2/ Before one of the sessions started, I struck up a conversation a presenter from earlier in the day. I enjoyed his talk and learned a bit. I told him as much. He asked me about my work. I was "only" a PhD student then, but I knew what I was going to propose for my thesis.
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3/ I told him about it. His response: "That's a blog post not a dissertation." End of conversation.
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4/ He had status in that community; I did not. I figured it was not a good idea to call him a sack of shit, as I'm wont to do. I just stopped talking. He didn't seem to mind.
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5/ It actually fucked with my head for while. Know what doesn't help with
#ImposterSyndrome? Someone implicitly calling your interests and research motivation inadequate.1 reply 0 retweets 8 likesShow this thread -
6/ Removed a few years in time, I can look back with confidence knowing I can do the same work he does. I can contribute to our field. But, had I been in a different point in my life at the time, that type of experience could have pushed me to say, "fuck this, I quit."
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7/ From that experience, it's easy to recognize the basic importance of respecting what people are doing. Even if it's uninteresting to you, it's probably not to them. And, they're putting in work on it, so maybe...don't?
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8/ At a minimum, maybe STFU? Better yet, be supportive and encouraging! (I remember also vividly remember
@MrMeritology telling something like, "good job, that was really cool" on a class project that had me beaming. That stuff accumulates too, but positively.)2 replies 0 retweets 8 likesShow this thread -
Replying to @generativist @MrMeritology
Pople need to get a grip that they don't know everything. Someone's doing something u don't understand? Ask them about it. Can u imagine if he had said: but how do u plan to go about it? I admit I'm not seeing it.
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Replying to @larissapolitics
100% Actually, the experience compelled me to seriously read sociology which I had previously thought of as useless (thanks, Sokal). Turns out, yep -- lot's of brilliant work in that field. Who could have known? ;)
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Replying to @generativist
No doubt, sometimes we can turn negative experiences into positive ones. (Story of my master's). But that's to our credit, not the jerks'. It's despite of them that we have gotten better, not because.
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Yes, definitely. The "it made me stronger" thing is often possibly true. But, the alternative possibility is you could have done the same or better with less grief. The work is gonna forge you by fire anyway. No need to add to someones stress.
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Replying to @generativist
Exactly! You would've felt the need for that literature eventually. I've gotten the whole "but you're better for it" speech and just say "I could've been better earlier, and I wouldn't have needed to hit rock bottom first. I did this by myself".
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Replying to @larissapolitics
Yes, yes, yes!
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End of conversation
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