IFAQ

InFrequently Asked Questions

- Answered by Ruben Kole -

In times when asking questions is easier than ever before (looking at you ChatGPT) there are many frequently asked questions also called FAQs. When your question is not present in this list, it may leave you feeling left out or stupid. That’s why I would like to introduce a list of infrequently asked questions (IFAQ) for those of us who are curious but afraid to ask “stupid” questions. Since these questions are not asked every day, it might prove hard to answer them but I will try nonetheless.

As a non-first-year active member of Flow, I would really like to join the Informal activities committee (IFAC). Do you recommend this?

If you like having to organize an activity every month and nearly having a mental breakdown when you realize that it is more work than you thought combined with having the chance to meet people who might become your best friends within a month, then it might be a good fit for you I guess.

Why is Perry the Platypus green if real platypuses are brown?

I am sorry to inform you about the fact that platypuses are not actually real. Just as Santa is a marketing scheme for northern Finland, so is the platypus for the country of Australia! Dan Povenmire, the creator of the show in which Perry was introduced, stated that since the animal was made up, he could choose any color he liked and he ended up choosing teal. Fun fact: The “Hey, where’s Perry?” was inspired by misinformed tourists who upon arrival in Australia would ask for the whereabouts of platypuses.

As a CSAI student, I have never heard of Alan Turing. Can you explain who he is and what he did?

Alan Turing introduced the world to the greatest invention since recorded lectures. He thought of both the Turing test and the enigma code. Enigma means difficult to understand. The code you receive from others when doing group work is almost always difficult to understand. Turing came up with a code that translates other’s code to his own coding style. It also happened to translate German to English I guess, I didn’t read that part carefully.

I want to know everything about the different types of lettuce. Can you help me?

You’re in luck. If you go to Flowzine 26, page 17, then you will find an extensive description of all types of lettuce.

Can you consider yourself a master of Communication and Information Sciences if you still struggle to explain your job to your grandparents?

While still technically having achieved your master, it does show that there is still something to strive for. You can still hold on to your academic title with pride. While you may not be a Master of Communication, you can still legally call yourself a Master of Communication.

What even is DSS?

DSS stands for DS small, where DS stands for dual screen. A dual screen small! So, it’s something with two small screens. Even though it makes no sense to have two small screens instead of one larger screen, but who am I to judge?

Grüner Veltliner is my favorite type of wine, where should I buy this?

Try to see if there is some left in the dumpster near your house. This type of wine ripens best when exposed to the smell of garbage.

Can I live without a brain if I have a really good personality?

Yes. Most people will see right past this minor inconvenience. Your friends won’t even notice the difference between the normal you and the brainless you as long as you are your ever-so-charming self. Distract everyone from the fact that you cannot form a single comprehensible sentence by blinding them with pleasant behavior. You can’t move a single muscle? No problem!! Your endearing personality will blind-eye every one of your incapabilities.

Do you want to be my best friend?

As an answerer of questions, I do not have the ability to feel emotions or have preferences. My main goal is to answer these infrequently asked questions. I am here to provide helpful and informative responses. In case you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask them.

Do you know what gaslighting is?

No, I only speak the truth.

I hope you have gained some knowledge while reading this rubric. If not, never hesitate to ask more questions. They are never as stupid as they may seem and finding the answer may be even more fun than asking the question.

Language Anxiety & How to Tackle it!

Have you ever had that feeling where your palms start sweating, your heart rate increases and your mind goes completely blank whilst trying to speak a foreign language? This phenomenon is called language anxiety.

Language anxiety is a very real thing that affects people who are trying to learn a new language or speak a language that is not their native tongue. Sometimes the effects are only small and you only get a bit nervous. But other times, the stress about having to speak in a different language can cause a complete blackout with symptoms that relate to having a panic attack. This can hinder you from communicating in other languages and, for example , bonding with strangers on your holiday.

The main cause of language anxiety is quite an obvious one. It’s namely being afraid to make mistakes and having a fear of failure. Understandably, nobody wants to look foolish in front of others, and when you’re speaking a language that you’re not completely comfortable with, the fear of making mistakes can be overwhelming. The pressure to perform perfectly can make it difficult to relax and speak naturally, and this can cause even more mistakes. Making more mistakes makes you then even more nervous and self-aware of your mistakes, which then once again can increase the pressure of speaking fluently. It’s a vicious cycle that is hard to get out of once you get uncertain. Another cause of language anxiety is the fear of being judged.

People who are learning a new language often feel like they are being judged by others based on their language abilities. This can lead to a lack of confidence and self-doubt, which only makes the anxiety worse.