Such good advice! It is sad though, no? Why can't we all just get along?!
Great post! I wear flowery skirts but am a 'cold bitch' at group meetings. So,on an average, it works out.
I am infamous for my gratuitous apologies. It's like uncontrolled drool. I say I'm sorry for just about anything, especially things that are not my fault. And I seem to thrive and claiming things as my fault even if they have nothing to do with me. A sad habit indeed.
It's very Canadain to start every sentence with "I'm sorry" or "sorry, ...". It's like a habit I can't break. I'm trying...good advice on other things to say besides "I don't know".
This was a great article! I think I say sorry too much! Also, you mentioned last Friday that you had tips on how to choose a good lab - could I request that as something you'd write about soon? I'm choosing right now and it'd be really helpful!
JennyF,
I think this is good advice for anyone in graduate school. No Professor starts into anything by apologizing even when they should and we should all take notice of that. It is hard to change anything until you are a professor, you have to play the game until you can secure yourself in that way, then it is time to try to change the paradigm, not with outrageousness, slow steady pressure, setting examples through your own mentoring.
I am going pass this along to a few students I know whose brilliance is being overshadowed by some of the behaviors you describe.
My current crusade in my own little sphere is to not let people get away with unreasoned arguments when it comes to the work in my lab. I have a coworker who resorts to things like, "Oh, come on, you can't possibly beleive that." or "You have no evidence for that." Notice how this impunes my ability by implying that I am crazy/stupid and at the same time this person hasn't put anything on the table. Yes, to many this person looks a little ridiculous and I used to ignore this stuff until I realized it was costing me as well by not stepping up a little more. Now, I usually respond with, "That isn't a scientific argument nor a comment that supports discussion. If you are trying to get at something, please ask a question."
I would suggest that in the course of this you also discuss how to proceed when becoming aware of academic fraud, or more importantly when becoming aware of something that isn't quite academic fraud. What do you do when a student or post-doc withholds data from their advisor that would stop a publication and you know about it? For instance.
Don't let people interrupt you. If someone starts to interrupt you in mid-sentence, stare coldly at them and say, "May I finish?"
Very important points, thanks. Too bad you did not write this last year... I guess I learned some of it the hard way.
FCSGS, so true! That's in the next part. 
Anonymous, if you email me, I'll send you a preview edition of Avoiding Bad Labs and Finding Good Ones. (It'll be a few weeks until I make it to that bit of my unsolicited-advice series.)
NSLS, I do think it's a nasty atmosphere and why can't everyone just be nice? Sigh.
Henry: Fraud! Good idea. Except I don't really know a lot about fraud. I'll have to ponder it during those long hours in front of the scope. I like your response to the 'no evidence' thing too; I'll have to remember that one.
Angrygrad: I've suddenly found that all my wardrobe is appropriate for a middle-aged schoolteacher! Must get some bright flowery skirts to offset the cold bitchiness of daily life. 
This is awesome advice. Thank you for posting it.
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