[Ask Me Anything] #5: pi

[Calebark]

I had 25 other lads from my school get into med, plus I knew many others from city schools (Mac.Rob, MGS, Scotch, etc.).

Woww, I knew a lot of people from such schools got in, but I didn't know it was that many.

^{I have no question.}

[pi]

Some deep questions here, I'm going to keep my responses relatively snappy and if you'd like me to elaborate just ask

Few qs
Do you ever question why we as humans live and the meaning of life ? Very simply, not so much philosophical ly but more so just "why"

I don't think life has a meaning - it's just life. I'm not a big believer of higher powers and so forth, so I don't think we're here for a reason. I can understand why others may take comfort in thinking we do though.

What are you thoughts on social phobia, anxiety, and mental illness in general, from your newfound medical experience (and perhaps , if you remember , your thoughts prior to med) ?

I think mental illness definitely exists, it does have significant impacts on peoples' lives, and because we don't know a lot about how it occurs on a chemical level we're also not great at treating it. I don't think that understanding has between yr12 and now, although I certainly didn't know or know of so many people with mental illness when I was going through school as I do now, which is of course worrying.

Now for a trademark controversial opinion:

I also question whether with the recent movements to de-stigmatise mental illness (and all the other media coverage it has) are actually doing only good things. There's no doubt many good things come from these campaigns and many lives have been saved, however I wonder if this is all making young people feel like "it's ok to have a mental illness" in the sense that "ok" means it's "normal". I'd argue, "no, it's not ok", just like it's not "ok" to have melanoma or have your leg amputated. It's never "ok" to be sick. It's "ok" to admit you're sick and seek help, and that should be encouraged to everyone who is sick, but it's not "ok" just to be sick.

I wonder if these campaigns have done so well that they're actually normalising mental illness too much. But normalising as a concept, not as a deeper understanding (ie. crap like R U OK? day), to the point where newer generations aren't actually as resilient as previous generations, because now there are a stack of diagnoses to fall back on every time something doesn't go their way in life. That's not to say people with mental illness "just aren't resilient", because of course that's nonsense and we know that mental illness has numerous biological and environmental factors at play, but I suspect it may be just one environmental factor increasing the generational risk of becoming mentally ill. By how much it is increasing this risk? Who knows, but I think it is probably under-stated. It's an opinion I've heard echoed around in the medical community, especially during my psych term, and I think it's one that could have its merits. Indeed, resilience education features in many schools now in Europe and the US, perhaps it's Australia's turn to adopt it.

edit: clarified a few points

Final one: what are your thoughts on  comparing yourself to others ? In terms of looks, academics etx. Frivolous or something we all just do subconsciously?

Something we all do subconsciously for sure. But also not something worth dwelling on too much. Comparing yourself to someone else can motivate you, but it can also motivate you for what I consider to be 'the wrong reasons'. I think it's much more healthy to focus on yourself and how you can improve, and that's often hard to do, but you can teach yourself to make that the focus of your motivations.

[Butterflygirl]

What is the best book you have ever read?

How did you feel doing your first ever VCE exam?

During VCE did you ever come across people who try to purposefully make you stress out and doubt yourself before a SAC? (Or even before an exam) If yes, how did you deal with this people and focus on the main goal?

Would you rather wear a pug costume or a sausage dog costume in public? 

[pi]

What is the best book you have ever read?

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, great short read

How did you feel doing your first ever VCE exam?

It's been so long I can't really remember haha, so guessing it couldn't have been too traumatic! As said earlier, I didn't really take Unit 3 seriously enough and didn't really know how significant these VCE exams really were (we had mid-year exams), so I probably wasn't too nervous actually haha. BIG MISTAKE.

During VCE did you ever come across people who try to purposefully make you stress out and doubt yourself before a SAC? (Or even before an exam) If yes, how did you deal with this people and focus on the main goal?

Honestly, not really. I hung around my friends before assessments, and we kept each other pretty calm If I did have people like this, I think I'd just either try and be somewhere else or tell them in no uncertain terms something like "look, I'm feeling really nauseous, if you keep talking I'll have to look at you for politeness, and that means the vomit is coming your way" hahaha

Would you rather wear a pug costume or a sausage dog costume in public? 

Sausage dogs. Pugs are ugly af and I think it's really sad how humans have selectively bred them to this point. Not only are the ugly, they also have many health issues not experienced by other dogs (eg. breathing issues). Defs not the pug costume.

[plsbegentle]

Hey Pi
 1) Who was your favorite teacher?
2)Kill Marry Fuck? Mr Ludowyke, Mr Stiglec and Mr Guthrie and why?!
And very curious what house group were u? Go Waterloo!!

[pi]

1) Who was your favorite teacher?

I'd have to have two favourites:
1) Mr Yarussky, now retired, who taught me maths in Year 10 and Spesh in Year 12. One of the best teachers I've ever had in schooling. Plus, Maths sounds better with a Russian accent.
2) Ms Bekos, who I believe still works at MHS, was my English and form teacher in Year 12. Was one of the nicest teachers I've encountered, wrote a stellar reference for me for my JCU med application, and showed incredible dedication to her students in correcting essays over-night etc etc.

