Random Fail: First World Problems

**Churchill** · 2016-02-23 22:22

Originally Posted by killerx

Had a family member who worked at the main office she would give us stacks on business cards on the back they all used to have good for a free bag of chips. We had STACKS of them all over the house. Also she used to get all kinds of free bags she would have their delivery drivers just stop on their rout and leave 6-10 cases of shit.

Yea it means hitting the report button.

**Fondue** · 2016-02-23 22:29

Originally Posted by Airenn

This is the grossest shit ever. Fuck my life.

the first drank was pretty bad but mix in some of that pb2 and its delicious, I really didnt like the grainy texture the first try but I enjoy it whenever I feel like shaking a bottle for 30 minutes now

ps dont be such a fk baby its fk liquid indistinguishable food its not gonna taste like a banana smoothie

**Anoat** · 2016-02-23 22:36

I have discovered I like those Naked Smoothie things. That's not really a fail, just adding to the conversation.

**Airenn** · 2016-02-23 22:43

You just called Zet a baby, too. Even worse cause I'm going to continue drinking it and I think he stopped(seriously understandable why tho).

Zet you gonna take that?

**Zetanio** · 2016-02-23 22:49

I already know it's disgusting, you're the retard drinking it.

I tried it once, last year. No thanks.

**Airenn** · 2016-02-23 22:51

Haha, it's not the worse thing I've drank. You might be thinking lolsemen, but that's still only second to liquid charcoal. Worst. Stuff. Ever.

**Zetanio** · 2016-02-23 22:58

It's liquid charcoal. What do you expect?

**Marootsoobutsu** · 2016-02-23 23:05

Originally Posted by Zetanio

It's liquid charcoal. What do you expect?

To not have people drinking liquid charcoal. What the heck.

**Byrthnoth** · 2016-02-23 23:08

Setting:
I have been in graduate school for 6.5 years at this point due to having to change labs 4 years in, which is another fail story in itself. I have the most important meeting of graduate school coming up Thursday, which is the meeting where I set my defense date. There is essentially a 0% failure rate on the actual defense, so your PhD might as well be awarded at the meeting where you choose a defense date.

My wife moved to a different city this past fall to do policy work with her PhD. We've been living apart for 6 months. I badly want to graduate not only for the obvious fiscal, health, and lifestyle reasons, but also so I can live with her again.

In my lab, we do a surgical technique that our professor can't do and thus can't teach. As such, it's essential to have a constant stream of people who can learn the technique from each other. There's about a 50% chance anyone who joins the lab will ever be able to do the technique. Currently there is one post doc, me, and two lab techs in the lab. I'm the only one who can do the technique somewhat reliably. The post doc probably has the motor control for it, but doesn't care to do the step after surgery and typically just dicks around and doesn't produce data. One lab tech is old (incapable of doing the technique) and the other is fresh out of undergrad.

Things that happened in the last few days:
* The only other student in the lab decided that she was going to leave our lab in May (same time as my target defense date) way back in January, but didn't tell our professor at the time. She finally told him yesterday.

* Professor implied that he would hold up my defense date to the post doc, but told me this morning that it wouldn't affect me (suuuure.)

* I've have some kind of viral illness wrecking me right now. 102 fever as I write this. Haven't gotten the shakes yet, but I'm achey all over.

* Trying to think clearly enough to make my presentation with a fever was basically a joke, but I ground on through.

* I went to work today to try and show my presentation to the professor and he wasn't interested, but did encourage me to stay the whole day and told me do a surgery tomorrow to train one our young lab tech. I feel the support.

I'm basically going to get fucked by the terrible system that is graduate school yet again, have to live apart from my wife for an indefinite period of time, and I have no viable escape plan other than walk away with a Master's degree. Graduate school is such a crock of shit.

**Silenka** · 2016-02-23 23:14

Originally Posted by Airenn

This is the grossest shit ever. Fuck my life.

Man I could've told you that, my bf was living on the shit for a while and has boxes of it still sitting around. I tried it once a couple weeks ago and thought it was disgusting, even with pb2 flavorings in it. Guh-ross. I envy people who can suck that stuff down in lieu of actual food.

**Airenn** · 2016-02-23 23:17

Originally Posted by Zetanio

It's liquid charcoal. What do you expect?

I had to, sorta. I think I would lived without it but basically the doctors said do it so yea.

I think I can do this. At least for a bit til I find something else to do.

**Zetanio** · 2016-02-23 23:18

Just figure your fucking diet out homie. Switching around fucks you up worse.

**BerenTebogo** · 2016-02-23 23:25

Originally Posted by Byrthnoth

Setting:
I have been in graduate school for 6.5 years at this point due to having to change labs 4 years in, which is another fail story in itself. I have the most important meeting of graduate school coming up Thursday, which is the meeting where I set my defense date. There is essentially a 0% failure rate on the actual defense, so your PhD might as well be awarded at the meeting where you choose a defense date.

