# Technology doesn't work that way - SamuelA's Pit Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 3, 2017, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420 "2017-12-03T00:52:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 14
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/261 "2017-12-28T21:21:50Z")
> [@SamuelA](#): > > You know there was a long thread about using nukes to redirect asteroids, and I did some solid work there. Must be something you can nitpick. Oh, I know that thread. That’s the one where you did some fanciful speculation in using warheads that were never vetted or tested, but continued to wave your hands in their “miracle application” that they could propel us beyond the stars. For that particular topic, I would ask–why the hell would we waste SNM on propulsion when we need your magically calculated 634 weapons? You make too many assumptions without the technical background to support them. I will ask a third time: what are your qualifications on some of these topics? Tripler Solid work on your part, indeed. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/262 "2017-12-28T21:22:16Z")
> [@SamuelA](#): > > Captive how? All you have to do is leave this thread, leaving me with the last word. You’re pitting yourself. You obviously are so argumentative that you’re posting here to justify your own idiocy. You must have these same qualities. We come here to argue. It is our greatest strength… and our greatest weakness. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Ramira](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ramira/32/344_2.png) [@Ramira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ramira)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/263 "2017-12-28T21:22:25Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > He is handing you your ass, and you are asking him to run it through a Veg-O-Matic first? No self awareness. He seems to sincerely believe he’s not becoming the laughing stocks in the record time here, but actually impressing. It is amusing in a kind of embarrassing way. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/264 "2017-12-28T21:23:38Z")
> [@Mr.Nylock](#): > > Personally I think **Tripler** just pitted himself. Do I have it right? I’m trying to figure out what goes into the determination of an assessment that one has pitted themselves. I don’t want…anybody else…when I think a-_bout_ you I pit myself. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/265 "2017-12-28T21:25:55Z")
Wow stand back. Someone pissed off the hive. I’m headed to Café Society where proper people mingle. ---
**Author:** ![SamuelA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@SamuelA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SamuelA)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/266 "2017-12-28T21:28:30Z")
> [@Tripler](#): > > Oh, I know that thread. That’s the one where you did some fanciful speculation in using warheads that were never vetted or tested, but continued to wave your hands in their “miracle application” that they could propel us beyond the stars. For that particular topic, I would ask–why the hell would we waste SNM on propulsion when we need your magically calculated 634 weapons? You make too many assumptions without the technical background to support them. > > I will ask a third time: what are your qualifications on some of these topics? > > Tripler > Solid work on your part, indeed. Umm, I used the yields of actual devices for a Fermi estimate. Let’s test your background : which warheads hit 3 kilograms/kiloton? Do optimized nukes exist that are that good or not? And please quote the post where I talk about going to the stars. For 634 weapons, you get a 1 cm/second velocity change on a 1 kilometer asteroid. Please tell me how you can make a starship with that kind of ‘incredible engine performance’. Give me an estimate of how much propellant you would need for a 100 ton payload, dV of 1% C, and an ISP of 7500. What are your qualifications to question mine? I told you mine, guess you just forgot. I at least can do basic math and have my half finished degree in machine learning plus another graduate degree. Whatcha got on your end? Military send you to school for military history or did you at least pick up a STEM degree? Do you think you need a pHD in aerospace engineering to estimate the performance of a rocket system or is a calculator enough? One thing ignorant people do a lot of is go by who is saying something instead of what they are saying. This is why lots of people fall for bullshit health and nutritional scams because “a doctor on TV said so”. Fact is, in our civilization, if it ain’t backed up by dozens or hundreds of peer reviewed studies all showing the same thing, it’s probably bullshit, and it doesn’t matter who’s saying it. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/267 "2017-12-28T21:29:50Z")
