Thread: One for the wordsmiths.... Irony?

Hello All,

Just wondering whether the following experience could come under the umbrella term of 'Irony'?

Since September last year I have been racking my brain trying to find some way that I can regain access to online academic databases since I finished my PhD studies. I have contacted different university libraries about such things as them calculating how much of an enrolled student's fees get distributed to the library for library services - for example, access to online academic databases. If this amount was calculated I would happily pay that amount per year. Nope too hard - you have to be a currently enrolled student.

I have approached different research centres and explored the option of collaborative research projects between myself, my employer and a disability research centre of different universities. Being an adjunct researcher gains access to academic online databases - nope - too hard - sod off.

I contacted one of the main online database suppliers about individual or organisational subscriptions. Individual - nope. Organisational - yes how many kidneys can you provide us with? Discounted subscription if you can supply more than your own kidneys. Oh in other words the price was simply extortionate.

So last week I write to someone that one of my PhD supervisors recommended that I contact about a vocational interest I would like to explore. Absolutely nothing to do with the present topic of discussion. It involves International Community Development while being based 'in country' - preferably a research-based project. I received some very valuable information and advice from the person I contacted. They ended their email with a paragraph - would you like to be involved in a research project we are doing and complete the literature review for us? It would involve full access to our online academic databases!

Now is that irony or something else? If it is something other than irony - apart from being totally frustrating - what would the occurrence be called linguistically?

Kind regards
Lionel .... can I start to scream now?

Originally Posted by 3toes

Really should read before pressing send as predictive text is not as smart as it likes to believe it is

Algorithms are many things. Smart isn't one of them.