# Abandon Every Hope. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 4, 2015, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abandon-every-hope/733524 "2015-10-04T18:39:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2015, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abandon-every-hope/733524/81 "2015-10-08T20:21:51Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Best of all, do all three; become a chain-smoking, alcoholic, depressed Russian Jewish biker… …with a Mathematics PhD! ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2015, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abandon-every-hope/733524/82 "2015-10-08T20:23:09Z")
He’d be the best educated member of the biker gang. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2015, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abandon-every-hope/733524/83 "2015-10-08T20:24:02Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Nonsense. Show me a 22 year old that’s got anything to teach anybody about life. I knew a guy at 22 who consistently got more tail than than anyone I’ve known since. I still wish I knew his secret. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2015, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abandon-every-hope/733524/84 "2015-10-08T20:28:32Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > I knew a guy at 22 who consistently got more tail than than anyone I’ve known since. I still wish I knew his secret. Money and coke ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2015, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abandon-every-hope/733524/85 "2015-10-08T20:29:30Z")
> [@CCitizen](#): > > These would be good changes, but trying and failing would be a great waste of time and energy. Should I try and fail? Einstein said, “If one doesn’t fail at least 15 times before succeeding then one has not even tried.” ---
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2015, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abandon-every-hope/733524/86 "2015-10-08T20:39:31Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Actually maybe not. Smoking might help you lose weight. And if you spent every evening in a bar getting stinking drunk, at least you’d spending time among other people. Or you could take up motorcycling, join the Hell’s Angels or another motorcycle club and socialize that way. Best of all, do all three; become a chain-smoking, alcoholic, depressed Russian Jewish biker. Certainly you’d be a more _interesting_ person. After I finish my High School in 1987, I will try. I already made a decision in '85 to start driving a motorcycle when I am 18. ---
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2015, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abandon-every-hope/733524/87 "2015-10-08T20:40:31Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Nonsense. Show me a 22 year old that’s got anything to teach anybody about life. They have much much more optimism and hope. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2015, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abandon-every-hope/733524/88 "2015-10-08T20:41:33Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > Money and coke That really is all it takes. ---
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2015, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abandon-every-hope/733524/89 "2015-10-08T20:42:59Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > Einstein said, “If one doesn’t fail at least 15 times before succeeding then one has not even tried.” Having tried more times then that I [ACCEPT](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C3%BCbler-Ross_model). ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2015, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abandon-every-hope/733524/90 "2015-10-08T20:44:36Z")
> [@CCitizen](#): > > After I finish my High School in 1987, I will try. I already made a decision in '85 to start driving a motorcycle when I am 18. Time travel! Okay that’s a seriously neat trick. How’d you do that? ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2015, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abandon-every-hope/733524/91 "2015-10-08T21:13:23Z")
> [@CCitizen](#): > > Thank you very much. Maybe I was born under unlucky stars. So. You have a PhD in mathematics (under which discipline you won’t say), yet you believe in “psychic energy” and believe in astrology? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2015, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abandon-every-hope/733524/92 "2015-10-08T22:45:17Z")
> [@CCitizen](#): > > > [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > > > Actually maybe not. Smoking might help you lose weight. And if you spent every evening in a bar getting stinking drunk, at least you’d spending time among other people. Or you could take up motorcycling, join the Hell’s Angels or another motorcycle club and socialize that way. Best of all, do all three; become a chain-smoking, alcoholic, depressed Russian Jewish biker. Certainly you’d be a more _interesting_ person. > > After I finish my High School in 1987, I will try. I already made a decision in '85 to start driving a motorcycle when I am 18. What are you doing, waiting until 1987 to start? Go right out and start smoking at least a couple of packs of cigarettes each day. The pounds will just melt right off. And none of those wimpy “filtered” cigarettes, or even more wimpy e-cigs. Smoke several packs each day of real unfilitered cigarettes. And find the nearest bar to spend each evening drinking until you have to crawl home. I guarantee that your social life will improve. Later, we’ll find a motorcycle club for you to join. ---
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2015, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abandon-every-hope/733524/93 "2015-10-08T23:29:08Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > What are you doing, waiting until 1987 to start? Go right out and start smoking at least a couple of packs of cigarettes each day. The pounds will just melt right off. And none of those wimpy “filtered” cigarettes, or even more wimpy e-cigs. Smoke several packs each day of real unfilitered cigarettes. When I made that decision I did smoke a few cigarettes that school year '84 – '85. I could run and weight ~75 kg – very normal. Now I prefer not to risk my life. I can never be a juvenile again. Even someone at 25 can but not at 45. ---
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2015, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abandon-every-hope/733524/94 "2015-10-08T23:30:30Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > So. You have a PhD in mathematics (under which discipline you won’t say), yet you believe in “psychic energy” and believe in astrology I hate math with passion – I do not really value my PhD. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2015, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abandon-every-hope/733524/95 "2015-10-08T23:35:41Z")
> [@CCitizen](#): > > I hate math with passion – I do not really value my PhD. This story doesnt add up 😛 ---
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2015, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abandon-every-hope/733524/96 "2015-10-08T23:36:13Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > This story doesnt add up 😛 Why not? ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2015, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abandon-every-hope/733524/97 "2015-10-08T23:45:21Z")
> [@CCitizen](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > Did you already hate math all the time you were in school studying it? > > Very very very much so. I’m not sure I understand how this is possible. If you don’t mind my asking, how did you get on this math track, then? Was there something you’d rather have done instead? My understanding is that a solid background in mathematics can qualify you for a wide range of good career choices. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2015, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abandon-every-hope/733524/98 "2015-10-08T23:47:05Z")
> [@CCitizen](#): > > Complaining is a part of my life. It is much better then alcoholism, smoking, motorcycling taken up by many in my situation. Motorcycling?! I’m confused. How is riding a motorcycle _at all_ like being an alcoholic? ---
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2015, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abandon-every-hope/733524/99 "2015-10-08T23:48:56Z")
> [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](#): > > If you don’t mind my asking, how did you get on this math track, then? Was there something you’d rather have done instead? I wanted to be a writer. How did I get on math track? Only my parents know. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abandon-every-hope/733524/100 "2015-10-09T03:26:38Z")
> [@CCitizen](#): > > I wanted to be a writer. How did I get on math track? Only my parents know. Too bad you’re too old to write. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abandon-every-hope/733524.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abandon-every-hope/733524.md?page=6)