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[ { "content": "Is academia so competitive now that it's pointless to try if you aren't exceptional/remarkable? People will suggest to major in engineering instead of physics or mathematics due to academia being so extremely competitive. Has it reached a point to where if you're not, say, winning math olympiads during secondary school, you should probably not bother with a mathematics degree & academia, and instead default to engineering & industry instead? I'm wondering how the landscape looks for any and all fields right now, but especially STEM. Do you need to be effectively the #1 best applicant out of 300-3,000 applicants to recieve an offer? Do you actually need 1-3 post-doctoral positions to have a chance? Is all of that just hyperbole from bitter people? It reminds me of how some children in europe begin training at 5 years old in these expensive soccer camps, so that they can have a chance of being on a team when they grow up. Is that what it's like now? Are you competing with people like that?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "It depends so much on your discipline. I’m an English professor and, despite what most people think, the job prospects for the field in academia are pretty good - assuming you get your degree in rhetoric and composition. The prospects for literature and creative writing are soul crushingly bad. Anecdotally I don’t know a single creative writing grad who got a full time gig except those who went on to get PhDs in rhet/comp (and that includes me) while, with one exception, the only lit PhDs I know who got full time jobs all got hired at community colleges (and the exception is working at a small liberal arts college). Meanwhile, I’m considered a failure by many of my old colleagues in rhet/comp because I DIDN’T get a tenure track job at a research university (they’re all assholes though. I’m perfectly happy in my job).", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Is academia so competitive now that it's pointless to try if you aren't exceptional/remarkable? People will suggest to major in engineering instead of physics or mathematics due to academia being so extremely competitive. Has it reached a point to where if you're not, say, winning math olympiads during secondary school, you should probably not bother with a mathematics degree & academia, and instead default to engineering & industry instead? I'm wondering how the landscape looks for any and all fields right now, but especially STEM. Do you need to be effectively the #1 best applicant out of 300-3,000 applicants to recieve an offer? Do you actually need 1-3 post-doctoral positions to have a chance? Is all of that just hyperbole from bitter people? It reminds me of how some children in europe begin training at 5 years old in these expensive soccer camps, so that they can have a chance of being on a team when they grow up. Is that what it's like now? Are you competing with people like that?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "yes IMO", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Is academia so competitive now that it's pointless to try if you aren't exceptional/remarkable? People will suggest to major in engineering instead of physics or mathematics due to academia being so extremely competitive. Has it reached a point to where if you're not, say, winning math olympiads during secondary school, you should probably not bother with a mathematics degree & academia, and instead default to engineering & industry instead? I'm wondering how the landscape looks for any and all fields right now, but especially STEM. Do you need to be effectively the #1 best applicant out of 300-3,000 applicants to recieve an offer? Do you actually need 1-3 post-doctoral positions to have a chance? Is all of that just hyperbole from bitter people? It reminds me of how some children in europe begin training at 5 years old in these expensive soccer camps, so that they can have a chance of being on a team when they grow up. Is that what it's like now? Are you competing with people like that?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "I'm stem faculty hired in 2019 and I was a B student in college who barely got into grad school at a mid range grad school. First: the job market is hard but not impossible. If you have a reasonable track record and apply to everything that's even remotely tangential to your field. Apply to 100-200 jobs. Go to every phone or in person interview. Second, ultimately being \"exceptional\" isn't about inborn talent. It's whatever you've accomplished. That might be easy for you, or it might be hard. I had to work hard to produce my scholarly output. Maybe there are some people that math seems to come easy to, or who seem to just \"get\" stuff. If all they do is produce homework , but they never solve any real problems or make any real discoveries, then their inborn talent was pretty worthless.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Is academia so competitive now that it's pointless to try if you aren't exceptional/remarkable? People will suggest to major in engineering instead of physics or mathematics due to academia being so extremely competitive. Has it reached a point to where if you're not, say, winning math olympiads during secondary school, you should probably not bother with a mathematics degree & academia, and instead default to engineering & industry instead? I'm wondering how the landscape looks for any and all fields right now, but especially STEM. Do you need to be effectively the #1 best applicant out of 300-3,000 applicants to recieve an offer? Do you actually need 1-3 post-doctoral positions to have a chance? Is all of that just hyperbole from bitter people? It reminds me of how some children in europe begin training at 5 years old in these expensive soccer camps, so that they can have a chance of being on a team when they grow up. Is that what it's like now? Are you competing with people like that?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "yes IMO", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Why is academia so TOXIC? As title.", "role": "user" }, { "content": "The system of grants, publish or perish and the amount of time and effort it takes to succeed can attract a certain type of personality. Unfortunately, that personality is more likely to have the side effect of being an asshole. Not all researchers are toxic some of them are lovely and driven by a desire to make the world a better place. But the unique and insular environment of academia does attract toxic people. It sucks and is an unpleasant shock when you see it for the first time.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Why is academia so TOXIC? As title.", "role": "user" }, { "content": "Because the stakes are so small.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Why is academia so TOXIC? As title.", "role": "user" }, { "content": "Because it is disproportionately populated with extremely privileged people who have rarely had to interact with people in situations in which they werent in the advantageous position. Do y'all *reallllly* think academia is so much more taxing on your body, mind, and soul than, say, ohhhhhh working in a shitty blue collar job where your boss treats you like a stupid asshole and you have to put on a smile for fuckface customers all day? Do you really think academia is so much more taxing than working in fast food or a million other places? Haha, go work on a city work team and get back to me. It's just that people in academia, myself included, are not used to not being in control. Oh I'm so sorry. A stressful, underpaid work environment in which you are never quite sure what future opportunities will materialize? Yeah, welcome to the club.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Why is academia so TOXIC? As title.", "role": "user" }, { "content": "invincibility from tenure, ego, entitlement, ego, celebrity status", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Why is academia so TOXIC? As title.", "role": "user" }, { "content": "It's a dying industry where there are fewer and fewer TT jobs each year, while the people who tend to get the TT jobs are often obnoxious, anti-social narcissists.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Why is academia so TOXIC? As title.", "role": "user" }, { "content": "invincibility from tenure, ego, entitlement, ego, celebrity status", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Why is academia so TOXIC? As title.", "role": "user" }, { "content": "Because the stakes are so low. Seriously: Sayre's law.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Why is academia so TOXIC? As title.", "role": "user" }, { "content": "To get a PhD, you generally have to be low on the personality factors agreeableness and extroversion. Add in one more negative trait, like neuroticism or a personality disorder, and you have someone who is toxic to work with. Coupled with an employment environment that tolerates incivility under the banners of academic freedom and tenure, and you have a grade A shitshow.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Why is academia so TOXIC? As title.", "role": "user" }, { "content": "Lots of reasons already stated, but I’ll add a few: The work is a (supposed) reflection of your passion- and so overwork demonstrates that you REALLY REALLY care about the questions you study. Another is the formalized hierarchy structure, which almost turns into a pyramid scheme- and so there is rampant opportunity for exploitation. These issues are not unique to academia, but I think are more widespread than generally acknowledged.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Why is academia so TOXIC? As title.", "role": "user" }, { "content": "Some people are, in all fields. Academia is no exception.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Academia made me forget how to read, need advice This is my 3rd year working in a research lab (am STEM grad student). I've downloaded and read/skimmed at least 200 papers on my research topic (or related topics) at this point. But I think there's something seriously wrong with me - I can't seem to be able to read more than two paragraphs at a time nowadays. Skimming papers at a rapid rate to finish my literature reviews and satisfy my PI has conditioned me to skim, and I think I've forgotten how to actually read a piece of text. I literally have to force myself to resist the temptation of skimming to actually get through a paragraph. I've also pretty much stopped reading anything that isn't social media or research papers. This sucks. I used to be someone who read widely and for pleasure, going through an average of like 5-10 novels or paperbacks a month. Now, it's a pain to even get through one. Any advice?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "I still work in research 11 years after grad school and find that I can't read anymore. I do too much of it for work. Instead, I've had to switch to audiobooks. Hopefully it will get better for you, but for me it has only gotten worse with time...", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Academia made me forget how to read, need advice This is my 3rd year working in a research lab (am STEM grad student). I've downloaded and read/skimmed at least 200 papers on my research topic (or related topics) at this point. But I think there's something seriously wrong with me - I can't seem to be able to read more than two paragraphs at a time nowadays. Skimming papers at a rapid rate to finish my literature reviews and satisfy my PI has conditioned me to skim, and I think I've forgotten how to actually read a piece of text. I literally have to force myself to resist the temptation of skimming to actually get through a paragraph. I've also pretty much stopped reading anything that isn't social media or research papers. This sucks. I used to be someone who read widely and for pleasure, going through an average of like 5-10 novels or paperbacks a month. Now, it's a pain to even get through one. Any advice?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "Grad school brought my childhood/adolescent ADHD back in full force after (at least I thought) I had squashed it during early undergrad. The pace of research is just so unrelenting that if I relied on all my concentration tricks, I'd end up failing. Turns out I mastered out anyway, and now I still can't concentrate", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Academia made me forget how to read, need advice This is my 3rd year working in a research lab (am STEM grad student). I've downloaded and read/skimmed at least 200 papers on my research topic (or related topics) at this point. But I think there's something seriously wrong with me - I can't seem to be able to read more than two paragraphs at a time nowadays. Skimming papers at a rapid rate to finish my literature reviews and satisfy my PI has conditioned me to skim, and I think I've forgotten how to actually read a piece of text. I literally have to force myself to resist the temptation of skimming to actually get through a paragraph. I've also pretty much stopped reading anything that isn't social media or research papers. This sucks. I used to be someone who read widely and for pleasure, going through an average of like 5-10 novels or paperbacks a month. Now, it's a pain to even get through one. Any advice?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "I still work in research 11 years after grad school and find that I can't read anymore. I do too much of it for work. Instead, I've had to switch to audiobooks. Hopefully it will get better for you, but for me it has only gotten worse with time...", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Academia made me forget how to read, need advice This is my 3rd year working in a research lab (am STEM grad student). I've downloaded and read/skimmed at least 200 papers on my research topic (or related topics) at this point. But I think there's something seriously wrong with me - I can't seem to be able to read more than two paragraphs at a time nowadays. Skimming papers at a rapid rate to finish my literature reviews and satisfy my PI has conditioned me to skim, and I think I've forgotten how to actually read a piece of text. I literally have to force myself to resist the temptation of skimming to actually get through a paragraph. I've also pretty much stopped reading anything that isn't social media or research papers. This sucks. I used to be someone who read widely and for pleasure, going through an average of like 5-10 novels or paperbacks a month. Now, it's a pain to even get through one. Any advice?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "Audiobooks!!! They are, for some reason different. Until I get out of this mess, and my brain has dome time to recover, I'm sticking to the . Podcasts and audiobooks work very well, both for my often tired eyes, and for what I can only describe as attention deficit. It gives me the opportunity to walk or fiddle with something in my hands, which makes me calmer and more focused. Hope that this helps!", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Academia made me forget how to read, need advice This is my 3rd year working in a research lab (am STEM grad student). I've downloaded and read/skimmed at least 200 papers on my research topic (or related topics) at this point. But I think there's something seriously wrong with me - I can't seem to be able to read more than two paragraphs at a time nowadays. Skimming papers at a rapid rate to finish my literature reviews and satisfy my PI has conditioned me to skim, and I think I've forgotten how to actually read a piece of text. I literally have to force myself to resist the temptation of skimming to actually get through a paragraph. I've also pretty much stopped reading anything that isn't social media or research papers. This sucks. I used to be someone who read widely and for pleasure, going through an average of like 5-10 novels or paperbacks a month. Now, it's a pain to even get through one. Any advice?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "Audiobooks!!! They are, for some reason different. Until I get out of this mess, and my brain has dome time to recover, I'm sticking to the . Podcasts and audiobooks work very well, both for my often tired eyes, and for what I can only describe as attention deficit. It gives me the opportunity to walk or fiddle with something in my hands, which makes me calmer and more focused. Hope that this helps!", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Academia made me forget how to read, need advice This is my 3rd year working in a research lab (am STEM grad student). I've downloaded and read/skimmed at least 200 papers on my research topic (or related topics) at this point. But I think there's something seriously wrong with me - I can't seem to be able to read more than two paragraphs at a time nowadays. Skimming papers at a rapid rate to finish my literature reviews and satisfy my PI has conditioned me to skim, and I think I've forgotten how to actually read a piece of text. I literally have to force myself to resist the temptation of skimming to actually get through a paragraph. I've also pretty much stopped reading anything that isn't social media or research papers. This sucks. I used to be someone who read widely and for pleasure, going through an average of like 5-10 novels or paperbacks a month. Now, it's a pain to even get through one. Any advice?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "Grad school brought my childhood/adolescent ADHD back in full force after (at least I thought) I had squashed it during early undergrad. The pace of research is just so unrelenting that if I relied on all my concentration tricks, I'd end up failing. Turns out I mastered out anyway, and now I still can't concentrate", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Academia made me forget how to read, need advice This is my 3rd year working in a research lab (am STEM grad student). I've downloaded and read/skimmed at least 200 papers on my research topic (or related topics) at this point. But I think there's something seriously wrong with me - I can't seem to be able to read more than two paragraphs at a time nowadays. Skimming papers at a rapid rate to finish my literature reviews and satisfy my PI has conditioned me to skim, and I think I've forgotten how to actually read a piece of text. I literally have to force myself to resist the temptation of skimming to actually get through a paragraph. I've also pretty much stopped reading anything that isn't social media or research papers. This sucks. I used to be someone who read widely and for pleasure, going through an average of like 5-10 novels or paperbacks a month. Now, it's a pain to even get through one. Any advice?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "I feel the same, I still find myself skimming novels to this day. I think it's important to designate some time to yourself, think of reading kind of like pampering. Make sure you've got a relaxing space, you're not likely to be interrupted and you're reading something you know you want to read, especially as you're getting back into it. Maybe something you've read before or if you don't like re-reading then a favourite author or comfortable genre. If you're starting to feel yourself skim, start reading aloud, like you're telling the story/text to someone else. This may seem strange but it's the best way to slow yourself down and it makes you pay attention to the words and the image they're painting.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Academia made me forget how to read, need advice This is my 3rd year working in a research lab (am STEM grad student). I've downloaded and read/skimmed at least 200 papers on my research topic (or related topics) at this point. But I think there's something seriously wrong with me - I can't seem to be able to read more than two paragraphs at a time nowadays. Skimming papers at a rapid rate to finish my literature reviews and satisfy my PI has conditioned me to skim, and I think I've forgotten how to actually read a piece of text. I literally have to force myself to resist the temptation of skimming to actually get through a paragraph. I've also pretty much stopped reading anything that isn't social media or research papers. This sucks. I used to be someone who read widely and for pleasure, going through an average of like 5-10 novels or paperbacks a month. Now, it's a pain to even get through one. Any advice?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "I don’t know if this would help but my postdoc creates PowerPoint documents (themed by topic) of papers with important notes/figures relevant to the claims in the paper. Alternatively, I make sure to write notes on each figure of a paper. It helps me think critically and slow down. Or you could try to read some really fun/unique (not necessarily relevant) papers. Might pique your interest in reading again :).", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Academia made me forget how to read, need advice This is my 3rd year working in a research lab (am STEM grad student). I've downloaded and read/skimmed at least 200 papers on my research topic (or related topics) at this point. But I think there's something seriously wrong with me - I can't seem to be able to read more than two paragraphs at a time nowadays. Skimming papers at a rapid rate to finish my literature reviews and satisfy my PI has conditioned me to skim, and I think I've forgotten how to actually read a piece of text. I literally have to force myself to resist the temptation of skimming to actually get through a paragraph. I've also pretty much stopped reading anything that isn't social media or research papers. This sucks. I used to be someone who read widely and for pleasure, going through an average of like 5-10 novels or paperbacks a month. Now, it's a pain to even get through one. Any advice?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "Read out loud to your SO or dog or even the wall.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Academia made me forget how to read, need advice This is my 3rd year working in a research lab (am STEM grad student). I've downloaded and read/skimmed at least 200 papers on my research topic (or related topics) at this point. But I think there's something seriously wrong with me - I can't seem to be able to read more than two paragraphs at a time nowadays. Skimming papers at a rapid rate to finish my literature reviews and satisfy my PI has conditioned me to skim, and I think I've forgotten how to actually read a piece of text. I literally have to force myself to resist the temptation of skimming to actually get through a paragraph. I've also pretty much stopped reading anything that isn't social media or research papers. This sucks. I used to be someone who read widely and for pleasure, going through an average of like 5-10 novels or paperbacks a month. Now, it's a pain to even get through one. Any advice?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "Losing the ability to concentrate and feel pleasure with things you used to find enjoyable are signs of depression, and goodness knows, academia is often like a depression/anxiety factory. You may want to look into more signs of depression or anxiety and see if they match up.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Serious question - do admins really think people are excited to read their regular 20 paragraph emails? Because I rarely get one that has useful info. Why is this a thing? No, I don't care what you think about \"mental health awareness\" when you provide nothing to support it. No, I don't care what you think about race relations unless you mean it and make meaningful changes. These almost always read like a self pat on the back. /endrant", "role": "user" }, { "content": "Dear Students, Faculty and Staff, Platitude platitude platitude platitude. Patting self on back patting self on back patting self on back. Attempt at hopeful platitude in face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary. Trying to sound empathetic by using my nickname, Dan", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Serious question - do admins really think people are excited to read their regular 20 paragraph emails? Because I rarely get one that has useful info. Why is this a thing? No, I don't care what you think about \"mental health awareness\" when you provide nothing to support it. No, I don't care what you think about race relations unless you mean it and make meaningful changes. These almost always read like a self pat on the back. /endrant", "role": "user" }, { "content": "Somehow ours have a formatting that just doesn’t work well with the university email and Outlook. They try to included staggered indents and bullet points, but they wind up shoved over to the far right of the page, making the emails even more obnoxious to read. You’d think that since every person on campus has to use the same email client and thus (I assume) see the same garbage formatting every time, that they would fix it. But nope.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Serious question - do admins really think people are excited to read their regular 20 paragraph emails? Because I rarely get one that has useful info. Why is this a thing? No, I don't care what you think about \"mental health awareness\" when you provide nothing to support it. No, I don't care what you think about race relations unless you mean it and make meaningful changes. These almost always read like a self pat on the back. /endrant", "role": "user" }, { "content": "I've transitioned from an underpaid professor to an overpaid email reader and writer.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Serious question - do admins really think people are excited to read their regular 20 paragraph emails? Because I rarely get one that has useful info. Why is this a thing? No, I don't care what you think about \"mental health awareness\" when you provide nothing to support it. No, I don't care what you think about race relations unless you mean it and make meaningful changes. These almost always read like a self pat on the back. /endrant", "role": "user" }, { "content": "are you me?", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Serious question - do admins really think people are excited to read their regular 20 paragraph emails? Because I rarely get one that has useful info. Why is this a thing? No, I don't care what you think about \"mental health awareness\" when you provide nothing to support it. No, I don't care what you think about race relations unless you mean it and make meaningful changes. These almost always read like a self pat on the back. /endrant", "role": "user" }, { "content": "Our pro vice chancellor sends us a poem every week to motivate us all through the global pandemic 🙃", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Serious question - do admins really think people are excited to read their regular 20 paragraph emails? Because I rarely get one that has useful info. Why is this a thing? No, I don't care what you think about \"mental health awareness\" when you provide nothing to support it. No, I don't care what you think about race relations unless you mean it and make meaningful changes. These almost always read like a self pat on the back. /endrant", "role": "user" }, { "content": "Long all-hands emails are like reports - it's product.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Serious question - do admins really think people are excited to read their regular 20 paragraph emails? Because I rarely get one that has useful info. Why is this a thing? No, I don't care what you think about \"mental health awareness\" when you provide nothing to support it. No, I don't care what you think about race relations unless you mean it and make meaningful changes. These almost always read like a self pat on the back. /endrant", "role": "user" }, { "content": "Dear Students, Faculty and Staff, Platitude platitude platitude platitude. Patting self on back patting self on back patting self on back. Attempt at hopeful platitude in face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary. Trying to sound empathetic by using my nickname, Dan", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Serious question - do admins really think people are excited to read their regular 20 paragraph emails? Because I rarely get one that has useful info. Why is this a thing? No, I don't care what you think about \"mental health awareness\" when you provide nothing to support it. No, I don't care what you think about race relations unless you mean it and make meaningful changes. These almost always read like a self pat on the back. /endrant", "role": "user" }, { "content": "I’m not kidding, at least half of the emails I get from my grad program (students’) mailing list are from 60-70 years old tenured professors congratulating each other for some new award they got.