Research environments are not rose gardens, but ...

I love research environments, even when they are far from perfect. There are a few bad people, plus a great deal of good people that occasionally do bad things because they are single-minded or focused on their own goals. However, the bad things are a small part of what a research life has been to me.

It's like Barcelona: it's a great city, but there are pickpockets. I don't let that distract me from the fact that it's a great city. That doesn't mean I think they are not bad, nor that I endorse what they do, nor that I think they are some sort of necessary evil. It just means I don't let them define my experience of the city.

To enjoy a research life, one needs to learn to focus on what matters, to speak up when needed, to not take things personally, and to forgive and forget. Dwelling on the bad just ruins the experience.