News for hackers. Stuff that matters.
Re:Why I'm Getting a PhD by betterunix on Monday September 16, 2013 @02:26PM (#6394862)
The problem is that you might find yourself at a point where it is just not all that enjoyable anymore. Your adviser stops caring about your research, or you are told that you need to get N papers published by the end of the year to stay in the program, etc. Maybe you find that you are unable to work with your adviser, and there is nobody else who will take you on as a student. I have seen a number of people leave grad school over such things.
Re:Why I'm Getting a PhD by burntsushi on Monday September 16, 2013 @06:58PM (#6396446)
Well, I mean, yeah. If you don't enjoy it or end up in a position where you no longer enjoy it, then doing it for fun is no longer a good reason. :-)

I certainly didn't mean to imply that everyone's experience should be rosy...

Re:Why I'm Getting a PhD by mafribe on Tuesday September 17, 2013 @12:07PM (#6400097)
Most PhDs involve serious amounts of pain. In fact, I'd say the hardest bit in a PhD is often not to give up with going further is difficult.