# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-scientists-believe-they-are-better-than-the-rest/579303/61 "2011-04-22T14:03:26Z")
Post #4 deserves some kind of award because it’s one of the stupidest things I’ve ever seen posted here. It looks like **pinguin** is comparing the idea that scientists are better-educated and more intelligent than the population at large to the views of the Nazis. You realize scientist aren’t a race, right, **pinguin**? And that the idea that scientists are smarter than average - or at least know more about their respective fields - is not quite as much of a stretch as saying blondes are inherently superior and other groups need to be wiped out? Maybe you should become a scientist yourself. You know, dumb their ranks down a shade. ---
**Author:** ![Silophant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a698b9/32.png) [@Silophant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silophant)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-scientists-believe-they-are-better-than-the-rest/579303/62 "2011-04-22T14:07:32Z")
Based on Post #17, looks like he is one, or thinks he is. Which is horrifying. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-scientists-believe-they-are-better-than-the-rest/579303/63 "2011-04-22T14:09:49Z")
I think he just said he’s a computer engineer, unless he was speaking rhetorically. But … can a computer engineer be considered a scientist? I mean, building the better iPod is comendable, but it’s not like he’s curing baldness or anything. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-scientists-believe-they-are-better-than-the-rest/579303/64 "2011-04-22T14:16:04Z")
Sometimes I can’t tell if I am confused by **pinguin** intermittently-poor english, whether we’re talking across a cultural gulf, or whether he’s just a moron who smoked way too much weed. Thoughts? ---
**Author:** ![sugaree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@sugaree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sugaree)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-scientists-believe-they-are-better-than-the-rest/579303/65 "2011-04-22T14:24:12Z")
Wait, are you trying to tell me that computer engineers don’t have tragic family or personal lives? Or if Darwin had gone into business or the ministry, none of his children would have died? I think we need to debate whether computer engineers believe they are better than the rest. ---
**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, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-scientists-believe-they-are-better-than-the-rest/579303/66 "2011-04-22T14:30:07Z")
What poor english? Or better, what do you expect? You should remember my only contact with this language is precisely in these forums. I don’t need to speak english at all here, and I haven’t talked in that language as a routine since 1991. Now, if you don’t undestand my sense of humour, then it is another matter. Actually, to understand yours it is very hard to me, too. ---
**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, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-scientists-believe-they-are-better-than-the-rest/579303/67 "2011-04-22T14:32:32Z")
> [@sugaree](#): > > Wait, are you trying to tell me that computer engineers don’t have tragic family or personal lives? Or if Darwin had gone into business or the ministry, none of his children would have died? > > I think we need to debate whether computer engineers believe they are better than the rest. We are robots that solve problems, nothing more. I don’t think that finding out the reason why Exchange doesn’t send mails deserve a Nobel prize. But if we don’t solve those problems at once we receive a kick at the butt and get fired ! :rolleyes: Never had a whole university without networking because you pushed the wrong button? ---
**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, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-scientists-believe-they-are-better-than-the-rest/579303/68 "2011-04-22T14:40:15Z")
> [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](#): > > I should point out that not only am I a scientist, but I have the distinction of having been banned from human research\*, so I have Mad Scientist chops. You create ONE little affront against Nature, God, and all that is good in the world… > [@heavyarms553](#): > > Seriously whats wrong with you? He’s a little butthurt after the spanking he received in his Native American census thread in GD, and is out to take revenge against us wicked naughty scientists. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-scientists-believe-they-are-better-than-the-rest/579303/69 "2011-04-22T14:48:34Z")
> [@pinguin](#): > > I don’t need to speak english at all here, and I haven’t talked in that language as a routine since 1991. Now, if you don’t undestand my sense of humour, then it is another matter. Humor? Where? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-scientists-believe-they-are-better-than-the-rest/579303/70 "2011-04-22T14:50:05Z")
Your English is reasonably good, **pinguin**. Your arguments are not. ---
