I used to be a PhD student
I clearly failed somewhere along the way as I managed to write my bastarding thesis.

For those of you sensible enough not to bother trying to do such a pointless task let me tell you it is without doubt the most procrastination inducing activity it's possible to attempt. For a start most people decide to a PhD in the first place because they either don't know what they want to do with their life or otherwise just happy to put off doing a real job for another 3-4 years i.e. procrasinate over some life decisions.

Then after all the fun research / dicking about playing Urban Terror on the fast academic network for a few years you realise the money is about to run out but there's still a several hundred pages long document to be written. And no-one cares if it is written or not, it's completely up to the individual to motivate themselves. More procrastination inevitably follows.

In between finishing the write up and passing my viva (much to the astonishment of many in my department) I was asked to give a presentation to other more fresh faced and less disillusioned PhD students.

I basically stood up and read out Newton's Laws of Graduation ( uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/Newtonian_Physics#Laws_of_Graduation ). I was asked for the slides by one of the professors.

And to show that this question was destined for me - shame I can't think of a funny story yet - when I moved in to my office I put up some motivational posters to inspire me. My supervisor was a little alarmed at my choices though...

despair.com/fail24x30pri.html
despair.com/med24x30prin.html

and my favourite

despair.com/proc24x30pri.html

To all those writing up, best of luck ;)
( djtrialprice, Thu 13 Nov 2008, 18:49, Reply)