camaraderie, encouragement and support here: that's our agenda.

I want to take that chubby dog I see out my window for frisby walks in the park! I wonder how the owner would feel about that..

They've been on the grass verge at least twice already today.

That's wonderful news! Congratulations! Thanks for sharing it. (up)

That's wonderful news! Congratulations! Thanks for sharing it. (up)

Good point Sneaks, that's amazing!

Hi Seapotato,

I had this problem recently. I'm starting my first chapter by writing half of it on a case study that seems, to everybody but me, to be out of place in my thesis, so although I've had a really good idea of what to say for ages when it came to it I got stage fright and drew a blank. There's a lot of pressure. Then on Wednesday I got up really early, at 6am and just wrote whatever, and it's been progressing since then. I'm working towards a zero draft of at least 7000 words (the length the finished document should be) by the end of the weekend - I also have loads of socialising and marking to do.

I reckon, for me anyhow, writing really early in the morning works because my brain hasn't had time to kick in and start over thinking things, and I can just let it all out without the umming a ahhhing. I think alcohol induced writing works for me for the same reason, but that would be a dangerous path to tread.

thank god for scotland...

I think canada would be a great place to live, but I believe it's very difficult to get in. I quite fancy Australia, it's on the up and up academically and I have a couple of good friends in Sydney.

Why didn't anybody vote lib-dem? What happened?

Tooting: Labour. A good sign, things may not be that bad...

I saw my old uni friend being interviewed outside a polling station in sheffield! Haven't seen her for years and years.

Hi Ev, I haven't gained any, but I'm pretty sure I'd have lost weight if weren't PhDing. My thyroid medication was put up to a reasonablish level just before I started - it had been ridiculously low and I put on over a stone because of it. I haven't been able to shift that excess, but I keep hoping, maybe I'm like my neighbour's dog, I need more excercise...

Hmmm yeah, I'd like to stay up, but I live on my own so may crack up as the night progresses.

Saw a really good comedian tonight, just got back. It took my mind off things.

If the Ts get in maybe we should all get together and form that PGF independent university. It could be our only hope. That or developing some kind of dependency that comes with an allowance... well, that may work for a year or two before they intruduce slave labour or whatever.

I live on a dual carraige way in the first floor of a big old house, with a fine view of the road, and there's a man living opposite who takes his dog, about twice a day, to do its business on the grass verge in the middle of the road. The dog is a little cute thing, but it's really fat! It never gets a run in the park, poor sausage., just gets taken tot he grass verge :( It's deprived!

Ii sit in the window working on my laptop, and I see the poor little thing a couple of times a day.


Just had to say that.

Yeah, I gained respect for gordy after the bigot comment: A human being, at last.


Hhhhhmmmmmmmm, I still can't believe Cam could get in. Awful, awful, awful, if he does... surely it won't happen, surely. I got really depressed about the prospect last week.

Hi Sneaks, trousers and a top sounds fine to me. The most important thing is that you are comfortable, you're there, primarily to network, so you'll need to be able to concentrate on that - and your research, of course.

Academic events are rarely sartorial extravaganzas, in my experience, so I'm sure you will be up there with the best of them anyhow!

The lacey top and shrug sound good.