Life After 6+ Years of Academia: Dave K's Story

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the experiences of a participant, Dave K, who has transitioned from academia to the workforce after several years of study in mathematics. The conversation explores themes of social interaction, workplace dynamics, and the challenges of communicating complex ideas in a non-academic environment. Participants share their personal experiences and observations regarding the differences between academic and workplace cultures, particularly in relation to reasoning, correction, and acceptance of factual information.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Dave K expresses feelings of elitism and difficulty relating to coworkers who do not appreciate mathematics or reasoning.
  • Some participants share similar experiences of being perceived as elitist or being labeled as "professor" in various work environments.
  • There are suggestions that the reactions of coworkers to corrections may depend on the level of assistance they require from the knowledgeable individual.
  • One participant notes that many people tend to believe what they want rather than relying on facts, citing recent political events as an example.
  • Another participant reflects on the importance of developing strategies to handle different types of coworkers and the potential dangers of hidden criticisms from colleagues.
  • Some participants discuss the nature of disagreements among "geeky" individuals, suggesting that the style of disagreement may differ but not necessarily the content.
  • There is a sentiment that correcting imprecision in mathematical statements is valued in academia but not appreciated in the workplace.
  • Dave K mentions feeling relieved when interacting with higher-ups who engage in more intelligent conversations.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally share similar sentiments regarding the challenges of transitioning from academia to the workforce, particularly in terms of social interactions and communication styles. However, there are multiple competing views on how to navigate these challenges, and the discussion remains unresolved regarding the best approaches to take.

Contextual Notes

Participants express various assumptions about the nature of workplace dynamics and the expectations of coworkers, which may not be universally applicable. There are also references to specific experiences that highlight the subjective nature of interactions and the potential for miscommunication.

  • #31
OH, BTW, really funny anecdote. The one guy likes me more now because I made a hilarious joke at his expense. I don't normally do that, but I sensed he was the type, and threw out a zinger. Then he laughed and now he's friendlier. Amazing how people work.
 
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  • #32
dkotschessaa said:
Unfortunately I think I have to just try to stop socializing and stick to work. The trouble is it is often slow and there isn't much to do and so things get chatty.

What? That's a problem? Ha, ha, sounds like a good problem to have.
 
  • #33
atyy said:
What? That's a problem? Ha, ha, sounds like a good problem to have.

It is in the right environment.
 
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  • #34
dkotschessaa said:
It is in the right environment.
hope none of them believe Wrestling is real, that is the cutoff really. :confused:
 
  • #35
Bipolar Demon said:
hope none of them believe Wrestling is real, that is the cutoff really. :confused:

haha! I think I'm going to leave that unasked.
 
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  • #36
dkotschessaa said:
Then he laughed and now he's friendlier. Amazing how people work.
A lesson in your advanced social life degree. Me, I've never graduated.
 
  • #37
phyzguy said:
Unfortunately, a large number of people are in the mode of believing what they want to believe instead of relying on facts. As witness the recent US election...

Agreed, thank goodness for Wikileaks supplying the facts. ;)
 

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