> "symbolic token" (minority?) "Symbolic token" isn't at all interchangeable with "minority" in this context, so I'm not totally sure what you mean. Cheesines

> "symbolic token" (minority?) "Symbolic token" isn't at all interchangeable with "minority" in this context, so I'm not totally sure what you mean. Cheesiness is an affectation. If someone's "cheesy" they lack originality or individuality. They use canned, inauthentic phraseology in an attempt to appear a certain way. So a "cheesy scientist" would be someone attempting to appear very "sciencey" without substance. This is the sense in which a "cheesy scientist" could be considered a "symbolic token" or, loosely, a "pendant" representing the category "scientist." I agree "pendant" is a bit of an odd choice, but in the sense I just described it's not ridiculous. Also, I wouldn't make this argument about Neil Tyson, this is just how my brain put together sdf's argument.