NationStates Jolt Archive

This is the third incarnation of the (in)famous Ask Dr Rotovia, advice threads. This one comes with a twist though, and it's a biggy, THIS ONE IS SERIOUS. Given I have literally spent the past four hours counselling friends on everything from romance, to contraception, to the correct use of parenthesis in literary quotation, I'm feeling fairly confident I can take on Dr Phil.

Please, keep in mind I'm yet to actually start my PhD, and given it is in Philology, I am in no way shape or form a medical doctor. That said, I have enough fucked up friends and experience with shrinks and medication -I am currently freaking out on a mixture of Zoloft and tranquilizers, which are the latest concoctions my Psych is trying- I can offer a lay-opinion.

The way this will work is that you will post a problem, and I will either provide an answer within a reason time frame, or telegram you, informing you I am seeking further sources on the subject.

This thread may take a light-hearted tone, but I will endeavour to treat each query with whatever level of dignity and devotion it warrants.

Furthermore, keep in mind, I may ask your permission to republish your request (obviously anonymously under a pseudonym) and my response, onto my website "DrRotoviaSays"

Well, always worth a try, I suppose..

I'm trying to work on my masters thesis, but whenever I sit down to work on it I get the urge to run away screaming. I'm getting rather stressed and depressed from my lack of progress. I'm not entirely sure what my problem is to be honest, so any insight would be appreciated.

You have a TG:)

Well, I need help. Why am I so lazy??

Why is it that left and right are switched in a mirror but not up and down?

In general people annoy me, I hate them, however I have a job in which I deal with not only a lot of people but also congress men and the press. How do I keep from going on a homicidal rampage?

Why is it that left and right are switched in a mirror but not up and down?
Because... we live in a freaky alternative dimension - duh! We're the ones on the otherside of the mirror...

What was said to Zidane to make him headbutt Materazzi?

Well, always worth a try, I suppose..

I'm trying to work on my masters thesis, but whenever I sit down to work on it I get the urge to run away screaming. I'm getting rather stressed and depressed from my lack of progress. I'm not entirely sure what my problem is to be honest, so any insight would be appreciated.
I have the exact same problem, what I find is that I cannot become inspired on demand. An idea may be to take a small pad and have a number of friends around, vaguely discuss the concepts you wish to cover and jot them down, this provides an excellent source of inspiration later.

Why is it that left and right are switched in a mirror but not up and down?
Because a mirror-image is the almost exact recreation of the original image. As light comes off the original image and is reflected off the mirror, it reproduces the image almost perfectly, which means the image on the left, is re-produced on the left, images above are reproduced above.

In general people annoy me, I hate them, however I have a job in which I deal with not only a lot of people but also congress men and the press. How do I keep from going on a homicidal rampage?
I suggest finding the cause of your annoyance, there is generally one major trigger, that once identified, can be addressed

Dear Rotovia,

What ever happened to the "Ask the Squatch" threads that were about periodically and making it into the sixth incarnation before becoming lost to obscurity?

And also....

If someone perceives any thing, even if its only in thier own mind, does the thing become "real"?
Even if only to the individual doing the percieving?

Dear Dr. Rot.

There's a couple of words for existence, like cosmos, universe & multiverse.
There's at least one word for the imagined (gods, santa etc.) & the universe combined; Kosmos.
But what's the word for the imagined?

.. I've always wondered about that..

Dear Doctor Rotavia.

I've got a cold while enduring the lovely english summer.

whatdoIdo? whatdoIdo? whatdoIdo?

Yours in agony,

Bogmarsh

OOC: (So to speak) This is a serious question and something that Doctor Phil should be answering. Since I can't reach him, you're the next best thing. Although it might seem like an "Agony Aunt" submission, this is actually serious.

IC: (So to speak) Dear Doctor Rotovia

I have a problem with anger, or temper, whichever it is. There are times in real life I have to get up and walk out of the room, or purse my lips and do some sort of literal hand wipe, which is meant to wipe away (metaphorically) all my problems.

My anger leads me to coldness: When I don't get my way, I throw the adult equivalent of a child having a hissy fit. Getting all nasty, name calling and so forth. I then block/ignore (etc) them for weeks, months, even years, by which point I become ashamed as it wasn't worth ruining a perfectly good friendship for no reason other than the fact that I didn't have it my way.

In a similar vein, I develop apathy, which more or less literally is "Meh, see if I give a (expletive)" and, as above, punch people in the teeth and walk away. As an example, some of the best roleplaying I did outside of NS, when I didn't get my way, I just threw a spat, self deleted and never looked back. Frankly, I don't care (and not in this apathetic way), but why do I just get so upset for something so trivial?

What are your thoughts?

Dear Sir Doctor Mr Rotovia GCMG, PhD,

It hurts. Why?

FBVIII

my nematodes won't synchronize properly. why?

Dear Uncle Rotty,

Why have you been such a bitch lately?




With loving concern,

Gartref

Dear Rotovia,

What ever happened to the "Ask the Squatch" threads that were about periodically and making it into the sixth incarnation before becoming lost to obscurity?

......
Yeah, I wondered about that. They were good; why did they go away?