this post was submitted on 17 Apr 2026
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Science Memes

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[–] riskable@programming.dev 40 points 2 days ago (4 children)

I have ADHD, which means I have to go to a psychiatrist every three months to refill my prescription. It's silly, really but required by law.

Before he died suddenly of an aneurysm, my former psychiatrist was fascinated with me. He said it was because I'm always so jovial... Which I understand now is something of an oddity at a psychiatrist's office 🀣

Anyway, because if this, he would often give me tests and puzzles to develop "a baseline". Apparently so he wouldn't lose his own mind from the more extreme patients he often dealt with 😁

I signed his forms (it was all above board) and he'd test my reaction time, run me through various questionaires about my thoughts, and time how long it would take me to solve simple puzzles. Only challenging one was one of those "fold the boxes in your mind" tests which I assume I aced (that's my jam!)

I didn't mind at all! It was actually quite fun working with his staff and psychiatrists in training who were the ones who were always there, recording the results. I would make jokes like, "I've been practicing my jumping!" Then pretend to be disappointed that they were only going to ask me questions and not test my jumping ability.

I was the lab rat. Probably the control lab rat but it was still fun and interesting. The best perk was that when I walked into his office, the receptionist would notice me and send me right to the back. No matter how many people were sitting there, waiting.

There were snacks, but only for children ☹️

Now that I think about it, the various tests and questions could've been a ruse! They were actually testing my willpower, sitting next to bowls of mini packages of M&Ms and Reese's the entire time! πŸ€”

Now I'm imagining his notes:

"Subject 294 still hasn't taken or attempted to steal any candy. Despite timing his appointment precisely around lunch time and keeping him here for an extra half an hour. He's still laughing and joking with the staff. I may have to order an ice cream machine."

[–] sp3ctr4l@lemmy.dbzer0.com 7 points 1 day ago

Before he died suddenly of an aneurysm, my former psychiatrist was fascinated with me.

"I'm not trapped in here with you, you're trapped in here with me."

[–] Etterra@discuss.online 7 points 2 days ago (2 children)

SCP-294-J is to be monitored by a Foundation appointed psychiatrist. Once every three months SCP-294-J is to be administered all tests from the Mu-9 battery and the results logged in file SCP-294-J-A. Observations not otherwise contained in the Mu-9 tests should be annotated with extreme attention to detail. This is to be presented to the entity as a psychological therapy and evaluation session for the purposes of legally administering prescription medication for a mundane ADHD diagnosis. The testing and administration personnel must take extreme care to maintain the facade of a psychiatric medical office, and ensure the entity believes their diagnosis and all associated medical activities reinforce the entity's belief that their diagnosis and evaluation are for the purpose of treating their ADHD.

If at any time during testing SCP-294-J makes any indication of doubt or suspicion of their ADHD diagnosis, they are to be given a supplementary medication of specially formulated amnestic compound B-294-J-S1.

If at any point during evaluation SCP-294-J is not showing its typical personality traits (see description), they are to be immediately sedated, given a 3cc injection of compound 789, and given one dose of specially formulated amnestic B-294-J-S2.

SCP-294-J is to be given a treatment regimen of compound 789 tablets, disguised as an ADHD medication. The distribution of compound 789 is to be performed by a member of Foundation medical staff to be embedded in the preferred pharmacy of SCP-294-J.

Additional monitoring is to be performed via the inclusion of micro surveillance cameras and microphones at places SCP-294-J frequents, including but not limited to their domicile, place of employment, and any educational instructions they attend.

If at any time it is believed that SCP-294-J is not taking their medication, demonstrates the usage (consciously or unconsciously) of their anonymous abilities, deviates from their typical personality traits, or otherwise demonstrates behavior, personality traits, or beliefs outside the parameters this described, MTF Verdant-8, Doctor's Helpers, is to be deployed to sedate and isolate them for supplementary treatment. If necessary the use of tranquilizing darts, sedative gas, or other weaponized non-lethal chemical incapacitating compound is permitted.

Under no circumstances is violence of any kind to be used by personal, including MTF operatives, on SCP-294-J.

In the event SCP-294-J is subjected to violence, MTF-Verdant 9 is to respond to the location of the SCP, and if possible incapacitate it using approved methods. If SCP-294-J is not able to be incapacitated, the MTF should instead focus on securing the safety of nearby civilians and, if necessary, the disabling of any persons involved in said violence. The monitoring doctor should be immediately notified of the situation and escorted to SCP-294-J, where they will need to calm the entity sufficiently to permit sedation.

