I chose to do a PhD (chem) because I expected it to be easy, and I was right. Choosing my own working hours, spending those working hours mostly just dicking around with colleagues, plenty of mid-week partying, 'working' at home whenever I wanted, plenty of holidays.. Sure there were some periods with long working hours when deadlines, meetings or conferences were coming up, and stressful periods when writing (but only because I fucking hate writing). It was pretty much a continuation of my life as a student, except I got paid well above the average wage.

I don't know a single PhD irl who dares claim that doing a PhD was hard work. I only seem to find those kind of people on the internet. Is this just people patting themselves on the back?