# 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:** 5
**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, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-scientists-believe-they-are-better-than-the-rest/579303/81 "2011-04-22T18:12:11Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Besides, _I_ say it’s nonsense. And I have a Master’s Degree in Science. That makes me think of the _Lost Skeleton of Cadavra_. It would go great after this thread sets it up. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-scientists-believe-they-are-better-than-the-rest/579303/82 "2011-04-22T18:27:49Z")
> [@pinguin](#): > > What do you think? Do scientists believe they are smarter than the rest of humans? I think scientists believe they’re more _rational_ than the average human bean, and they place a high value on their rationality. if you read [The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark](http://www.amazon.com/Demon-Haunted-World-Science-Candle-Dark/dp/0345409469/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1303496588&sr=8-1), you might start to understand why scientists often experience a mental [facepalm](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facepalm) when dealing with non-scientists. As for why scientists often work for a business instead of owning one…it’s because scientists are interested in _science,_ not business. ---
**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, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-scientists-believe-they-are-better-than-the-rest/579303/83 "2011-04-22T18:33:50Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > You realize scientist aren’t a race, right, **pinguin**? > [@kidchameleon](#): > > This thread is insulting to the entire race of scientists. Scientists aren’t a _race_. They _make_ races. A race of Atomic Supermen, to rule the world! _MWAHAHHAHAHAHA!_ _[Bela Lugosi Mode Off]_ ---
**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, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-scientists-believe-they-are-better-than-the-rest/579303/84 "2011-04-22T18:38:29Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Scientists aren’t a _race_. They _make_ races. A race of Atomic Supermen, to rule the world! _MWAHAHHAHAHAHA!_ > > _[Bela Lugosi Mode Off]_ Great. Someone leaked my thesis project. ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-scientists-believe-they-are-better-than-the-rest/579303/85 "2011-04-22T18:44:37Z")
> [@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. As a former engineer turned scientist, I’m a whole farm! ---
**Author:** ![DrumBum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e79b87/32.png) [@DrumBum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrumBum)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-scientists-believe-they-are-better-than-the-rest/579303/86 "2011-04-22T18:52:49Z")
According to Ms. DrumBum, there are two kinds of intelligence by which a scientist/engineer like myself can be measured - common sense and book smarts. Her estimation is that I have very little of the former and a great deal of the later. 😃 > [@pinguin](#): > > What do you think? Do scientists believe they are smarter than the rest of humans? The OP’s question was poorly framed and somewhat at odds with the title of the thread, so my answers might not fit his premise. Am I better than the rest of you ? Absolutely not. Am I smarter than the rest of you ? Doubtful, although it is not clear how I would measure this. Perhaps a very few of you but only within the area of my expertise. I hope this makes **pinguin** feel better about themselves. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-scientists-believe-they-are-better-than-the-rest/579303/87 "2011-04-22T18:54:34Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > 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… Have some frozen sperm for sale? And here’s some spare “Hs” for your next post. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-scientists-believe-they-are-better-than-the-rest/579303/88 "2011-04-22T19:10:41Z")
Pinguin does sound like the person in the old joke that told a friend that in the city they where located he was better than a chess champion and better than a boxing champ as he defeated both once. Of course it was much later that he clarified that he did beat the chess champion at boxing and the boxing champ at chess. Good scientists recognize that they are experts only in their respective fields, and more often that not that means that indeed they are better than you in that specific field. This is not just as a result of learning about the field, but because they are active and continue to experiment or do current or cutting edge research in their fields. Bad scientists abuse their titles and attempt to pass themselves as experts on unrelated fields to pass their opinions in an attempt to seed doubts about good research, on the bad side we got the ones supporting scientific racism, or the ones opposing climate science and vaccines. The good news is that in academia and science journals the [del]mad[/del] bad scientists are in the minority and constantly being discredited by the vast majority of good scientists. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-scientists-believe-they-are-better-than-the-rest/579303/89 "2011-04-22T19:13:06Z")
Speaking as a scientist, I would have to say “yes, we believe we are better than the rest.”\* [sub]\*note: I’m not a scientist. But if I were, I’d definitely be thinking that.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![sunstone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunstone/32/3372_2.png) [@sunstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sunstone)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-scientists-believe-they-are-better-than-the-rest/579303/90 "2011-04-22T19:33:46Z")
