Irony? I think obtuse! :-)

Have a lovely evening. Hey, it's the weekend! (up)

Nope, a human being, like you, with my own free will.

Then perhaps a personal message ("Abuse" button?) to the mods would have sufficed rather than airing these disputes in a public forum.

I do not offend as easily Eska, there is no need to apologise. I am sincerely sorry to hear about your Nana.

You could not see the irony ... that several people should gang up on a solitary individual (who apparently has Aspergers) with accusations of bullying and demanding expulsion is ironic.

Of course I have read it ... why else would I comment on it? Are you really so incredulous that someone else can read something and not have the same reaction? I believe this is the same reaction Stressed received for not sharing your opinion. To be frank, the only superior/condescending tone I read from that conversation originated from you.

Though I understand context is created by the reader, not necessarily from the writer. I read nothing of what you spoke of in Stressed's post, and I think perhaps due to your loyalty you have lost your neutrality. I think you should take this into account before accusing others of offending you with their tone.

There seems to be a little irony surfacing in this thread ... with some posts from people advocating heavy moderation aiming slightly barbed attacks at others who simply have a conflicting opinion, notably the Eska and Stressed conversation. I'm not mudslinging, I'm quite happy to read a lively debate about anything, and prefer a lightly moderated forum. That said, I would not like anyone to be seriously upset by anything I or anyone else said, and I would certainly understand if posts/threads were removed on reasonable request.

I would also like to ask about the phrase "important" here - KB apparently is an "important" member. I wonder, is there a hierarchy of members on here, that is, the number of friends one can call up in a fight, or the number of posts a person has posted, or simply the date a person joined?

On another note, I had to look up chavvy and found that to be quite nasty! Maybe urban dictionary isn't very accurate or you meant something else. Many of my friends use this phrase, so either way I think you're way out of order and I don't think I'll be back until this situation is sorted out. :p

To be honest, I enjoy clogs posts, and the resulting reactions and debate :$

As a lurker most of the time, the number of "platitude posts" can be a little tiresome, though I would concede clogs plays the devils advocate maybe a little too enthusiastically sometimes.

The number of people backing up the person in the thread in question does not tally with bullying I think, the supportive posts outnumber the non-supportive by some margin. And the person in question wrote a very strong and effective retort to back up her point.

======= Date Modified 13 Feb 2011 19:12:12 =======
double post, sorry, think my mouse is crocked.

You may find also that the University requires an average of 70% for taught course units (usually amounting to 90 points), and also an average of 70% for your project (lit review and dissertation, also 90 points). So 80% in course units and 65% in dissertation would just be awarded a merit, even though the overall average is over 70%. Check your Uni and School's PGT guidelines.

======= Date Modified 12 Feb 2011 17:08:41 =======
double post

To be fair, it wouldn't go far anywhere in the UK. It's not just a cheap slum outside London you know! ;-)

Got to say I don't like the sound of that one bit. Structured PhD programmes look very sucky indeed. I feel for you.

Am I inferring correctly from Delta/Ady when I ask: Should I have turned the PhD and scholarship down in order to allow someone more sure of him/herself and of the project to take it instead? If the answer to that is "yes", then I have to disagree! Partly because I can't be sure such a person even existed.

I guess that is my point in a nutshell. As you were. Sorry for being so vocal, I should probably stop procrastinating and get on with some work.

;-)

Then perhaps I've confused myself. :-)

My post you refer to:

I'm not sure how that conflicts with my other post ... I had very real reservations about the PhD I was offered, in terms of its effect on my family and its usefulness in furthering my career and education. I wasn't sure at all, but I'm enjoying it. I certainly didn't consider anyone else in my musings (other than my family) - the offer was mine to take - perhaps I am selfish!

======= Date Modified 28 Jan 2011 14:08:42 =======
I'm not sure what you mean by "jibes" Ady, would you enlighten me, and point out what exactly jibes with what?

Thanks.

EDIT: when I say "real world", I'm not trying to be condescending - I am talking about the very real things that are going on in our personal lives, for instance the responsibilities we have to our families, partners, etc, that sometimes seem contradictory to our ambitions to further our careers, do PhD's or such-like (e.g. working late, weekends, or far away).

And there is no "typical" PhD student as much as there is no "typical" human being!