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Serious question - do admins really think people are excited to read their regular 20 paragraph emails? Because I rarely get one that has useful info. Why is this a thing? No, I don't care what you think about \"mental health awareness\" when you provide nothing to support it. No, I don't care what you think about race relations unless you mean it and make meaningful changes. These almost always read like a self pat on the back. /endrant", "role": "user" }, { "content": "Slight modification: > Serious question - do admins really think people ~~are excited to~~ read their regular 20 paragraph emails?", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Serious question - do admins really think people are excited to read their regular 20 paragraph emails? Because I rarely get one that has useful info. Why is this a thing? No, I don't care what you think about \"mental health awareness\" when you provide nothing to support it. No, I don't care what you think about race relations unless you mean it and make meaningful changes. These almost always read like a self pat on the back. /endrant", "role": "user" }, { "content": "Yours have paragraphs? Sometimes I just get a wall of text.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Does the feeling of “the more you learn the more you know you don’t know anything” ever end? Not sure if this has been asked before but it’s getting to my head, the more I study the more I feel behind or as an imposter..what are your stories/reflections on this", "role": "user" }, { "content": "When I was in grad school, I stumbled up against a question I couldn't find an answer to. I googled, I pubmeded, and I was stumped. So I asked the senior postdoc in the lab. He knew EVERYTHING -- every technique, every paper, every important person. When I asked, he shrugged, and said, \"Nobody knows. Do the experiment.\" So I did! And I think that's when I arrived at the place you're describing. I no longer felt like \"the more you learn, the more you know you don't know.\" I had gotten to the bottom of the problem. Eventually, in academic science, you carve out a little niche of new knowledge that no one else knows. And inside your little niche of expertise, you are pretty comfortable in your knowledge -- or at least the knowledge that no one else knows any better than you do.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Does the feeling of “the more you learn the more you know you don’t know anything” ever end? Not sure if this has been asked before but it’s getting to my head, the more I study the more I feel behind or as an imposter..what are your stories/reflections on this", "role": "user" }, { "content": "Nope! There is ALWAYS more detail to learn about every topic.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Does the feeling of “the more you learn the more you know you don’t know anything” ever end? Not sure if this has been asked before but it’s getting to my head, the more I study the more I feel behind or as an imposter..what are your stories/reflections on this", "role": "user" }, { "content": "As a former advisor of mine, who is one of the top in my field, says \"those who succeed were just stupid enough to try it in the first place!\"", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Does the feeling of “the more you learn the more you know you don’t know anything” ever end? Not sure if this has been asked before but it’s getting to my head, the more I study the more I feel behind or as an imposter..what are your stories/reflections on this", "role": "user" }, { "content": "Well eventually it becomes that we as humans don’t know anything. But in the same sense that’s why we are researchers. To get answers.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Does the feeling of “the more you learn the more you know you don’t know anything” ever end? Not sure if this has been asked before but it’s getting to my head, the more I study the more I feel behind or as an imposter..what are your stories/reflections on this", "role": "user" }, { "content": "Nope, but at some point you hopefully learn to admit to utter ignorance with grace, and to extend that same grace to your equally-ignorant colleagues when you know something they don't.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Does the feeling of “the more you learn the more you know you don’t know anything” ever end? Not sure if this has been asked before but it’s getting to my head, the more I study the more I feel behind or as an imposter..what are your stories/reflections on this", "role": "user" }, { "content": "Well eventually it becomes that we as humans don’t know anything. But in the same sense that’s why we are researchers. To get answers.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Does the feeling of “the more you learn the more you know you don’t know anything” ever end? Not sure if this has been asked before but it’s getting to my head, the more I study the more I feel behind or as an imposter..what are your stories/reflections on this", "role": "user" }, { "content": "No it just eventually turns into “*we* don’t know anything”. But sometimes you know that even if you know nothing it’s still more than almost anyone.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Does the feeling of “the more you learn the more you know you don’t know anything” ever end? Not sure if this has been asked before but it’s getting to my head, the more I study the more I feel behind or as an imposter..what are your stories/reflections on this", "role": "user" }, { "content": "On one hand, I realize how little I know, but on the other hand, I've learned to value things about myself besides the amount I know.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Does the feeling of “the more you learn the more you know you don’t know anything” ever end? Not sure if this has been asked before but it’s getting to my head, the more I study the more I feel behind or as an imposter..what are your stories/reflections on this", "role": "user" }, { "content": "For me, that feeling is one of the finest fruits of learning.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Does the feeling of “the more you learn the more you know you don’t know anything” ever end? Not sure if this has been asked before but it’s getting to my head, the more I study the more I feel behind or as an imposter..what are your stories/reflections on this", "role": "user" }, { "content": "Well eventually it becomes that we as humans don’t know anything. But in the same sense that’s why we are researchers. To get answers.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Is it emotionally valid to steer away from academia due to its lack of empathy and compassion? I'm a graduating student in the university and it was my dream to become a professor and a researcher one day since our country lacks them. It was always the statement of our country's Department of Science and Technology and I was thinking before that I want to heed the call. This pandemic however broke my belief towards the academe. I can manage the burnout and the stressful learning curves of the academe. My problem however was the lack of empathy and pedanticism of the professors. Even though the Omicron surged and some universities in our country suspended classes and deadlines, our university did not even budge. The professor did not even ask if our late submissions were due to sickness. Scores were slashed off. Everything was cut-off and deducted as if there's no surge in our country. My partner became positive with Omicron and she begged almost all her professors through e-mail. **Her** deadlines were just extended by a few days as if a person can recover from it in just a week. I just realized \"fk it!\" I can't work with such people if I become a researcher and a professor one day. I realized that my dream to be in the academe is a sham. I can't be with people with no empathy and don't get me started with the low salary. I'm done with pedanticism. Did you guys also feel the same way at some point?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "I think what people are missing is this: you’ve assigned a ton of feeling and emotional meaning to your potential work in academia. All of the language you use in your post - like ‘heeding the call’ of working in academia or your ‘belief’ in the academe - suggests that you view academia as a nobler or more meaningful career path, almost like you would be destined to do it. The reality is that the world is not like that, and you are just now waking up to it. It’s not that you’re looking for empathy or compassion at your job - it’s that you held academia to a higher standard than “just a job” and are now realizing that it’s not the case. I just want to reassure you that you can be successful, make a difference, and be happy in your work both inside or outside academia. Both places are, at the end of the day, just places you can work, and the jobs in either are just the same as other jobs. What you do in your job, and in your life in general, is what makes it meaningful. Hope this helps. Wishing you the best.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Is it emotionally valid to steer away from academia due to its lack of empathy and compassion? I'm a graduating student in the university and it was my dream to become a professor and a researcher one day since our country lacks them. It was always the statement of our country's Department of Science and Technology and I was thinking before that I want to heed the call. This pandemic however broke my belief towards the academe. I can manage the burnout and the stressful learning curves of the academe. My problem however was the lack of empathy and pedanticism of the professors. Even though the Omicron surged and some universities in our country suspended classes and deadlines, our university did not even budge. The professor did not even ask if our late submissions were due to sickness. Scores were slashed off. Everything was cut-off and deducted as if there's no surge in our country. My partner became positive with Omicron and she begged almost all her professors through e-mail. **Her** deadlines were just extended by a few days as if a person can recover from it in just a week. I just realized \"fk it!\" I can't work with such people if I become a researcher and a professor one day. I realized that my dream to be in the academe is a sham. I can't be with people with no empathy and don't get me started with the low salary. I'm done with pedanticism. Did you guys also feel the same way at some point?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "As some people have said, the people you work with will really make or break your whole experience. If you’re not sure what you want then get a different job and take a couple years to scout out your options. Academia can be really tough, especially if you’ve not happy there", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Is it emotionally valid to steer away from academia due to its lack of empathy and compassion? I'm a graduating student in the university and it was my dream to become a professor and a researcher one day since our country lacks them. It was always the statement of our country's Department of Science and Technology and I was thinking before that I want to heed the call. This pandemic however broke my belief towards the academe. I can manage the burnout and the stressful learning curves of the academe. My problem however was the lack of empathy and pedanticism of the professors. Even though the Omicron surged and some universities in our country suspended classes and deadlines, our university did not even budge. The professor did not even ask if our late submissions were due to sickness. Scores were slashed off. Everything was cut-off and deducted as if there's no surge in our country. My partner became positive with Omicron and she begged almost all her professors through e-mail. **Her** deadlines were just extended by a few days as if a person can recover from it in just a week. I just realized \"fk it!\" I can't work with such people if I become a researcher and a professor one day. I realized that my dream to be in the academe is a sham. I can't be with people with no empathy and don't get me started with the low salary. I'm done with pedanticism. Did you guys also feel the same way at some point?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "Just to be clear OP, the grass isn't greener on the other side. Institutions (public, corporate) are not human. Humans are humans and so prepared to be disappointed. My recommendation would be to search for people who are empathetic.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Is it emotionally valid to steer away from academia due to its lack of empathy and compassion? I'm a graduating student in the university and it was my dream to become a professor and a researcher one day since our country lacks them. It was always the statement of our country's Department of Science and Technology and I was thinking before that I want to heed the call. This pandemic however broke my belief towards the academe. I can manage the burnout and the stressful learning curves of the academe. My problem however was the lack of empathy and pedanticism of the professors. Even though the Omicron surged and some universities in our country suspended classes and deadlines, our university did not even budge. The professor did not even ask if our late submissions were due to sickness. Scores were slashed off. Everything was cut-off and deducted as if there's no surge in our country. My partner became positive with Omicron and she begged almost all her professors through e-mail. **Her** deadlines were just extended by a few days as if a person can recover from it in just a week. I just realized \"fk it!\" I can't work with such people if I become a researcher and a professor one day. I realized that my dream to be in the academe is a sham. I can't be with people with no empathy and don't get me started with the low salary. I'm done with pedanticism. Did you guys also feel the same way at some point?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "This is 100% what I did. Never looked back and I am so glad I decided to ditch.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Is it emotionally valid to steer away from academia due to its lack of empathy and compassion? I'm a graduating student in the university and it was my dream to become a professor and a researcher one day since our country lacks them. It was always the statement of our country's Department of Science and Technology and I was thinking before that I want to heed the call. This pandemic however broke my belief towards the academe. I can manage the burnout and the stressful learning curves of the academe. My problem however was the lack of empathy and pedanticism of the professors. Even though the Omicron surged and some universities in our country suspended classes and deadlines, our university did not even budge. The professor did not even ask if our late submissions were due to sickness. Scores were slashed off. Everything was cut-off and deducted as if there's no surge in our country. My partner became positive with Omicron and she begged almost all her professors through e-mail. **Her** deadlines were just extended by a few days as if a person can recover from it in just a week. I just realized \"fk it!\" I can't work with such people if I become a researcher and a professor one day. I realized that my dream to be in the academe is a sham. I can't be with people with no empathy and don't get me started with the low salary. I'm done with pedanticism. Did you guys also feel the same way at some point?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "capitalist firms and nonprofits aren’t “more compassionate”", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Is it emotionally valid to steer away from academia due to its lack of empathy and compassion? I'm a graduating student in the university and it was my dream to become a professor and a researcher one day since our country lacks them. It was always the statement of our country's Department of Science and Technology and I was thinking before that I want to heed the call. This pandemic however broke my belief towards the academe. I can manage the burnout and the stressful learning curves of the academe. My problem however was the lack of empathy and pedanticism of the professors. Even though the Omicron surged and some universities in our country suspended classes and deadlines, our university did not even budge. The professor did not even ask if our late submissions were due to sickness. Scores were slashed off. Everything was cut-off and deducted as if there's no surge in our country. My partner became positive with Omicron and she begged almost all her professors through e-mail. **Her** deadlines were just extended by a few days as if a person can recover from it in just a week. I just realized \"fk it!\" I can't work with such people if I become a researcher and a professor one day. I realized that my dream to be in the academe is a sham. I can't be with people with no empathy and don't get me started with the low salary. I'm done with pedanticism. Did you guys also feel the same way at some point?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "I wanted to be a lawyer… and then I started working with lawyers and saw the corruption and loss of humanity and greed and… it just sickened me. So disheartening. I don’t want to become like them", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Is it emotionally valid to steer away from academia due to its lack of empathy and compassion? I'm a graduating student in the university and it was my dream to become a professor and a researcher one day since our country lacks them. It was always the statement of our country's Department of Science and Technology and I was thinking before that I want to heed the call. This pandemic however broke my belief towards the academe. I can manage the burnout and the stressful learning curves of the academe. My problem however was the lack of empathy and pedanticism of the professors. Even though the Omicron surged and some universities in our country suspended classes and deadlines, our university did not even budge. The professor did not even ask if our late submissions were due to sickness. Scores were slashed off. Everything was cut-off and deducted as if there's no surge in our country. My partner became positive with Omicron and she begged almost all her professors through e-mail. **Her** deadlines were just extended by a few days as if a person can recover from it in just a week. I just realized \"fk it!\" I can't work with such people if I become a researcher and a professor one day. I realized that my dream to be in the academe is a sham. I can't be with people with no empathy and don't get me started with the low salary. I'm done with pedanticism. Did you guys also feel the same way at some point?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "The answer is yes BUT, there are amazing researchers out there. Some who are just people you can chit-chat with, have a beer or coffee or tea, who are activist or who do quality theoretical work because they believe in change. Granted, higher ed institutions are a business and have a bottom line. So corporate/economic values will dominate. But colleges, departments, and faculty can create a positive culture that makes you feel comfortable and welcome (as much as they can in what can feel like an inhumane profession). So, what I am trying to say is: find the right institution, the right college, department and colleagues that will SHARE your values (graduate students too). They are out there as well as academics who are empathetic. Want to be / remain somewhat hopeful... Then again, my goal is to disrupt the inhumanity extant in graduate school and my field (however little I can do...)... change has to start somewhere.... Now what to do about blinded comments? =/", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Is it emotionally valid to steer away from academia due to its lack of empathy and compassion? I'm a graduating student in the university and it was my dream to become a professor and a researcher one day since our country lacks them. It was always the statement of our country's Department of Science and Technology and I was thinking before that I want to heed the call. This pandemic however broke my belief towards the academe. I can manage the burnout and the stressful learning curves of the academe. My problem however was the lack of empathy and pedanticism of the professors. Even though the Omicron surged and some universities in our country suspended classes and deadlines, our university did not even budge. The professor did not even ask if our late submissions were due to sickness. Scores were slashed off. Everything was cut-off and deducted as if there's no surge in our country. My partner became positive with Omicron and she begged almost all her professors through e-mail. **Her** deadlines were just extended by a few days as if a person can recover from it in just a week. I just realized \"fk it!\" I can't work with such people if I become a researcher and a professor one day. I realized that my dream to be in the academe is a sham. I can't be with people with no empathy and don't get me started with the low salary. I'm done with pedanticism. Did you guys also feel the same way at some point?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "I do not think there is anything wrong with steering away from a professional setting because you don't like the culture. However, I doubt industry would be any more understanding.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Is it emotionally valid to steer away from academia due to its lack of empathy and compassion? I'm a graduating student in the university and it was my dream to become a professor and a researcher one day since our country lacks them. It was always the statement of our country's Department of Science and Technology and I was thinking before that I want to heed the call. This pandemic however broke my belief towards the academe. I can manage the burnout and the stressful learning curves of the academe. My problem however was the lack of empathy and pedanticism of the professors. Even though the Omicron surged and some universities in our country suspended classes and deadlines, our university did not even budge. The professor did not even ask if our late submissions were due to sickness. Scores were slashed off. Everything was cut-off and deducted as if there's no surge in our country. My partner became positive with Omicron and she begged almost all her professors through e-mail. **Her** deadlines were just extended by a few days as if a person can recover from it in just a week. I just realized \"fk it!\" I can't work with such people if I become a researcher and a professor one day. I realized that my dream to be in the academe is a sham. I can't be with people with no empathy and don't get me started with the low salary. I'm done with pedanticism. Did you guys also feel the same way at some point?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "Just to be clear OP, the grass isn't greener on the other side. Institutions (public, corporate) are not human. Humans are humans and so prepared to be disappointed. My recommendation would be to search for people who are empathetic.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Is it emotionally valid to steer away from academia due to its lack of empathy and compassion? I'm a graduating student in the university and it was my dream to become a professor and a researcher one day since our country lacks them. It was always the statement of our country's Department of Science and Technology and I was thinking before that I want to heed the call. This pandemic however broke my belief towards the academe. I can manage the burnout and the stressful learning curves of the academe. My problem however was the lack of empathy and pedanticism of the professors. Even though the Omicron surged and some universities in our country suspended classes and deadlines, our university did not even budge. The professor did not even ask if our late submissions were due to sickness. Scores were slashed off. Everything was cut-off and deducted as if there's no surge in our country. My partner became positive with Omicron and she begged almost all her professors through e-mail. **Her** deadlines were just extended by a few days as if a person can recover from it in just a week. I just realized \"fk it!\" I can't work with such people if I become a researcher and a professor one day. I realized that my dream to be in the academe is a sham. I can't be with people with no empathy and don't get me started with the low salary. I'm done with pedanticism. Did you guys also feel the same way at some point?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "Absolutely. I also wanted to be a prof - I wanted to help people learn, and share my passion for STEM. Academia is so toxic and demotivating, my current plan is to finish my graduate studies then work in the private sector. If you think your mental well-being would not be protected in academia, leave.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "I have a TT position - thanks, I hate it I am about 1 year into a TT position in chemical engineering and I feel so bad about myself. How does anyone have the resilience to stay in this job? Of course I was rejected by every grant I applied for (5), but it’s more than that. Nothing good happened, EVER. It was incredibly isolating, I worked 24/7, I GAINED 50 lbs (wtf!), one time I didn’t even set foot outside my house for nearly a month, and still nothing but negative feedback. Pretty much only hear bad news, from students and from grants. I don’t understand how other people find within themselves the will to keep working (or to even keep living - seriously). It just seems unyieldingly terrible. Everyday I have some experience solidifying what a worthless piece of shit I am, and never does anything good happen.", "role": "user" }, { "content": "I’m TT (year 2) and think about quitting every day. I work constantly. I have become numb to rejection and the good news no longer brings me joy, it’s just a tiny bit of relief at most. I did recently get a grant but I am honestly almost resentful of it because now I feel tied to this position for several more years. The flexibility of this career is great and overall I like each task I do, but there are too many of them, and in an under resourced dept, we are all taking on way too much such that everything is devoid of joy. The salary is peanuts and the rewards are perverse. Just because you got here doesn’t mean you need to stay. I don’t think I’ll make it long term unless things get dramatically better in the next 2 years. This career path has relied on antiquated ideas of prestige for too long and those entering now realize that that’s not enough to sustain us, mentally or financially. You’re not alone and I’m so sorry you’re dealing with this. Take care of yourself and know it’s okay to leave for a healthier life. The academy will never love us back. Having a therapist and getting exercise most days is helping me get through.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "I have a TT position - thanks, I hate it I am about 1 year into a TT position in chemical engineering and I feel so bad about myself. How does anyone have the resilience to stay in this job? Of course I was rejected by every grant I applied for (5), but it’s more than that. Nothing good happened, EVER. It was incredibly isolating, I worked 24/7, I GAINED 50 lbs (wtf!), one time I didn’t even set foot outside my house for nearly a month, and still nothing but negative feedback. Pretty much only hear bad news, from students and from grants. I don’t understand how other people find within themselves the will to keep working (or to even keep living - seriously). It just seems unyieldingly terrible. Everyday I have some experience solidifying what a worthless piece of shit I am, and never does anything good happen.", "role": "user" }, { "content": "It was a terrible time for it to be your first year. It really does get easier, in part because you learn a way to live with never getting stuff done. Once you have some preps under your belt and you learn how to manage your class so that it takes up less time, it gets much, much better . It is also exhausting and stressful because everything you need to do you don't know anything about. This is a vicious cycle, which is the bad news, because once you knock out some of the jenga blocks of happiness, shit goes downhill fast. But the good news it is - it is geometric in the opposite direction also. Take a walk, play with your dog, talk to some friends, do something that makes you a little bit happy. Get a little bit of exercise every day, even if it is a 15 min walk. Your planner is your friend. Tasks will expand to take up however much time you have.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "I have a TT position - thanks, I hate it I am about 1 year into a TT position in chemical engineering and I feel so bad about myself. How does anyone have the resilience to stay in this job? Of course I was rejected by every grant I applied for (5), but it’s more than that. Nothing good happened, EVER. It was incredibly isolating, I worked 24/7, I GAINED 50 lbs (wtf!), one time I didn’t even set foot outside my house for nearly a month, and still nothing but negative feedback. Pretty much only hear bad news, from students and from grants. I don’t understand how other people find within themselves the will to keep working (or to even keep living - seriously). It just seems unyieldingly terrible. Everyday I have some experience solidifying what a worthless piece of shit I am, and never does anything good happen.", "role": "user" }, { "content": "Friend, very few people get noticeable external grants in their first year. Most folks I know get their big NSF/NIH/DARPA awards 3-4 years in. That's why startup funds exist. Don't blame yourself for a year 1. These are extraordinary times.