# Do scientists believe they are better than the rest? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 22, 2011, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-scientists-believe-they-are-better-than-the-rest/579303 "2011-04-22T00:17:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![pinguin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ac8455/32.png) [@pinguin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinguin)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-scientists-believe-they-are-better-than-the-rest/579303/1 "2011-04-22T00:17:11Z")
What do you think? Do scientists believe they are smarter than the rest of humans? ---
**Author:** ![Anduril](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c0e974/32.png) [@Anduril](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anduril)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-scientists-believe-they-are-better-than-the-rest/579303/2 "2011-04-22T00:19:41Z")
On some things? Yeah. I sure hope so. ---
**Author:** ![Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superfluous_Parentheses)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-scientists-believe-they-are-better-than-the-rest/579303/3 "2011-04-22T00:25:03Z")
The fools! They thought I was Mad!!! Me?! Mad?!!! But I’LL SHOW **THEM!!** Ahem. On average, not really. Why? ---
**Author:** ![pinguin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ac8455/32.png) [@pinguin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinguin)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-scientists-believe-they-are-better-than-the-rest/579303/4 "2011-04-22T00:25:54Z")
So, they believe they are the “chosen” people, the “superior” race, or just they are sure they are “alphas”? If so, why scientists work in private companies, universities and research labs, ruled by business people? ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-scientists-believe-they-are-better-than-the-rest/579303/5 "2011-04-22T00:28:54Z")
> [@pinguin](#): > > If so, why scientists work in private companies, universities and research labs, ruled by business people? Because those are the best places to implant the mind control chips, naturally. ---
**Author:** ![Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superfluous_Parentheses)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-scientists-believe-they-are-better-than-the-rest/579303/6 "2011-04-22T00:30:13Z")
> [@pinguin](#): > > So, they believe they are the “chosen” people, the “superior” race, or just they are sure they are “alphas”? Hey Penguin, when you’re talking to yourself, we can only read half the conversation. > [@](#): > > If so, why scientists work in private companies, universities and research labs, ruled by business people? Very probably because they _like_ to work in their specializations that they’ve studied in for years more than they like to be a manager. This is true for most people who work in technical/specialized fields. ---
**Author:** ![pinguin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ac8455/32.png) [@pinguin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinguin)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-scientists-believe-they-are-better-than-the-rest/579303/7 "2011-04-22T00:32:10Z")
But scientists’ intelligence and ideas are milked by business people to make money. In certain way, from the employers’ point of view, the scientists aren’t more than “cows” producing milk. “cows” of the age of intelligence… whose product are patents, ideas and profits. Holly cow, Moooo. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-scientists-believe-they-are-better-than-the-rest/579303/8 "2011-04-22T00:33:26Z")
> [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](#): > > Ahem. On average, not really. Why? It would be kinda silly to peruse a career whose basic task is “thinking about things” if you didn’t think you were at least a little smarter then average. I mean, I imagine baseball players think they’re better at sports then the average person to. > [@pidgin](#): > > If so, why scientists work in private companies, universities and research labs, ruled by business people? Some of these are run by scientists, or at least former scientists. But a)most scientists want to do science, not run universities. Usually most university scientists spend a lot of time griping about the administrative tasks they’re stuck with, not hoping to get stuck with more of them. And just because scientists think they’re smarter then the average person doesn’t mean they think they’d be better at running a business then business people. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-scientists-believe-they-are-better-than-the-rest/579303/9 "2011-04-22T00:34:15Z")
> [@pinguin](#): > > But scientists’ intelligence and ideas are milked by business people to make money. In certain way, for the employers, the scientists aren’t more than “cows” producing milk. “cows” of the age of intelligence… whose product are patents, ideas and profits. Were you under the impression that being a boss means someone is smarter or more competent than his or her subordinates? ---
**Author:** ![Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superfluous_Parentheses)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-scientists-believe-they-are-better-than-the-rest/579303/10 "2011-04-22T00:34:29Z")
> [@pinguin](#): > > But scientists’ intelligence and ideas are milked by business people to make money. In certain way, for the employeers, the scientists aren’t more than “cows” producing milk. “cows” of the age of intelligence… > > Holly cow, > > Moooo. Well, it’s good that you’ve found another way to feel superior, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![pinguin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ac8455/32.png) [@pinguin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinguin)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-scientists-believe-they-are-better-than-the-rest/579303/11 "2011-04-22T00:35:18Z")
