h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Supervisors who aren't there, who have a hundred and one other projects going on all of which are more important than you. Supervisors who give you tutorial meetings walking around Sainsburys while they shop for their family because they forgot about an evening meeting and had said they'd get the groceries in and so the only time for you is if you push the trolley for them.
Supervisors who can't keep track of what you are doing.
Supervisors who forget to tell you about conferences you should be attending (which they are even speaking at).
Supervisors who don't write letters to get your funding extended, leaving you with five months of work and only two months of money.
And supervisors who are so nice and apologetic that you can't get angry with them for any of this!!!

All of this is true and so much more...though I've never had the Sainbury's experience and I'm not sure if I ever managed to feel quite as tall as 2 inches.