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "I have a TT position - thanks, I hate it I am about 1 year into a TT position in chemical engineering and I feel so bad about myself. How does anyone have the resilience to stay in this job? Of course I was rejected by every grant I applied for (5), but it’s more than that. Nothing good happened, EVER. It was incredibly isolating, I worked 24/7, I GAINED 50 lbs (wtf!), one time I didn’t even set foot outside my house for nearly a month, and still nothing but negative feedback. Pretty much only hear bad news, from students and from grants. I don’t understand how other people find within themselves the will to keep working (or to even keep living - seriously). It just seems unyieldingly terrible. Everyday I have some experience solidifying what a worthless piece of shit I am, and never does anything good happen.", "role": "user" }, { "content": "If you don't like the TT position, then the best thing for everyone is for you to leave it, and sooner rather than later. You will have a chance to move on to something new in your life that you will hopefully like better, and your position will presumably have a chance to be filled by someone who finds it more satisfactory than you do. What you should absolutely not do is hang around for another 3 or 5 years knowing you don't like it. That benefits nobody and nothing. Good luck, hope it turns out for the best.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "I have a TT position - thanks, I hate it I am about 1 year into a TT position in chemical engineering and I feel so bad about myself. How does anyone have the resilience to stay in this job? Of course I was rejected by every grant I applied for (5), but it’s more than that. Nothing good happened, EVER. It was incredibly isolating, I worked 24/7, I GAINED 50 lbs (wtf!), one time I didn’t even set foot outside my house for nearly a month, and still nothing but negative feedback. Pretty much only hear bad news, from students and from grants. I don’t understand how other people find within themselves the will to keep working (or to even keep living - seriously). It just seems unyieldingly terrible. Everyday I have some experience solidifying what a worthless piece of shit I am, and never does anything good happen.", "role": "user" }, { "content": "I’m in a similar position. Do you also feel like you should be happy given that it’s a TT position?", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "I have a TT position - thanks, I hate it I am about 1 year into a TT position in chemical engineering and I feel so bad about myself. How does anyone have the resilience to stay in this job? Of course I was rejected by every grant I applied for (5), but it’s more than that. Nothing good happened, EVER. It was incredibly isolating, I worked 24/7, I GAINED 50 lbs (wtf!), one time I didn’t even set foot outside my house for nearly a month, and still nothing but negative feedback. Pretty much only hear bad news, from students and from grants. I don’t understand how other people find within themselves the will to keep working (or to even keep living - seriously). It just seems unyieldingly terrible. Everyday I have some experience solidifying what a worthless piece of shit I am, and never does anything good happen.", "role": "user" }, { "content": "If you don't like the TT position, then the best thing for everyone is for you to leave it, and sooner rather than later. You will have a chance to move on to something new in your life that you will hopefully like better, and your position will presumably have a chance to be filled by someone who finds it more satisfactory than you do. What you should absolutely not do is hang around for another 3 or 5 years knowing you don't like it. That benefits nobody and nothing. Good luck, hope it turns out for the best.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "I have a TT position - thanks, I hate it I am about 1 year into a TT position in chemical engineering and I feel so bad about myself. How does anyone have the resilience to stay in this job? Of course I was rejected by every grant I applied for (5), but it’s more than that. Nothing good happened, EVER. It was incredibly isolating, I worked 24/7, I GAINED 50 lbs (wtf!), one time I didn’t even set foot outside my house for nearly a month, and still nothing but negative feedback. Pretty much only hear bad news, from students and from grants. I don’t understand how other people find within themselves the will to keep working (or to even keep living - seriously). It just seems unyieldingly terrible. Everyday I have some experience solidifying what a worthless piece of shit I am, and never does anything good happen.", "role": "user" }, { "content": "I’m TT (year 2) and think about quitting every day. I work constantly. I have become numb to rejection and the good news no longer brings me joy, it’s just a tiny bit of relief at most. I did recently get a grant but I am honestly almost resentful of it because now I feel tied to this position for several more years. The flexibility of this career is great and overall I like each task I do, but there are too many of them, and in an under resourced dept, we are all taking on way too much such that everything is devoid of joy. The salary is peanuts and the rewards are perverse. Just because you got here doesn’t mean you need to stay. I don’t think I’ll make it long term unless things get dramatically better in the next 2 years. This career path has relied on antiquated ideas of prestige for too long and those entering now realize that that’s not enough to sustain us, mentally or financially. You’re not alone and I’m so sorry you’re dealing with this. Take care of yourself and know it’s okay to leave for a healthier life. The academy will never love us back. Having a therapist and getting exercise most days is helping me get through.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "I have a TT position - thanks, I hate it I am about 1 year into a TT position in chemical engineering and I feel so bad about myself. How does anyone have the resilience to stay in this job? Of course I was rejected by every grant I applied for (5), but it’s more than that. Nothing good happened, EVER. It was incredibly isolating, I worked 24/7, I GAINED 50 lbs (wtf!), one time I didn’t even set foot outside my house for nearly a month, and still nothing but negative feedback. Pretty much only hear bad news, from students and from grants. I don’t understand how other people find within themselves the will to keep working (or to even keep living - seriously). It just seems unyieldingly terrible. Everyday I have some experience solidifying what a worthless piece of shit I am, and never does anything good happen.", "role": "user" }, { "content": "The negative feedback is going to come whether you work yourself to death or not, so I'd suggest to take care of yourself rather than not setting a foot outside your home. I used to overwork myself and I can't say I get better feedback now, I probably get the same, but I'm not as tired. I do the best that I can without tiring myself out.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "I have a TT position - thanks, I hate it I am about 1 year into a TT position in chemical engineering and I feel so bad about myself. How does anyone have the resilience to stay in this job? Of course I was rejected by every grant I applied for (5), but it’s more than that. Nothing good happened, EVER. It was incredibly isolating, I worked 24/7, I GAINED 50 lbs (wtf!), one time I didn’t even set foot outside my house for nearly a month, and still nothing but negative feedback. Pretty much only hear bad news, from students and from grants. I don’t understand how other people find within themselves the will to keep working (or to even keep living - seriously). It just seems unyieldingly terrible. Everyday I have some experience solidifying what a worthless piece of shit I am, and never does anything good happen.", "role": "user" }, { "content": "I’m TT (year 2) and think about quitting every day. I work constantly. I have become numb to rejection and the good news no longer brings me joy, it’s just a tiny bit of relief at most. I did recently get a grant but I am honestly almost resentful of it because now I feel tied to this position for several more years. The flexibility of this career is great and overall I like each task I do, but there are too many of them, and in an under resourced dept, we are all taking on way too much such that everything is devoid of joy. The salary is peanuts and the rewards are perverse. Just because you got here doesn’t mean you need to stay. I don’t think I’ll make it long term unless things get dramatically better in the next 2 years. This career path has relied on antiquated ideas of prestige for too long and those entering now realize that that’s not enough to sustain us, mentally or financially. You’re not alone and I’m so sorry you’re dealing with this. Take care of yourself and know it’s okay to leave for a healthier life. The academy will never love us back. Having a therapist and getting exercise most days is helping me get through.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "I have a TT position - thanks, I hate it I am about 1 year into a TT position in chemical engineering and I feel so bad about myself. How does anyone have the resilience to stay in this job? Of course I was rejected by every grant I applied for (5), but it’s more than that. Nothing good happened, EVER. It was incredibly isolating, I worked 24/7, I GAINED 50 lbs (wtf!), one time I didn’t even set foot outside my house for nearly a month, and still nothing but negative feedback. Pretty much only hear bad news, from students and from grants. I don’t understand how other people find within themselves the will to keep working (or to even keep living - seriously). It just seems unyieldingly terrible. Everyday I have some experience solidifying what a worthless piece of shit I am, and never does anything good happen.", "role": "user" }, { "content": "I won't tell anyone who hates their job to not quit if they can do something else, but are you connected with anyone else who is TT or otherwise? I have found, after being FT for a few years, that my professional connections have sustained me more than anything else.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "What do academics in humanities and social sciences wish their colleagues in STEM knew? Pretty much the title, I'm not sure if I used the right flair. People in humanities and social sciences seem to find opportunities to work together/learn from each other more than with STEM, so I'm grouping them together despite their differences. What do you wish people in STEM knew about your discipline?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "When I mentor undergraduate research, it doesn't contribute much to my own research. I don't get a co-authorship. They don't generate data that I can then use. My time mentoring them is time away from my own research. Likewise, when my students get a publication, it means they came up with the research question, they did all the research, and they wrote it up themselves. I mentor them, but it's their own original, single-author contribution to the scholarship.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "What do academics in humanities and social sciences wish their colleagues in STEM knew? Pretty much the title, I'm not sure if I used the right flair. People in humanities and social sciences seem to find opportunities to work together/learn from each other more than with STEM, so I'm grouping them together despite their differences. What do you wish people in STEM knew about your discipline?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "That I cannot continue to shoulder the fight for health and human rights alone. My discipline is public health. I am American. I am a woman. Every time there's a school shooting, or a new pandemic, or fundamental destruction of basic reproductive rights and freedom, society looks to me and my colleagues for a solution. And I don't know what to say anymore. Most days, the problem is not an academic one, it's a political one. We are screaming out answers, and no one is listening. It's exhausting to go to work every day and advance the science in my field, only to have it die at the hands of a corporation or politician. I am exhausted. I am underpaid and undervalued. Some days I can barely keep it together to fulfill my job duties. How am I supposed to find the strength to do the jobs of everyone else that has seemingly abandoned the social contract? Every time there's a social crisis, some admin releases a statement about how *I* can take action. Why does it have to be just me? I'm not a politician. I'm a researcher. I was never prepared for this. If you're in STEM and you turn to your colleagues in social sciences for answers, maybe first stop and ask yourself what you can do. Then actually do it. Donate to an organization. Attend a protest. Vote. Help register others to vote. Canvas during elections. You don't have to be an expert. You just have to care.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "What do academics in humanities and social sciences wish their colleagues in STEM knew? Pretty much the title, I'm not sure if I used the right flair. People in humanities and social sciences seem to find opportunities to work together/learn from each other more than with STEM, so I'm grouping them together despite their differences. What do you wish people in STEM knew about your discipline?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "Whatever the differences, we can all come together making fun of MBAs.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "What do academics in humanities and social sciences wish their colleagues in STEM knew? Pretty much the title, I'm not sure if I used the right flair. People in humanities and social sciences seem to find opportunities to work together/learn from each other more than with STEM, so I'm grouping them together despite their differences. What do you wish people in STEM knew about your discipline?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "That I cannot continue to shoulder the fight for health and human rights alone. My discipline is public health. I am American. I am a woman. Every time there's a school shooting, or a new pandemic, or fundamental destruction of basic reproductive rights and freedom, society looks to me and my colleagues for a solution. And I don't know what to say anymore. Most days, the problem is not an academic one, it's a political one. We are screaming out answers, and no one is listening. It's exhausting to go to work every day and advance the science in my field, only to have it die at the hands of a corporation or politician. I am exhausted. I am underpaid and undervalued. Some days I can barely keep it together to fulfill my job duties. How am I supposed to find the strength to do the jobs of everyone else that has seemingly abandoned the social contract? Every time there's a social crisis, some admin releases a statement about how *I* can take action. Why does it have to be just me? I'm not a politician. I'm a researcher. I was never prepared for this. If you're in STEM and you turn to your colleagues in social sciences for answers, maybe first stop and ask yourself what you can do. Then actually do it. Donate to an organization. Attend a protest. Vote. Help register others to vote. Canvas during elections. You don't have to be an expert. You just have to care.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "What do academics in humanities and social sciences wish their colleagues in STEM knew? Pretty much the title, I'm not sure if I used the right flair. People in humanities and social sciences seem to find opportunities to work together/learn from each other more than with STEM, so I'm grouping them together despite their differences. What do you wish people in STEM knew about your discipline?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "Please teach your students to respect us. I can't tell you how many times I've heard about how my subject is easy nonsense and not worthy of time or effort from a STEM student quoting their professor. (I acknowledge the possibility they're lying about quoting.) But still, please convey the message that gen ed electives aren't just obstacles. And if they get a bad grade, maybe it's because the class required some level of effort and ability. There's a lot of, \"well, it's not organic chem, so it must be trivially easy.\"", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "What do academics in humanities and social sciences wish their colleagues in STEM knew? Pretty much the title, I'm not sure if I used the right flair. People in humanities and social sciences seem to find opportunities to work together/learn from each other more than with STEM, so I'm grouping them together despite their differences. What do you wish people in STEM knew about your discipline?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "That the need to talk with students and mentor them is critical and not some fad from Gen Z that will go away. I'm aware STEM classes have some huge numbers and giving each student one-on-one time isn't always plausible and it isn't in the job description. But, if your school/state has garbage mental health resources then your students are going to lean on you sometimes. I don't have a solution, just know there IS a social aspect to the job. If you're only interested in padding your CV you will soon be seen as an ineffective educator. As student enrollment declines and retention rates drop, administration will look at student reviews closer to improve those numbers.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "What do academics in humanities and social sciences wish their colleagues in STEM knew? Pretty much the title, I'm not sure if I used the right flair. People in humanities and social sciences seem to find opportunities to work together/learn from each other more than with STEM, so I'm grouping them together despite their differences. What do you wish people in STEM knew about your discipline?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "Industry jobs after PhD are less common for us. If I complain about something about the job, i get answers like \"i switched to the industry, earn triple the salary and have great hours, never looked back\" from STEM people.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "What do academics in humanities and social sciences wish their colleagues in STEM knew? Pretty much the title, I'm not sure if I used the right flair. People in humanities and social sciences seem to find opportunities to work together/learn from each other more than with STEM, so I'm grouping them together despite their differences. What do you wish people in STEM knew about your discipline?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "The challenges of measurement. I focus on educational psychology and I am helping one of my university’s STEM organizations develop an assessment for graduate students. They already had a foundational rubric started that they want to build from. Holy crap do I wish they’d brought in help beforehand. This thing is messy and complicated and their original plan for validity evidence skipped so many steps. Assessing learning is hard and making a good measure is even harder. Add in natural measurement error, and it’s a field that people make careers out of. You can’t just jump in and understand it", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "What do academics in humanities and social sciences wish their colleagues in STEM knew? Pretty much the title, I'm not sure if I used the right flair. People in humanities and social sciences seem to find opportunities to work together/learn from each other more than with STEM, so I'm grouping them together despite their differences. What do you wish people in STEM knew about your discipline?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "I’m in physics (obviously STEM), and there is a funny thing that happens where established physicists get kind of bored with their discipline and all of a sudden start becoming self-proclaimed experts in psychology / philosophy / history / linguistics. It seems that when people are really good at one thing, they often overestimate their abilities at everything else. PhD students do this too to some extent.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "What do academics in humanities and social sciences wish their colleagues in STEM knew? Pretty much the title, I'm not sure if I used the right flair. People in humanities and social sciences seem to find opportunities to work together/learn from each other more than with STEM, so I'm grouping them together despite their differences. What do you wish people in STEM knew about your discipline?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "The challenges of measurement. I focus on educational psychology and I am helping one of my university’s STEM organizations develop an assessment for graduate students. They already had a foundational rubric started that they want to build from. Holy crap do I wish they’d brought in help beforehand. This thing is messy and complicated and their original plan for validity evidence skipped so many steps. Assessing learning is hard and making a good measure is even harder. Add in natural measurement error, and it’s a field that people make careers out of. You can’t just jump in and understand it", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.", "role": "user" }, { "content": "I'm sorry that's happened to you, but perspective is critical here. You've completed your PhD. A lot of people are struggling to do that under the circumstances, and have limited access to resources they need, or have legitimate fears about how to pay rent or get groceries. You have a job lined up in a desperately depressed market, where thousands of new graduates saddled with debt have found their prospects dissipated or the positions they were promised gone because funding has evaporated. Although things aren't perfect, and you can't have the party that you were looking forward to, there is a lot of privilege in your post, and you should be pleased that so much *has* worked out for you despite the circumstances. There will be time and opportunity to make up for what you missed out on later.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.", "role": "user" }, { "content": "I'm so sorry, I would be in the same boat as you. It just sucks. Maybe you can tell yourself that despite all the shit going on, and everyone around the world having their plans disrupted, you managed to achieve something incredible. And it gives kind of a historical significance to the event, and a good story to tell in the future. Try and make the most of it, have an online defense party with your coworkers and friends. This is still a happy occasion even though it doesn't follow your expectations. Not perfect things can be good, in a different way. You rock and it should be celebrated.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.", "role": "user" }, { "content": "Sorry about this and don't want to sound like a Pollyanna. But - there are a ton more people at thesis defenses now. More people that are friends and family will be able to come than before - so that is kind of nice for all of them and you.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.", "role": "user" }, { "content": "I defended in July, online obviously. I was also quite sad about this, as the defense was something I had been looking forward to for years, including the party after. The benefit was that some family was able to attend over zoom, people who never would have been able to come in person, as well as some colleagues currently out of the country. It was nice to share my work with family in a way that would have been impossible otherwise. It wasn’t the same, of course, but that was definitely a silver lining and don’t let anything else diffuse the joy of completing such a massive undertaking.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.", "role": "user" }, { "content": "I’m a bit confused about inviting friends and family to a defense? Is this a normal thing in your program or country? My defense was strictly the committee and me, I mean the offer is on the table but it always seemed weird to invite family Members to watch me explain a bunch of math they don’t understand.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.", "role": "user" }, { "content": "It totally sucks. But remember that the event is being glorified in your mind. A lot of people had in-person defenses that didn’t go the way they wanted because of a grumpy committee member, or being asked to do extra experiments they didn’t want to do, by not being allowed to graduate yet because someone thought they weren’t ready... Many people are too exhausted to even have the celebration they wanted the after their thesis defense. Maybe it would have been the amazing day you’re imagining but maybe not. But again, it totally sucks also.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.", "role": "user" }, { "content": "My PhD student had to defend online last week. It was very sudden. They moved defenses online again only 2 days before her date. We were so upset...she worked hard for it. But we still tried to make a good day. We invited her whole family to an organised zoom afterwards and drew a mural together about how proud we are of her. It is not the same.. but you need to be proud! You did it! You are amazing and you need to be proud! Wishing you strength and success!", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.", "role": "user" }, { "content": "I defended over zoom and I quite liked it actually. It was really nice to be in my space.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.", "role": "user" }, { "content": "I was in the same boat as you, but I actually loved defending my thesis online. There were like 60 people watching the stream, and I had relatives and friends watching that wouldn’t have been able to otherwise. You’ll be able to celebrate with your friends and family in person next year, and you have a job lined up which is awesome. Just be proud of your accomplishment, and make sure you practice your talk beforehand to get used to the format. When I did my presentation, I just got into a nice zone of focusing in on my slides and talk and not worrying about the audience. Anyways, at least in our department, most people end up scuttling off to their meetings and to do work afterwards anyways, and we just have an awkward celebration after.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Anyone else depressed about defending their thesis online because of COVID? For YEARS, basically since I started my PhD, I have been dreaming about my thesis defense. I was going to invite all my friends and family and have a giant party afterwards. I have been working so hard for months now and I haven't seen most of my friends for ages, so I was really looking forward to my thesis defense to see them again at last. And now... all that is gone. I have to defend online, alone at home, and maybe have an at-home dinner with my boyfriend afterwards rather than the giant party I always dreamed of. I also had to leave the university quite quickly after my PhD contract ended because of a job opportunity, and I was counting on my thesis defense to properly say goodbye to my research group + everyone else in the department. Not going to happen now... and I have to leave the country for a postdoc in January 2021 so I can't postpone the defense to next year. I am kind of devastated. Does anyone have any advice? I am so sad about this but I don't think there are any other options for me.", "role": "user" }, { "content": "I'm sorry that's happened to you, but perspective is critical here. You've completed your PhD. A lot of people are struggling to do that under the circumstances, and have limited access to resources they need, or have legitimate fears about how to pay rent or get groceries. You have a job lined up in a desperately depressed market, where thousands of new graduates saddled with debt have found their prospects dissipated or the positions they were promised gone because funding has evaporated. Although things aren't perfect, and you can't have the party that you were looking forward to, there is a lot of privilege in your post, and you should be pleased that so much *has* worked out for you despite the circumstances. There will be time and opportunity to make up for what you missed out on later.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Why are American public universities run like businesses? In the US, many universities are public in that they're theoretically owned and operated by the government. Why is it then that they're allowed to set their own policy, salaries, hunt for alumni donations, build massive sports complexes, and focus on profitability over providing education as a public service and being more strictly regulated like elementary and high schools?