# Forensics and Pathology - Dead People? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 6, 2000, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forensics-and-pathology-dead-people/10366 "2000-04-06T12:45:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Daniel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Daniel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daniel)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2000, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forensics-and-pathology-dead-people/10366/21 "2000-04-10T19:18:00Z")
hah! That’s where I’ve got you beat! I rely on my speaking ability alone to make my judges pass out! ---
**Author:** ![Yarster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/7c8e57/32.png) [@Yarster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yarster)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2000, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forensics-and-pathology-dead-people/10366/22 "2000-04-10T20:16:00Z")
El Smasho, Since the gun issue was already answered, regarding the demand issue, I’ll take a ‘stab’ at it (yeah…yeah…forensics humor). While there are generally jobs available, I’d by no means say that you could go wherever you want, nor work anywhere in the world. For one, I’m sure if you train in the US, you learn the US rules of law and evidence as part of the training, and are really only qualified to practice in this country. Within the country, as was already pointed out, the bigger cities are where the jobs are. But again, when you specialize, you automatically limit yourself as to where you can go. Maybe you want to work in Hawaii, but you’re a ballistics guy, and they need a documents expert. Guess what? No Hawaii Five-O action for you! You get beautiful downtown Detroit instead… ---
**Author:** ![Maelro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9dc877/32.png) [@Maelro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maelro)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2000, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forensics-and-pathology-dead-people/10366/23 "2000-04-10T21:05:00Z")
You rely on your speaking ability to make the judges pass out? They’re called breath mints. Try some. I like the altoids (heh heh heh). ---
**Author:** ![Daniel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Daniel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daniel)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2000, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forensics-and-pathology-dead-people/10366/24 "2000-04-10T21:33:00Z")
:mad: I **knew** I forgot to pack something! ---
**Author:** ![Maelro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9dc877/32.png) [@Maelro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maelro)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2000, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forensics-and-pathology-dead-people/10366/25 "2000-04-11T00:28:00Z")
Well, please remember to bring some this time! (Or can’t your team budget afford it?) ---
**Author:** ![Daniel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Daniel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daniel)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2000, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forensics-and-pathology-dead-people/10366/26 "2000-04-11T14:37:00Z")
:eek: ooh! Now, when you’re talking to the Financial VP of the most poorly funded forensics team in its district, _that_ is definitely hitting below the belt. and for your information, no, we can’t afford such luxuries. Not if we want to still have enough money to send our team to World Debate Institute over the summer. Feel so tough now? huh? huh? 🙂 * * * Mayor of [Snerdville](http://fathom.org/snerdville), the home of Mortimer Snerd “I’m just too much for human existence – I should be animated.” –Wayne Knight ---
**Author:** ![Maelro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9dc877/32.png) [@Maelro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maelro)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2000, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forensics-and-pathology-dead-people/10366/27 "2000-04-11T19:25:00Z")
Well, you’re talking to the President of a team who just got the Dean to agree that we could go $500 over budget if necessary… (That was most certianly a low blow…but I had to say it.) Seriously, though, I hope your financial situation improves. Just think positive for next year. ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2000, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forensics-and-pathology-dead-people/10366/28 "2000-04-11T19:31:00Z")
Check out the Medical College of Virginia home page or the home page of the Virginia Department of Health. They have a joint forensic course of study and can answer some of your questions. My favorite part is the description on the VDH site about working in Richmond “which, as an urban center, will allow you to gain first hand knowledge of all manner of violent deaths. There are ample opportunities to study gun shot wounds, stabbings, strangulations, blunt trauma, rape, and chld abuse.” Gee, I’m sure the Chamber of Commerce wishes it had come up with that sales pitch first. * * * “Smithers, release the hounds.” -C. Montgomery Burns ---
**Author:** ![Daniel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Daniel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daniel)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2000, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forensics-and-pathology-dead-people/10366/29 "2000-04-12T04:18:00Z")
$500? Hah! I convinced the President of my university to provide us with up to $1500 more to send us to _both_ national tournaments! But you knew that already. I’m thinking I just got set up to refute my own claim about us being poorly funded . . . either way, congradulations on your own team’s extra funding. ---
**Author:** ![Maelro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9dc877/32.png) [@Maelro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maelro)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2000, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forensics-and-pathology-dead-people/10366/30 "2000-04-12T15:36:00Z")
Wow, I AM impressed! $1500? I don’t think our school would give us that much. Yeah, you did just refute your own claim. Isn’t that a GQ sin or something? ---
