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PaperclipPerfector  1d ago (text post)   972 thread views

Friday Fun Thread for April 10, 2026

Be advised: this thread is not for serious in-depth discussion of weighty topics (we have a link for that), this thread is not for anything Culture War related. This thread is for Fun. You got jokes? Share 'em. You got silly questions? Ask 'em.

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I just got an informal job offer from my friend's startup company here in Baltimore. It's almost exactly what I want to do (engineer soil microbes) and although it would only pay 60k, I have significant financial assistance from my parents to buy a house, and would come with significant equity in the company, which could have huge upside.

On one hand staying in Baltimore is hugely appealing. I have a ton of friends and community here, the crime problem in the city has gotten significantly better since I started my PhD, and I could actually afford a house, even without my parents' help. On the other hand, dating here has been total ass, I'm not sure I'm ready to give up the dream of academia just yet (although I think American universities are sinking ship for a variety of reasons), and while crime has gotten significantly more under control than when I moved here in 2020, there's still an anti-white racial animus here that I don't like. I'd also have to speed run the end of my PhD, but that again shouldn't be too much of a problem.

I guess I'd like your guys' thoughts: should I stay or should I go?

I got betrayed as heck in an early stage startup, so whatever you do make sure you don’t fall for equity cliff bs. Get your equity doled out every month or so.

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