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "It also kind of baffles me how many years of study you ask of your students in some fields. For example, a capable 18 year old can start medical school in most countries straight from school. In the US you must be a postgraduate. That's either a money making scheme or a problem with the public education system.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Why are American public universities run like businesses? In the US, many universities are public in that they're theoretically owned and operated by the government. Why is it then that they're allowed to set their own policy, salaries, hunt for alumni donations, build massive sports complexes, and focus on profitability over providing education as a public service and being more strictly regulated like elementary and high schools?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "Unpopular opinion: there’s no guarantee that some folks sitting in a government office will do a much better job than the the admin who work for the university and at least know a bit about what’s actually happening. I’m not saying universities are wonderful right now but the chance of government improving stuff isn’t that much higher than the chance that they screw up…", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Why are American public universities run like businesses? In the US, many universities are public in that they're theoretically owned and operated by the government. Why is it then that they're allowed to set their own policy, salaries, hunt for alumni donations, build massive sports complexes, and focus on profitability over providing education as a public service and being more strictly regulated like elementary and high schools?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "For many of us in the USA, the proportion of our budget that comes from the state has dropped below 10%. It used to be 30-40% a few decades ago. We gotta keep the lights on, so there's been a big shift to keep patents, get grants, partner with business, and any other way to generate revenue. Many colleges at R-1 universities have faculty that average over $500k in external funds per year. Back in the day, tax money enabled state unis to be substantially cheaper than posh private schools. Those days are long gone, and the relentless drive for revenue is the only way to keep from having sky high tuition. The crappy thing is even though the state doesn't pay much for public universities, they still retain governance authority. With the anti-science/anti-reality shift in US politics, it's quite bad in some areas.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Why are American public universities run like businesses? In the US, many universities are public in that they're theoretically owned and operated by the government. Why is it then that they're allowed to set their own policy, salaries, hunt for alumni donations, build massive sports complexes, and focus on profitability over providing education as a public service and being more strictly regulated like elementary and high schools?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "It's interesting what's happened with the American university system in the last 30 years. They are run like businesses because they are. But they are also incredibly bloated and not suffering the consequences that normal businesses would in the same circumstances. It will be fascinating to see how this develops in the next 10-20 years.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Why are American public universities run like businesses? In the US, many universities are public in that they're theoretically owned and operated by the government. Why is it then that they're allowed to set their own policy, salaries, hunt for alumni donations, build massive sports complexes, and focus on profitability over providing education as a public service and being more strictly regulated like elementary and high schools?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "For many of us in the USA, the proportion of our budget that comes from the state has dropped below 10%. It used to be 30-40% a few decades ago. We gotta keep the lights on, so there's been a big shift to keep patents, get grants, partner with business, and any other way to generate revenue. Many colleges at R-1 universities have faculty that average over $500k in external funds per year. Back in the day, tax money enabled state unis to be substantially cheaper than posh private schools. Those days are long gone, and the relentless drive for revenue is the only way to keep from having sky high tuition. The crappy thing is even though the state doesn't pay much for public universities, they still retain governance authority. With the anti-science/anti-reality shift in US politics, it's quite bad in some areas.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Why are American public universities run like businesses? In the US, many universities are public in that they're theoretically owned and operated by the government. Why is it then that they're allowed to set their own policy, salaries, hunt for alumni donations, build massive sports complexes, and focus on profitability over providing education as a public service and being more strictly regulated like elementary and high schools?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "It also kind of baffles me how many years of study you ask of your students in some fields. For example, a capable 18 year old can start medical school in most countries straight from school. In the US you must be a postgraduate. That's either a money making scheme or a problem with the public education system.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Why are American public universities run like businesses? In the US, many universities are public in that they're theoretically owned and operated by the government. Why is it then that they're allowed to set their own policy, salaries, hunt for alumni donations, build massive sports complexes, and focus on profitability over providing education as a public service and being more strictly regulated like elementary and high schools?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "As a 30-year college prof and someone who spent a year on sabbatical in a business -- I can assure you that universities are *not* run like businesses. Businesses (at least the functional ones) pay attention to their customers, spend tons of resources developing products, and understand the idea that just because you were profitable in the past doesn't mean that you'll survive in the future. I have yet to come across a university that adopts that same set of behaviors.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Why are American public universities run like businesses? In the US, many universities are public in that they're theoretically owned and operated by the government. Why is it then that they're allowed to set their own policy, salaries, hunt for alumni donations, build massive sports complexes, and focus on profitability over providing education as a public service and being more strictly regulated like elementary and high schools?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "Unpopular opinion: there’s no guarantee that some folks sitting in a government office will do a much better job than the the admin who work for the university and at least know a bit about what’s actually happening. I’m not saying universities are wonderful right now but the chance of government improving stuff isn’t that much higher than the chance that they screw up…", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Why are American public universities run like businesses? In the US, many universities are public in that they're theoretically owned and operated by the government. Why is it then that they're allowed to set their own policy, salaries, hunt for alumni donations, build massive sports complexes, and focus on profitability over providing education as a public service and being more strictly regulated like elementary and high schools?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "As a 30-year college prof and someone who spent a year on sabbatical in a business -- I can assure you that universities are *not* run like businesses. Businesses (at least the functional ones) pay attention to their customers, spend tons of resources developing products, and understand the idea that just because you were profitable in the past doesn't mean that you'll survive in the future. I have yet to come across a university that adopts that same set of behaviors.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Why are American public universities run like businesses? In the US, many universities are public in that they're theoretically owned and operated by the government. Why is it then that they're allowed to set their own policy, salaries, hunt for alumni donations, build massive sports complexes, and focus on profitability over providing education as a public service and being more strictly regulated like elementary and high schools?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "Because they are ….", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Accidentally outed a top student During lecture yesterday I was engaging with students and accidentally let slip that one of the students that answered a question had a perfect score on the midterm. Instant regret - but I can’t take that back obviously. I feel like I should write the student an email apologizing, is that sufficient? What would y’all do?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "Out of curiosity why is this a bad thing?", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Accidentally outed a top student During lecture yesterday I was engaging with students and accidentally let slip that one of the students that answered a question had a perfect score on the midterm. Instant regret - but I can’t take that back obviously. I feel like I should write the student an email apologizing, is that sufficient? What would y’all do?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "I had a professor in from an American university. He made it as a tradition to share three top scores on tests/exams/etc.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Accidentally outed a top student During lecture yesterday I was engaging with students and accidentally let slip that one of the students that answered a question had a perfect score on the midterm. Instant regret - but I can’t take that back obviously. I feel like I should write the student an email apologizing, is that sufficient? What would y’all do?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "I had a professor tell the whole class I was the only one of her students who knew what was going on. (She said my name, but didn’t point me out). She then read my midterm essay answers out loud to the class as an example of what she was looking for on future tests. She dissected it in front of everyone. The very next week, she told me to my face that I was too stupid to take on my chosen final project. We all had to share our final project plans with her as we left class that day. Her response to my plan was that I wasn’t smart enough and should pick something less ambitious. I was so confused. Fast-forward a week and she asked to speak with (insert my name) after class. She wanted to chat with her best student. As I walked up, her eyes widened. She had no idea that it was me—that I was her best student. She actually started tripping over her words in what I assumed was embarrassment. I could tell right then she had pre-judged me based on my looks alone and hadn’t known my name. She thought my blonde hair and big boobs made me stupid, and it never crossed her mind that (insert my name) was me. I got no apology. At least you know who your students are.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Accidentally outed a top student During lecture yesterday I was engaging with students and accidentally let slip that one of the students that answered a question had a perfect score on the midterm. Instant regret - but I can’t take that back obviously. I feel like I should write the student an email apologizing, is that sufficient? What would y’all do?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "I had a professor in from an American university. He made it as a tradition to share three top scores on tests/exams/etc.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Accidentally outed a top student During lecture yesterday I was engaging with students and accidentally let slip that one of the students that answered a question had a perfect score on the midterm. Instant regret - but I can’t take that back obviously. I feel like I should write the student an email apologizing, is that sufficient? What would y’all do?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "I would not admit to a FERPA violation in writing", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Accidentally outed a top student During lecture yesterday I was engaging with students and accidentally let slip that one of the students that answered a question had a perfect score on the midterm. Instant regret - but I can’t take that back obviously. I feel like I should write the student an email apologizing, is that sufficient? What would y’all do?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "This happen to me in my differential equations class. It was hilarious, I had skipped class after the exam, and didn't come in until Wednesday. The professor in front of the class said, just because you got a 100% doesn't mean you can skip class. I blushed and my friends cracked up laughing. I even had a bet with another friend that I beat him on the exam, and he got a 97, going into class I was like, fuck I'm gonna have to buy him a 6 pack. It's a fond memory.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Accidentally outed a top student During lecture yesterday I was engaging with students and accidentally let slip that one of the students that answered a question had a perfect score on the midterm. Instant regret - but I can’t take that back obviously. I feel like I should write the student an email apologizing, is that sufficient? What would y’all do?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "I one got a 100% on the midterm paper in my honors English class in college. The professor started raving about my paper to everyone and I just have him an awkward blank stare b/c I had no idea what he was talking about. I checked my grades halfway through class and saw the notes/ hundred and it clicked that he was just really impressed. Idk why, but in the moment I just didn't process what he was saying. Maybe they're just clueless like me, lol.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Accidentally outed a top student During lecture yesterday I was engaging with students and accidentally let slip that one of the students that answered a question had a perfect score on the midterm. Instant regret - but I can’t take that back obviously. I feel like I should write the student an email apologizing, is that sufficient? What would y’all do?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "I had a professor in from an American university. He made it as a tradition to share three top scores on tests/exams/etc.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Accidentally outed a top student During lecture yesterday I was engaging with students and accidentally let slip that one of the students that answered a question had a perfect score on the midterm. Instant regret - but I can’t take that back obviously. I feel like I should write the student an email apologizing, is that sufficient? What would y’all do?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "I would make the apology face to face. It is more personal and does not leave a paper trail. In my institution we are cautioned against ANY discussion of grades via email.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Accidentally outed a top student During lecture yesterday I was engaging with students and accidentally let slip that one of the students that answered a question had a perfect score on the midterm. Instant regret - but I can’t take that back obviously. I feel like I should write the student an email apologizing, is that sufficient? What would y’all do?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "In Brazil, some years ago, grades would be publicly posted, for all students in a session. I think it really depends much on cultural aspects and/or legislation", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Do professors appreciate simple email replies such as just a \"thank you\"? On one hand I would assume sending a quick \"thank you\" or a one-sentence appreciation would be polite. On the other hand I wonder if this would be annoying as it just clutters up your email more. So are there any guidelines on how I should respond to a professor's reply when only a simple appreciation/thank you is warranted?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "Professor here - thank you emails are somewhat rare and always appreciated by me at least!", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Do professors appreciate simple email replies such as just a \"thank you\"? On one hand I would assume sending a quick \"thank you\" or a one-sentence appreciation would be polite. On the other hand I wonder if this would be annoying as it just clutters up your email more. So are there any guidelines on how I should respond to a professor's reply when only a simple appreciation/thank you is warranted?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "Yes. When I graduated my PhD I sent a thank you mail to every prof whose classes I had attended and all of them unanimously liked it", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Do professors appreciate simple email replies such as just a \"thank you\"? On one hand I would assume sending a quick \"thank you\" or a one-sentence appreciation would be polite. On the other hand I wonder if this would be annoying as it just clutters up your email more. So are there any guidelines on how I should respond to a professor's reply when only a simple appreciation/thank you is warranted?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "I’ll be disappointed if OP doesn’t reply thanks to each comment", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Do professors appreciate simple email replies such as just a \"thank you\"? On one hand I would assume sending a quick \"thank you\" or a one-sentence appreciation would be polite. On the other hand I wonder if this would be annoying as it just clutters up your email more. So are there any guidelines on how I should respond to a professor's reply when only a simple appreciation/thank you is warranted?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "Yes. When I graduated my PhD I sent a thank you mail to every prof whose classes I had attended and all of them unanimously liked it", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Do professors appreciate simple email replies such as just a \"thank you\"? On one hand I would assume sending a quick \"thank you\" or a one-sentence appreciation would be polite. On the other hand I wonder if this would be annoying as it just clutters up your email more. So are there any guidelines on how I should respond to a professor's reply when only a simple appreciation/thank you is warranted?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "Communication is *super important* \\- letting us know you got our email is extremely helpful, esp. when it leaves a paper trail for *you* as well as *us.* I have had to send students reminders about assignments or whatever and the difference between making or not making a grade adjustment is that student demonstrates responsiveness and engagement. I get not every student has equal email access and some Professors explicitly *don't* like email, but in my class if I send you an email and you can respond, it goes a long ways.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Do professors appreciate simple email replies such as just a \"thank you\"? On one hand I would assume sending a quick \"thank you\" or a one-sentence appreciation would be polite. On the other hand I wonder if this would be annoying as it just clutters up your email more. So are there any guidelines on how I should respond to a professor's reply when only a simple appreciation/thank you is warranted?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "Yes. When I graduated my PhD I sent a thank you mail to every prof whose classes I had attended and all of them unanimously liked it", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Do professors appreciate simple email replies such as just a \"thank you\"? On one hand I would assume sending a quick \"thank you\" or a one-sentence appreciation would be polite. On the other hand I wonder if this would be annoying as it just clutters up your email more. So are there any guidelines on how I should respond to a professor's reply when only a simple appreciation/thank you is warranted?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "some students don’t reply! Thank you is fine.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Do professors appreciate simple email replies such as just a \"thank you\"? On one hand I would assume sending a quick \"thank you\" or a one-sentence appreciation would be polite. On the other hand I wonder if this would be annoying as it just clutters up your email more. So are there any guidelines on how I should respond to a professor's reply when only a simple appreciation/thank you is warranted?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "I’ve always had positive responses to such emails.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Do professors appreciate simple email replies such as just a \"thank you\"? On one hand I would assume sending a quick \"thank you\" or a one-sentence appreciation would be polite. On the other hand I wonder if this would be annoying as it just clutters up your email more. So are there any guidelines on how I should respond to a professor's reply when only a simple appreciation/thank you is warranted?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "I’ll be disappointed if OP doesn’t reply thanks to each comment", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Do professors appreciate simple email replies such as just a \"thank you\"? On one hand I would assume sending a quick \"thank you\" or a one-sentence appreciation would be polite. On the other hand I wonder if this would be annoying as it just clutters up your email more. So are there any guidelines on how I should respond to a professor's reply when only a simple appreciation/thank you is warranted?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "Professor here - thank you emails are somewhat rare and always appreciated by me at least!", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "How do you switch off your brain and resist the constant urge to be productive in your free time? For context, I recently finished a PhD in a subject I absolutely love and my graduate studies went really well, but I am frustrated with the academic lifestyle and moving to industry. But all those years in grad school, I developed unhealthy feelings of guilt any time I wasn't trying to \"get ahead\" somehow in my spare time. Even after finishing the PhD and having some free time on my hands, I can't switch off. I constantly feel the need to be learning something new or doing something productive, and it causes me a ton of stress, guilt and anxiety if I don't. I learned to live with it during grad school, but I'm surprised to find it still gets to me. How do you guys switch that part of your brain off?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "I learned a trick in grad school that helps. If I put my leisure activities of choice in my to-do list, right alongside my work goals, then it's still something to check off. This helps me remember to see those activities as also required. So I check off yoga, bike rides, walks, video games, reading for fun, etc. This has helped me immensely. Good luck!", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "How do you switch off your brain and resist the constant urge to be productive in your free time? For context, I recently finished a PhD in a subject I absolutely love and my graduate studies went really well, but I am frustrated with the academic lifestyle and moving to industry. But all those years in grad school, I developed unhealthy feelings of guilt any time I wasn't trying to \"get ahead\" somehow in my spare time. Even after finishing the PhD and having some free time on my hands, I can't switch off. I constantly feel the need to be learning something new or doing something productive, and it causes me a ton of stress, guilt and anxiety if I don't. I learned to live with it during grad school, but I'm surprised to find it still gets to me. How do you guys switch that part of your brain off?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "I haven’t found the solution myself, but spending time with others and getting back into old hobbies are two strategies to help me feel more balanced. Part of it is recognition that the old way of constant work is unhealthy. I’m trying to remind myself that, at the end of my life, I probably will wish I worked less, and I try to think about hoe I could spend my time in a way that adds to my health, not my CV. And, Draw strong boundaries (e.g. no weekend work) and try to add new things to your life to fill that time, perhaps starting with activities that used to give you joy but that you haven’t put a lot of time into in recent years.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "How do you switch off your brain and resist the constant urge to be productive in your free time? For context, I recently finished a PhD in a subject I absolutely love and my graduate studies went really well, but I am frustrated with the academic lifestyle and moving to industry. But all those years in grad school, I developed unhealthy feelings of guilt any time I wasn't trying to \"get ahead\" somehow in my spare time. Even after finishing the PhD and having some free time on my hands, I can't switch off. I constantly feel the need to be learning something new or doing something productive, and it causes me a ton of stress, guilt and anxiety if I don't. I learned to live with it during grad school, but I'm surprised to find it still gets to me. How do you guys switch that part of your brain off?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "Set some boundaries with respect to what time you spend in the office (or, given the current situation, have your computer on at home). Focus on your work during that time, but when things start to wind down for the day you should start to write a to-do list of tasks for the next day. Be as detailed and expansive as you like, the key here is to try to empty your mind of annoying little things that might pop up later in your head and switch your mind back to work. Once that's written, tell yourself you're done for the day. The easiest way to disconnect would be to leave home for an hour or so without your phone or laptop and go for a walk. If you have a stand-alone music player then take it with you, or a book, if you need something to run through your mind. But take the time to give yourself some healthy isolation. Hopefully you'll start to appreciate things you see on your little walks that distract you from wanting to *do* stuff. If you really have the desire to learn all the time then channel that into more healthy pursuits than returning to work. If you have any sort of hobby then start learning about it obsessively - if you have a favourite sports team then learn more about that team's history; if you like cooking then choose a recipe to tweak and perfect to the Nth degree (/r/macarons would be an easy way in to obsessive cooking/baking, speaking from experience); maybe start to learn a new language...you have plenty to choose from. Turn this nervous energy into something positive and set yourself goals to accomplish by the end of the week/month. I could recommend a load of YouTube channels of people who set themselves challenges to learn a new skill (useful or not) or change something in their life: The Goal Guys, Mike Boyd, Wheezy Waiter, Matt d'Avella... Above all else, remember your employer pays you for a set number of hours per week. Working more than those hours means you work for free, costing you money and your personal time. Your boss wouldn't allow your personal life to encroach on your contracted work hours, so you shouldn't allow your work to encroach on your personal time.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "How do you switch off your brain and resist the constant urge to be productive in your free time? For context, I recently finished a PhD in a subject I absolutely love and my graduate studies went really well, but I am frustrated with the academic lifestyle and moving to industry. But all those years in grad school, I developed unhealthy feelings of guilt any time I wasn't trying to \"get ahead\" somehow in my spare time. Even after finishing the PhD and having some free time on my hands, I can't switch off. I constantly feel the need to be learning something new or doing something productive, and it causes me a ton of stress, guilt and anxiety if I don't. I learned to live with it during grad school, but I'm surprised to find it still gets to me. How do you guys switch that part of your brain off?