My wife moved to a different city this past fall to do policy work with her PhD. We've been living apart for 6 months. I badly want to graduate not only for the obvious fiscal, health, and lifestyle reasons, but also so I can live with her again.

In my lab, we do a surgical technique that our professor can't do and thus can't teach. As such, it's essential to have a constant stream of people who can learn the technique from each other. There's about a 50% chance anyone who joins the lab will ever be able to do the technique. Currently there is one post doc, me, and two lab techs in the lab. I'm the only one who can do the technique somewhat reliably. The post doc probably has the motor control for it, but doesn't care to do the step after surgery and typically just dicks around and doesn't produce data. One lab tech is old (incapable of doing the technique) and the other is fresh out of undergrad.

Things that happened in the last few days:
* The only other student in the lab decided that she was going to leave our lab in May (same time as my target defense date) way back in January, but didn't tell our professor at the time. She finally told him yesterday.

* Professor implied that he would hold up my defense date to the post doc, but told me this morning that it wouldn't affect me (suuuure.)

* I've have some kind of viral illness wrecking me right now. 102 fever as I write this. Haven't gotten the shakes yet, but I'm achey all over.

* Trying to think clearly enough to make my presentation with a fever was basically a joke, but I ground on through.

* I went to work today to try and show my presentation to the professor and he wasn't interested, but did encourage me to stay the whole day and told me do a surgery tomorrow to train one our young lab tech. I feel the support.

I'm basically going to get fucked by the terrible system that is graduate school yet again, have to live apart from my wife for an indefinite period of time, and I have no viable escape plan other than walk away with a Master's degree. Graduate school is such a crock of shit.

While not having experienced it myself as it is far less common in theoretical fields, I have heard horror stories of experimentalists (lumping you in here) being strung along as PhD students as cheap sources of labor. I can't imagine being in that scenario.

I'm walking away with my Master's in May despite the field I work in (grav waves) literally just opening up for the first time in human history largely due to living apart from GF for 2 years and not wanting to do it any longer.

Given the insular nature of academia you probably know that there are no good workarounds to the head of your lab fucking with your defense date, at least none that will take reasonable timescales. Should take some time when your head is clear and figure out what really matters more to you now, what will matter to you in 5 or 10 years, etc. Which would you regret more, losing years with your wife or leaving academia unfinished? Answer is probably different for everyone, wasn't easy for me to make my decision, that's for sure.

The important thing for me to remember, that may be helpful for you, is that leaving now doesn't mean you leave forever. Many industry positions have stipulations that allow for you to finish your PhD while working for them, and given the nature of the programs, completely insulate from situations you are currently experiencing. Obviously the other side is true too, you could always meet someone new if you decide you want to stay but don't want to deal with multiple years of long distance - but I'm assuming you didn't marry your wife just because of geographical convenience.

Unfortunately there isn't really a nice shiny solution other than your lab head deciding to not fuck you. Can't even really get aggressive about it since applying for jobs without a recommendation from someone you've worked under for years looks pretty shitty.

**vagus** · 2016-02-23 23:57

My cousin is having his baby shower next week. I cannot go, due to work. However I am planning to build a basket which include Pudus infant socks ($17.99!!), baby wipes, angled baby bottles, thermometer and other consumables.

Grandmother is giving me shit for not attending. Do parents really care if family members don't attend these things?

**theshun** · 2016-02-24 00:20

Originally Posted by vagus

My cousin is having his baby shower next week. I cannot go, due to work. However I am planning to build a basket which include Pudus infant socks ($17.99!!), baby wipes, angled baby bottles, thermometer and other consumables.

Grandmother is giving me shit for not attending. Do parents really care if family members don't attend these things?

Old people care. To me, work is a good reason for not attending.

**Fondue** · 2016-02-24 00:26

Originally Posted by Zetanio

I already know it's disgusting, you're the retard drinking it.

I tried it once, last year. No thanks.

some people dont enjoy cooking and food is merely a means to a poop, just different strokes m8

**Zetanio** · 2016-02-24 00:33

Originally Posted by Fondue

some people dont enjoy cooking and food is merely a means to a poop, just different strokes m8

I know. She doesn't fit into that group.

**jmc** · 2016-02-24 04:55

Can't even be mad lol

Spoiler: show

**Xno Kappa** · 2016-02-24 05:12

LOL!

**Aksannyi** · 2016-02-24 07:11

Originally Posted by theshun

Old people care. To me, work is a good reason for not attending.

I bet in the same breath, his grandmother said something about our generation being super lazy and not working for anything, too. Can't win.

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