Comments on: Self-doubt and String Theory http://langabi.name/blog/2006/05/29/self-doubt-and-string-theory Paul Cook's blog Tue, 21 May 2013 11:23:36 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Dimitri Terryn http://langabi.name/blog/2006/05/29/self-doubt-and-string-theory#comment-2012 Dimitri Terryn Mon, 05 Jun 2006 07:52:44 +0000 http://langabi.name/blog/2006/05/29/self-doubt-and-string-theory#comment-2012 Congratulations! Great that you passed the orals. I know the feeling you mention, and I'm only a master's student. I started my year thinking I had a pretty good understanding of physics. Two research papers later I felt like an idiot. When you learn something new, you get the short-lived thrill of having mastered something difficult. And then you read another research paper...only to feel dumb again. Cheers, Dimi Congratulations! Great that you passed the orals.

I know the feeling you mention, and I’m only a master’s student. I started my year thinking I had a pretty good understanding of physics. Two research papers later I felt like an idiot. When you learn something new, you get the short-lived thrill of having mastered something difficult. And then you read another research paper…only to feel dumb again.

Cheers,

Dimi

]]> By: paulcook http://langabi.name/blog/2006/05/29/self-doubt-and-string-theory#comment-1977 paulcook Fri, 02 Jun 2006 01:19:09 +0000 http://langabi.name/blog/2006/05/29/self-doubt-and-string-theory#comment-1977 Thanks all for the congratulations! I am very happy. Surprising, isn't it? And perhap string theory has a lot to know -- it's hard to say, I've never tried anything else. Waffling, admittedly, is tricky to do -- rigour is easier to judge than in history. Thanks all for the congratulations! I am very happy. Surprising, isn’t it?

And perhap string theory has a lot to know — it’s hard to say, I’ve never tried anything else. Waffling, admittedly, is tricky to do — rigour is easier to judge than in history.

]]> By: Greg http://langabi.name/blog/2006/05/29/self-doubt-and-string-theory#comment-1975 Greg Thu, 01 Jun 2006 23:15:49 +0000 http://langabi.name/blog/2006/05/29/self-doubt-and-string-theory#comment-1975 Congrats Paul! Er, could it be possible that string theory has more, um, hard stuff to know? I think a wafer-thin understanding of string theory is like a waffle-thick understanding of say history (which, as I recall, featured a lot of waffling). So anyways, well done. Congrats Paul! Er, could it be possible that string theory has more, um, hard stuff to know? I think a wafer-thin understanding of string theory is like a waffle-thick understanding of say history (which, as I recall, featured a lot of waffling). So anyways, well done.

]]> By: Sally http://langabi.name/blog/2006/05/29/self-doubt-and-string-theory#comment-1966 Sally Thu, 01 Jun 2006 10:20:59 +0000 http://langabi.name/blog/2006/05/29/self-doubt-and-string-theory#comment-1966 Well done! Thanks for the 2.20am phone call - it was magic to be able to share the moment of relief. Good luck with catching up with everything else, and China watch out! Well done! Thanks for the 2.20am phone call - it was magic to be able to share the moment of relief.

Good luck with catching up with everything else, and China watch out!

]]> By: Chris http://langabi.name/blog/2006/05/29/self-doubt-and-string-theory#comment-1965 Chris Thu, 01 Jun 2006 07:31:01 +0000 http://langabi.name/blog/2006/05/29/self-doubt-and-string-theory#comment-1965 Nicely done! Bet you're glad it's over hehehe. Yeah, I know what that's like...I'm normally the one asking other students on the areas they're "shaky" on! Still, bet you did just fine, bud. Nicely done! Bet you’re glad it’s over hehehe.

Yeah, I know what that’s like…I’m normally the one asking other students on the areas they’re “shaky” on!

Still, bet you did just fine, bud.

