I have just
had a discussion with one of our postgrad students. I've been helping her a bit with some of the chemistry behind what she's been doing, but the actual experiments she's been performing are not in my field of science, and as such I've little idea what she's going on about.

Thing is, now she's asking me for advice. So far, I've got through OK by coming out with some related things which are sort of relevant, and not in her range of knowledge, but I need now to either:

1 - swot up on it, as it's quite an interesting area, thus becoming knowledgeable and genuinely helpful, or
2 - keep faking it and hope she gives up trying to understand what I'm talking about, or
3 - admit I actually know bugger all about the subject.

I should do no. 1, and I would like to do so. But that takes effort, and I can see no. 2 becoming an appealing prospect...

But I'll get found out. I just know it. I can't bring myself to admit to no. 3 though.

Dilemmas, dilemmas.
( K2k6 has a proper job these days, Fri 11 Jul 2008, 9:14, 5 replies)

3!
At some point she's got to learn to ask the right people the right questions. Surely there's someone else in the dept who's better suited to help her?

And honesty is nearly always the best policy IMHO.
(Shippy likes linebreaks and doesn't care what you think, Fri 11 Jul 2008, 9:48, closed)

Is she pretty?
If so then make the effort and do 1, if not then go for 3. Not worth trying 2 as she'll catch on eventually otherwise.
( fuck shit up the best you never had, Fri 11 Jul 2008, 9:53, closed)

Try option 4
get her drunk on Lambrini and do her in the toilets.
(Bazongaloid, Fri 11 Jul 2008, 9:55, closed)

The problem with option 3
is that the fakery has started already. So I'd be a bit red faced.

And yes, there are people much more qualified than I to help her, but there are certain aspects of the work that I know about. Maybe I should concentrate on that.

@Becky, Al - she is pretty, but she's also going out with someone here.

I would like to do option 1 though. Maybe I could learn a bit about it, and then admit that I don't know a huge amount on the subject, thus avoiding embarrassment with minimal work on my part.
( K2k6 has a proper job these days, Fri 11 Jul 2008, 10:05, closed)

Cop out
And claim you're too busy to help her.
(Shippy likes linebreaks and doesn't care what you think, Fri 11 Jul 2008, 10:24, closed)