[foldr]

No! Absolutely not. A PhD is a huge time commitment. It takes a whole chunk out of your life which is one of the most important times for building a career. You absolutely definitely should not do a PhD just because you think you'd enjoy it.

[denzil_correa]

> You absolutely definitely should not do a PhD just because you think you'd enjoy it.

I never said anything to that effect. All I said was, Ph.D is a great option if you like research.

That aside, you definitely shouldn't do Ph.D if you don't like research.

[foldr]

It really isn't such a great option because it has a huge knock-on effect on your future. You should only do a PhD if you either (a) are committed to having an academic career or (b) are in a field where there is a clear alternative career path. Doing a bit of internet stalking (sorry) I see that you have a CS PhD. That is one of the fields where there are many non-academic jobs available for PhDs. In my field, it's academia or bust, which makes the calculation of whether or not to do a PhD a very different one. If you're giving generic advice on whether or not to do a PhD, it's worth bearing in mind that CS is really the exception rather than the rule in this respect. In most fields, "do a PhD if you like doing research" is terrible, terrible life advice.

[mac01021]

Are you saying noone should ever choose a less lucrative career just because they will enjoy it more?

[foldr]

There is no career for most PhD students. This is the whole problem with how people look at it. If it were the case that most people with PhDs could obtain stable, low-paying academic jobs, then you'd have a point, but most people with PhDs can't do that.

[mac01021]

I agree with you that counting on a stable job in academia is probably a mistake for most PhD students. But your previous categorical statement goes too far.

It's a perfectly valid choice for me to decide to do a PhD for no reason other than an intense desire to learn more about some topic and then plan on making a living as a kayaking instructor or elementary school teacher or a handyman for the following two or three decades. As long as I have no delusions about the feasibility of my plan.

[foldr]

Of course, if you want. But surely it's unwise to actively encourage someone along that path. If it's what they really really want, they'll do it anyway. Advice is directed at people who are undecided.