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "Start training aikido.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "How do you switch off your brain and resist the constant urge to be productive in your free time? For context, I recently finished a PhD in a subject I absolutely love and my graduate studies went really well, but I am frustrated with the academic lifestyle and moving to industry. But all those years in grad school, I developed unhealthy feelings of guilt any time I wasn't trying to \"get ahead\" somehow in my spare time. Even after finishing the PhD and having some free time on my hands, I can't switch off. I constantly feel the need to be learning something new or doing something productive, and it causes me a ton of stress, guilt and anxiety if I don't. I learned to live with it during grad school, but I'm surprised to find it still gets to me. How do you guys switch that part of your brain off?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "Some ideas to focus on something else: - get some fun videogame to play, - call your parents more often, - watch some shows on Netflix with your s.o., - have a baby - start an arts project, - exercise, cook, and eat healthy - let yourself dive into the depths of Reddit and find an obscure, yet interesting, topic to talk to other kind strangers However, it is likely that you are feeling that you are not doing enough in your work time. Perhaps you can keep track of your tasks during the week to remind you of your hard work so far? Then, you can rest assured that you have done your best during the week, and you cannot possibly do better than your best. Therapy and meditation can also help with that. Science and results are really nice, but they are only a small fraction of all the world has to offer. Good luck!", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "How do you switch off your brain and resist the constant urge to be productive in your free time? For context, I recently finished a PhD in a subject I absolutely love and my graduate studies went really well, but I am frustrated with the academic lifestyle and moving to industry. But all those years in grad school, I developed unhealthy feelings of guilt any time I wasn't trying to \"get ahead\" somehow in my spare time. Even after finishing the PhD and having some free time on my hands, I can't switch off. I constantly feel the need to be learning something new or doing something productive, and it causes me a ton of stress, guilt and anxiety if I don't. I learned to live with it during grad school, but I'm surprised to find it still gets to me. How do you guys switch that part of your brain off?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "\"Healthier\" Ways: Exercise, pick up a new hobby, play board games, garden, spend time with people I love \"Less Healthy\" Ways: Alcohol", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "How do you switch off your brain and resist the constant urge to be productive in your free time? For context, I recently finished a PhD in a subject I absolutely love and my graduate studies went really well, but I am frustrated with the academic lifestyle and moving to industry. But all those years in grad school, I developed unhealthy feelings of guilt any time I wasn't trying to \"get ahead\" somehow in my spare time. Even after finishing the PhD and having some free time on my hands, I can't switch off. I constantly feel the need to be learning something new or doing something productive, and it causes me a ton of stress, guilt and anxiety if I don't. I learned to live with it during grad school, but I'm surprised to find it still gets to me. How do you guys switch that part of your brain off?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "There are a number of good suggestions here focused in cultivating new pastimes and unplugging from work. I agree with many of these. I would like to take a moment and acknowledge that what your asking isn't, \"else should I do with my time?\" instead I understand your question to mean, \"how do I unlearn compulsive work behaviors I developed during my PhD as an adaptation and coping mechanism for sustaining the academic effort I felt was required for success.\" To my thinking, what you're going through partially a result of all the time dedicated to your PhD where you needed to remove non-phd-progressing habits and partially a grown up realization about what we can realistically achieve in life. Try to think about what your career is going to look like with your PhD. What do you want to achieve professionally and what do you want personally? I presume for most people they desire to feel successful and fulfilled in both arenas of their life. You've spent so much time and energy focused on getting to the PhD milestone it's time to cultivate what life looks like after it. What do you want at work? In 30 years looking back what do you think will help you feel accomplished and satisfied; publishing, research, leadership, promotions, things in your discipline or out, serving on boards, etc.? And looking back from that same point what personal things do you want to have achieved; family, marriage, kids, travel, home ownership, etc. Once you have an idea what you might want in the end, that list is where you start making your changes. If you don't need to be a dean or academic chair, but you want to stay in your lab - great! Go for it. If you won't feel fulfilled until you have kids or travel the world, then figure out those things. Make them priorities now. There are no guarantees for the future and it can't be just one thing. When we're old and gray as the cliches go we won't want to look back and think 'gee, I wish I spent more time in the office' by the same token diversion and recreation can be the same. We need a balance between a focus on productivity and personal fulfillment. Whatever that balance is try to move it everyday with good habits. I say this because I don't know anyone who can change overnight. As creatures of habit we get the most accomplished and the most achieved when we work on a task consistently over time whether that's a PhD, a hobby, weight loss, reading, working out, finding a partner, or cultivating ourselves personally. Anyway, that turned into a book. TL,DR; figure out what you want not just what you want to avoid, and work on it over time.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "How do you switch off your brain and resist the constant urge to be productive in your free time? For context, I recently finished a PhD in a subject I absolutely love and my graduate studies went really well, but I am frustrated with the academic lifestyle and moving to industry. But all those years in grad school, I developed unhealthy feelings of guilt any time I wasn't trying to \"get ahead\" somehow in my spare time. Even after finishing the PhD and having some free time on my hands, I can't switch off. I constantly feel the need to be learning something new or doing something productive, and it causes me a ton of stress, guilt and anxiety if I don't. I learned to live with it during grad school, but I'm surprised to find it still gets to me. How do you guys switch that part of your brain off?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "get a good hobby", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "How do you switch off your brain and resist the constant urge to be productive in your free time? For context, I recently finished a PhD in a subject I absolutely love and my graduate studies went really well, but I am frustrated with the academic lifestyle and moving to industry. But all those years in grad school, I developed unhealthy feelings of guilt any time I wasn't trying to \"get ahead\" somehow in my spare time. Even after finishing the PhD and having some free time on my hands, I can't switch off. I constantly feel the need to be learning something new or doing something productive, and it causes me a ton of stress, guilt and anxiety if I don't. I learned to live with it during grad school, but I'm surprised to find it still gets to me. How do you guys switch that part of your brain off?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "I learned a trick in grad school that helps. If I put my leisure activities of choice in my to-do list, right alongside my work goals, then it's still something to check off. This helps me remember to see those activities as also required. So I check off yoga, bike rides, walks, video games, reading for fun, etc. This has helped me immensely. Good luck!", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "How do you switch off your brain and resist the constant urge to be productive in your free time? For context, I recently finished a PhD in a subject I absolutely love and my graduate studies went really well, but I am frustrated with the academic lifestyle and moving to industry. But all those years in grad school, I developed unhealthy feelings of guilt any time I wasn't trying to \"get ahead\" somehow in my spare time. Even after finishing the PhD and having some free time on my hands, I can't switch off. I constantly feel the need to be learning something new or doing something productive, and it causes me a ton of stress, guilt and anxiety if I don't. I learned to live with it during grad school, but I'm surprised to find it still gets to me. How do you guys switch that part of your brain off?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "\"Healthier\" Ways: Exercise, pick up a new hobby, play board games, garden, spend time with people I love \"Less Healthy\" Ways: Alcohol", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "How do I cite a transgender author's name Hi, everyone! I am trying to cite an old article by an author who has since come out as transgender and changed their name. Do I cite the text using the name which appears on it (essentially deadnaming them), or do I use their new name? I feel like this is kind of a tricky situation because, on the one hand, I want to respect the author's new name, but I also want my citations to be \"correct\" for plagiarism's sake.", "role": "user" }, { "content": "Here’s what MLA 9 (idk about other style guides, sorry) says in section 5.15 If you are writing about or working directly with an author whose name changed and you know they do not use their former name in references to their work—for example, trans authors—list their works under the name they use, regardless of the name that appears in the source. Do not supply information about the name change or cross-reference entries, and avoid using the former name in your prose.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "How do I cite a transgender author's name Hi, everyone! I am trying to cite an old article by an author who has since come out as transgender and changed their name. Do I cite the text using the name which appears on it (essentially deadnaming them), or do I use their new name? I feel like this is kind of a tricky situation because, on the one hand, I want to respect the author's new name, but I also want my citations to be \"correct\" for plagiarism's sake.", "role": "user" }, { "content": "Are you just talking about citing the article, or referring to the article in your text? The purpose of a citation is so other people can look up your references. You cite what someone would use to search for the article, so the citation itself should use the name on the published article. The author can ask the publisher to change their name on the article.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "How do I cite a transgender author's name Hi, everyone! I am trying to cite an old article by an author who has since come out as transgender and changed their name. Do I cite the text using the name which appears on it (essentially deadnaming them), or do I use their new name? I feel like this is kind of a tricky situation because, on the one hand, I want to respect the author's new name, but I also want my citations to be \"correct\" for plagiarism's sake.", "role": "user" }, { "content": "A quick google suggests that you should use their preferred name, in the MLA style at least: https://style.mla.org/citing-author-who-has-transitioned/ I have also seen that there is some new process to allow a simplification of the name-change process, which is being implemented. Might cause some problems with understanding the lineage of your academic ideas though. Sorry to give both answers!", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "How do I cite a transgender author's name Hi, everyone! I am trying to cite an old article by an author who has since come out as transgender and changed their name. Do I cite the text using the name which appears on it (essentially deadnaming them), or do I use their new name? I feel like this is kind of a tricky situation because, on the one hand, I want to respect the author's new name, but I also want my citations to be \"correct\" for plagiarism's sake.", "role": "user" }, { "content": "Are you just talking about citing the article, or referring to the article in your text? The purpose of a citation is so other people can look up your references. You cite what someone would use to search for the article, so the citation itself should use the name on the published article. The author can ask the publisher to change their name on the article.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "How do I cite a transgender author's name Hi, everyone! I am trying to cite an old article by an author who has since come out as transgender and changed their name. Do I cite the text using the name which appears on it (essentially deadnaming them), or do I use their new name? I feel like this is kind of a tricky situation because, on the one hand, I want to respect the author's new name, but I also want my citations to be \"correct\" for plagiarism's sake.", "role": "user" }, { "content": "You should do whatever the journal's style guide says to do. Your heart's in the right place and I applaud you for that. But it's not your position to fight the journal editors over this. They're not gonna budge, and publishing's hard enough. Also, situations like this are easy to recognize for famous authors who are public about their transition. But seems like it'd lead you down a rabbit hole of checking the current names/pronouns of every single person in every single work you cite. For scientific papers in particular which can have dozens of authors multiplied, by dozens of papers, and checking all that is just not feasible.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "How do I cite a transgender author's name Hi, everyone! I am trying to cite an old article by an author who has since come out as transgender and changed their name. Do I cite the text using the name which appears on it (essentially deadnaming them), or do I use their new name? I feel like this is kind of a tricky situation because, on the one hand, I want to respect the author's new name, but I also want my citations to be \"correct\" for plagiarism's sake.", "role": "user" }, { "content": "I use the name the author uses and when in doubt, they in the singular. I'm old and hope that's OK.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "How do I cite a transgender author's name Hi, everyone! I am trying to cite an old article by an author who has since come out as transgender and changed their name. Do I cite the text using the name which appears on it (essentially deadnaming them), or do I use their new name? I feel like this is kind of a tricky situation because, on the one hand, I want to respect the author's new name, but I also want my citations to be \"correct\" for plagiarism's sake.", "role": "user" }, { "content": "There should be uniformity in how we cite people who have changed their names since the publication, regardless of whether they transitioned, got married, or just wanted to change their name for another reason. Since it is impractical to keep track of who changed their names, the simplest way to do this is to stick with the name in the original publication. We are citing a paper of the past (a paper that has been published), often with many authors that are literally dead. Some of these authors might have even changed their names while they were alive. This is different than referring to a living, breathing person with the name they currently have. The whole point is to refer to something written in the past.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "How do I cite a transgender author's name Hi, everyone! I am trying to cite an old article by an author who has since come out as transgender and changed their name. Do I cite the text using the name which appears on it (essentially deadnaming them), or do I use their new name? I feel like this is kind of a tricky situation because, on the one hand, I want to respect the author's new name, but I also want my citations to be \"correct\" for plagiarism's sake.", "role": "user" }, { "content": "I use the name the author uses and when in doubt, they in the singular. I'm old and hope that's OK.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "How do I cite a transgender author's name Hi, everyone! I am trying to cite an old article by an author who has since come out as transgender and changed their name. Do I cite the text using the name which appears on it (essentially deadnaming them), or do I use their new name? I feel like this is kind of a tricky situation because, on the one hand, I want to respect the author's new name, but I also want my citations to be \"correct\" for plagiarism's sake.", "role": "user" }, { "content": "Here’s what MLA 9 (idk about other style guides, sorry) says in section 5.15 If you are writing about or working directly with an author whose name changed and you know they do not use their former name in references to their work—for example, trans authors—list their works under the name they use, regardless of the name that appears in the source. Do not supply information about the name change or cross-reference entries, and avoid using the former name in your prose.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "How do I cite a transgender author's name Hi, everyone! I am trying to cite an old article by an author who has since come out as transgender and changed their name. Do I cite the text using the name which appears on it (essentially deadnaming them), or do I use their new name? I feel like this is kind of a tricky situation because, on the one hand, I want to respect the author's new name, but I also want my citations to be \"correct\" for plagiarism's sake.", "role": "user" }, { "content": "A quick google suggests that you should use their preferred name, in the MLA style at least: https://style.mla.org/citing-author-who-has-transitioned/ I have also seen that there is some new process to allow a simplification of the name-change process, which is being implemented. Might cause some problems with understanding the lineage of your academic ideas though. Sorry to give both answers!", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Just got my PhD. Now what? It all feels less spectacular than it should. I loved my field when I decided to pursue a PhD. And then I started getting worn out. I dropped out because I was having too much trouble working with other graduate students. I found a job in the field, and seeing how my profession works in practice killed any last passion I had remaining for the subject. I ended up losing my job during the pandemic and decided to finish my degree. It was the easiest option, and an option that meant I could stay at home. The passion never came back, but I was able to finish writing and defend my dissertation. So, now what? I'm working for my advisor and will do so for the next couple of months. I hate every minute of it. Doing anything feels like a hassle. The thing I hate doing most is *writing*, which is not a good omen for a future academic career. I can't imagine doing this for the rest of my life. I feel trapped. I know I can't be the only person who's gone through this. How did you pivot to something else? How do you find meaning in your work?", "role": "user" }, { "content": ">I know I can't be the only person who's gone through this. How did you pivot to something else? Yep, that's pretty normal. I knew before I finished my PhD that I hated my research and wanted to do something different, so I got a few internships to expand my skill sets and experience beyond my PhD projects. Because of that now I have a full time job in a field unrelated to my PhD. >How do you find meaning in your work? It's gonna sound very shallow to many people but I just went for the best offer that I thought would hate the least. So far it's working out pretty well. To me it's just a job, if a better offer came up next month I wouldn't hesitate to jump ship.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Just got my PhD. Now what? It all feels less spectacular than it should. I loved my field when I decided to pursue a PhD. And then I started getting worn out. I dropped out because I was having too much trouble working with other graduate students. I found a job in the field, and seeing how my profession works in practice killed any last passion I had remaining for the subject. I ended up losing my job during the pandemic and decided to finish my degree. It was the easiest option, and an option that meant I could stay at home. The passion never came back, but I was able to finish writing and defend my dissertation. So, now what? I'm working for my advisor and will do so for the next couple of months. I hate every minute of it. Doing anything feels like a hassle. The thing I hate doing most is *writing*, which is not a good omen for a future academic career. I can't imagine doing this for the rest of my life. I feel trapped. I know I can't be the only person who's gone through this. How did you pivot to something else? How do you find meaning in your work?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "What field are you in if I may ask?", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Just got my PhD. Now what? It all feels less spectacular than it should. I loved my field when I decided to pursue a PhD. And then I started getting worn out. I dropped out because I was having too much trouble working with other graduate students. I found a job in the field, and seeing how my profession works in practice killed any last passion I had remaining for the subject. I ended up losing my job during the pandemic and decided to finish my degree. It was the easiest option, and an option that meant I could stay at home. The passion never came back, but I was able to finish writing and defend my dissertation. So, now what? I'm working for my advisor and will do so for the next couple of months. I hate every minute of it. Doing anything feels like a hassle. The thing I hate doing most is *writing*, which is not a good omen for a future academic career. I can't imagine doing this for the rest of my life. I feel trapped. I know I can't be the only person who's gone through this. How did you pivot to something else? How do you find meaning in your work?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "I have a STEM PhD and was also disillusioned by academia. Look into Applications Scientist roles. Most of the biotech reagent and equipment providers have jobs with this title. You become an expert in a few instruments and/or workflows and you help researchers learn how their work could be improved with your stuff. After they buy it, you'll often go on site to help set it up and make sure it works in their experiments. And then you're a technical resource as customers continue to use your tools. Field Apps roles tend to travel 25-75%. I travel on the 25% in non-COVID times and I love it. I have had exposure to more high end research labs than I ever would have by focusing in one research area. I've been an invited SME at the CDC. I've been in labs at all the top pharma and research universities in the US and it's just so cool to see the exciting work people do, but not have to toil over the same project for years. I've learned the business side a bunch as well, so in the future I'd potentially like to move into future product marketing and new product development.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Just got my PhD. Now what? It all feels less spectacular than it should. I loved my field when I decided to pursue a PhD. And then I started getting worn out. I dropped out because I was having too much trouble working with other graduate students. I found a job in the field, and seeing how my profession works in practice killed any last passion I had remaining for the subject. I ended up losing my job during the pandemic and decided to finish my degree. It was the easiest option, and an option that meant I could stay at home. The passion never came back, but I was able to finish writing and defend my dissertation. So, now what? I'm working for my advisor and will do so for the next couple of months. I hate every minute of it. Doing anything feels like a hassle. The thing I hate doing most is *writing*, which is not a good omen for a future academic career. I can't imagine doing this for the rest of my life. I feel trapped. I know I can't be the only person who's gone through this. How did you pivot to something else? How do you find meaning in your work?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "I’m sorry you’ve ended up feeling this way. I feel like it happens very often though. For me I did 4 years of a PhD in “geology” and left before finishing. This was after 2 years for a masters in it. It’s a long story, but I am so happy I went back to my biology degree bachelors roots and am now finishing up a one year post bachelors program to become a clinical laboratory scientist in a hospital lab setting. The job and pay will be more stable than anything I could have had before (especially with covid now as I would have been finishing my degree when all universities seemed to have a hiring hold). I also get to directly contribute to my society with meaningful work. The program I’m currently in has been one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, not just because they take the last two years of their traditional bachelors degree and shove it into 1, but my biology mindset needed a lot of refreshing at the beginning of the program with a ten year gap. I don’t regret it at all! I did not get along well with some of the graduate students I used to work with. I’m a bit of a passive person that wants good work flow and apparently telling someone to work with another student because the advisor said so means others will literally just give you the cold shoulder until you leave and yell at you when they find you alone in a room lol. I found people hated you when you did better than them too. The only people congratulating me on grants I received or big projects I got to work on were professors, then students would be jealous kids and hide your special weigh boats and things. But I also was finding things like a huge lack of lab understanding from every level in the academic world. My advisor never went into her own lab for years at a time, the other students from my university and others across the world typically didn’t know what running standards with your samples meant or why it was important, and it was a challenge to publish anything that didn’t follow a preset story. It was only getting worse, so I left. My field was one I don’t tell many about today because of the atmosphere on it all (pun intended) but it was stable isotopes with the purpose of using the produced records for climate models. All I can say is, do something you won’t go crazy in, or at least that you can find a good pay with so you can use your non work hours as fun. Get into a career line that values a good work life balance. Don’t stay and become more bitter. Hope this helps :)", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Just got my PhD. Now what? It all feels less spectacular than it should. I loved my field when I decided to pursue a PhD. And then I started getting worn out. I dropped out because I was having too much trouble working with other graduate students. I found a job in the field, and seeing how my profession works in practice killed any last passion I had remaining for the subject. I ended up losing my job during the pandemic and decided to finish my degree. It was the easiest option, and an option that meant I could stay at home. The passion never came back, but I was able to finish writing and defend my dissertation. So, now what? I'm working for my advisor and will do so for the next couple of months. I hate every minute of it. Doing anything feels like a hassle. The thing I hate doing most is *writing*, which is not a good omen for a future academic career. I can't imagine doing this for the rest of my life. I feel trapped. I know I can't be the only person who's gone through this. How did you pivot to something else? How do you find meaning in your work?