I was brought up in a working class single parent family where 'some people dont have the opportunities or advantages that most PhD students are fortunate enough to enjoy' (as amanda would say) - I was never encouraged to do my homework, let alone go to university and do a PhD!! But I CHOSE to work my bloody ass off for years - rather than simply take the first job available in the local factory..however, it is true enough that many people are happy with their factory or shop jobs (although I've never met one).

Some of you think I am stuck up - well actually I'm still close friends with some people who work in chicken factories and shops - and I was brought up in a family where most worked in these kind of jobs - so I know how bloody lucky I am not to be in the same line of work.

Dan B is so right - what is wrong with wanting to better yourself, rather than just settling for what other people in your home town do??

And another thing - most of the people in these places that I met were always feeling sorry for themselves - but I believe you choose your own way in life - they didn't have to end up working in a place like that.

Let's all bow down to Freddy - the only person in the world that isn't judgemental. The people I met in these factories were a bunch of small-minded losers. Oops - I am SOOOOOOOOO judgemental aren't I??

Did I say I thought I was better than them?? I merely stated what type of feelings the people I met had and that I was glad I wasn't in their position - in a job they hated and which forced them onto antidepressants..which was the case for a lot of them

The people I met weren't happy at all.

And as for being judgemental - these attitudes are what I actually SAW WHEN I WORKED IN THESE PLACES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In fact, a lot of the people I met doing these jobs were themselves NARROW MINDED - their only priority seemed to be the next episode of I'm a Celeb, and they had really little interest in hearing news about anything other than the tiny community they live in - the outside world did not seem to matter to them, and the biggest priority was saving enough money to get bladdered at the weekend or buy the next packet of cigarettes.

Freddy and keehaa - I've worked in these jobs and the vast majority of people I met there DO NOT like their job and think their life is s**t - they're on antidepressants and everything. I'm not being narrow minded - I'm just telling you what I saw and experienced during my six week summer jobs in a packhouse and a corner shop!! I didn't meet a single person working there who was happy with their lives, whereas at the time (and just now) I am very happy with mine and think myself lucky to be in such a position.

Also a lot of these people (especially those in the local chicken factory) end up bitching about me being a geek and about how I should get a 'proper job' - little do they know that what I get for my stipend is more than they will ever get paid in their jobs - £190 a week is what they get paid, and that's before tax and insurance..and lets face it, packing bits of cold raw chicken breast into a tray all day cannot be very much fun..worth getting paid a whole lot more methinks!!

Hi, sorry to have caused such offence - but I can assure you Dan B has hit the nail on the head regarding how I feel - I worked in shops and fruit packing factories to make money during the summer, and it just struck me that the people working in these places are actually quite dissatisfied with their career choice - they do indeed just live for their weekends. I want a job I enjoy, rather than one where I just think about the pay packet at the end of the week.

I've had this problem too - people think I'm a medical expert, and ask me all their medical questions!! My PhD is in ecology and I work with birds, bugs and bacteria, but still they ask me about their health worries!! Also with this bird flu thing, becuase I work with birds, some of my aunts and others I know back home step away from me and say they are worried they'll catch something off me!!!!!!!!!!!!! Charming!!

I don't know if anyone else has this problem or whether it's just me - but people from my hometown that I used to be at school with appear to be scared of me or take the mick cos I am doing a PhD - they treat me really wierd. I can't really explain it. Most of them are working in shops or factories or are doing nothing - it's amazing how many people have got stuck in such a rut. I'm glad I got out while I did..I'd hate to end up like them.

Hi Jen, I can really sympathise with you - earlier this year I was at a stage where my experiments just did not work, and I had no help from anyone becuase they were all so busy. I really felt like giving up. I eventually explained my problems to my supervisor, and we sorted it out. There have been many times that I've cried in the bog - so don't feel ashamed about that!! You should eapproach someone about this before it gets worse - don't be scared of your supervisor. Things have worked out so much better for me since I did that.