**Author:** ![Capitaine\_Zombie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@Capitaine\_Zombie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capitaine_Zombie)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-scientists-believe-they-are-better-than-the-rest/579303/71 "2011-04-22T14:57:43Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#): > > Sometimes I can’t tell if I am confused by **pinguin** intermittently-poor english, whether we’re talking across a cultural gulf, or whether he’s just a moron who smoked way too much weed. > > Thoughts? He’s mutliclassed, it’s a drag on the hit-points but it’s worth it. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-scientists-believe-they-are-better-than-the-rest/579303/72 "2011-04-22T14:57:57Z")
> [@pinguin](#): > > I am just curious about the psicology of the scientist. Just wanted to note that I am a psicologist and a scientist. I think I’m better than the average person at psicology and research. I also do happen to believe that I am smarter than most people. How dastardly am I? I’m not sure if it’s worthwhile or not to make this, or really any observation in this thread, but administration of systems is always going to be different from specific expertise. Most hospitals, for instance, are not managed by physicians. ---
**Author:** ![heatmiserfl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/df705f/32.png) [@heatmiserfl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/heatmiserfl)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-scientists-believe-they-are-better-than-the-rest/579303/73 "2011-04-22T15:21:15Z")
> [@Zany\_Zeolite\_Zipper](#): > > 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. I’m a scientist who had a engineer boyfriend, who, yadda, yadda yadda, and yes, this is exactly how it works. Scientists in basic research do what they do because they want to pursue their natural curiosity. We have less interest in money than most professionals and most of us aren’t even interested in being famous. That’s why we’re so easy to enslave. We don’t even realize we’re slaves until it’s too late and we can’t escape. Well, we don’t try to escape anyway because we don’t mind living in our little cages as long as we get to do experiments. Quite pathetic, really. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-scientists-believe-they-are-better-than-the-rest/579303/74 "2011-04-22T15:37:11Z")
> [@heatmiserfl](#): > > I’m a scientist who had a engineer boyfriend, who, yadda, yadda yadda, and yes, this is exactly how it works. > > Scientists in basic research do what they do because they want to pursue their natural curiosity. We have less interest in money than most professionals and most of us aren’t even interested in being famous. That’s why we’re so easy to enslave. We don’t even realize we’re slaves until it’s too late and we can’t escape. Well, we don’t try to escape anyway because we don’t mind living in our little cages as long as we get to do experiments. Quite pathetic, really. ☹ The fluffy clean wood chips and pellet food are nice, though. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-scientists-believe-they-are-better-than-the-rest/579303/75 "2011-04-22T15:45:59Z")
> [@heatmiserfl](#): > > [Quote=Zany Zeolite Zipper] > > 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. I’m a scientist who had a engineer boyfriend, who, yadda, yadda yadda, and yes, this is exactly how it works. [/QUOTE] Cue bass Bow-chicka-bow-bow. ---
**Author:** ![mischievous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@mischievous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mischievous)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-scientists-believe-they-are-better-than-the-rest/579303/76 "2011-04-22T16:02:01Z")
> [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](#): > > The fluffy clean wood chips and pellet food are nice, though. And you can always spike the water bottles with the lab ethanol. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-scientists-believe-they-are-better-than-the-rest/579303/77 "2011-04-22T16:45:17Z")
> [@pinguin](#): > > Of course some scientists have had brillian careers and happy families, like Von Neuman for example, but most of the time people has to pay a very high personal cost for success and fame in science. I’d like to see a cite for this. It sounds like the old trope about how genius is heavily correlated with personal failure/suicide/bankruptcy/bad breath (which others have debunked). Besides, _I_ say it’s nonsense. And I have a Master’s Degree in Science. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-scientists-believe-they-are-better-than-the-rest/579303/78 "2011-04-22T16:45:53Z")
So…this rant boils down to: “If you scientists are sooooo smart, then why the hell aren’t you rich?” The implied premise is that the measure of intelligence is how successful you are, and the measure of success is how much money you make at your job/business. Therefore, that proves scientists are dolts. And because they are dolts, everything they say is basically made up, and we shouldn’t listen to them, except when what they say agrees with our personal common-sense intuition. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-scientists-believe-they-are-better-than-the-rest/579303/79 "2011-04-22T17:27:23Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > I’d like to see a cite for this. It sounds like the old trope about how genius is heavily correlated with personal failure/suicide/bankruptcy/bad breath (which others have debunked). > > Besides, _I_ say it’s nonsense. And I have a Master’s Degree in Science. I always thought you were smarter than me. ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-scientists-believe-they-are-better-than-the-rest/579303/80 "2011-04-22T18:11:04Z")
This thread is insulting to the entire race of scientists. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-scientists-believe-they-are-better-than-the-rest/579303.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-scientists-believe-they-are-better-than-the-rest/579303.md?page=5)