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "Sleep and play videogames for a week, then job hunting or post doc? At least this is my plan..", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Just got my PhD. Now what? It all feels less spectacular than it should. I loved my field when I decided to pursue a PhD. And then I started getting worn out. I dropped out because I was having too much trouble working with other graduate students. I found a job in the field, and seeing how my profession works in practice killed any last passion I had remaining for the subject. I ended up losing my job during the pandemic and decided to finish my degree. It was the easiest option, and an option that meant I could stay at home. The passion never came back, but I was able to finish writing and defend my dissertation. So, now what? I'm working for my advisor and will do so for the next couple of months. I hate every minute of it. Doing anything feels like a hassle. The thing I hate doing most is *writing*, which is not a good omen for a future academic career. I can't imagine doing this for the rest of my life. I feel trapped. I know I can't be the only person who's gone through this. How did you pivot to something else? How do you find meaning in your work?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "I think it's pretty common to be burnt out after writing and defending your dissertation. It's an exhausting process that's an odd and terrible synthesis of rite of passage, proof of academic excellence, and hazing. I've been sitting in my office reflecting on whether I feel any passion about my subject. I don't think I do. And honestly, I don't really care if i find meaning in my work. There are things I am working towards, publications in top tier journals, grants, and so on, like other academics. However, I am not doing it because I feel some deep sense of purpose or passion for my field. I'm doing it because I love the freedom of academia. That we get to choose how we spend our time as long as we make progress toward institutional goals. And those milestones only open up more avenues of freedom and choice for my time. And for me, my passion, love, and motivation all come from my family. And from my love of freedom to pursue an endeavor that I find interesting or noteworthy.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Just got my PhD. Now what? It all feels less spectacular than it should. I loved my field when I decided to pursue a PhD. And then I started getting worn out. I dropped out because I was having too much trouble working with other graduate students. I found a job in the field, and seeing how my profession works in practice killed any last passion I had remaining for the subject. I ended up losing my job during the pandemic and decided to finish my degree. It was the easiest option, and an option that meant I could stay at home. The passion never came back, but I was able to finish writing and defend my dissertation. So, now what? I'm working for my advisor and will do so for the next couple of months. I hate every minute of it. Doing anything feels like a hassle. The thing I hate doing most is *writing*, which is not a good omen for a future academic career. I can't imagine doing this for the rest of my life. I feel trapped. I know I can't be the only person who's gone through this. How did you pivot to something else? How do you find meaning in your work?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "I'm with you. Haven't applied for a single academic job since receiving my doctorate. Honestly feel like a sucker for the amount of time spent and BS I put up with to get it. The experience was frankly deeply abusive (and I don't say that lightly) and passion crushing. Still employed in higher ed on a multi-year non-tenure track position but honestly not sure what to do next. The well is dry. Someone once told me graduate study was different from military training in that while they both broke you down, only the military attempted to build you back up. Not sure if that's true or not but do suspect there is a bit of truth to the saying.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Just got my PhD. Now what? It all feels less spectacular than it should. I loved my field when I decided to pursue a PhD. And then I started getting worn out. I dropped out because I was having too much trouble working with other graduate students. I found a job in the field, and seeing how my profession works in practice killed any last passion I had remaining for the subject. I ended up losing my job during the pandemic and decided to finish my degree. It was the easiest option, and an option that meant I could stay at home. The passion never came back, but I was able to finish writing and defend my dissertation. So, now what? I'm working for my advisor and will do so for the next couple of months. I hate every minute of it. Doing anything feels like a hassle. The thing I hate doing most is *writing*, which is not a good omen for a future academic career. I can't imagine doing this for the rest of my life. I feel trapped. I know I can't be the only person who's gone through this. How did you pivot to something else? How do you find meaning in your work?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "I’m sorry you’ve ended up feeling this way. I feel like it happens very often though. For me I did 4 years of a PhD in “geology” and left before finishing. This was after 2 years for a masters in it. It’s a long story, but I am so happy I went back to my biology degree bachelors roots and am now finishing up a one year post bachelors program to become a clinical laboratory scientist in a hospital lab setting. The job and pay will be more stable than anything I could have had before (especially with covid now as I would have been finishing my degree when all universities seemed to have a hiring hold). I also get to directly contribute to my society with meaningful work. The program I’m currently in has been one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, not just because they take the last two years of their traditional bachelors degree and shove it into 1, but my biology mindset needed a lot of refreshing at the beginning of the program with a ten year gap. I don’t regret it at all! I did not get along well with some of the graduate students I used to work with. I’m a bit of a passive person that wants good work flow and apparently telling someone to work with another student because the advisor said so means others will literally just give you the cold shoulder until you leave and yell at you when they find you alone in a room lol. I found people hated you when you did better than them too. The only people congratulating me on grants I received or big projects I got to work on were professors, then students would be jealous kids and hide your special weigh boats and things. But I also was finding things like a huge lack of lab understanding from every level in the academic world. My advisor never went into her own lab for years at a time, the other students from my university and others across the world typically didn’t know what running standards with your samples meant or why it was important, and it was a challenge to publish anything that didn’t follow a preset story. It was only getting worse, so I left. My field was one I don’t tell many about today because of the atmosphere on it all (pun intended) but it was stable isotopes with the purpose of using the produced records for climate models. All I can say is, do something you won’t go crazy in, or at least that you can find a good pay with so you can use your non work hours as fun. Get into a career line that values a good work life balance. Don’t stay and become more bitter. Hope this helps :)", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Just got my PhD. Now what? It all feels less spectacular than it should. I loved my field when I decided to pursue a PhD. And then I started getting worn out. I dropped out because I was having too much trouble working with other graduate students. I found a job in the field, and seeing how my profession works in practice killed any last passion I had remaining for the subject. I ended up losing my job during the pandemic and decided to finish my degree. It was the easiest option, and an option that meant I could stay at home. The passion never came back, but I was able to finish writing and defend my dissertation. So, now what? I'm working for my advisor and will do so for the next couple of months. I hate every minute of it. Doing anything feels like a hassle. The thing I hate doing most is *writing*, which is not a good omen for a future academic career. I can't imagine doing this for the rest of my life. I feel trapped. I know I can't be the only person who's gone through this. How did you pivot to something else? How do you find meaning in your work?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "Sleep and play videogames for a week, then job hunting or post doc? At least this is my plan..", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Just got my PhD. Now what? It all feels less spectacular than it should. I loved my field when I decided to pursue a PhD. And then I started getting worn out. I dropped out because I was having too much trouble working with other graduate students. I found a job in the field, and seeing how my profession works in practice killed any last passion I had remaining for the subject. I ended up losing my job during the pandemic and decided to finish my degree. It was the easiest option, and an option that meant I could stay at home. The passion never came back, but I was able to finish writing and defend my dissertation. So, now what? I'm working for my advisor and will do so for the next couple of months. I hate every minute of it. Doing anything feels like a hassle. The thing I hate doing most is *writing*, which is not a good omen for a future academic career. I can't imagine doing this for the rest of my life. I feel trapped. I know I can't be the only person who's gone through this. How did you pivot to something else? How do you find meaning in your work?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "I found meaning in life, and work is work . Jobs come and go , they can end from things not outside your control . Hobbies and what bring me joy is totally in my control which is why I seek it outside of my work. Sure I still want to do well at work and I’d like not hate or or find it boring, sometimes it’s interesting sometimes it’s paint dry boring but I specifically chose a post PhD career path that frowned upon to work overtime and has lots of vacation because I want to explore life outside of work.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "I just saw an advertisement embedded as the first page of a journal article PDF 😡 This made me grumpy. The journal is not an open access so my institution gets to pay for the pleasure of me seeing ads. Thanks Wiley!", "role": "user" }, { "content": "I've never seen this inside the PDFs of a single paper. But in journals or in websites often. Especially if they're relevant and inoffensive like the one you mention (for a scientific conference!!) I don't see any issue.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "I just saw an advertisement embedded as the first page of a journal article PDF 😡 This made me grumpy. The journal is not an open access so my institution gets to pay for the pleasure of me seeing ads. Thanks Wiley!", "role": "user" }, { "content": "AIP journals do it all the time - the first page of *Applied Physics Letters* is an ad too.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "TA dealing with a condescending student Hi all, Have any of you had to deal with a condescending student? How did you deal with it (or did you?)? I (30F) have a student (19M) this semester who emails me frequently with questions that have always seemed to insinuate that I didn't know what I was talking about. But I assumed I was being oversensitive or paranoid, so I have always answered him promptly and cheerfully. However, today, the student got in a long back and forth with me (over email) about a basic statistical analysis in which he is FULLY incorrect, but has continued doubling down no matter what I say (or how many resources I send him). Finally he wrote back something along the lines of \"fine I still think it means xyz but I guess I just won't include how we got our results.\" To be clear, he literally added a new statistical test that is not part of the assignment, and makes no sense with the data. The last email especially was honestly very rude, and I'm not sure how to proceed. I'm leaning towards just leaving it alone, since he apparently cares so much about having the last word, but I'm worried about grading his final paper if he continues to double down on this. Has anyone else encountered something like this, and what did you do?", "role": "user" }, { "content": ">TA dealing with a condescending student Save those e-mail exchanges. Grade him according to what he's supposed to be learning.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "TA dealing with a condescending student Hi all, Have any of you had to deal with a condescending student? How did you deal with it (or did you?)? I (30F) have a student (19M) this semester who emails me frequently with questions that have always seemed to insinuate that I didn't know what I was talking about. But I assumed I was being oversensitive or paranoid, so I have always answered him promptly and cheerfully. However, today, the student got in a long back and forth with me (over email) about a basic statistical analysis in which he is FULLY incorrect, but has continued doubling down no matter what I say (or how many resources I send him). Finally he wrote back something along the lines of \"fine I still think it means xyz but I guess I just won't include how we got our results.\" To be clear, he literally added a new statistical test that is not part of the assignment, and makes no sense with the data. The last email especially was honestly very rude, and I'm not sure how to proceed. I'm leaning towards just leaving it alone, since he apparently cares so much about having the last word, but I'm worried about grading his final paper if he continues to double down on this. Has anyone else encountered something like this, and what did you do?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "As a TA, your are there to support students and if they fail to respect you, the conversation ends. If you have illustrated the correct answer/approach and they believe you are wrong, they have two options: proceed as if you are wrong or take it to the professor. If a student came to me and said “my answer is right and the TA is wrong, I would listen to the student, ascertain they were wrong, and the have the, explain their answer to me and the TA. Then I would proceed to illustrate the correct answer all the while noting ‘as the TA told you’. If a student was disrespectful, then they would be speaking to me. It is was sufficient serious, it would be in writing copied to the chair and dean. Universities are places of work and disagreement is fine, disrespectful conduct is not. In short, you have done your job, don’t engage further, their choices have consequences.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "TA dealing with a condescending student Hi all, Have any of you had to deal with a condescending student? How did you deal with it (or did you?)? I (30F) have a student (19M) this semester who emails me frequently with questions that have always seemed to insinuate that I didn't know what I was talking about. But I assumed I was being oversensitive or paranoid, so I have always answered him promptly and cheerfully. However, today, the student got in a long back and forth with me (over email) about a basic statistical analysis in which he is FULLY incorrect, but has continued doubling down no matter what I say (or how many resources I send him). Finally he wrote back something along the lines of \"fine I still think it means xyz but I guess I just won't include how we got our results.\" To be clear, he literally added a new statistical test that is not part of the assignment, and makes no sense with the data. The last email especially was honestly very rude, and I'm not sure how to proceed. I'm leaning towards just leaving it alone, since he apparently cares so much about having the last word, but I'm worried about grading his final paper if he continues to double down on this. Has anyone else encountered something like this, and what did you do?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "I have had a couple of students like that. I probably didn't deal with this the most constructively, but I used to cc the unit coordinator or another colleague in (sometimes male) to \"confirm their ideas\". The colleagues would confirm that I was correct, and I have even had students apologise to me afterwards. I also get someone else to mark the work if possible or get it cross checked. It is not really worth engaging with these students to argue. I have done that in the past and it has lead to further emails that are nastier, and even being threatened/stalked.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "TA dealing with a condescending student Hi all, Have any of you had to deal with a condescending student? How did you deal with it (or did you?)? I (30F) have a student (19M) this semester who emails me frequently with questions that have always seemed to insinuate that I didn't know what I was talking about. But I assumed I was being oversensitive or paranoid, so I have always answered him promptly and cheerfully. However, today, the student got in a long back and forth with me (over email) about a basic statistical analysis in which he is FULLY incorrect, but has continued doubling down no matter what I say (or how many resources I send him). Finally he wrote back something along the lines of \"fine I still think it means xyz but I guess I just won't include how we got our results.\" To be clear, he literally added a new statistical test that is not part of the assignment, and makes no sense with the data. The last email especially was honestly very rude, and I'm not sure how to proceed. I'm leaning towards just leaving it alone, since he apparently cares so much about having the last word, but I'm worried about grading his final paper if he continues to double down on this. Has anyone else encountered something like this, and what did you do?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "I think the work as teacher is guide your students to the knoweldge, you can help them with someproblems, but if your students don't try to learn something and don't listen you, you must not keeping help them. I think you should give up whit him and use his emaik as evidence.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "TA dealing with a condescending student Hi all, Have any of you had to deal with a condescending student? How did you deal with it (or did you?)? I (30F) have a student (19M) this semester who emails me frequently with questions that have always seemed to insinuate that I didn't know what I was talking about. But I assumed I was being oversensitive or paranoid, so I have always answered him promptly and cheerfully. However, today, the student got in a long back and forth with me (over email) about a basic statistical analysis in which he is FULLY incorrect, but has continued doubling down no matter what I say (or how many resources I send him). Finally he wrote back something along the lines of \"fine I still think it means xyz but I guess I just won't include how we got our results.\" To be clear, he literally added a new statistical test that is not part of the assignment, and makes no sense with the data. The last email especially was honestly very rude, and I'm not sure how to proceed. I'm leaning towards just leaving it alone, since he apparently cares so much about having the last word, but I'm worried about grading his final paper if he continues to double down on this. Has anyone else encountered something like this, and what did you do?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "I deal with it by treating them like they're insecure and need a lot of reassurance (which is generally the case), and also by refusing to engage if they decide they want to argue. Don't get sucked into long back-and-forths with a student who just wants to argue - it's fine to ignore emails that don't contain a question. It's also fine to ignore every part of an email but the questions. If he doubles down on it, pass him along to the professor of record for the class, and let them deal with him. It's probably wise to forward the whole exchange to the professor in advance, to let them know this is going on and that they might have to deal with it.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "TA dealing with a condescending student Hi all, Have any of you had to deal with a condescending student? How did you deal with it (or did you?)? I (30F) have a student (19M) this semester who emails me frequently with questions that have always seemed to insinuate that I didn't know what I was talking about. But I assumed I was being oversensitive or paranoid, so I have always answered him promptly and cheerfully. However, today, the student got in a long back and forth with me (over email) about a basic statistical analysis in which he is FULLY incorrect, but has continued doubling down no matter what I say (or how many resources I send him). Finally he wrote back something along the lines of \"fine I still think it means xyz but I guess I just won't include how we got our results.\" To be clear, he literally added a new statistical test that is not part of the assignment, and makes no sense with the data. The last email especially was honestly very rude, and I'm not sure how to proceed. I'm leaning towards just leaving it alone, since he apparently cares so much about having the last word, but I'm worried about grading his final paper if he continues to double down on this. Has anyone else encountered something like this, and what did you do?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "I think the biggest mistake here is pressing the 'reply' button. I've had a student looking for a MSc project supervisor. He wad quite open about being very picky about it. I told him straight about his attitude and the reason he's in the uni. Never seen him again.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "TA dealing with a condescending student Hi all, Have any of you had to deal with a condescending student? How did you deal with it (or did you?)? I (30F) have a student (19M) this semester who emails me frequently with questions that have always seemed to insinuate that I didn't know what I was talking about. But I assumed I was being oversensitive or paranoid, so I have always answered him promptly and cheerfully. However, today, the student got in a long back and forth with me (over email) about a basic statistical analysis in which he is FULLY incorrect, but has continued doubling down no matter what I say (or how many resources I send him). Finally he wrote back something along the lines of \"fine I still think it means xyz but I guess I just won't include how we got our results.\" To be clear, he literally added a new statistical test that is not part of the assignment, and makes no sense with the data. The last email especially was honestly very rude, and I'm not sure how to proceed. I'm leaning towards just leaving it alone, since he apparently cares so much about having the last word, but I'm worried about grading his final paper if he continues to double down on this. Has anyone else encountered something like this, and what did you do?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "In my experience, my professors always told me that if a student escalates beyond the 2nd or 3rd email that you just forward it to the professor. From my PI's own words, they usually don't pull this stuff with professors, only with TAs.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "TA dealing with a condescending student Hi all, Have any of you had to deal with a condescending student? How did you deal with it (or did you?)? I (30F) have a student (19M) this semester who emails me frequently with questions that have always seemed to insinuate that I didn't know what I was talking about. But I assumed I was being oversensitive or paranoid, so I have always answered him promptly and cheerfully. However, today, the student got in a long back and forth with me (over email) about a basic statistical analysis in which he is FULLY incorrect, but has continued doubling down no matter what I say (or how many resources I send him). Finally he wrote back something along the lines of \"fine I still think it means xyz but I guess I just won't include how we got our results.\" To be clear, he literally added a new statistical test that is not part of the assignment, and makes no sense with the data. The last email especially was honestly very rude, and I'm not sure how to proceed. I'm leaning towards just leaving it alone, since he apparently cares so much about having the last word, but I'm worried about grading his final paper if he continues to double down on this. Has anyone else encountered something like this, and what did you do?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "What a dummy that kid is. Ignore him, and mark him down (fairly and) accordingly. Sorry that you’re dealing with this, by the way.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "TA dealing with a condescending student Hi all, Have any of you had to deal with a condescending student? How did you deal with it (or did you?)? I (30F) have a student (19M) this semester who emails me frequently with questions that have always seemed to insinuate that I didn't know what I was talking about. But I assumed I was being oversensitive or paranoid, so I have always answered him promptly and cheerfully. However, today, the student got in a long back and forth with me (over email) about a basic statistical analysis in which he is FULLY incorrect, but has continued doubling down no matter what I say (or how many resources I send him). Finally he wrote back something along the lines of \"fine I still think it means xyz but I guess I just won't include how we got our results.\" To be clear, he literally added a new statistical test that is not part of the assignment, and makes no sense with the data. The last email especially was honestly very rude, and I'm not sure how to proceed. I'm leaning towards just leaving it alone, since he apparently cares so much about having the last word, but I'm worried about grading his final paper if he continues to double down on this. Has anyone else encountered something like this, and what did you do?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "In my experience, my professors always told me that if a student escalates beyond the 2nd or 3rd email that you just forward it to the professor. From my PI's own words, they usually don't pull this stuff with professors, only with TAs.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "TA dealing with a condescending student Hi all, Have any of you had to deal with a condescending student? How did you deal with it (or did you?)? I (30F) have a student (19M) this semester who emails me frequently with questions that have always seemed to insinuate that I didn't know what I was talking about. But I assumed I was being oversensitive or paranoid, so I have always answered him promptly and cheerfully. However, today, the student got in a long back and forth with me (over email) about a basic statistical analysis in which he is FULLY incorrect, but has continued doubling down no matter what I say (or how many resources I send him). Finally he wrote back something along the lines of \"fine I still think it means xyz but I guess I just won't include how we got our results.\" To be clear, he literally added a new statistical test that is not part of the assignment, and makes no sense with the data. The last email especially was honestly very rude, and I'm not sure how to proceed. I'm leaning towards just leaving it alone, since he apparently cares so much about having the last word, but I'm worried about grading his final paper if he continues to double down on this. Has anyone else encountered something like this, and what did you do?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "I've always believed that back and forth through email does come across rude. Its always to \"clear the air\" in person. I've found that people are less rude while talking in-person.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Did you buy yourselves a nice gift when you defended your PhD? I was talking to a fellow grad student recently and she told me she’s been planning to buy herself a really nice pair of shoes when she defends, as a gift to herself for making it through. I defend in a little over a month and I can’t stop thinking about this. I feel like I should commemorate this milestone with something that I can hold onto forever but I’m at a loss for ideas. Have you ever given yourself a really nice gift either for defending or reaching some other academic milestone? If so, what was it?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "I defended in the early months of this year and got a pretty prestigious postdoc; when I arrive in my new town next month I'm buying myself a celebratory Le Creuset dutch oven. I can at least sell the dutch oven if I don't get a job after my postdoc to cover some expenses. It's like a dowry for academics.