Oh yes. Some scientists got illuminated once in a while and become business people. They know they have many scientists that need a job. ---
**Author:** ![colonial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/34f0e0/32.png) [@colonial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colonial)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-scientists-believe-they-are-better-than-the-rest/579303/12 "2011-04-22T00:35:31Z")
I think scientists _are_ smarter than other people. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-scientists-believe-they-are-better-than-the-rest/579303/13 "2011-04-22T00:37:38Z")
> [@pinguin](#): > > Some scientists got illuminated once in a while and become business people. So? Who wants to work for the Illuminati? ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-scientists-believe-they-are-better-than-the-rest/579303/14 "2011-04-22T00:38:30Z")
> [@pinguin](#): > > So, they believe they are the “chosen” people, the “superior” race, or just they are sure they are “alphas”? > > If so, why scientists work in private companies, universities and research labs, ruled by business people? Way to set up another strawman, dude. I’m a scientist. At least I’m in training. Do I think I’m “better” than everyone else? No. Do I think I’m smarter than everyone else? No. I’m average. Maybe slightly above average, but most people would say they’re above average. Am I better educated than the average guy on the street. Absolutely. Do I know more about my particular field of study than 99% of the rest of the planet? Damn skippy I do. That’s sort of the point. Will I end up working for someone else? Yeah, probably. They have the money. ---
**Author:** ![Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superfluous_Parentheses)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-scientists-believe-they-are-better-than-the-rest/579303/15 "2011-04-22T00:41:02Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > It would be kinda silly to peruse a career whose basic task is “thinking about things” if you didn’t think you were at least a little smarter then average. I mean, I imagine baseball players think they’re better at sports then the average person to. I was mainly reacting to the title. Scientists are _expected_ to be a little smarter than average, though that doesn’t mean they’re smarter than everyone else, or that they’re “better”. > [@pinguin](#): > > Oh yes. Some scientists got illuminated once in a while and become business people. They know they have many scientists that need a job. I can see where you get the idea that scientists look down on people. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-scientists-believe-they-are-better-than-the-rest/579303/16 "2011-04-22T00:53:47Z")
> [@pinguin](#): > > But scientists’ intelligence and ideas are milked by business people to make money. That’s what business _does_ in general. The business profits from the contribution of its scientists, but without the business, they would probably have trouble raising the necessary funds, materials and environments to pursue their work. If the business was entirely parasitic upon its employees, surely they would go somewhere else? The emplyees contribute work, the business compensates them with money so they can feed, clothe and house their families, and buy stuff they want. ---
**Author:** ![pinguin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ac8455/32.png) [@pinguin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinguin)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-scientists-believe-they-are-better-than-the-rest/579303/17 "2011-04-22T00:56:24Z")
Indeed. In my case, I accept my condition of economical “cow”. ---
**Author:** ![pinguin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ac8455/32.png) [@pinguin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinguin)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-scientists-believe-they-are-better-than-the-rest/579303/18 "2011-04-22T00:57:26Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > So? Who wants to work for the Illuminati? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Zany\_Zeolite\_Zipper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/4af34b/32.png) [@Zany\_Zeolite\_Zipper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zany_Zeolite_Zipper)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-scientists-believe-they-are-better-than-the-rest/579303/19 "2011-04-22T00:57:51Z")
No, no, no. Scientists are the grass of business. Engineers are the cows. We eat the scientists and build something for the business to sell. ---
**Author:** ![Meyer6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cc9497/32.png) [@Meyer6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meyer6)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-scientists-believe-they-are-better-than-the-rest/579303/20 "2011-04-22T01:01:21Z")
> [@pinguin](#): > > If so, why scientists work in private companies, universities and research labs, ruled by business people? Where the heck else would scientists work other than private companies, universities, or research labs? Why on earth do you think the average scientist would want to be a businessman, of all things? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-scientists-believe-they-are-better-than-the-rest/579303.md?page=2)