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The article is very fun to read, despite the sad contents. But it misses one big point: the image of a scientist. When I reply to "what do you do for a living?
by albertcardona 18y ago
The article is very fun to read, despite the sad contents.
But it misses one big point: the image of a scientist. When I reply to "what do you do for a living?" and I say "I'm a neuroscientist", people smile condescendingly and pat me on the back. Because I'm not a lawyer, medical doctor or businessman (i.e. in my way to big money) and thus I can only be either stupid or a fool.
- felideon 18y agoThat's interesting. If I ever met any kind of scientist I'd be like "Wow, that's so cool," and ask questions about what you're researching, etc. A part of me always wanted to be a scientist. Hopefully I'll start a (programming) project to help in scientific research one day.
- xiaoma 18y agoThat's interesting. If I ever met any kind of scientist I'd be like "Wow, that's so cool," and ask questions about what you're researching, etc. Are you a cop?
- xiaoma 18y agoThe article was about police who were suspicious of science and scientists doing experiments in home labs. My question about whether felideon (the commenter who said he/she would like say "wow that's so cool" upon meeting a scientist was a cop or not was a serious question. We could use more police with a science-friendly attitude.
- mynameishere 18y agoSounds like you're misinterpreting people. Typical aspergers case maybe. People are probably either disbelieving you or are impressed enough to feel awkward.
- deleted 18y ago[deleted]
- albertcardona 18y agoI bet a bigger part of the answer is that I live in an environment where becoming rich is the only measure of success. That is West Los Angeles.
- menloparkbum 18y agoThis is a neurosis that scientists hold, not really what people are thinking. Most people have no idea how much money a scientist is or isn't making. It is a valid neurosis, though. Even 20-25 years ago, a scientist wasn't that bad off, economically. My uncle made enough money to buy a house in the Bay Area as a microbiologist at a government lab. Nowadays there is no way someone in the same position could buy a house in the same area. Even renting your own apartment would be painful. The salary has remained the same, whereas life has gotten much more expensive.