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Re: The Contradictory Feelings Thread
Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2025 2:39 pm
by alice
zompist wrote: ↑Thu Apr 10, 2025 1:06 am
We moved today, and fortunately the new modem arrived.
(snip)
And yes, I
am an unfrozen caveman and this stuff frustrates me. But it's done now.
You still use a modem??? How do you get anything done?
Re: The Contradictory Feelings Thread
Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2025 2:58 pm
by Travis B.
alice wrote: ↑Thu Apr 10, 2025 2:39 pm
zompist wrote: ↑Thu Apr 10, 2025 1:06 am
We moved today, and fortunately the new modem arrived.
(snip)
And yes, I
am an unfrozen caveman and this stuff frustrates me. But it's done now.
You still use a modem??? How do you get anything done?
Just because something isn't a classic POTS modem, which few in the First World use today, doesn't mean it isn't a modem.
Re: The Contradictory Feelings Thread
Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2025 3:18 pm
by zompist
alice wrote: ↑Thu Apr 10, 2025 2:39 pm
zompist wrote: ↑Thu Apr 10, 2025 1:06 am
We moved today, and fortunately the new modem arrived.
(snip)
And yes, I
am an unfrozen caveman and this stuff frustrates me. But it's done now.
You still use a modem??? How do you get anything done?
It modulates and demodulates like a mofo.
I have a phone too— or will when they ship it— and that was invented in 1876.
Re: The Contradictory Feelings Thread
Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2025 8:59 pm
by bradrn
alice wrote: ↑Thu Apr 10, 2025 2:38 pm
bradrn wrote: ↑Wed Apr 09, 2025 11:04 pm
(Climate
is genuinely my biggest concern, since it’s the biggest unknown for me. A few nights ago I had a dream where I was walking through a city and it was -20 °C, and I think I ended up falling off a cliff into the sea and being frozen into an ice block…)
As long as you stay away from St. Andrews in the winter you should be able to avoid this.
Wow, is it that bad there? Apparently my co-supervisor comes from St Andrews…
Re: The Contradictory Feelings Thread
Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2025 5:54 am
by Raphael
Oh, and be careful not to make any sectarianism-related missteps. I've heard that can be pretty dangerous in Glasgow.
Re: The Contradictory Feelings Thread
Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2025 8:33 am
by Travis B.
Raphael wrote: ↑Fri Apr 11, 2025 5:54 am
Oh, and be careful not to make any sectarianism-related missteps. I've heard that can be pretty dangerous in Glasgow.
Are you sure you don't mean Belfast?
Re: The Contradictory Feelings Thread
Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2025 8:36 am
by Raphael
Travis B. wrote: ↑Fri Apr 11, 2025 8:33 am
Raphael wrote: ↑Fri Apr 11, 2025 5:54 am
Oh, and be careful not to make any sectarianism-related missteps. I've heard that can be pretty dangerous in Glasgow.
Are you sure you don't mean Belfast?
No, not really. Glasgow seems to be NI's outpost across the sea.
Re: The Contradictory Feelings Thread
Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2025 8:42 am
by Travis B.
Raphael wrote: ↑Fri Apr 11, 2025 8:36 am
Travis B. wrote: ↑Fri Apr 11, 2025 8:33 am
Raphael wrote: ↑Fri Apr 11, 2025 5:54 am
Oh, and be careful not to make any sectarianism-related missteps. I've heard that can be pretty dangerous in Glasgow.
Are you sure you don't mean Belfast?
No, not really. Glasgow seems to be NI's outpost across the sea.
It seems you're right -- and in particular sectarianism is associated with the rivalry between Glasgow's Celtic and Rangers football clubs.
Re: The Contradictory Feelings Thread
Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2025 3:13 pm
by alice
bradrn wrote: ↑Thu Apr 10, 2025 8:59 pm
alice wrote: ↑Thu Apr 10, 2025 2:38 pm
bradrn wrote: ↑Wed Apr 09, 2025 11:04 pm
(Climate
is genuinely my biggest concern, since it’s the biggest unknown for me. A few nights ago I had a dream where I was walking through a city and it was -20 °C, and I think I ended up falling off a cliff into the sea and being frozen into an ice block…)
As long as you stay away from St. Andrews in the winter you should be able to avoid this.
Wow, is it that bad there? Apparently my co-supervisor comes from St Andrews…
The East Coast in winter is subjected to cold winds off the North Sea. For strange reasons St. Andrews seems to get it the worst.
Re: The Contradictory Feelings Thread
Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2025 3:19 pm
by alice
Travis B. wrote: ↑Fri Apr 11, 2025 8:42 am
Raphael wrote: ↑Fri Apr 11, 2025 8:36 am
No, not really. Glasgow seems to be NI's outpost across the sea.
It seems you're right -- and in particular sectarianism is associated with the rivalry between Glasgow's Celtic and Rangers football clubs.
It's not just Glasgow; the sectarianism is found over a lot of the surrounding area, and I've encountered it here in Edinburgh. I once had a flatmate from Belfast who came over to Scotland to get away from it and was not happy to find it again. If in doubt, say
Partick Thistle (and not "Patrick Thistle"; he doesn't exist).
Re: The Contradictory Feelings Thread
Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2025 9:46 pm
by quinterbeck
bradrn wrote: ↑Wed Apr 09, 2025 11:04 pm
bradrn wrote: ↑Mon Mar 17, 2025 10:01 am
I got a PhD offer!
After thinking about it and talking to as many people as I could, I accepted this offer yesterday.