> [@Mr.Nylock](#): > > Personally I think **Tripler** just pitted himself. Do I have it right? I’m trying to figure out what goes into the determination of an assessment that one has pitted themselves. Hey, I’m listening! You’ve got open ears. . . what’re you thinking? > [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > I don’t want…anybody else…when I think a-_bout_ you I pit myself. Plus two points for the 90s reference. Tripler Gawd I think there’s an Offspring song about all of this, isn’t there? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Nylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Mr.Nylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nylock)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/268 "2017-12-28T21:30:45Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > I don’t want…anybody else…when I think a-_bout_ you I pit myself. I came this close to copying and pasting that song and replacing touch with pit. I was thinking of altering a couple other words also, but they didn’t really go together. I wonder if **SamuelA** is old enough to get the reference. I wonder where the Devinyls are now? Are they still touching themselves? Is someone else touching them? Are they dead? I’m too lazy to actually look any of this up though. I’m not too lazy to write about writing about being too lazy though - I have reached a point of stasis. Worship me you fools!!! ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/269 "2017-12-28T21:33:46Z")
> [@Mr.Nylock](#): > > I I wonder if **SamuelA** is old enough to get the reference. I wonder where the Devinyls are now? Are they still touching themselves? Is someone else touching them? Are they dead? I’m too lazy to actually look any of this up though. I’m not too lazy to write about writing about being too lazy though - I have reached a point of stasis. Didn’t one of them have their own soap-opera-time-slot talk show? Or am I confusing that with someone else? I never watched soap operas, so I admit I’m wildly confused. > [@Mr.Nylock](#): > > Worship me you fools!!! LOL Tripler You must be smarter than all of us. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/270 "2017-12-28T21:34:17Z")
> [@Mr.Nylock](#): > > Tell me you don’t find this entertaining. It’s 4:19 on a Thursday during the holiday season, there’s no other game in town. Immensely entertaining. It’s the gift that keeps on posting! > [@SamuelA](#): > > Captive how? All you have to do is leave this thread, leaving me with the last word. You’re pitting yourself. You obviously are so argumentative that you’re posting here to justify your own idiocy. You must have these same qualities. If only you limited your stupidity to just this one thread, we’d all be grateful. But no. You insist on polluting multiple board forums with your brand of ignorance. So much so that it’s earned you your very own dedicated ass kicking. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/271 "2017-12-28T21:36:01Z")
[Oprah Winfrey Voice]You’re pitting yourself, you’re pitting yourself, and _you’re_ pitting yourself-_You’re ALL pitting yourselves!!_[/OWV] ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/272 "2017-12-28T21:40:09Z")
/Nelson Muntz Stop pitting yourself! Stop pitting yourself! Stop pitting yourself! Stop pitting yourself! ---
**Author:** ![SamuelA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@SamuelA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SamuelA)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/273 "2017-12-28T21:43:40Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Immensely entertaining. It’s the gift that keeps on posting! > > If only you limited your stupidity to just this one thread, we’d all be grateful. But no. You insist on polluting multiple board forums with your brand of ignorance. So much so that it’s earned you your very own dedicated ass kicking. Yes, it’s very well and good when it’s deserved. Does Shodan have a pit thread? Edit : [he does have at least one](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=842717&highlight=Shodan). But when you try to kick someone’s ass, and end up kicking your own ass by proving yourself wrong/dumb instead of them, well, it’s embarrassing. It’s not quite Oprah. LSLguy hasn’t pitted himself in this forum. Not everyone has pitted themself. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/274 "2017-12-28T21:49:07Z")
> [@SamuelA](#): > > Umm, I used the yields of actual devices for a Fermi estimate. Let’s test your background : which warheads hit 3 kilograms/kiloton? Do optimized nukes exist that are that good or not? No. Because you’re data mining, and I will not tell you how much SNM is in a warhead that reaches over 300kt. You may be able to look that up on open-source media. If you want to ask me about classified information, please specifically state so. > [@SamuelA](#): > > And please quote the post where I talk about going to the stars. For 634 weapons, you get a 1 cm/second velocity change on a 1 kilometer asteroid. Please tell me how you can make a starship with that kind of ‘incredible engine performance’. Give me an estimate of how much propellant you would need for a 100 