]]> By: paulcook http://langabi.name/blog/2006/05/29/self-doubt-and-string-theory#comment-1963 paulcook Thu, 01 Jun 2006 00:13:59 +0000 http://langabi.name/blog/2006/05/29/self-doubt-and-string-theory#comment-1963 Passed! Presentation went fine, some of the questions afterwards hit EXACTLY the part of the material I was shaky on. Grrr..... Passed!

Presentation went fine, some of the questions afterwards hit EXACTLY the part of
the material I was shaky on. Grrr…..

]]> By: paulcook http://langabi.name/blog/2006/05/29/self-doubt-and-string-theory#comment-1959 paulcook Wed, 31 May 2006 17:41:17 +0000 http://langabi.name/blog/2006/05/29/self-doubt-and-string-theory#comment-1959 Not yet gone, actually -- just a few hours left of last minute changes! Not yet gone, actually — just a few hours left of last minute changes!

]]> By: heather http://langabi.name/blog/2006/05/29/self-doubt-and-string-theory#comment-1958 heather Wed, 31 May 2006 17:23:41 +0000 http://langabi.name/blog/2006/05/29/self-doubt-and-string-theory#comment-1958 hmmm. perhaps south africans have different hands to americans ;) i can't see how one can hold thumbs WITHOUT crossing fingers! hmmm. perhaps south africans have different hands to americans ;) i can’t see how one can hold thumbs WITHOUT crossing fingers!

]]> By: Spleen http://langabi.name/blog/2006/05/29/self-doubt-and-string-theory#comment-1957 Spleen Wed, 31 May 2006 14:07:40 +0000 http://langabi.name/blog/2006/05/29/self-doubt-and-string-theory#comment-1957 Clearly some more digital dexterity is called for here. Clearly some more digital dexterity is called for here.

]]> By: Chris http://langabi.name/blog/2006/05/29/self-doubt-and-string-theory#comment-1955 Chris Wed, 31 May 2006 09:54:12 +0000 http://langabi.name/blog/2006/05/29/self-doubt-and-string-theory#comment-1955 So...how'd it go? Mind you, I'm not compensating for time difference here, so maybe it's just still going. Regardless, hope it's all good, chum. BTW, I also don't get how crossing fingers is holding thumbs; surely your fingers aren't crossed when you hold your thumbs ;) So…how’d it go? Mind you, I’m not compensating for time difference here, so maybe it’s just still going. Regardless, hope it’s all good, chum.

BTW, I also don’t get how crossing fingers is holding thumbs; surely your fingers aren’t crossed when you hold your thumbs ;)

]]> By: Ellen http://langabi.name/blog/2006/05/29/self-doubt-and-string-theory#comment-1929 Ellen Tue, 30 May 2006 03:53:20 +0000 http://langabi.name/blog/2006/05/29/self-doubt-and-string-theory#comment-1929 Hmm, I just had this nice long insightful comment that I was about to post, but then I had to get on a plane and my phone lost it. Oh well, I'll just tell you in person. (adam: holding thumbs=crossing fingers) : ) Hmm, I just had this nice long insightful comment that I was about to post, but then I had to get on a plane and my phone lost it. Oh well, I’ll just tell you in person.

(adam: holding thumbs=crossing fingers) : )

]]> By: Adam http://langabi.name/blog/2006/05/29/self-doubt-and-string-theory#comment-1927 Adam Tue, 30 May 2006 03:21:57 +0000 http://langabi.name/blog/2006/05/29/self-doubt-and-string-theory#comment-1927 Holding thumbs? I don't know what that is, so I'll just say good luck! Holding thumbs? I don’t know what that is, so I’ll just say good luck!

]]> By: heather http://langabi.name/blog/2006/05/29/self-doubt-and-string-theory#comment-1924 heather Mon, 29 May 2006 21:38:38 +0000 http://langabi.name/blog/2006/05/29/self-doubt-and-string-theory#comment-1924 holding thumbs for you paul holding thumbs for you paul

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