NationStates Jolt Archive

...and by a psychiatrist, no less. A nameless shrink owes me a political chat...

Since you're all probably scratching your heads, let me explain:

My introductory psychology class requires us to garner at least six hours of participatory research before the end of the semester in order to receive course credit. In layman's terms: we can either be lab rats, or we can fail.

So today I signed up for an "expressive language" study. It stated that it would ask me a few screening questions, then have me right a full expository essay, then allow me to participate in a chat room. Ostensibly this would be so that linguistic researches could compare my formal writing style with my faster-paced IM-speak.

So I take the survey -- which is oddly dominated by questions such as "Do you trust your doctor?" and "Do you see your doctor as a friend?" What's next? I think. Would you do your doctor?

I proceed to the essay -- which, like the survey, is all medical. It basically asked me to tell of a time of personal misfortune which stemmed from a physical problem. I typed up a short summary of my experiences with back surgery, then hit "submit".

At last, the chat rooms! There are three choices:

General health: Discuss past medical problems and health advice with fellow subjects.

*yawn*

Academics: Discuss class schedules and coursework with fellow students.

*snore*

Current events: Discuss political and social topics with fellow subjects.

Jackpot!

I click the third option, gearing up with some good old-fashioned debate. I get this:

TEST OVER
As with most psychological tests, it was necessary to withhold some information about the session from you in order to obtain more candid responses. Now that the test is complete, we can offer full disclosure.

This test was designed to identify causal relationships between health and social behavior. Some theorize that the chronically sick are more likely to discuss their ailments in order to elicit sympathy and aid from their peers. Others posit that the sick tend to withdraw in order to avoid beeing seen as weak.

By analyzing the relationship between the subject's medical history and their willingness to discuss their health with others, we hope to make standard responses in these situations more clearly defined. Since the choice of chat room was our real goal here, actually participating in the chat is not necessary. Plus, it's faster that way!

Damn! Here I was, hoping to chat it up some fellow political junkies, and all I get is a slap in the face. And after filling out that forty-question survey and writing an essay? For shame, you deceitful Freud-wannabe. For shame.

So, to avoid sounding like a blog: have you ever been misled in such a way? Psychology tests, Candid Camera, Punk'd, whatever. I'm just looking for a little commiseration. Gullibility loves company.

(Incidentally, I guess their little test is flawed. Since I didn't choose the medical chat, that would suggest I would avoid talking about my problems. My self-absorbed blathering and fishing for sympathy here proves them wrong. In your face, psychology!)

*Turns away laughing, Freudian slips on a banana peel*

Ow... my ego...

...and by a psychiatrist, no less. A nameless shrink owes me a political chat...

Since you're all probably scratching your heads, let me explain:

My introductory psychology class requires us to garner at least six hours of participatory research before the end of the semester in order to receive course credit. In layman's terms: we can either be lab rats, or we can fail.

So today I signed up for an "expressive language" study. It stated that it would ask me a few screening questions, then have me right a full expository essay, then allow me to participate in a chat room. Ostensibly this would be so that linguistic researches could compare my formal writing style with my faster-paced IM-speak.

So I take the survey -- which is oddly dominated by questions such as "Do you trust your doctor?" and "Do you see your doctor as a friend?" What's next? I think. Would you do your doctor?

I proceed to the essay -- which, like the survey, is all medical. It basically asked me to tell of a time of personal misfortune which stemmed from a physical problem. I typed up a short summary of my experiences with back surgery, then hit "submit".

At last, the chat rooms! There are three choices:

General health: Discuss past medical problems and health advice with fellow subjects.

*yawn*

Academics: Discuss class schedules and coursework with fellow students.

*snore*

Current events: Discuss political and social topics with fellow subjects.

Jackpot!

I click the third option, gearing up with some good old-fashioned debate. I get this:



Damn! Here I was, hoping to chat it up some fellow political junkies, and all I get is a slap in the face. And after filling out that forty-question survey and writing an essay? For shame, you deceitful Freud-wannabe. For shame.

So, to avoid sounding like a blog: have you ever been misled in such a way? Psychology tests, Candid Camera, Punk'd, whatever. I'm just looking for a little commiseration. Gullibility loves company.

(Incidentally, I guess their little test is flawed. Since I didn't choose the medical chat, that would suggest I would avoid talking about my problems. My self-absorbed blathering and fishing for sympathy here proves them wrong. In your face, psychology!)

*Turns away laughing, Freudian slips on a banana peel*

Ow... my ego...
I can see the pattern. Do you see your doctor as a friend and do you trust your doctor.

and the third question is actually "which topic would you discuss with your doctor?" Tho it doesn't say doctor, it's attempting to see if you will make the connection.
medical = Pertaining to his field. a problem you have, a medical question...
academic = medical school and possible classwork. academia.
policitial = no conncetion with Medicine or very little.

it's like the series of questions concerning how one looks at problems. (http://extlab1.entnem.ufl.edu/IH8PCs/humor/test.htm).

Meh. I rarely take anything at face value.