Social life and Physics/Mathematics?

[theperthvan]

i can prove that i don't need friends to succeed...
i just need hard work...

That's quite wrong, you will end up fully depressed.

Tim, you could just stay your way that is to keep working hard and be antisocial - which is what I try to do, although the latter is not really done purposely on mybehalf. And whenever you get depressed or suicidal which I admit often happens to me, try to look to people like Newton, Riemann, Dirac and Grigori Perelman for insipiration and as role models and that might ease your pain and give you encourgement since from reading their biographies, also took this route.

Get help, that is not normal

Close your books.


Grab some beer.



Hit on some hot girls.


It works.

That's the most sensible thing said so far.

 

[fufu]

I have always wondered about the social aspect of success in science. Doing good work is the key I guess, but unless you are downright brilliant, nobody is going to notice you unless you are able to sell yourself. This includes actually talking to people and being able to present your work.

I have always wondered, not that its even somewhere on my horizon right now, but should I ever be the one who has some important work to distribute, will I call the guy who had an internship with me last year and forgot to introduce himself and never actually talked to anybody (but, probably, did excellent work) or the guy from the other building who was telling me about his wedding over a beer last night?

I, however, have noticed I will be happier, if my mind is occupied with something else than physics every once in a while. I am taking foreign language classes, travel whenever possible, read fiction and try to hang with friends for a few hours a week. I am convinced all this activity helps me to concentrate and work more efficient while doing physics.

 

[AsianSensationK]

AsianSensationK:

I hate to say it, but I think you are a bit off. Yes, constant reflection is bad, heck it can be down right depressing; however, to force yourself to have interests in things that you downright don't like (I personally hate cars, it just isn't my thing), well that isn't going to do any good. But trying new things, yeah that is necessary.

Yeah, half of the post was meant to be a joke, in case you didn't notice.

The important thing is recognizing that new experiences are key to getting over these kinds of social problems. How anyone goes about that is up to them.