I thought it was a good thing when you were pointed my way to help me with my research. I thought it was sorta nice that my adviser liked sending folks that came to him interested in research projects to work with his PhD students.
Now I understand it's easier than working with them himself.
But you, you are special. You come from that other country where us Americans think you learn better math and compete really hard for school slots. However you managed to compete your way out of the country, it sure had nothing to do with these baskets.
I understand learning new weaving patterns, working with new materials, and just learning as you go. But when you tell me you accidentally unraveled your basket and have to wait for your friend to come back from a conference at MIT, because he showed you the pattern and you don't know how to do it yourself, well, that wasn't my first clue...
Today, I am really, really wishing my name wasn't on this damned paper we're doing.
I suppose, in a few years when it's a line on my CV, I won't care. But today, it means I could have walked away weeks ago and let you fail.
Gloriously.
It means I would have had double-digit hours of sleep this week, that my workbench wouldn't be covered in twisted little pieces of basket-scrap, that I would have data I had faith in.
In the future, you won't be recording data for me. You won't be working on any baskets I might ever need, and you won't get to touch any of my patterns.
And, I, sure as hell, won't be putting my name on anything you'll be working on. Good luck on that next paper coming up. The abstract might have been written by me, but the rest is all you. I will enjoy the show.
From a distance.
Is your new basketweaver a fellow grad student? I got one of those, too. I got one because my uni was unable to retain a person who worked in Starvistan, and so instead, I got to teach all of the classes about Starvistan! And mentor younger gradflakes! Holy shit! Fun times!
ReplyDeleteThe highlight of this adventure was overhearing said gradflake talking to a young faculty member at a party. Gradflake mentioned how I seemed very cynical and dispirited. Young Faculty Member and I are pretty close (he is not on my committee) and he said, with a totally straight face, "Well, getting raped over in Starvistan and then having someone bleed to death in her arms probably isn't doing much for her sunshine-y view of the place.")
Go, YFM.
On the other hand...to your actual story. Yes. Stay away...awaaaaaaay. I recommend bells so that you can hear the basketweaver coming. Like a leper.
@Blackdog: go YFM, indeed. That would be more than enough to dampen anyone's enthusiasm, and not just for her subject. I hope you've managed to ditch Gradflake, since you really do deserve to spend what little time you have for research on your *own* research.
ReplyDelete@Alan: the same is true for you. I'm glad you've only lost a week or so to the guy. I suppose it's a good chance to practice saying "no," to both gradflake and advisorflake (who ought to be dealing with his own gradflakes).