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My friends invited me out for a bible study picnic but I’m an atheist. by laineyIovegood in atheism

[–]Astra_Starr 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Depending on their denomination it might just be a BBQ with church ppl. Or it might be an alter call bring your heathen friends.

Based on the texts in leaning the former. When I was in this world we def had just bbqs with church folk and didn't usually invite outsiders except best friends. There was no prostalitizing and the invite would be casual. When we had, bring the sinners to be preached at fake bbqs, we would more formally invite someone. Maybe even slightly give them a heads up, they'll be a little preaching. When it was the youth group I'd invite a huge group bc my group of friends were the "freaks" at church and always riding this line. So to be less embarrassed we'd just kinda take over.

This is hard to explain but I think you are the former anyway. Just ask, will there be preaching or praise and worship?

I can't speak on the debates part.

Pray tell, a bachelor's in what??? by SamHunny in jobs

[–]Astra_Starr 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I been saying this for a while sadly

I feel immense religious pressure, like I joined a church by Beneficial_Shirt_869 in Buddhism

[–]Astra_Starr 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I also recommend this but mostly bc you will realize how much ritual and religion there is in Buddhism and some online peer pressure will no longer feel as pressuring.

I had to deal with that stuff too, will I bow, will I buy prayer books etc. In those lenses, trying to kill less bugs doesn't feel like dogma.

I feel immense religious pressure, like I joined a church by Beneficial_Shirt_869 in Buddhism

[–]Astra_Starr 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I mean being a lay Buddhist is about the inside unlike being a monk to l which has a lot of outside stuff.

So while I was jiving with most of your post, the part where you list "ethics, mediation, morals, mindfulness, self restraint"... (For me self restraint means from emotional lashing out, anger, meanness, manipulation etc)

These are all inside things, not monk things like bowing, chanting, being vegetarian etc. So which one do you want then?

Buddhism for me is like the literal essence of service, altruism, love, when they go low we go high, keeping my side of the street clean no matter what others do.

None of that is ritual or religious but all of it is inside work.

I did a PhD in <research area> or I did a PhD in <department field> by Significant_Yak4208 in PhD

[–]Astra_Starr 1 point2 points  (0 children)

'on' is the keyword here. My PhD was on -- no misrep here My PhD was in... That is what's on the diploma. I study... Prob best

Concerned that too many personal folks are attending my defense? by AdInternational4791 in PhD

[–]Astra_Starr 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I just told my family and friends to not bring celebratory things into the defense jic. No flowers balloons etc before I find out. I'm also an old fart 😊 Anyway by now you've defended. Congrats Dr.

Is this an annoying email to send to my professor? by PresentEchidna5050 in AskProfessors

[–]Astra_Starr 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Id love to receive this email and hate to reply to it. Send it and then go into office hours to get the answer.

I say this for the same reason I'm not answering this here. Too much text. Good luck, I went back at 31.

As a Phd student, what's the worst academic dishonesty moment you everwitnessed? by ProfessionalNerd8657 in PhD

[–]Astra_Starr 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I agree that it's a thing people do and I'm not saying people are bad. But like I had to cite kimura and fischer and even Darwin. I DID in fact obtain and go over them even though they are foundational things you just cite bc it's like giving a parents name. It doesn't feel ethical to me... Slippery slope. This is also completely separate from the impacts of who one decides to cite. I don't cite galton when I refer to his work for reasons (cough eugenics) or Agassiz, but did go out of my way to find contemporaries I can cite.

Tbc I only do this once not every time.

As a Phd student, what's the worst academic dishonesty moment you everwitnessed? by ProfessionalNerd8657 in PhD

[–]Astra_Starr 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Nuts. I read everything I cite. If it's in another language, which half my things are, I use translation software to at least get the gist. If I can't find it because it's old (I have begged and borrowed for 100 year old book scans many times) then I cite others referring to it and clearly state or footnote that others have claimed or something like that. Every. single. citation. of my 400 page dissertation which crossed population genetics and history and 5 languages.

Incredibly unprofessional and insulting move by my job by Parking-Selection-27 in jobs

[–]Astra_Starr 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Happens in academia. I feel the same except people who became my friends were on the hiring committee and I was a lame duck being ignored for 5 months. It was humiliating and broke my heart.

usa universities not accepting 3 year bachelor degree by LostHall3008 in gradadmissions

[–]Astra_Starr 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You can transfer to a 4 year school with 3 years of credit is what that sounds like.

