# Brit Dope Winter 2003 **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 1, 2003, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brit-dope-winter-2003/204981 "2003-10-01T21:07:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 29
**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2003, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brit-dope-winter-2003/204981/561 "2003-11-07T14:59:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Shade \* > \*\* > I have no idea where the idea of a teetotal maths professor came from. \*\* That would be a certain Prof. K. šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![Shade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@Shade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shade)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2003, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brit-dope-winter-2003/204981/562 "2003-11-07T15:30:13Z")
Or how you can do abstract maths for a living and not drink šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2003, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brit-dope-winter-2003/204981/563 "2003-11-07T15:36:11Z")
With extreme difficulty methinks. Much like doing astrophysics for a living and not drinking - eventually youā€™ll crack. šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![Shade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@Shade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shade)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2003, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brit-dope-winter-2003/204981/564 "2003-11-07T15:42:45Z")
Well, I think maths and astrophysics entail extreme difficultly whatever you do šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2003, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brit-dope-winter-2003/204981/565 "2003-11-07T15:45:03Z")
Yeah, not least of all with stupid computers that throw tantrums at you, just because your supervisorā€™s told you to have a shit load of data analysis done before Tuesday. Me, bitter and upset? Never. šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![Shade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@Shade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shade)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2003, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brit-dope-winter-2003/204981/566 "2003-11-07T16:05:52Z")
I was going to say I donā€™t have that problem, because I can always just get another pen. But depressingly often I do have to google up some definition or proof. Have you tried turning the computer on? šŸ™‚ In either sense? šŸ™‚ (Wow, can I be doubly insulting or what? Sorry, just kidding. I donā€™t know how they know, but computers definately do smell urgency!) ---
**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2003, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brit-dope-winter-2003/204981/567 "2003-11-07T16:07:33Z")
šŸ˜ƒ The computer is on. I refuse to whisper sweet nothings to it because it doesnā€™t deserve it. Besides, I may well be recently single, but Iā€™m not _that_ desperate!! šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![Shade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@Shade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shade)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2003, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brit-dope-winter-2003/204981/568 "2003-11-07T16:15:17Z")
One of you has to make the first move. Itā€™s not like you have to mean it; just promise it some new hardware for you to play together with, and see how much more cooperative it becomesā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2003, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brit-dope-winter-2003/204981/569 "2003-11-07T16:21:19Z")
Now thereā€™s an idea. But then, once I dump the computer for someone else, itā€™ll feel used, and start acting up, and itā€™ll make an awkward situation in the office because weā€™ll have to see each other and work together every day. šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![Shade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@Shade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shade)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2003, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brit-dope-winter-2003/204981/570 "2003-11-07T16:31:45Z")
You could have open relationships. I know many people who would like to keep a computer as well as an other significant otherā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2003, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brit-dope-winter-2003/204981/571 "2003-11-07T16:32:57Z")
Yes, but then Iā€™d be cheating on my other computer - the one I have at home. šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![Shade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@Shade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shade)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2003, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brit-dope-winter-2003/204981/572 "2003-11-07T16:45:37Z")
You didnā€™t say you were already dating one appliance. You may have to choose between work and play hereā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2003, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brit-dope-winter-2003/204981/573 "2003-11-07T16:49:17Z")