Congrats bradrn!!! The program sounds very promising
I'm having similar feelings about climate - after 2+ years in Thailand I'll be back to the UK for the best part of a year. I think I've forgotten what it really feels like to be that cold... For practical reasons I'll be arriving in November - not the most uplifting of months! Hopefully I'll readjust without too much trouble. I'll root for you to adapt too
Re: The Contradictory Feelings Thread
Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2025 8:38 am
by MacAnDàil
bradrn wrote: ↑Wed Apr 09, 2025 11:04 pm
bradrn wrote: ↑Mon Mar 17, 2025 10:01 am
I got a PhD offer!
After thinking about it and talking to as many people as I could, I accepted this offer yesterday. Thank you to everyone here who gave me advice! Of course, I’m still feeling very contradictory about it, but I’m determined to make the most of this opportunity.
(Climate
is genuinely my biggest concern, since it’s the biggest unknown for me. A few nights ago I had a dream where I was walking through a city and it was -20 °C, and I think I ended up falling off a cliff into the sea and being frozen into an ice block…)
Congratulations! When will you arrive in my home country then?
Re: The Contradictory Feelings Thread
Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2025 8:41 am
by MacAnDàil
alice wrote: ↑Fri Apr 11, 2025 3:19 pm
Travis B. wrote: ↑Fri Apr 11, 2025 8:42 am
Raphael wrote: ↑Fri Apr 11, 2025 8:36 am
No, not really. Glasgow seems to be NI's outpost across the sea.
It seems you're right -- and in particular sectarianism is associated with the rivalry between Glasgow's Celtic and Rangers football clubs.
It's not just Glasgow; the sectarianism is found over a lot of the surrounding area, and I've encountered it here in Edinburgh. I once had a flatmate from Belfast who came over to Scotland to get away from it and was not happy to find it again. If in doubt, say
Partick Thistle (and not "Patrick Thistle"; he doesn't exist).
When I was asked what football team I support on the Megabus, I said "Scotland". That is honest, and an appropriate answer to avoid football rivalry within Scotland.
Re: The Contradictory Feelings Thread
Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2025 2:39 pm
by alice
MacAnDàil wrote: ↑Tue Apr 15, 2025 8:41 amWhen I was asked what football team I support on the Megabus, I said "Scotland". That is honest, and an appropriate answer to avoid football rivalry within Scotland.
Ah, but what team do you support when you're
not on the Megabus?
Re: The Contradictory Feelings Thread
Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2025 10:30 pm
by bradrn
MacAnDàil wrote: ↑Tue Apr 15, 2025 8:38 am
bradrn wrote: ↑Wed Apr 09, 2025 11:04 pm
bradrn wrote: ↑Mon Mar 17, 2025 10:01 am
I got a PhD offer!
After thinking about it and talking to as many people as I could, I accepted this offer yesterday. Thank you to everyone here who gave me advice! Of course, I’m still feeling very contradictory about it, but I’m determined to make the most of this opportunity.
(Climate
is genuinely my biggest concern, since it’s the biggest unknown for me. A few nights ago I had a dream where I was walking through a city and it was -20 °C, and I think I ended up falling off a cliff into the sea and being frozen into an ice block…)
Congratulations! When will you arrive in my home country then?
September, I expect.
Re: The Contradictory Feelings Thread
Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2025 5:22 am
by Raphael
bradrn wrote: ↑Tue Apr 15, 2025 10:30 pm
September, I expect.
So you get the Australian winter immediately followed by the Scottish winter? I'm sorry to hear that.
Re: The Contradictory Feelings Thread
Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2025 5:32 am
by bradrn
Raphael wrote: ↑Wed Apr 16, 2025 5:22 am
bradrn wrote: ↑Tue Apr 15, 2025 10:30 pm
September, I expect.
So you get the Australian winter immediately followed by the Scottish winter? I'm sorry to hear that.
Yep. I go straight from the middle of Aussie winter to Scottish autumn — which is the same temperature, note — and then it gets
even colder. Ain’t I the lucky one.
(Still, there is a possibility that I may get to travel back to Australia in November. I’d better use the time to defrost myself.)
Re: The Contradictory Feelings Thread
Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2025 2:14 pm
by alice
bradrn wrote: ↑Wed Apr 16, 2025 5:32 am
Raphael wrote: ↑Wed Apr 16, 2025 5:22 am
bradrn wrote: ↑Tue Apr 15, 2025 10:30 pm
September, I expect.
So you get the Australian winter immediately followed by the Scottish winter? I'm sorry to hear that.
Yep. I go straight from the middle of Aussie winter to Scottish autumn — which is the same temperature, note — and then it gets
even colder. Ain’t I the lucky one.
(Still, there is a possibility that I may get to travel back to Australia in November. I’d better use the time to defrost myself.)
A glass of warm Irn-Bru is much cheaper and likely just as effective

Re: The Contradictory Feelings Thread
Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2025 3:12 pm
by Travis B.
bradrn wrote: ↑Wed Apr 16, 2025 5:32 am
(Still, there is a possibility that I may get to travel back to Australia in November. I’d better use the time to defrost myself.)
Aren't you sure you won't burst into flame in Australia in November?
Re: The Contradictory Feelings Thread
Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2025 5:36 am
by Raphael
alice wrote: ↑Wed Apr 16, 2025 2:14 pm
A glass of warm Irn-Bru is much cheaper and likely just as effective
I haven't got any experience drinking it, but isn't that a soft drink? What kind of person drinks warm soft drinks?