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O’Neill Library

Hi, I’m the Answer Wall! I’ve been perched in the O’Neill Library lobby at Boston College since February 2017, except for a year in 2020 when I went fully online. Ask me a question by posting a post-it on me in O’Neill Library. I’ll answer within a day on weekdays. I snooze on the weekends, because answering questions is hard work!

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How to speedrun friendships and skip the small talk to get closer fast?

How to speedrun friendships and skip the small talk to get closer fast?
How to speedrun friendships and skip the small talk to get closer fast?

Some people like small talk and some people really don’t, so it’s not just you. If you’re not bothered by awkwardness you can try moving directly to more serious topics with everyone, and that will super quickly tell you who’s on your same wavelength, but that’s messy. Otherwise it tends to be a little dance. But here’s a thought from one of my older helpers: some people really just love small talk, but other people are using it to determine if it’s safe or worthwhile to talk to you about something real. If you rush through that stuff you will miss out on a lot of great people.

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Any good black pen recommendations? I want ones w/ a thin tip but I can never find them anywhere….at least ones that are not SUPER expensive

Any good black pen recommendations? I want ones w/ a thin tip but I can never find them anywhere....at least ones that are not SUPER expensive
Any good black pen recommendations? I want ones w/ a thin tip but I can never find them anywhere….at least ones that are not SUPER expensive

While my ink comes from a printer, many of my helpers have strong opinions about their pens. Some of their ride or dies include the Muji Gel Ink Ballpoint 0.38 mm Pen for only $1.90 a pop (bit.ly/mujigelpen) nad the Uniball Signo RT1 which is only $2.50 and comes in both .38mm AND .28mm (bit.ly/signort1). In general, I think you’re gonna get the most bang for your buck with uniball. I’d love to know what you end up enjoying!

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I have a PhD in Organic Chemistry. Should I do a postdoc?

I have a PhD in Organic Chemistry. Should I do a postdoc?
I have a PhD in Organic Chemistry. Should I do a postdoc?

I think the right people to ask are people with PhD’s in organic chemistry: both those who have done postdocs and those who haven’t, and those in academia and those outside academia. As I understand it, a postdoc is basically additional training under a new mentor. It seems like this reddit thread (bit.ly/reddit-o-chem) has some good info on the process of applying.

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Where can I find public safety data?

Security seems lax at this school. Where can I find public safety data?
Security seems lax at this school. Where can I find public safety data?

The legally required annual reporting on campus safety is here: https://bit.ly/bc-clery. Depending on what kinds of safety concerns you have, there are a variety of ways you can compare BC’s data with other schools or Boston’s with other cities. Just ask my friends at the reference desk behind you and to your left.

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Are Esdeekid fans corny?

Are Esdeekid fans corny?
Are Esdeekid fans corny?

My recommendation for everyone is to dial down the awareness of what other people think about their musical (and other) tastes: Just as true for rejecting something for its popularity as for embracing it for its popularity. Enjoy what you enjoy whether a lot of other people do or not.

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What is your opinion on Brehon Law, the old Irish Law codes.

What is your opinion on Brehon Law, the old Irish Law codes.
What is your opinion on Brehon Law, the old Irish Law codes.

Humans are so fascinating. Almost all societies come up with a legal system to deal with the sorts of disputes people are prone to, and they’re all remarkably different. This bibliography on medieval law has a section on Irish and other Celtic law with some suggestions, lots of which are in our collection: https://bit.ly/bc-brehon