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Did you buy yourselves a nice gift when you defended your PhD? I was talking to a fellow grad student recently and she told me she’s been planning to buy herself a really nice pair of shoes when she defends, as a gift to herself for making it through. I defend in a little over a month and I can’t stop thinking about this. I feel like I should commemorate this milestone with something that I can hold onto forever but I’m at a loss for ideas. Have you ever given yourself a really nice gift either for defending or reaching some other academic milestone? If so, what was it?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "No savings, no job, so probably nothing", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Did you buy yourselves a nice gift when you defended your PhD? I was talking to a fellow grad student recently and she told me she’s been planning to buy herself a really nice pair of shoes when she defends, as a gift to herself for making it through. I defend in a little over a month and I can’t stop thinking about this. I feel like I should commemorate this milestone with something that I can hold onto forever but I’m at a loss for ideas. Have you ever given yourself a really nice gift either for defending or reaching some other academic milestone? If so, what was it?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "I bought a copy of my thesis and a frame for my diploma.  It was a two panel frame.  I was going to put my undergraduate diploma in one and doctorate in the other, but then my dog graduated obedience school so I put her certificate by my doctorate.  I want her to know I'm proud of her.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Did you buy yourselves a nice gift when you defended your PhD? I was talking to a fellow grad student recently and she told me she’s been planning to buy herself a really nice pair of shoes when she defends, as a gift to herself for making it through. I defend in a little over a month and I can’t stop thinking about this. I feel like I should commemorate this milestone with something that I can hold onto forever but I’m at a loss for ideas. Have you ever given yourself a really nice gift either for defending or reaching some other academic milestone? If so, what was it?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "My partner is entering his PhD this year. Some ideas I have for him: quality leather satchel/laptop bag (will last forever), shadow box containing his graduation regalia and degree, bound copy of thesis, etc. The leather bag is probably the best “gift to self” idea on the list because you can use it daily in your work and it will only become better with use.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Did you buy yourselves a nice gift when you defended your PhD? I was talking to a fellow grad student recently and she told me she’s been planning to buy herself a really nice pair of shoes when she defends, as a gift to herself for making it through. I defend in a little over a month and I can’t stop thinking about this. I feel like I should commemorate this milestone with something that I can hold onto forever but I’m at a loss for ideas. Have you ever given yourself a really nice gift either for defending or reaching some other academic milestone? If so, what was it?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "I defended in the early months of this year and got a pretty prestigious postdoc; when I arrive in my new town next month I'm buying myself a celebratory Le Creuset dutch oven. I can at least sell the dutch oven if I don't get a job after my postdoc to cover some expenses. It's like a dowry for academics.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Did you buy yourselves a nice gift when you defended your PhD? I was talking to a fellow grad student recently and she told me she’s been planning to buy herself a really nice pair of shoes when she defends, as a gift to herself for making it through. I defend in a little over a month and I can’t stop thinking about this. I feel like I should commemorate this milestone with something that I can hold onto forever but I’m at a loss for ideas. Have you ever given yourself a really nice gift either for defending or reaching some other academic milestone? If so, what was it?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "My partner is entering his PhD this year. Some ideas I have for him: quality leather satchel/laptop bag (will last forever), shadow box containing his graduation regalia and degree, bound copy of thesis, etc. The leather bag is probably the best “gift to self” idea on the list because you can use it daily in your work and it will only become better with use.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Did you buy yourselves a nice gift when you defended your PhD? I was talking to a fellow grad student recently and she told me she’s been planning to buy herself a really nice pair of shoes when she defends, as a gift to herself for making it through. I defend in a little over a month and I can’t stop thinking about this. I feel like I should commemorate this milestone with something that I can hold onto forever but I’m at a loss for ideas. Have you ever given yourself a really nice gift either for defending or reaching some other academic milestone? If so, what was it?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "I bought chicken nuggets, french fries, and a diet coke, and took the best 2 hour nap of my life.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Did you buy yourselves a nice gift when you defended your PhD? I was talking to a fellow grad student recently and she told me she’s been planning to buy herself a really nice pair of shoes when she defends, as a gift to herself for making it through. I defend in a little over a month and I can’t stop thinking about this. I feel like I should commemorate this milestone with something that I can hold onto forever but I’m at a loss for ideas. Have you ever given yourself a really nice gift either for defending or reaching some other academic milestone? If so, what was it?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "I was able to pay my security deposit for a place where I was going to do my post-doc. That's all the money I had to \"buy myself a nice gift.\" I still haven't been able to buy a frame for my diploma. That cardboard tube is getting its use", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Did you buy yourselves a nice gift when you defended your PhD? I was talking to a fellow grad student recently and she told me she’s been planning to buy herself a really nice pair of shoes when she defends, as a gift to herself for making it through. I defend in a little over a month and I can’t stop thinking about this. I feel like I should commemorate this milestone with something that I can hold onto forever but I’m at a loss for ideas. Have you ever given yourself a really nice gift either for defending or reaching some other academic milestone? If so, what was it?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "I buy myself a small gift after every milestone. Often it’s affordable jewelry that I can then wear when I’m feeling like an imposter. It’s like armor, reminding me of my successes. After I defended my PhD I did a long road trip to celebrate. I have no regrets and many amazing memories from that trip.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Did you buy yourselves a nice gift when you defended your PhD? I was talking to a fellow grad student recently and she told me she’s been planning to buy herself a really nice pair of shoes when she defends, as a gift to herself for making it through. I defend in a little over a month and I can’t stop thinking about this. I feel like I should commemorate this milestone with something that I can hold onto forever but I’m at a loss for ideas. Have you ever given yourself a really nice gift either for defending or reaching some other academic milestone? If so, what was it?", "role": "user" }, { "content": "My partner is entering his PhD this year. Some ideas I have for him: quality leather satchel/laptop bag (will last forever), shadow box containing his graduation regalia and degree, bound copy of thesis, etc. The leather bag is probably the best “gift to self” idea on the list because you can use it daily in your work and it will only become better with use.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Why do professors feel the need to tell students they aren't cut out for certain careers or them to pursue something else? I know it's not all professors, but why do some professors feel the need to destroy students passions by telling them to drop the majors/minors? From personal experience I've had professors tell me to not pursue STEM careers because I wasn't cut out for it. I was so distraught and hate myself for listening to them. I'm studying environmental policy now and am doing a minor in IR and I've spent the majority of my free electives taking the courses to complete it, the issue is that I've been struggling a bit trying to grasp the understanding of IR theory and I ask for help from the professor quite a bit, recently he asked why I was taking the course and I told him that I was pursuing a minor in it, he looked surprised and then told me it would be best if I dropped the minor, since I didn't seem \"cut out\" for it. I really admire the work this professor does in the field, hearing that just broke my heart that I cried after ending the zoom call with him.", "role": "user" }, { "content": "Not everyone is cutout for everything. Some professors can be too harsh and unreasonable but unfortunately some people simply don’t cut it. As a professor that has success in their respective field you know what it takes and can likely pinpoint someone that doesn’t have it", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Why do professors feel the need to tell students they aren't cut out for certain careers or them to pursue something else? I know it's not all professors, but why do some professors feel the need to destroy students passions by telling them to drop the majors/minors? From personal experience I've had professors tell me to not pursue STEM careers because I wasn't cut out for it. I was so distraught and hate myself for listening to them. I'm studying environmental policy now and am doing a minor in IR and I've spent the majority of my free electives taking the courses to complete it, the issue is that I've been struggling a bit trying to grasp the understanding of IR theory and I ask for help from the professor quite a bit, recently he asked why I was taking the course and I told him that I was pursuing a minor in it, he looked surprised and then told me it would be best if I dropped the minor, since I didn't seem \"cut out\" for it. I really admire the work this professor does in the field, hearing that just broke my heart that I cried after ending the zoom call with him.", "role": "user" }, { "content": "It’s not a passion if it can be “crushed” by some words spoken by a professor.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Why do professors feel the need to tell students they aren't cut out for certain careers or them to pursue something else? I know it's not all professors, but why do some professors feel the need to destroy students passions by telling them to drop the majors/minors? From personal experience I've had professors tell me to not pursue STEM careers because I wasn't cut out for it. I was so distraught and hate myself for listening to them. I'm studying environmental policy now and am doing a minor in IR and I've spent the majority of my free electives taking the courses to complete it, the issue is that I've been struggling a bit trying to grasp the understanding of IR theory and I ask for help from the professor quite a bit, recently he asked why I was taking the course and I told him that I was pursuing a minor in it, he looked surprised and then told me it would be best if I dropped the minor, since I didn't seem \"cut out\" for it. I really admire the work this professor does in the field, hearing that just broke my heart that I cried after ending the zoom call with him.", "role": "user" }, { "content": "While I agree with a lot of the other comments that professors say this because they believe a student is not meeting certain standards for the field, they can be incredibly wrong. I was told I do not belong in science by my former PI/mentor at the end of my second year of my PhD. At the time, everything was presented as if I was a complete failure and I was the only one with any fault. Looking back, I would say that my PI/mentor completely avoided any and all responsibility when it came to mentoring me. I switched labs, received 2 prestigious fellowships, published 2 first author papers, defended my dissertation, received my PhD, and went on to a postdoc in big pharma. Everyone else that I have worked with since thinks I belong in science.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Why do professors feel the need to tell students they aren't cut out for certain careers or them to pursue something else? I know it's not all professors, but why do some professors feel the need to destroy students passions by telling them to drop the majors/minors? From personal experience I've had professors tell me to not pursue STEM careers because I wasn't cut out for it. I was so distraught and hate myself for listening to them. I'm studying environmental policy now and am doing a minor in IR and I've spent the majority of my free electives taking the courses to complete it, the issue is that I've been struggling a bit trying to grasp the understanding of IR theory and I ask for help from the professor quite a bit, recently he asked why I was taking the course and I told him that I was pursuing a minor in it, he looked surprised and then told me it would be best if I dropped the minor, since I didn't seem \"cut out\" for it. I really admire the work this professor does in the field, hearing that just broke my heart that I cried after ending the zoom call with him.", "role": "user" }, { "content": "It’s not a passion if it can be “crushed” by some words spoken by a professor.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Why do professors feel the need to tell students they aren't cut out for certain careers or them to pursue something else? I know it's not all professors, but why do some professors feel the need to destroy students passions by telling them to drop the majors/minors? From personal experience I've had professors tell me to not pursue STEM careers because I wasn't cut out for it. I was so distraught and hate myself for listening to them. I'm studying environmental policy now and am doing a minor in IR and I've spent the majority of my free electives taking the courses to complete it, the issue is that I've been struggling a bit trying to grasp the understanding of IR theory and I ask for help from the professor quite a bit, recently he asked why I was taking the course and I told him that I was pursuing a minor in it, he looked surprised and then told me it would be best if I dropped the minor, since I didn't seem \"cut out\" for it. I really admire the work this professor does in the field, hearing that just broke my heart that I cried after ending the zoom call with him.", "role": "user" }, { "content": "I have a colleague who wants to do this: she thinks we should identify students who \"have no chance of completing the major\" and advise them into some other department by the end of the first year. I'm opposed to that-- and I'm the department chair so I win --because it doesn't accept the idea that students can grow and mature along the way. Moreover, we have a whole sequence of required majors' courses they are required to pass, so in the worst case why not let them fail a few and *then* advise them out? But she thinks it's better to steer them away earlier so they have as much time as possible to complete another major. Part if it is also, I suspect, as desire to minimize the number of students who fail to graduate after four years in our department. Advising part of our job. But making decisions *for* our students is not. I think we should be completely honest with them; it's fine to say \"I'm concerned that you won't be able to complete the major requirements\" but not to say \"You can't major in \\_\\_\\_\\_\\_, go find something else.\" They have to make their own (informed) decisions.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Why do professors feel the need to tell students they aren't cut out for certain careers or them to pursue something else? I know it's not all professors, but why do some professors feel the need to destroy students passions by telling them to drop the majors/minors? From personal experience I've had professors tell me to not pursue STEM careers because I wasn't cut out for it. I was so distraught and hate myself for listening to them. I'm studying environmental policy now and am doing a minor in IR and I've spent the majority of my free electives taking the courses to complete it, the issue is that I've been struggling a bit trying to grasp the understanding of IR theory and I ask for help from the professor quite a bit, recently he asked why I was taking the course and I told him that I was pursuing a minor in it, he looked surprised and then told me it would be best if I dropped the minor, since I didn't seem \"cut out\" for it. I really admire the work this professor does in the field, hearing that just broke my heart that I cried after ending the zoom call with him.", "role": "user" }, { "content": "Sometimes there's truth to it. A professor told me that once, and they were right. It was painful but in hindsight, they weren't wrong. Not that they're always right, but sometimes they care enough to be honest. Of course it's always possible that they're being a jerk.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Why do professors feel the need to tell students they aren't cut out for certain careers or them to pursue something else? I know it's not all professors, but why do some professors feel the need to destroy students passions by telling them to drop the majors/minors? From personal experience I've had professors tell me to not pursue STEM careers because I wasn't cut out for it. I was so distraught and hate myself for listening to them. I'm studying environmental policy now and am doing a minor in IR and I've spent the majority of my free electives taking the courses to complete it, the issue is that I've been struggling a bit trying to grasp the understanding of IR theory and I ask for help from the professor quite a bit, recently he asked why I was taking the course and I told him that I was pursuing a minor in it, he looked surprised and then told me it would be best if I dropped the minor, since I didn't seem \"cut out\" for it. I really admire the work this professor does in the field, hearing that just broke my heart that I cried after ending the zoom call with him.", "role": "user" }, { "content": "I have a colleague who wants to do this: she thinks we should identify students who \"have no chance of completing the major\" and advise them into some other department by the end of the first year. I'm opposed to that-- and I'm the department chair so I win --because it doesn't accept the idea that students can grow and mature along the way. Moreover, we have a whole sequence of required majors' courses they are required to pass, so in the worst case why not let them fail a few and *then* advise them out? But she thinks it's better to steer them away earlier so they have as much time as possible to complete another major. Part if it is also, I suspect, as desire to minimize the number of students who fail to graduate after four years in our department. Advising part of our job. But making decisions *for* our students is not. I think we should be completely honest with them; it's fine to say \"I'm concerned that you won't be able to complete the major requirements\" but not to say \"You can't major in \\_\\_\\_\\_\\_, go find something else.\" They have to make their own (informed) decisions.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Why do professors feel the need to tell students they aren't cut out for certain careers or them to pursue something else? I know it's not all professors, but why do some professors feel the need to destroy students passions by telling them to drop the majors/minors? From personal experience I've had professors tell me to not pursue STEM careers because I wasn't cut out for it. I was so distraught and hate myself for listening to them. I'm studying environmental policy now and am doing a minor in IR and I've spent the majority of my free electives taking the courses to complete it, the issue is that I've been struggling a bit trying to grasp the understanding of IR theory and I ask for help from the professor quite a bit, recently he asked why I was taking the course and I told him that I was pursuing a minor in it, he looked surprised and then told me it would be best if I dropped the minor, since I didn't seem \"cut out\" for it. I really admire the work this professor does in the field, hearing that just broke my heart that I cried after ending the zoom call with him.", "role": "user" }, { "content": "It can go the other way, too. I was talented in running and creative writing and could have made money in scholarships, etc. but I did something completely different I was less talented in because it was more fun and running is boring. I took out student loans to be happy. Do what you love. I would go to other professors and ask them for recommendations for graduate school, even if you do not plan on going. If they say yes, then you know something is up. Like getting a second opinion.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Why do professors feel the need to tell students they aren't cut out for certain careers or them to pursue something else? I know it's not all professors, but why do some professors feel the need to destroy students passions by telling them to drop the majors/minors? From personal experience I've had professors tell me to not pursue STEM careers because I wasn't cut out for it. I was so distraught and hate myself for listening to them. I'm studying environmental policy now and am doing a minor in IR and I've spent the majority of my free electives taking the courses to complete it, the issue is that I've been struggling a bit trying to grasp the understanding of IR theory and I ask for help from the professor quite a bit, recently he asked why I was taking the course and I told him that I was pursuing a minor in it, he looked surprised and then told me it would be best if I dropped the minor, since I didn't seem \"cut out\" for it. I really admire the work this professor does in the field, hearing that just broke my heart that I cried after ending the zoom call with him.", "role": "user" }, { "content": "I largely do agree with the other commenters -- a professor says something like this because they believe that you are not meeting the kind of benchmarks they would reasonably expect out of someone who will go on to be successful in the field. At the same time, I would never tell a student directly that they aren't cut out for a field. It's unnecessarily harsh and the phrasing suggests that there's an inherent, unmodifiable suitability factor to each person. But, I think it would be appropriate (and important) for a professor to say, for example, \"You are \\[underperforming in/struggling with\\] \\_\\_\\_\\_, and this is an important \\[concept/skill\\] for \\[field\\]. This is concerning, because it only gets harder from here.\"", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Why do professors feel the need to tell students they aren't cut out for certain careers or them to pursue something else? I know it's not all professors, but why do some professors feel the need to destroy students passions by telling them to drop the majors/minors? From personal experience I've had professors tell me to not pursue STEM careers because I wasn't cut out for it. I was so distraught and hate myself for listening to them. I'm studying environmental policy now and am doing a minor in IR and I've spent the majority of my free electives taking the courses to complete it, the issue is that I've been struggling a bit trying to grasp the understanding of IR theory and I ask for help from the professor quite a bit, recently he asked why I was taking the course and I told him that I was pursuing a minor in it, he looked surprised and then told me it would be best if I dropped the minor, since I didn't seem \"cut out\" for it. I really admire the work this professor does in the field, hearing that just broke my heart that I cried after ending the zoom call with him.", "role": "user" }, { "content": "I know it's hard, but I think it will benefit you to think harder about this than to just condemn these professors because their feedback hurt your feelings. The fact that you admired this IR professor is not a reason he shouldn't give you professional advice. That's his job. He may have wanted to help you by not encouraging you to keep pursuing a degree or career in which he, as an expert, believes you can't succeed. When you think back to the work you did for these professors in their classes, can you think of any evidence that what they told you wasn't *true*? If you want to be successful in the areas in which they are advising you, whether their advice was truthful is a lot more important than whether it was kind. In my experience, getting better at something where I was struggling to this degree has required a total paradigm shift, not just trying harder and definitely not just rejecting any advice that hurt my feelings. I had to find a new reason to be there, new way to study, new way to manage projects, new way to think. I think that's common. It's concerning to me that you've gotten this type of feedback from multiple people in multiple different fields. It suggests to me that maybe there is something cross-cutting you need help with, like writing or professionalism or being more of an autodidact, that is undermining you in multiple settings. I would strongly suggest talking about this with a mentor you like and trust, and asking them to be candid with you. Whatever they say, don't take it personally-- constructive feedback is a gift. Someone who thought they couldn't help you would be more likely to say nothing. Take some time and be kind to yourself. It really hurts to receive this kind of feedback, and it's OK to not be ready to process it or act on it immediately.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "There are so many people complaining about academia, being overworked and underpaid, not having work-life balance,... Why do people actually want to work in academia? I left academia 5 yrs ago, after 2 postdocs. I loved my research but wasn't interested that much in teaching, so I didn't really try to get a job in academia.", "role": "user" }, { "content": "I'm an assistant professor at a tiny college and don't do any research, so I put in maaaybe 15 hours of actual work during the workweek between teaching, grading, advising, and answering emails. I get paid to talk about the subjects I love and that most Americans are woefully undereducated about, so I consider my job a calling and a public duty, which gives my life a lot of meaning. I also get FOUR MONTHS OFF A YEAR to fuck off and do whatever I like. Why would I *not* love this job?!", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "There are so many people complaining about academia, being overworked and underpaid, not having work-life balance,... Why do people actually want to work in academia? I left academia 5 yrs ago, after 2 postdocs. I loved my research but wasn't interested that much in teaching, so I didn't really try to get a job in academia.", "role": "user" }, { "content": "A love for knowledge, science, and human progress paired with an inquisitive, curious, and stubborn attitude lead to an academic career given the opportunity. That's why I think all politicians must be forced to do a PhD like study on related topics with an actual thesis. That would weed out most of the garbage politicians we have these days.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "There are so many people complaining about academia, being overworked and underpaid, not having work-life balance,... Why do people actually want to work in academia? I left academia 5 yrs ago, after 2 postdocs. I loved my research but wasn't interested that much in teaching, so I didn't really try to get a job in academia.", "role": "user" }, { "content": "I get paid to teach and research about Vikings... when there isn’t a Global pandemic I get to fly to England every year or so and hang out with other folks who do the same and drink and argue and visit castles and stuff. I get to have interesting conversations with enthusiastic young adults who remind me that not everyone is an irretrievable monster and I get to watch them transform from little gangly baby deer doofuses to fully functional adult doofuses. Obviously there are a lot of stressors, it requires a tremendous amount of luck **and** effort to succeed, and not every day or every interaction is positive by a long shot but still, how many people actually get to say they are doing what they actually want to do for a living?", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "There are so many people complaining about academia, being overworked and underpaid, not having work-life balance,... Why do people actually want to work in academia? I left academia 5 yrs ago, after 2 postdocs. I loved my research but wasn't interested that much in teaching, so I didn't really try to get a job in academia.", "role": "user" }, { "content": "I could make a lot more money in the industry, but I can't stand the 'professional' approach to work: 8 to 5, wearing a shirt, working on stuff because it's what the company wants and not because it's what you find interesting. So yeah, I'm overworked (but that's my own fault), underpayed and stressed out about what my next position will be, but I get to be all that from my bed, doing what I love.