They never meet each other. šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![Shade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@Shade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shade)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2003, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brit-dope-winter-2003/204981/574 "2003-11-07T16:52:40Z")
Yeah, but people can gossip over the internet now. I canā€™t speak from personal experience, but my sit-com-spidey-sense says: trying to date two people just because youā€™re sure theyā€™ll never meet IRL is a really bad idea. Whatā€™d you do if they both got bad at you? Youā€™d never get any internet access. ---
**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2003, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brit-dope-winter-2003/204981/575 "2003-11-07T16:57:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Shade \* > **Yeah, but people can gossip over the internet now. I canā€™t speak from personal experience, but my sit-com-spidey-sense says: trying to date two people just because youā€™re sure theyā€™ll never meet IRL is a really bad idea.** Good point. That could be a really bad idea. As my friend the astronomer tart will attest to. Heā€™s in a bit of a bind at the moment, and its rather amusing. šŸ™‚ Youā€™re not perchance going to a housewarming party tomorrow night are you? > [@](#): > > \*\*Whatā€™d you do if they both got bad at you? Youā€™d never get any > internet access. \*\* The one at home doesnā€™t give me internet access anyway. ā˜¹ ---
**Author:** ![Shade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@Shade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shade)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2003, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brit-dope-winter-2003/204981/576 "2003-11-07T17:04:57Z")
> [@](#): > > As my friend the astronomer tart will attest to. Yeah, yeah. Youā€™ve got a ā€˜friendā€™ whoā€™s an astronomer tart šŸ˜ƒ > [@](#): > > Heā€™s in a bit of a bind at the moment, and its rather amusing. The sort of bind I described? Oh dear. > [@](#): > > Youā€™re not perchance going to a housewarming party tomorrow night are you? Not meā€¦ why do you ask? (This house doesnā€™t by any chance have a really geeky name, does it?) > [@](#): > > The one at home doesnā€™t give me internet access anyway. You shouldnā€™t stand for that! You do have needsā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2003, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brit-dope-winter-2003/204981/577 "2003-11-07T17:14:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Shade \* > **Yeah, yeah. Youā€™ve got a ā€˜friendā€™ whoā€™s an astronomer tart šŸ˜ƒ** Yeah, heā€™s a friend. Just a friend. A platonic friend. Not one of those ā€œfriendsā€ where you wind up in bed together. We are just friends. > [@](#): > > **The sort of bind I described? Oh dear.** Yup. Not so much dating though, more sort of chasing šŸ˜‰ > [@](#): > > **Not meā€¦ why do you ask? (This house doesnā€™t by any chance have a really geeky name, does it?)** No reason. Just making sure youā€™re not going to bump into my astronomer friend, except for at the Pickerel on the 27th! > [@](#): > > \*\*You shouldnā€™t stand for that! You do have needsā€¦ \*\* I know. But he just doesnā€™t care about me. He just doesnā€™t understand. ā˜¹ ---
**Author:** ![Shade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@Shade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shade)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2003, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brit-dope-winter-2003/204981/578 "2003-11-07T17:20:02Z")
(I was actually implying ā€˜friendā€™ was you; never mind. That fell pretty flat.) So, heā€™s being a typical man, then? ā˜¹ šŸ™‚ I donā€™t think I know any astronomers here. But the odds seem to suggest I know someone who knows himā€¦ cambridge is a small place these days. ---
**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2003, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brit-dope-winter-2003/204981/579 "2003-11-07T17:22:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Shade \* > **(I was actually implying ā€˜friendā€™ was you; never mind. That fell pretty flat.)** I know you were. šŸ˜‰ Besides, Iā€™m not in Cambridge at the moment. šŸ˜‰ > [@](#): > > **So, heā€™s being a typical man, then? ā˜¹ šŸ™‚** _sob_ yes he is. _sob_ šŸ˜‰ > [@](#): > > \*\*I donā€™t think I know any astronomers here. But the odds seem to suggest I know someone who knows himā€¦ cambridge is a small place these days. \*\* Yeah, you probably do. And you probably know someone who knows me. Which is really rather scary! ---
**Author:** ![Shade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@Shade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shade)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2003, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brit-dope-winter-2003/204981/580 "2003-11-07T17:26:59Z")
Oh. OK, whoosh then. Bloody men. šŸ™‚ Yes, eek! Though otoh, people who know you are more likely to have graduated - which year were you last here? I guess PhD students would be the best betā€¦ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brit-dope-winter-2003/204981.md?page=28) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brit-dope-winter-2003/204981.md?page=30)