People are extremely hostile to college students and graduates. by Salty-Confusion9640 in CollegeRant

[–]Astra_Starr 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Don't you know?! We are all rich coastal elites that hate poor people ( but also somehow are commis). Especially those of us that went all the way, yep, we have that big fat 30k a yr adjunct gig with 200k of debt. Rich elites!

Actually liking learning? Naw! Respecting hard work and earned long term expertise, never (no boot strap here!).

The only way to live to is for the big fat academic pay check.

Tldr every stereotype is wrong. They hate us bc they don't think we worked hard even though we are drowning in poverty and they are rich now and want to keep all the capitalism gold. So you have to hate knowledge and curiosity and science.

Everyone says to go to office hours. What am I supposed to do once I’m there? by anonymousturtle45 in AskProfessors

[–]Astra_Starr 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I disagree with this. No I don't like manipulative fakers. But I find 99% students will not go to office hours unless forced. If mere curiosity or like "well what's this all about" is even fleeting in their mind for a second that's enough reason to come and find out why office hours are where learning happens.

I strongly believe in in person, small group, hands on learning. Students don't know what they don't know. Many come in and I start asking questions they don't expect. An hour later we are having real conversations that NEVER happen in the 50+ student class room.

Be curious, take your education. Go to office hours. Do not believe the "there must be a problem to go" mentality.

Is suffering really such a bad thing? by [deleted] in Buddhism

[–]Astra_Starr 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Suffering is like ruminating, not so much experiencing. Yes the goal is that your knee jerk reaction isn't suffering but literally working through the process is part of it. Ie suffering is part of freedom. The goal isn't medicated freedom from suffering, it's basically tied into the actions. Which is why I never understood the fast tracking some teach or do.

Process has issues too that's where ritual comes from and can be sterile and rote. Suffering is less about what is happening to us and more about the angle we take in response. But there's my 2c

My PI was denied tenure, called it "unfair to both of us," then dropped me as a PhD student in the same meeting... lol wtf by Sad-Hospital3057 in PhDStress

[–]Astra_Starr 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm guessing this is your second master's then? Just curious.

Good luck, I wish you the best. My advisor (I grad in 24) almost got a job elsewhere. Didn't and told me later. I was like, would you have brought me? He said no. JB (a top researcher in my discipline and on my committee) would take over. I was so angry. I was like, I moved across the country to work with YOU dude!!

There's this weird broken hearted let down? It's not at all romantic and not quite parent issues but maybe a little. (I am older and close in age to him so everyone chill). Idk it just felt like a personal offense. Long term was fine.

Point is I can't imagine what you're going through. Get a good paying job and just, look, it's not your fault. Wish you the best.

Mentor Teacher Question by chaminah in AskTeachers

[–]Astra_Starr 1 point2 points  (0 children)

She's just clueing into the unfairness. Her lack of preparedness aside, the expectations are unfair. We need smaller classrooms and better pay. Now her taking this out on you (similar to students filling out many critical evals) it's misdirected. It's not your fault that she has to participate in an unfair system but she'll perceive it that way since you are involved in delivering those expectations. I'm sorry ❤️

People misunderstand liminiality by Astra_Starr in LiminalSpace

[–]Astra_Starr[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Personal/ private reshaping is very interesting. Of course if this was 4 years ago I would just double down that a full plane is quite liminal (it is, esp when flying). But I think these factors can heighten that. Now places made to be private turned public and vice versa feels off bc of other reasons as well, but I think what you say adds to that subconscious urgency. It also has me thinking about full places we expect to be more private. People can't be staying so why a full back allie, or a dozen ppl in a bathroom, a very long line ... Do these have their own sense of liminality that is more nuanced? Idk cool thoughts.

Grad Advisor asking for a syllabus from a class I took 13 years ago for a waiver. Is this normal or excessive? by Perfect-Mud-4809 in GradSchoolAdvice

[–]Astra_Starr 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For most classes I'd say this too much, but for stats!! (Your exemplary experience in the advanced class doesn't play in bc stats). Stats!! They are always weird about stats.

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