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "There are so many people complaining about academia, being overworked and underpaid, not having work-life balance,... Why do people actually want to work in academia? I left academia 5 yrs ago, after 2 postdocs. I loved my research but wasn't interested that much in teaching, so I didn't really try to get a job in academia.", "role": "user" }, { "content": "I'm an assistant professor at a tiny college and don't do any research, so I put in maaaybe 15 hours of actual work during the workweek between teaching, grading, advising, and answering emails. I get paid to talk about the subjects I love and that most Americans are woefully undereducated about, so I consider my job a calling and a public duty, which gives my life a lot of meaning. I also get FOUR MONTHS OFF A YEAR to fuck off and do whatever I like. Why would I *not* love this job?!", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "There are so many people complaining about academia, being overworked and underpaid, not having work-life balance,... Why do people actually want to work in academia? I left academia 5 yrs ago, after 2 postdocs. I loved my research but wasn't interested that much in teaching, so I didn't really try to get a job in academia.", "role": "user" }, { "content": "I like to listen to myself talk about subjects I love, getting paid for it, and seeing a sea of faces deep in thought or Reddit.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "There are so many people complaining about academia, being overworked and underpaid, not having work-life balance,... Why do people actually want to work in academia? I left academia 5 yrs ago, after 2 postdocs. I loved my research but wasn't interested that much in teaching, so I didn't really try to get a job in academia.", "role": "user" }, { "content": "Several things, first happy people tend not to post of forums bragging about how happy they are (this was rule no 1 when I worked in customer service, happy customers won't call up to tell us that). Second. I think its perspective, a lot of academics have not really worked outside of academia so they don't quite understand how good they have it or they didn't think too much about their career trajectory and so didn't make a decision about the costs/benefits of academia vs other jobs (see a lot of red flags from prospective academics posting on here). Academia provides me with a hell of a lot of freedom compared to my other options and I value that more than the bits that suck. Plus to go back to the perspective bit I also know that those bits that suck are present in industry too... ok the pay might be better but that wasn't the key point for me. Some things, like workload, are at least partially self inflicted, I'm under quite a bit of deadline stress right now but its because I've agreed to do too much, do I feel pressured to say yes to stuff, sure but would there actually be negative consequences if I said no, I don't have time, probably not (I don't work weekends, not doing it, and if there's something like an open day where I have to work over a weekend then I take a day off in lieu, and I've not had any issues, I meet and exceed my targets). Finally, people may feel reluctant to shout about the good. There may be those who are afraid of going againt the 'groupthink' but for me its about two things, first I don't want to be rubbing other peoples faces in it, if most people do think academia is hell then I don't want to be the \"sucks to be you, I'm having a blast\" guy, second, there are genuine grievances, sure I personally may not have experience but academia does have a bullying/harrasment problem for example (of course that's not that different in industry) and I don't want to undermine those people Though in the end I'll say that the prime driver is probably the first thing, forums like this attract complaints, its human nature. Persoanlly I love academia, best job I've ever had, I think the uni I work for helps but this is a great gig", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "There are so many people complaining about academia, being overworked and underpaid, not having work-life balance,... Why do people actually want to work in academia? I left academia 5 yrs ago, after 2 postdocs. I loved my research but wasn't interested that much in teaching, so I didn't really try to get a job in academia.", "role": "user" }, { "content": "Lack of (awareness of) alternatives is a big one; but also some combination of being fanatic about the particular job, ego, brainwashing, over-identification with the job, self-delusion. And, very importantly I think - it's not the same experience for everybody, like, at all. Some people are lucky in terms of privilege/connections/savvy and hence access to grants etc, and have a wonderful time; and there are presumably some actually nice departments out there that haven't been corrupted by marketization. So I think people see that and sort of have the \"temporarily embarrassed millionaire\" thing, as if it's in reach for them. And people vary in how much they're bothered by the downsides. The old \"you don't have to be a sociopath to thrive in academia, but it helps\" thing holds too true, too often.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "There are so many people complaining about academia, being overworked and underpaid, not having work-life balance,... Why do people actually want to work in academia? I left academia 5 yrs ago, after 2 postdocs. I loved my research but wasn't interested that much in teaching, so I didn't really try to get a job in academia.", "role": "user" }, { "content": "Jason Brennan, a professor at Georgetown, really summed it up in the title of his book on academia – \"Good Work, If You Can Get It.\" If you can find steady work at either an R1 school or a TT position at a teaching-oriented SLAC, academia is a wonderful life. You get paid fairly well to expand the body of knowledge, dedicate your energies to a field that you care about, and hopefully make some positive impact. Teaching allows you to pass down your love and the importance of the field to a new generation. There's a lot of flexibility in how you design your life, and tenure can be a lifechanger. Unfortunately, there are a lot of hurdles, in the form of workplace politics, dealing with administration, and a labor glut in some areas of the humanities.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "There are so many people complaining about academia, being overworked and underpaid, not having work-life balance,... Why do people actually want to work in academia? I left academia 5 yrs ago, after 2 postdocs. I loved my research but wasn't interested that much in teaching, so I didn't really try to get a job in academia.", "role": "user" }, { "content": "I've spent the last 20+ years at an SLAC and a decade before that as a grad student and/or adjunct. Why? Because I cannot imagine being happy doing anything else. I have no boss, am bound to no schedule other than my class meetings, I decide what to work on and when, I am surrounded by interesting, smart, often funny people, and the work I do as a teacher helps produce future generations of educated citizens. Sure, we complain (rightly) about low pay and long hours. Who doesn't? Everyone I know who is in another field (government, private sector, self-employed, non-profit) complains too. Work-life balance in the US is a disaster. Yes, academia has gotten worse over the last 20 years in many ways. But it's still better than being a lawyer, punching a clock, working as a contractor, or any number of other paths I might have taken. And there are days that are great, most often being the ones where I'm on a vacation or extended break. There is literally no other job where I could earn enough to live on yet only be bound to the office about six months a year. Research? Sure. But as a mid-career full professor it just doesn't matter that much to me any more. After my last book I said to myself \"You know, there's not a lot of point in continuing the race to conferences, papers, chapters, and books. Why no work on something fun?\" So I did: put a sabbatical into a new project that is local, will interest the general public, and will take years to finish. No pressure. I'm a teacher first, perhaps a public intellectual second (I write a lot for general audiences, do media, etc.), a writer third, and a \"researcher\" perhaps a distant #5 or 6 behind some other things.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Are those of you on the US job market worried about job prospects post Roe v Wade? I'm a young (28 yo) woman currently in a VAP position and a year out from my PhD. I'll be hitting the job market hard again this Fall with the hopes of landing a TT job. But I can't help but feel like my options will be EXTREMELY limited, especially if I decide not to apply in an states with current/forthcoming abortion bans, which is a high possibility for me as a childfree person. As if the the TT market wasn't competitive enough, now most academics will be clamoring (even more than usual) to apply to jobs in blue states and it just makes me wonder if it's even worth it anymore. I just saw my dream job posted at a school in St. Louis, MO. Prior to Roe being overturned, my partner and I were actually talking about St. Louis being an ideal place for us to end up because of the low cost of living but high cultural value. Dream job + dream place, but it doesn't even really make sense to apply in a place where I don't have rights to life-saving healthcare. I guess I'm just looking to vent or perhaps looking for support or just wanting to see if other academics are overwhelmed/upset about this particular aspect of the current fucked up situation in the US.", "role": "user" }, { "content": "Absolutely. I'm in a red state and have an academic job I really wanted. I am now considering leaving academia just so I can escape this state.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Are those of you on the US job market worried about job prospects post Roe v Wade? I'm a young (28 yo) woman currently in a VAP position and a year out from my PhD. I'll be hitting the job market hard again this Fall with the hopes of landing a TT job. But I can't help but feel like my options will be EXTREMELY limited, especially if I decide not to apply in an states with current/forthcoming abortion bans, which is a high possibility for me as a childfree person. As if the the TT market wasn't competitive enough, now most academics will be clamoring (even more than usual) to apply to jobs in blue states and it just makes me wonder if it's even worth it anymore. I just saw my dream job posted at a school in St. Louis, MO. Prior to Roe being overturned, my partner and I were actually talking about St. Louis being an ideal place for us to end up because of the low cost of living but high cultural value. Dream job + dream place, but it doesn't even really make sense to apply in a place where I don't have rights to life-saving healthcare. I guess I'm just looking to vent or perhaps looking for support or just wanting to see if other academics are overwhelmed/upset about this particular aspect of the current fucked up situation in the US.", "role": "user" }, { "content": "I'm also in a Visiting position and am applying everywhere I can. Though, due to my SO's job and kids, can't move to get a full time. I'm stuck applying in Florida and worried about a 15 week ban or worse.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Are those of you on the US job market worried about job prospects post Roe v Wade? I'm a young (28 yo) woman currently in a VAP position and a year out from my PhD. I'll be hitting the job market hard again this Fall with the hopes of landing a TT job. But I can't help but feel like my options will be EXTREMELY limited, especially if I decide not to apply in an states with current/forthcoming abortion bans, which is a high possibility for me as a childfree person. As if the the TT market wasn't competitive enough, now most academics will be clamoring (even more than usual) to apply to jobs in blue states and it just makes me wonder if it's even worth it anymore. I just saw my dream job posted at a school in St. Louis, MO. Prior to Roe being overturned, my partner and I were actually talking about St. Louis being an ideal place for us to end up because of the low cost of living but high cultural value. Dream job + dream place, but it doesn't even really make sense to apply in a place where I don't have rights to life-saving healthcare. I guess I'm just looking to vent or perhaps looking for support or just wanting to see if other academics are overwhelmed/upset about this particular aspect of the current fucked up situation in the US.", "role": "user" }, { "content": "I'm a male, but this is absolutely a factor I am taking into account. I've been thinking about switching jobs recently, and for a number of reasons (family, COL, etc.) certain options in the South looked worth considering. I am no longer considering those particular options, because I don't want to drag my SO into a place where it might become an issue.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Are those of you on the US job market worried about job prospects post Roe v Wade? I'm a young (28 yo) woman currently in a VAP position and a year out from my PhD. I'll be hitting the job market hard again this Fall with the hopes of landing a TT job. But I can't help but feel like my options will be EXTREMELY limited, especially if I decide not to apply in an states with current/forthcoming abortion bans, which is a high possibility for me as a childfree person. As if the the TT market wasn't competitive enough, now most academics will be clamoring (even more than usual) to apply to jobs in blue states and it just makes me wonder if it's even worth it anymore. I just saw my dream job posted at a school in St. Louis, MO. Prior to Roe being overturned, my partner and I were actually talking about St. Louis being an ideal place for us to end up because of the low cost of living but high cultural value. Dream job + dream place, but it doesn't even really make sense to apply in a place where I don't have rights to life-saving healthcare. I guess I'm just looking to vent or perhaps looking for support or just wanting to see if other academics are overwhelmed/upset about this particular aspect of the current fucked up situation in the US.", "role": "user" }, { "content": "If you're open to it, you moving to a red state means you are one more Dem voter. If you don't, that's one less educated person in that state. This is easy for me to point out, because I live in a blue state.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Are those of you on the US job market worried about job prospects post Roe v Wade? I'm a young (28 yo) woman currently in a VAP position and a year out from my PhD. I'll be hitting the job market hard again this Fall with the hopes of landing a TT job. But I can't help but feel like my options will be EXTREMELY limited, especially if I decide not to apply in an states with current/forthcoming abortion bans, which is a high possibility for me as a childfree person. As if the the TT market wasn't competitive enough, now most academics will be clamoring (even more than usual) to apply to jobs in blue states and it just makes me wonder if it's even worth it anymore. I just saw my dream job posted at a school in St. Louis, MO. Prior to Roe being overturned, my partner and I were actually talking about St. Louis being an ideal place for us to end up because of the low cost of living but high cultural value. Dream job + dream place, but it doesn't even really make sense to apply in a place where I don't have rights to life-saving healthcare. I guess I'm just looking to vent or perhaps looking for support or just wanting to see if other academics are overwhelmed/upset about this particular aspect of the current fucked up situation in the US.", "role": "user" }, { "content": "Absolutely. I'm in a red state and have an academic job I really wanted. I am now considering leaving academia just so I can escape this state.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Are those of you on the US job market worried about job prospects post Roe v Wade? I'm a young (28 yo) woman currently in a VAP position and a year out from my PhD. I'll be hitting the job market hard again this Fall with the hopes of landing a TT job. But I can't help but feel like my options will be EXTREMELY limited, especially if I decide not to apply in an states with current/forthcoming abortion bans, which is a high possibility for me as a childfree person. As if the the TT market wasn't competitive enough, now most academics will be clamoring (even more than usual) to apply to jobs in blue states and it just makes me wonder if it's even worth it anymore. I just saw my dream job posted at a school in St. Louis, MO. Prior to Roe being overturned, my partner and I were actually talking about St. Louis being an ideal place for us to end up because of the low cost of living but high cultural value. Dream job + dream place, but it doesn't even really make sense to apply in a place where I don't have rights to life-saving healthcare. I guess I'm just looking to vent or perhaps looking for support or just wanting to see if other academics are overwhelmed/upset about this particular aspect of the current fucked up situation in the US.", "role": "user" }, { "content": "It's a huge issue. I'm in a red state and it was already difficult. This will make the market even more skewed and harder to manage.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Are those of you on the US job market worried about job prospects post Roe v Wade? I'm a young (28 yo) woman currently in a VAP position and a year out from my PhD. I'll be hitting the job market hard again this Fall with the hopes of landing a TT job. But I can't help but feel like my options will be EXTREMELY limited, especially if I decide not to apply in an states with current/forthcoming abortion bans, which is a high possibility for me as a childfree person. As if the the TT market wasn't competitive enough, now most academics will be clamoring (even more than usual) to apply to jobs in blue states and it just makes me wonder if it's even worth it anymore. I just saw my dream job posted at a school in St. Louis, MO. Prior to Roe being overturned, my partner and I were actually talking about St. Louis being an ideal place for us to end up because of the low cost of living but high cultural value. Dream job + dream place, but it doesn't even really make sense to apply in a place where I don't have rights to life-saving healthcare. I guess I'm just looking to vent or perhaps looking for support or just wanting to see if other academics are overwhelmed/upset about this particular aspect of the current fucked up situation in the US.", "role": "user" }, { "content": "The question before you, imo, is whether or not you would live in a red state. If you get a TT job you’ll be financially privileged enough to get abortion care in another state or find a work around. This is super shitty but I think it is your reality (financial privilege)", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Are those of you on the US job market worried about job prospects post Roe v Wade? I'm a young (28 yo) woman currently in a VAP position and a year out from my PhD. I'll be hitting the job market hard again this Fall with the hopes of landing a TT job. But I can't help but feel like my options will be EXTREMELY limited, especially if I decide not to apply in an states with current/forthcoming abortion bans, which is a high possibility for me as a childfree person. As if the the TT market wasn't competitive enough, now most academics will be clamoring (even more than usual) to apply to jobs in blue states and it just makes me wonder if it's even worth it anymore. I just saw my dream job posted at a school in St. Louis, MO. Prior to Roe being overturned, my partner and I were actually talking about St. Louis being an ideal place for us to end up because of the low cost of living but high cultural value. Dream job + dream place, but it doesn't even really make sense to apply in a place where I don't have rights to life-saving healthcare. I guess I'm just looking to vent or perhaps looking for support or just wanting to see if other academics are overwhelmed/upset about this particular aspect of the current fucked up situation in the US.", "role": "user" }, { "content": "I'm also in a Visiting position and am applying everywhere I can. Though, due to my SO's job and kids, can't move to get a full time. I'm stuck applying in Florida and worried about a 15 week ban or worse.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Are those of you on the US job market worried about job prospects post Roe v Wade? I'm a young (28 yo) woman currently in a VAP position and a year out from my PhD. I'll be hitting the job market hard again this Fall with the hopes of landing a TT job. But I can't help but feel like my options will be EXTREMELY limited, especially if I decide not to apply in an states with current/forthcoming abortion bans, which is a high possibility for me as a childfree person. As if the the TT market wasn't competitive enough, now most academics will be clamoring (even more than usual) to apply to jobs in blue states and it just makes me wonder if it's even worth it anymore. I just saw my dream job posted at a school in St. Louis, MO. Prior to Roe being overturned, my partner and I were actually talking about St. Louis being an ideal place for us to end up because of the low cost of living but high cultural value. Dream job + dream place, but it doesn't even really make sense to apply in a place where I don't have rights to life-saving healthcare. I guess I'm just looking to vent or perhaps looking for support or just wanting to see if other academics are overwhelmed/upset about this particular aspect of the current fucked up situation in the US.", "role": "user" }, { "content": "The question before you, imo, is whether or not you would live in a red state. If you get a TT job you’ll be financially privileged enough to get abortion care in another state or find a work around. This is super shitty but I think it is your reality (financial privilege)", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Are those of you on the US job market worried about job prospects post Roe v Wade? I'm a young (28 yo) woman currently in a VAP position and a year out from my PhD. I'll be hitting the job market hard again this Fall with the hopes of landing a TT job. But I can't help but feel like my options will be EXTREMELY limited, especially if I decide not to apply in an states with current/forthcoming abortion bans, which is a high possibility for me as a childfree person. As if the the TT market wasn't competitive enough, now most academics will be clamoring (even more than usual) to apply to jobs in blue states and it just makes me wonder if it's even worth it anymore. I just saw my dream job posted at a school in St. Louis, MO. Prior to Roe being overturned, my partner and I were actually talking about St. Louis being an ideal place for us to end up because of the low cost of living but high cultural value. Dream job + dream place, but it doesn't even really make sense to apply in a place where I don't have rights to life-saving healthcare. I guess I'm just looking to vent or perhaps looking for support or just wanting to see if other academics are overwhelmed/upset about this particular aspect of the current fucked up situation in the US.", "role": "user" }, { "content": "It's a huge issue. I'm in a red state and it was already difficult. This will make the market even more skewed and harder to manage.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Editor is \"strongly\" encouraging me to cote his papers. I received my review comments for a recent manuscript. The comments were addressable, but the editor sent a LIST of 15 of his papers asking to cite them. Some of the papers are somewhat relevant, so I cite 4 of them. The manuscript came back, and the editor says it will be accepted once I fix some \"citation issues\" My advisor told me to just cite every paper on the list and send it back. I did, and the paper got accepted. Does this not seem a bit shady? Seems like the editor is using his position to boost his citations.", "role": "user" }, { "content": "This is called \"coercive citation\": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coercive\\_citation and is generally considered a very unethical practice. I absolutely refuse to add requested citations from reviewers (a few times recently), and I clearly spell out to the Editor why I will not be adding the citations (which normally have little to do with the subject material). For an Editor to do this is way out of line. I would probably withdraw, and inform both the EIC (if there is one) AND the publisher (who are a big stick over journals). However, i realize for many authors this can be difficult, given how hard it can be to get stuff published, and often how important it is. I think I saw in the thread that the impact was 6. I would be interested if the requested citations were to the Editors papers in the same journal as an attempt at impact factor. If more than half of the requested citations were to the journal - I would also be cc'ing a copy of the email to Clarivates. They take this sort of stuff quite seriously....", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Editor is \"strongly\" encouraging me to cote his papers. I received my review comments for a recent manuscript. The comments were addressable, but the editor sent a LIST of 15 of his papers asking to cite them. Some of the papers are somewhat relevant, so I cite 4 of them. The manuscript came back, and the editor says it will be accepted once I fix some \"citation issues\" My advisor told me to just cite every paper on the list and send it back. I did, and the paper got accepted. Does this not seem a bit shady? Seems like the editor is using his position to boost his citations.", "role": "user" }, { "content": "I think it is things like these that make academia lose credibility and drive the public distrust in science. Unless we actively take measures to address these actions, distrust will continue to grow, understandably and justifiably so, and so will the consequences of this on scientific progress and it’s practical implications. The pandemic is a perfect example of this.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Editor is \"strongly\" encouraging me to cote his papers. I received my review comments for a recent manuscript. The comments were addressable, but the editor sent a LIST of 15 of his papers asking to cite them. Some of the papers are somewhat relevant, so I cite 4 of them. The manuscript came back, and the editor says it will be accepted once I fix some \"citation issues\" My advisor told me to just cite every paper on the list and send it back. I did, and the paper got accepted. Does this not seem a bit shady? Seems like the editor is using his position to boost his citations.", "role": "user" }, { "content": "Not just extremely shady or unethical, but bordering on criminality. The editor held you in a vice and coerced you into giving into their ransom demands. This is beyond comprehensible, asking an author to cite no less than 15 of their papers or otherwise they would be flat rejected. And then when you caved in, the paper was accepted. This is the publishing world's version of gangsterism. This should not be taken lying down. Beyond tarnishing the reputation of this journal, if it has any left at this stage, the editor's actions have created a \"crime scene\" in which you and your advisor are accomplices. If these actions become the norm, then we risk great damage to journal reputations. This cannot become the norm. Raising hell is necessary to stem this rot.", "role": "assistant" } ]

[ { "content": "Editor is \"strongly\" encouraging me to cote his papers. I received my review comments for a recent manuscript. The comments were addressable, but the editor sent a LIST of 15 of his papers asking to cite them. Some of the papers are somewhat relevant, so I cite 4 of them. The manuscript came back, and the editor says it will be accepted once I fix some \"citation issues\" My advisor told me to just cite every paper on the list and send it back. I did, and the paper got accepted. Does this not seem a bit shady? Seems like the editor is using his position to boost his citations.", "role": "user" }, { "content": "Out of curiosity: Which field are you working in?", "role": "assistant" } ]