In the spirit of the lovely trend of "Shit girls say…" or "Shit people say…" and seeing that my "Sh*t Hong Kong People Say to White Guys" was able to get a few positive responses, I sat down to quickly write down some of the sh*t people usually say to me about my PhD studies. It's a very long list, but I guess these are some of the reoccurring highlights. Got more? Add a comment below!
Here we go:
- Why?
- But WHY?
- Poor you.
- Oh, so you don't actually work.
- Couldn't find a real job, could you?
- Do you guys do actual work?
- That's not a profession, get a real job.
- You must have a very easy life.
- So you're a teacher?
- 6 years!?! seriously?!
- Why didn't you graduate already?
- That thesis topic sounds really interesting but I really have to go now…
- Aren't you too old to be a student?
- Are you ever going to finish that degree?
- Have you watched "Big Bang Theory"?
- Are you also one of those people that sits alone in their lab all day?
- You don't go out much, do you?
- Exciting? that's exciting?
- But how is what you're saying helpful for real people?!
- Huh? I don't get this.
- I don't think anyone will get this.
- You're not making any sense.
- You're wrong, you're not considering the fact that…
- It sounds right, but isn't that just common sense?
- You spent a whole year investigating THAT?!
- How long did you say to publish a paper?! HUH? a s-i-n-g-l-e paper?!
- So you're probably all too familiar with the X theory? what do you mean you're not?
- But how do you explain what I read last week…
- You really believe
- in this stuff?
- that this stuff works?
- that this stuff matters?
- that this stuff is worth doing?
- that this stuff is interesting?
- So for these last X years, what have you got to show for?
- I heard professors make a lot of money / you must be very rich.
- I've always wanted to do a PhD but then
- I realized it's a stupid decision.
- I found out how much it pays.
- I saw how long it was.
- I got married and my wife/husband knocked some sense into me.
- I was finally accepted to a normal job.
- my parents told me that if I do – I wouldn't be able to find a husband.
- I know that I'm a person that needs more structure.
- I know I'm not good at writing endless bullshit about nothing.
- Undergrad was suffering enough, why would you want to extend that?
Got more? I'm interested! Feedback and comment most welcome.
(Cartoon credit – I did a PhD and did NOT go mad)
Something like “Ah you know that Ph.D. stands for Permanent Head Damaging?”
@f788a0ac5d785b5f614e3389cf2b9dc1:disqus – for a second there I thought you wrote “permanent hair damage” 😛 🙂 thanks, didn’t get that either but it’s funny.
I got #24 in my oral examination. I was close to say “that is called logical thinking” or “now that everyone knows, theory of relativity is also common sense”