PhD Numptys

[C0rdelia]

I have met, worked and lived with PhD students who couldn’t tie their own shoelaces or make a cup of tea.
Properly, genuinely stupid and II hate that these numptys get paid more than me.

I find that people who are dismissive of others with a higher education are actually suffering from very low self-esteem. Have you studied in the "University of Life", OP?

@worstofbothworlds has it.

OP you would be better off looking at your own life and making changes there which can take you towards your goals.

Tearing down others gives an illusion of progress but you're just standing still.

If you dislike working with a specific client group, change job so you are working with a different group. It's not that hard if you put a bit of thought into it, have a google, read some books, draw up a plan, maybe seek some support.

I would love to hear what the PhD students the OP works with think of her.

Can I point out that PhD students do not have a PhD. I have been a PhD student. I do not have a PhD.

The wise men are described as people who studied the heavens, which effectively makes them the period equivalent of scientists. Are you sure the student wasn’t making a clever play on that which you failed to understand?

Oh god, here come all the tedious “the most clever person I know couldn’t make a sandwich!” anecdotes. It’s cringeworthy and comes across very “university of Life, me!”.

Plenty of people manage to be both educated and to actually function in the real world. Admittedly they don’t make very good anecdotes. But let’s not kid ourselves that being educated to a high level automatically means you’re some sort of blundering idiot.

And of course people with PhD’s aren’t automatically paid more than other people. They are eligible for research jobs that require PhDs, and outside of that employers may feel that they want to pay more to entice people with PhDs if the extensive skills they develop during their studies are valuable to them, but that’s true of any skill or qualification and doesn’t happen in the majority of jobs.

You want to look at your own shortcomings before making sneering assumptions.

I imagine you spend too much time at 'work' thinking about imaginary scenarios too.

Why haven't you got one then OP?

It's a good idea for research groups to have a coffee and tea club rota so that this essential skill is acquired, but extending that to bible study would be a bit much.

If they have the title Dr they’re not PhD students

I am a PA to five of them! Let's say our skills are complementary!

My goodness they're clever, but common sense, no.

(They do get paid ££££ and LOVE their Dr title. They are also some of the kindest and most pleasant people I've ever met - I realise this is a massive generalisation!)

Mine are not students.

Mine are not students.

Are you sure the one in the white coat wasn’t being ironic and you just missed the joke?

We had some where I used to work. They were involved in research and were expected to file the info away properly. When they left, a grown up (normally a secretary) had to find it all and refile properly!

They would also have zero common sense.

To some extent I agree with your basic premise (I live with one, but nobody’s perfect) but doesn’t seem to be the case for any of the women I know with PhDs 🤔 Could it be possible that the PhD is a red herring....!

Silly generalisation. I've met people with PhDs who are extremely sensible.

If you think you deserve to be paid more, work to improve your qualifications and/or apply for better jobs.

Bloody PhD students coming round here waving their Dr titles in our faces and stealing our jobs

Oh god, here come all the tedious “the most clever person I know couldn’t make a sandwich!” anecdotes. It’s cringeworthy and comes across very “university of Life, me!”.

But the anecdotes are good stories, and brilliant but no common sense is how we got penicillin.

There are idiots with and without PhDs. You just sound like you have a massive chip on your shoulder...up there with those who think university is a dirty word. I have a PhD and am more than capable of trying my own laces and completing many other mundane tasks. The stereotype that those with doctorates are dithering fools who are completely out of touch with how to live actual real life is tired and outdated I'm afraid.

I wish we were paid £££.

Common sense is not one of my strengths but I do the best I can, and that doesn't make me stupid, thanks.

Oh, and we're not all rich. There are much better ways of using intellect to generate a high salary!

I find that people who are dismissive of others with a higher education are actually suffering from very low self-esteem. Have you studied in the "University of Life", OP?
Oh this. Totally. Extra points if ”University of Life" features on your social media OP, you absolute chump.

I've known a few phd students, brain power like nothing you've ever seen, common sense lacking big time and the ability to do normal every day tasks seriously lacking. Perhaps the time spent studying for this massive achievement prevented life skills being learned.

At work I just pointed them in the right direction and they soon got it, they would with their huge talent, did this quietly and discreetly without drawing attention to the brain box who can't organise.