This really is a great website. However, I really think the tone is lowered by those people expecting others to help them find a PhD or funding for their PhD when they clearly haven't made the first effort to do it alone. It's also off-putting for those of us who genuinely want to make a helpful contribution. What are these people expecting to gain by posting such messages?

why don't you get a life?

you are not forced in reading or reply to any messages if they really "disturb" you. People her ask for a friendly advice nothing more so please just stop being rude or stop replying. i think you very arrogant.

I agree with RICH.
People living in other countries (other than UK) just need to know and clarify stuff. We are trying to come to UK spending our valuable money and more importanly our time to learn and it should be the best possible, nobody is forced to reply for any questions by anyone if you don't like it don't answer them.

anon,
you are an idiot.
Go back to your Nintendo Game cube and stop bothering humans.

sure, people from outside of the uk don't know what they system is here for making applications. but there is a world of a difference between asking "where do I begin looking for funding?" and something like "I want funding for a phd someone please advise me". given that there is a lot of useful information on this site that would help people find a starting point, it really does sound like some expect others to do the work for them. That was my point. Thanks to the last person who posted a comment, that was really helpful.

I'm from outside UK, and knew nothing at all about your system before I started looking for a PhD, but I still agree with Anon. There are lots of posts on this site that are totally pointless, and because of this they never get answered. I think it would be good for everyone if people actually read the information on the site (it's very good) before asking.

if you are from outside the Uk or not doesn't make any diference at all. Do you all think that people are all stupid? Obviusly there are several sites where you can go and find info but asking doesn't kill anybody, particularly when you are doing everything on your own you just want to make sure you are doing everything possible!

Anon and Marie if you are doing a PhD you must know how frustrating it is trying to get a response or keep trying to find the funding that you need. Therefore be sensible and and realize here nobody is asking you to find funding for anybody, this is only a way to ask for advice to don't feel alone during your research and to make sure you are doing everything possible, so if you don't feel like it s worth a reply...just shut up! you make things worse for people that are really stressed out already.

a friend, the point you made about it being v. stressful finding funding is exactly why people should find out what they can first before asking others!! Believe it or not, there are those of us who would like to be able to advise others, but it's not easy when someone is asking such broad questions as "where can I get funding?" without giving any background info whatsoever. If people aren't stupid, they really should be asking stupid questions.

Anon, surely you must realize that people doing or attempting to do a PhD are all intelligent people. I just think you took those questions from the wrong point of view. Everybody start searching where they can obviously! Asking what other people have done about it or an advice just make you feel more secure of yourself and of what you are doing!there is nothing wrong with that!

ok, so if you're from overseas and you are serious about taking up a PhD, do you (i) write a whimsy message asking an open-ended question that noone would be able to answer properly, or (ii) first get your own impression of how to begin by making a list or something, and ask people more specific questions where you can get more intelligent and useful replies? How could you possibly expect to gain anything at all from it otherwise? You only have to take a brief look to realise that the silly questions rarely get answered!!!!

If you ask a broad question I would simply reply talking about my own experience, just to let them know what I have done to try to get funding! I think you lack of a bit of humanity there. As I said nobody is stupid here we all know that you have to look around!

well, that's your prerogative. i find it amusing that you accuse me of lacking humanity; the whole point of a forum i thought was that everyone can draw something useful from it, which is less the case if there's only a series of people asking the same pointless questions all the time. i really think you are missing the point completely!

look just don't log on anymore would you? It will save you from wasting your time if that s what you think. I am tired of arguing with somebody that doesn't seem to be even a little understanding and I will not waste my time any longer.