Thesis Paradox

I think it's pretty well known that humans are creatures of habit. We always want to return to the familiar, the things that we know, the life we understand. It's one reason why men marry wives who are like their mothers, and why some prisoners want to return to prison. And I think this is why it's so hard to finish a PhD thesis.

You see, a PhD student has been doing their thesis for years, and you start to develop a habit. "Doing the thesis" is a solid, predictable part of your life. Your lovers can come and go, you can move country or change jobs, but the thesis remains a constant presence in your life.

So when it comes time to "finish" the thesis, you start to worry. What is life going to be like when my thesis is done? Will that piece of paper fill the void it leaves in my life? When I finish, what will I have then? What will I do?

Of course, the obvious answer is "you will have the rest of your life". Once you're finished with your thesis, you'll be able to "anything that has nothing to do with your thesis". We should celebrate! But, when you think about it, this isn't a good answer at all. It leaves the PhD student with two options:

1. Quit doing your thesis, right now. Why bother finishing when that final piece of paper adds nothing to your life? You can quit the thesis right now, and go do something you enjoy.
2. Continue doing your thesis for eternity. It's a constant, it's been in your life for years, it's the evil that you know. It's comforting in a sick, twisted, masochistic way.

There is nothing in human nature that encourages a PhD student to finish their thesis. There's no impact on your life once you finish the thesis, with the exception of having that 'one daily constant' removed from your life. It's ridiculous.

In other news, I found a bug in my thesis code. Re-running all my experiments now. :P