rysertio on Nostr: I want to share something personal. I survived my PhD in Brazil during the pandemic ...
I want to share something personal. I survived my PhD in Brazil during the pandemic under Bolsonaro’s regime. For four years, my stipend stagnated, funding evaporated, and my mental health collapsed. I’d wake up and sleep scrolling through rage-bait headlines. I gained weight, battled gaming addiction, fought endlessly with Bolsonarist family members, and lost touch with people I loved.
Here’s what I learned:
1. Your research matters more than the noise.
When I finally read a 4-month-old paper in my field—a paper I’d ignored while doomscrolling Bolsonaro’s latest idiocy—it hit me: I’d traded meaningful science for political theatrics. Don’t let algorithms or billionaires (yes, Elon, I’m side-eyeing you) hijack your focus. Master the techniques you care about. Read papers that ignite your curiosity. Your work is your rebellion.
You’re not trapped.
Academia trains us to move—cities, countries, continents. Closed regimes? They’ll still welcome skilled researchers. The world is vast, and your expertise is currency. I promise: there are labs, collaborators, and communities waiting for you. You are not alone.
Break the obsession cycle.
You already know what’s happening. Trump’s latest stunt? Bolsonaro’s cultists? Elon’s “genius” hot takes? They’re designed to addict you to outrage. Instead of refreshing headlines:
Protest strategically. Attend one rally a week. Scream your pain. Demand justice. Then leave.
Replace doomscrolling with action. Train yourself to think: “Will this headline change how I pipette tomorrow?” If not, close the tab.
Protect your joy. Read a paper, troubleshoot an experiment, or just… breathe.
Your sanity is non-negotiable.
I lost years to anger and anxiety. Don’t make my mistake. Find your “chains” and break them: unfollow toxic accounts, mute family group chats, and block anyone who dismisses your humanity.
Final thought:
The best “fuck you” to fascists? Thriving. Publish that paper. Build that collaboration. Laugh with labmates. Science outlives dictators—but only if we stay in the fight.
Here’s what I learned:
1. Your research matters more than the noise.
When I finally read a 4-month-old paper in my field—a paper I’d ignored while doomscrolling Bolsonaro’s latest idiocy—it hit me: I’d traded meaningful science for political theatrics. Don’t let algorithms or billionaires (yes, Elon, I’m side-eyeing you) hijack your focus. Master the techniques you care about. Read papers that ignite your curiosity. Your work is your rebellion.
You’re not trapped.
Academia trains us to move—cities, countries, continents. Closed regimes? They’ll still welcome skilled researchers. The world is vast, and your expertise is currency. I promise: there are labs, collaborators, and communities waiting for you. You are not alone.
Break the obsession cycle.
You already know what’s happening. Trump’s latest stunt? Bolsonaro’s cultists? Elon’s “genius” hot takes? They’re designed to addict you to outrage. Instead of refreshing headlines:
Protest strategically. Attend one rally a week. Scream your pain. Demand justice. Then leave.
Replace doomscrolling with action. Train yourself to think: “Will this headline change how I pipette tomorrow?” If not, close the tab.
Protect your joy. Read a paper, troubleshoot an experiment, or just… breathe.
Your sanity is non-negotiable.
I lost years to anger and anxiety. Don’t make my mistake. Find your “chains” and break them: unfollow toxic accounts, mute family group chats, and block anyone who dismisses your humanity.
Final thought:
The best “fuck you” to fascists? Thriving. Publish that paper. Build that collaboration. Laugh with labmates. Science outlives dictators—but only if we stay in the fight.