Once SCP-294-J has been sedatedv and secured, the doctor will be responsible for detailing and ensuring their medical meds are met and amnestics are administered, with an appropriate cover story provided as they deem appropriate.

[–] riskable@programming.dev 4 points 1 day ago

So that's why I occasionally dozed off in there, despite taking ADHD medication and having plenty of sleep!

Also, it explains the microphone I found in my alarm clock years later.

Note: I really did find a microphone in my alarm clock years later! It had its own battery and was not spliced into the incoming power, which was, well... Amateurish!

Somewhere, out there, is hundreds of hours of audio recordings of me snoring. Or perhaps, the only remaining evidence of my superpower.

I have a similar relationship with my neurologist. I’ve been seeing him for over 15 years for stabby appointments. That is to say I get something like 60-80 injections every time I see him. He isn't in a position to give me tests, but he does use the things I say to help his other patients.

Its botox injections for migraine, and he’s one of the first people to pick up doing it, so he's seen some shit. Nothing I say surprises him at all, unless its FUN. So early on when my skin was still reacting to it big time, i told him i sort of liked that I looked like a klingon after my appointments, and thats what I always told people because I needed to go to a brewery after to make the pain suck less.

Im also almost always on board to be a training pin cushion for residents. So much that if the resident doesn't understand what I’m offering them (a willing participant to their education; a unicorn), he just says β€œif you are ready to practice injections, she’s offering, and she doesn’t flinch”.

Because I’m used to it. I try not to flinch because that’s worse. I’m pretty upbeat about the whole thing. And I recently found out he has patients who scream about it every single spot. Holy fuck. I can’t imagine being that sensitive. So now i understand why he admitted to his existential crisis to me. (β€œI feel like I’m going to hell for causing people such pain as part of my job” he’s retirement age or older, so understandable thought)

[–] RebekahWSD@lemmy.world 3 points 2 days ago

Very mean the snacks were only for children!

[–] Etterra@discuss.online 8 points 2 days ago

I'd rather be a lab specimen. They'd treat me better than the government, rent and food are free, and when they're done I even get to be euthanized. Seriously, huge improvement.

My eyes are burning with the amount of emojis in this post.

[–] panda_abyss@lemmy.ca 19 points 2 days ago

I just played Portal for the first time. GLaDOS is that you?

[–] turtlesareneat@piefed.ca 13 points 2 days ago (2 children)

This stuff used to bother me but then I observed nature and its cruel rules for long enough, and I realized that suffering is one of the few constants in life, one of the guarantees. Wasps that paralyze spiders for months so they can be eaten alive by their offspring, bird species where most chicks are left to stave to death, etc... yeah nature is just as cruel as humans can be, but at a much larger scale in perpetuity, and we're a lot more efficient at turning that suffering into greater good that lessens the suffering of others in perpetuity. So, while I don't condone or even like to think about baby monkey experiments, I will not bat an eye at lab mice being given Parkinson's so we can observe and seek answers and cures.

[–] massive_bereavement@fedia.io 14 points 2 days ago

I wouldn't say that nature is cruel, but amoral and chaotic, with a focus on trying all the venues for survival, whith some for moral beings like us, seemingly cruel.

When I did experimentation, I often focused on minimizing harm. I also try doing as much good as I am doing "bad". That helps me deal with this.

[–] Dadifer@lemmy.world 10 points 2 days ago

In science, they at least die for reasons. I hope I can feel as good about my end.

[–] SkaveRat@discuss.tchncs.de 6 points 2 days ago

Look, give me some treats when I hit the lever and a clicky water bottle and we're good

[–] Fontasia@feddit.nl 1 points 1 day ago

Forget flowers, Justice for Algernon

[–] _stranger_@lemmy.world 9 points 2 days ago
[–] aviationeast@lemmy.world 8 points 2 days ago

Whose a good little Stockholm experiment?

[–] Maeve@kbin.earth 4 points 2 days ago (1 children)
[–] sp3ctr4l@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 1 day ago

The Truman Show has expanded to essentially the entire planet, following the proliferation of black box social media algorithms.

[–] RustyNova@lemmy.world 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Mobius (Honkai impact) fans be like

[–] Chakravanti@monero.town 1 points 2 days ago

Listening to dead math!