**Author:** ![Daniel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Daniel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daniel)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2000, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forensics-and-pathology-dead-people/10366/31 "2000-04-12T19:13:00Z")
no, actually if you go by our _initial_ budget allocation, the claim is true. If you add this recent financial boost, then I think we’re the second poorest forensics team (just behind the US Merchant Marines, who had $200 more than us to start out this year) Ah well. We leave tonight for the big tournament, so I’m thinking it’s about time I started practicing 🙂 * * * Mayor of [Snerdville](http://fathom.org/snerdville), the home of Mortimer Snerd “I’m just too much for human existence – I should be animated.” –Wayne Knight ---
**Author:** ![Maelro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9dc877/32.png) [@Maelro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maelro)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2000, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forensics-and-pathology-dead-people/10366/32 "2000-04-13T14:17:00Z")
All this makes me glad I don’t have to worry about budget stuff…I just spend the money. (No, I don’t need any help with that, thank you!) I’m AT the big tournament, so I know I should start practicing. Only about five hours to go…my stomach is just starting to churn. ---
**Author:** ![Daniel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Daniel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daniel)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2000, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forensics-and-pathology-dead-people/10366/33 "2000-04-13T22:21:00Z")
## I _finally_ got the chance to run through my prose. Just once. About a half hour before the first round (this was _after_ registration). Last time I ever did the piece (in practice or competition) was the last round at the Hofstra tournament four weeks ago! Mayor of [Snerdville](http://fathom.org/snerdville), the home of Mortimer Snerd “I’m just too much for human existence – I should be animated.” –Wayne Knight ---
**Author:** ![Maelro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9dc877/32.png) [@Maelro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maelro)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2000, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forensics-and-pathology-dead-people/10366/34 "2000-04-14T00:16:00Z")
Well, glad you got a chance to do a run-through. I’m double entered in flight B, so I’m going to be running around like a madwoman tomorrow, lugging a VA case, an easel, a briefcase (prop for ADS, contains Bob the Sock) and a backpack). So if you see me, I’ll look very strange…not that that’s differnt from normal. ---
**Author:** ![Daniel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Daniel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daniel)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2000, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forensics-and-pathology-dead-people/10366/35 "2000-04-14T13:52:00Z")
VA case, easel, backpack, briefcase. Okay, I’ll keep an eye out 🙂 . I’m just a guy in a suit with an interp book, and I wear my socks on my feet 😛 . I emailed you this already, but I’m 2229 and I’m only in prose (A); could be good to know if you feel that running into each other by chance doesn’t seem as likely as it once did. **Good Luck!** ---
**Author:** ![Maelro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9dc877/32.png) [@Maelro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maelro)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2000, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forensics-and-pathology-dead-people/10366/36 "2000-04-14T14:53:00Z")
Thanks. That running into eachother seems to be getting less likely all the time. I’m DE in B (ADS and IMF), but I don’t know my numbers off the top of my head. If you see a “stalker” in one of your rounds, don’t be too suprised… I just realized how little sense the 3rd sentance would make to non-forensics people. ---
**Author:** ![Daniel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Daniel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daniel)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2000, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forensics-and-pathology-dead-people/10366/37 "2000-04-15T05:37:00Z")
what, you think non-forensics people are even paying attention to this thread anymore? 🙂 and it just occurred to me: I don’t think I ever described to you in detail what my prose involves. Fair warning: I know I’m doing it well when my audience feels the need to avert their eyes 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Maelro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9dc877/32.png) [@Maelro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maelro)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2000, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forensics-and-pathology-dead-people/10366/38 "2000-04-15T00:12:00Z")
“Avert their eyes”…eeeeewwwww! Don’t gross me out–I’m fairly easily grossed out! Anway, I’ll probably see you in Round 3, section 2 tomorrow. (You’re right…the “normal” people probably are not paying attention any more.) ---
**Author:** ![Daniel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Daniel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daniel)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2000, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forensics-and-pathology-dead-people/10366/39 "2000-04-15T01:04:00Z")
oh great. I can tell I’m going to make a wonder first (real-life) impression . . . just out of bed (what she isn’t telling you, folks, is that Rd 3A is the first round of the day) and with no choice but to perform an interp piece that probably _will_ gross her out. It’s a bit too late to re-cut, isn’t it? Ah well. Could be worse. I could be an Extemper 😃 see you tomorrow. Bring Bob 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Daniel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Daniel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daniel)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2000, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forensics-and-pathology-dead-people/10366/40 "2000-04-15T01:08:00Z")
wonder_ **ful** _ is the word I meant to use. strange thing is that’s the same problem I had in my round today. I would mispronounce a word, and then correct myself at the top of my lungs. Watch me wave good-bye to my lovely speaker points . . . ☹ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forensics-and-pathology-dead-people/10366.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forensics-and-pathology-dead-people/10366.md?page=3)