I am a retired scientist, and I am certain that I am far superior to nearly all of you folks…in the field of taxonomy of the genus Mammillaria. So obviously I look down upon all of you, even while recognizing that there are other scientists who rank just below me in overall greatness. Hail to me! But poetry, spelling, oboe construction, math, astronomy, clothes color coordination, sailing, oil painting, iron smithing, pole vaulting, bearing children, IT engineering, and a myriad of other human endeavors are areas where I fall short of even the average. Seems that I am human after all. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-scientists-believe-they-are-better-than-the-rest/579303/91 "2011-04-22T19:40:55Z")
Correcting a line on my previous post: > [@GIGObuster](#): > > Good scientists recognize that they are experts only in their respective fields, _and that means that indeed they are better than you in that specific field_. This is not just as a result of learning about the field, but because they are active and continue to experiment or do current or cutting edge research in their fields. ---
**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, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-scientists-believe-they-are-better-than-the-rest/579303/92 "2011-04-22T19:51:32Z")
> [@sunstone](#): > > I am a retired scientist, and I am certain that I am far superior to nearly all of you folks…in the field of taxonomy of the genus Mammillaria. Wow, cool! I have a batch of mixed Mamillaria seedlings, and now I can post pictures for you to identify the species! How big do they have to be before you can name 'em? (right now I’m referring to them generically as “spiny little shits”). ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-scientists-believe-they-are-better-than-the-rest/579303/93 "2011-04-22T20:50:45Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Wow, cool! I have a batch of mixed Mamillaria seedlings, and now I can post pictures for you to identify the species! > > How big do they have to be before you can name 'em? (right now I’m referring to them generically as “spiny little shits”). I just repotted one of mine, and his name is now “you little bastard”. ---
**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, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-scientists-believe-they-are-better-than-the-rest/579303/94 "2011-04-22T20:53:49Z")
> [@sunstone](#): > > I am a retired scientist, and I am certain that I am far superior to nearly all of you folks…in the field of taxonomy of the genus Mammillaria. What a misleading name for a goddam cactus with no tits. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-scientists-believe-they-are-better-than-the-rest/579303/95 "2011-04-22T20:57:00Z")
Batman is a scientist. Therefore, scientists are better than the rest of us. ---
**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, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-scientists-believe-they-are-better-than-the-rest/579303/96 "2011-04-22T20:57:04Z")
> [@sunstone](#): > > I am a retired scientist, and I am certain that I am far superior to nearly all of you folks…in the field of taxonomy of the genus Mammillaria. So obviously I look down upon all of you, even while recognizing that there are other scientists who rank just below me in overall greatness. Hail to me! > . It’s so sad to see a kindred spirit leave the industry. I’ve been studying Mammaries for as long I can remember, and I plan to continue my studies until the day I die. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-scientists-believe-they-are-better-than-the-rest/579303/97 "2011-04-22T21:37:20Z")
> [@Capitaine\_Zombie](#): > > Sorry, but there’s limited storage capacity at the moment in the Pitt, could this be moved to Cafe Society? Fuck it. I’m moving this thread to The Barn House. ---
**Author:** ![SimonMoon5](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@SimonMoon5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SimonMoon5)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-scientists-believe-they-are-better-than-the-rest/579303/98 "2011-04-22T22:27:41Z")
As a mathematician, I do think I am smarter than most people. I would not say that I am smarter than most mathematicians, but I do think most mathematicians are smarter than the average person. The reason, of course, is that mathematicians are trained to think logically and use language in very specific ways, skills that I find lacking in much of the populace (or even in a number of my students). And while mathematicians might not make much money, there was a recent study that said that they have the least stressful job (out of all possible jobs). I guess it depends what you value more: money or a stress-free life. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2011, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-scientists-believe-they-are-better-than-the-rest/579303/99 "2011-04-23T00:40:31Z")
> [@SimonMoon5](#): > > As a mathematician, I do think I am smarter than most people. I would not say that I am smarter than most mathematicians, but I do think most mathematicians are smarter than the average person. The reason, of course, is bla bla BLA BLA BLAAAH! Jeez, give it a REST, egghead! ---
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2011, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-scientists-believe-they-are-better-than-the-rest/579303/100 "2011-04-23T01:38:37Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Fuck it. I’m moving this thread to The Barn House. Good call: It needs some _serious_ work. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-scientists-believe-they-are-better-than-the-rest/579303.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-scientists-believe-they-are-better-than-the-rest/579303.md?page=6)