[salukigirl]

So I thought that I had some pretty cool people in my new lab. Until I spent an entire week at a conference with them. 8 hours a day listening to lectures, then lunch and dinner with them also. One of the 3 people hasn't made me want to scream yet.

One, I will call him B, is always right. And I don't say 'thinks' he is always right because then he would at least have some doubt. I'm not sure that I have ever been this wrong so many times in my life! And it's over stupid things too that have nothing to do with anything. And a few times now I have proven him wrong but he just stops talking then or keeps going on about how he doesn't believe whatever source I used! And my feeling is, I'm here to LEARN. If I knew everything, I would be a freakin' doctor, not a grad student. And if you already know everything, then why are you here?! Whenever anyone says something wrong around me I try to turn it into a learning experience, hopefully for both of us. But this guy, he just says "nope, you're wrong" with this condescending voice and look. Urgh!

Then the girl, I will call D, she is just so freaking spoiled. She flat out said that she has no aspirations to ever learn how to do her own taxes. She is 23 and her dad still does everything for her. I don't even know why she is in grad school because she doesn't want to do anything for herself. She takes pride in the fact that she has helicopter parents and takes pride in the fact that she can barely do anything without her parent's help! She drives a car that they bought her, they fly or drive 13 hrs to visit her constantly, they handle all of her phone, car insurance and taxes. She didn't even know what a Pell Grant was!!!!!!!

Oh my god. And Dave said he was going to ask me if I wanted to invite them all over sometime this weekend to hang out. I feel bad because I want him to meet them and strike up some friendships but I need a break from these people! How can a person be soooooo arrogant?!!!!

[lynn P.]

((salukigirl)) - they sound like horrible shallow people. I don't think you should socialize with them

[salukigirl]

They are in my lab and we do field work together and all stay at the same hotels for conferences. I absolutely have to be around them for the next 2 years at the very least.

[ECHOES]

How can a person be soooooo arrogant?!!!!

Which person...?

[NuckingFutz]

The one who is always right? Mr. Narcissistic traits dude? I think if you will be working with them for the next 2 years you will get to know them for who they really are. That Mr. Always right is not right anymore than anyone else. And Miss Moneybags has a not so perfect relationship with Mommy and Daddy and really is not prepared for independent living. Maybe she is there for her Mrs. Degree. Time will tell.

[lynn P.]

Maybe those two will get married one day lol. I'm sure you can handle them Salukigirl - I have confidence in you.

[salukigirl]

I guess how can they BOTH be so arrogant. And it's funny you say maybe they'll get married because mr. always right is actually gay......so I wont hold my breath for that one lol.

I mean it's just over the dumbest things. i.e. we were talking about foreclosures and how right now is a good time to buy. I said that if I were to get my PhD here and be around for about 7 years that my bf and I were going to buy a house to fix up. I didn't even get to the buying a house part because he stopped me at 7 years and told me that it wouldn't take that long. I said going from a BS straight to a PhD would take that long and this other guy next to me agreed and he just kept on going. Eventually I had to just throw my arms up and say "Okay! Who cares! That has absolutely nothing to do with what I'm trying to say!" I just really hope that I meet some more people outside my lab who aren't like that because if I have to go the next 2 years with only these people as my friends I might go NUTS!!!!

Just for fun, I would ask Mr. I. No SoMuch, what he does when is not being an ultracrepidarian.

[ECHOES]

First impressions.. these may soften as you get to know these people and discover some of their endearing and positive qualities.
It's fortunate that you will have the opportunity to get to know more about them while working with them in the lab, that will feel more familiar to all of you.

[lynn P.]

Originally Posted by ECHOES

First impressions.. these may soften as you get to know these people and discover some of their endearing and positive qualities.
It's fortunate that you will have the opportunity to get to know more about them while working with them in the lab, that will feel more familiar to all of you.

Good positive point Echoes. I suspect Mr I Know Everything, is actually afraid of being wrong, so he over compensates and Helicopter Parents daughter will have to face real life one day.

[salukigirl]

Yeah the girl seriously had no clue what a Pell Grant was. I was just thinking, even if you arent eligible....shouldnt you at least KNOW what the options are?

And I have found some good qualities in them. They all have a pretty good sense of humour and dont get offended at my dry sense of humour. And they can be helpful, just sometimes it comes across as demeaning.

Im just glad that both of them have already gone through the classes I have to take this fall because I hate taking classes with know-it-alls. The other guy in my lab is really cool and we will be in all the same classes this fall which Im glad about because we are both on the same playing field since he has only been here one more semester than me.

And there are two other people in my lab who are extremely cool and fun and helpful and are dating. But the girl just got a postdoc in utah and her bf is defending this month and will be following her there in august so our lab will be pretty empty come fall semester.

Luckily the girl and the guy usually work in a different building so its usually just me and the kid that I actually get along really well with in the lab.

Sometimes I just get this urge to tell them off and put em down a notch or two but I cant make myself do that. Not to mention I dont want to be on bad terms with people I have to work with for a couple years. I guess I just have to grin and bear it.....