dis-humor

[truepenny]

cavlec has pointed me to 150 Things NOT To Do at a Thesis/Dissertation Defense. (I find that these are funny in direct proportion to how tempting they are, which is possibly not a good sign.)

#6 would actually be extremely appropriate.

***
I've written that last ugly chunk. The introduction is now 60 pages long.

Must go back and read through it, but am thinking I will let myself eat lunch first.

Something accomplished. That's good.

Still breathing. That's good, too.

Comments

[oracne.livejournal.com]

Still breathing! Yay!

[renenet.livejournal.com]

#6 would actually be extremely appropriate.

I'm now infatuated with the idea of your ghost defending your dissertation. Except, you know, for the part where you having a ghost would mean that you are no longer among the living. Your health and happiness (and living and breathing) are *far* more important than my shallow amusements. I don't suppose your committee would go for you *staging* your defense *as if* it were being done by your ghost, would they? I picture them as all severe-lack-of-humor-and-appreciation-for-the-meta-weirdness. Pity.

[renenet.livejournal.com]

Also? Because I am tired and silly? I thought that #19 said "Hold a Truepenny party."

[libskrat]

Well, hey, that sounds like a good idea to me. I'll volunteer the CavLec Pad, if nobody else has thought of this. Locals?

Except heres_luck has to help with the food. Believe me, nobody wants people used to her magisterial food-crafting skills to have to deal with my slapdash "cooking."

[kate_nepveu]

I understand that at this point, breathing is about as much as anyone manages.

(You might like this post over on Chad's blog discussing liminal rituals, which includes a quote from ESPN (of all places) nailing the mental state of dissertating . . . )

[magentamn.livejournal.com]

Somehow, wouldn't #32 "Present your entire talk in iambic pentameter" be appropriate in an odd sort of way? Although WAY too much work.

Deep breaths. Relax. Remember the old public speaking idea, and picture your dissertation committee in their underwear, or nude, so they don't seem so intimidating.

[truepenny.livejournal.com]

Clearly you have not met my committee, or you would not suggest this. :)

[marith.livejournal.com]

Breathing is good! I recommend keeping it up.

The dis-humor reminds me of that list of "Things Skippy Is No Longer Allowed To Do In The U.S. Army". My favorite was "If the thought of something makes me giggle for more than two minutes straight, I must assume that I am not allowed to do it."

How about summoning a ghost character from one of your source plays and cross-examining him to support your argument?

[adrian-turtle.livejournal.com]

You're not meant to be distracted with lust,
in the exercise of imagining them naked. The
idea is to take away their usual trappings
of power and dignity. If you believe them to
have such confidence that they would only
carry on, making everyone else seem overdressed,
you might need to imagine them in oversized
childish pajamas. With bunny slippers.

[truepenny.livejournal.com]

Thanks.

I do actually know that. I was being facetious.

[vass]

I thought

55. Tell ghost stories.

sounded like a good idea for your defense.

[truepenny.livejournal.com]

Wow.

No one's ever offered to throw me a party before. I'm delighted by the mere idea.

Thank you!