I've got other great teachers from my time at MHS, with Mr James (year 10 science, now retired) and Mr Wood (year 11 Spesh and Year 12 Methods, now retired) stand-outs too, but those two I've highlighted above stand out for me

2)Kill Marry Fuck? Mr Ludowyke, Mr Stiglec and Mr Guthrie and why?!

Yeaaaaaaah I'm going to be the buzz-kill and say that's not appropriate, sorry haha. Neither of those teachers taught me so I'm not going to make any comments about either of them. Also it's *Dr Stiglec, he has a PhD

And very curious what house group were u? Go Waterloo!!

I was in Forrest. Thankfully got to taste the Cock House in 2010.

(for those not at MHS: 'Cock House' is the legit name for our house cup)

[ayesha2011t]

Assuming you are Indian from your previous post, did you ever go to India?
If so, did you experience any culture chock?

Also, what country have you always wanted to visit?

[HopefulLawStudent]

No idea if this has been asked and answered yet (only skimmed through the AMA thread) but how many decimal places do you know π to off by heart?

[pi]

Assuming you are Indian from your previous post, did you ever go to India?
If so, did you experience any culture chock?

Haha yup Indian heritage, although I'll staunchly claim to be true blue Aussie I've been to India three times, and honestly, I don't enjoy it. The main reason is because I always get sick LOL. Every time I go I've got some semi-serious infection that's knocked me around for a week or more, I'll stick to countries with clean water and food that my weak untested Aussie immune system can handle haha

As for culture shock, there's no bigger culture shock that just noticing the smell after you walk out of the plane at New Delhi airport. Pretty much sums up the cultural shock haha

Super relevant hahaha:

Also, what country have you always wanted to visit?

I'll cheekily copy and paste from earlier in this thread

Probably Egypt, albeit in a more peaceful time. The history and the wondrous man-made structures could be amazing to experience in person.

No idea if this has been asked and answered yet (only skimmed through the AMA thread) but how many decimal places do you know π to off by heart?

Haha been asked :)

Like, 4 digits? There are two types of people in the world: those who live to recite pi, and those that appreciate pi and move on with life :)

[heids]

(to clarify, everyone, the downvote brigade (and pi's 'angry' victim message) is a random IRC joke LOL)

[Syndicate]

Nonsense.

Syndicate,

I know who you are, but I don't know what you want. If you are looking for ransom, I can tell you I don't have money. But what I do have are a very particular set of skills; skills I have acquired over a very long career as a mod. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. If you stop maliciously cyber-bullying me now, that'll be the end of it. I will not look for you, I will not pursue you. But if you don't, I will look for you, I will find you, and I will ban you.

Regards,
pi.

I have no intentions of cyber-bullying you or anyone here. In fact what I do see is that you are trying to shift all the blame on me, just because I down-voted your post for your negative comments on a specific race* (which I did not find amusing). I also didn't convince anyone to down-vote you. It was all their decision.

My sincere apologies for all the down votes you received. I had no clue that such a thing could have happened.

[heids]

I have no intentions of cyber-bullying you or anyone here. In fact what I do see is that you are trying to shift all the blame on me, just because I down-voted your post for your negative comments on a specific race* (which I did not find amusing). I also didn't convince anyone to down-vote you. It was all their decision.

My sincere apologies for all the down votes you received. I had no clue that such a thing could have happened.

Hahaha honestly don't worry about it, pi was fairly clearly joking (who includes MLK quotes when they're being serious? o.O), all in good fun.    Besides, he needs a downvote here and there to counteract the insane number of VCE Physics upvotes he's received over time.  Wouldn't want anyone getting too swelled-headed.

[EEEEEEP]

Wouldn't want anyone getting too swelled-headed.

Very true heids , GJ

[Swagadaktal]

I have no intentions of cyber-bullying you or anyone here. In fact what I do see is that you are trying to shift all the blame on me, just because I down-voted your post for your negative comments on a specific race* (which I did not find amusing). I also didn't convince anyone to down-vote you. It was all their decision.

My sincere apologies for all the down votes you received. I had no clue that such a thing could have happened.

I agree. I think it's highly inappropriate that a member (one of the oldest members I might add) who has over 10k posts and 2.198k respect is pinning the blame on someone else. It's despicable. We should be allowed to share our views here and our concerns without being targeted by established members who seek to belittle others.

You were offended by PI's post and that's acceptable - it's not up to society or pi' (regardless of his overarching presence on this site) to dictate what you are offended by. Shame on you Pi. And shame on your contemptible racial comments.

[HighTide]

I agree. I think it's highly inappropriate that a member (one of the oldest members I might add) who has over 10k posts and 2.198k respect is pinning the blame on someone else. It's despicable. We should be allowed to share our views here and our concerns without being targeted by established members who seek to belittle others.

You were offended by PI's post and that's acceptable - it's not up to society or pi' (regardless of his overarching presence on this site) to dictate what you are offended by. Shame on you Pi. And shame on your contemptible racial comments.

Yes, I too agree. Although I am not of Indian nationality, I will find a reason why I am triggered by his comment, just give me a few hours. 

In any case, it is very unacceptable to make such racial slurs!    We should all be coming together and condemning Pi's irresponsible and highly derogatory comments. We should stand together until swift justice has been served! I shall get the ball rolling with the hashtag #PostBanForPi'