ton payload, dV of 1% C, and an ISP of 7500. I see, I made what your ego considers an ‘offensive statement’. You wanted to reach this asteroid with an ‘Orion Drive’ and I am calling you out on it. What are you qualifications to set those parameters for spacelift? > [@SamuelA](#): > > What are your qualifications to question mine? I told you mine, guess you just forgot. No, you simply never indicated them. If you did, then link to that post. > [@SamuelA](#): > > I at least can do basic math and have my half finished degree in machine learning plus another graduate degree. Whatcha got on your end? Military send you to school for military history or did you at least pick up a STEM degree? Do you think you need a pHD in aerospace engineering to estimate the performance of a rocket system or is a calculator enough? What I read hear is you bailed out of one program, and got another. Correct me if I’m wrong. . . we can wait. At this point, I’ve got ten years’ experience in weapons, between everything from conventional, biological, and nuclear. My BS is E.E. My Masters’ is in Aerospace Science. My experience over the past ten year has been managing and commanding responses to various weapons. I am too modest to discuss my deployment experiences, but I would like to hear your pedigree. > [@SamuelA](#): > > One thing ignorant people do a lot of is go by who is saying something instead of what they are saying. One thing ignorant people do is hide behind their smoke and mirrors. > [@SamuelA](#): > > This is why lots of people fall for bullshit health and nutritional scams because “a doctor on TV said so”. Fact is, in our civilization, if it ain’t backed up by dozens or hundreds of peer reviewed studies all showing the same thing, it’s probably bullshit, and it doesn’t matter who’s saying it. Aaaaaaah, the old ‘Illuminati Response’. Becuase “They” told us so, it must be wrong. But **SamuelA** I will remind you for a fourth Goddamned time, that I want to know what credibility, certification, or education you have to call some of these people into question. For all intents and purposes, you could be a goddamed shoe clerk with opinions on nuclear weapons, and it just doesn’t fucking matter. Please do tell where you’re coming from. Tripler **Fifth time** : What are your qualifications to speak on these matters? ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/275 "2017-12-28T21:49:46Z")
/Mr. T. I pitting the fool. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Nylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Mr.Nylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nylock)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/276 "2017-12-28T21:53:33Z")
> [@SamuelA](#): > > Yes, it’s very well and good when it’s deserved. Does Shodan have a pit thread? But when you try to kick someone’s ass, and end up kicking your own ass by proving yourself wrong/dumb instead of them, well, it’s embarrassing. It’s not quite Oprah. LSLguy hasn’t pitted himself in this forum. Not everyone has pitted themself. Alright, if you think **LSLGuy** hasn’t pitted himself, why not think a little bit more about the advice he has given you? He is, (as far as I can tell), a very well regarded poster on this board, and he is being sincere. I’m a bit of an asshole that would just as soon laugh at your nonsense then try to give you any advise or even put the effort into engaging with you other than to amuse myself by laughing at your foolish responses. Unlike me though, **LSLGuy** is a genuinely good person (as far as I can tell) who really wants to help you out, and has very sound advise. ---
**Author:** ![SamuelA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@SamuelA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SamuelA)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/277 "2017-12-28T21:59:39Z")
> [@Tripler](#): > > No. Because you’re data mining, and I will not tell you how much SNM is in a warhead that reaches over 300kt. You may be able to look that up on open-source media. If you want to ask me about classified information, please specifically state so. > > I see, I made what your ego considers an ‘offensive statement’. You wanted to reach this asteroid with an ‘Orion Drive’ and I am calling you out on it. What are you qualifications to set those parameters for spacelift? > > No, you simply never indicated them. If you did, then link to that post. > > What I read hear is you bailed out of one program, and got another. Correct me if I’m wrong. . . we can wait. > > At this point, I’ve got ten years’ experience in weapons, between everything from conventional, biological, and nuclear. My BS is E.E. My Masters’ is in Aerospace Science. My experience over the past ten year has been managing and commanding responses to various weapons. I am too modest to discuss my deployment experiences, but I would like to hear your pedigree. > > One thing ignorant people do is hide behind their smoke and mirrors. > > Aaaaaaah, the old ‘Illuminati Response’. Becuase “They” told us so, it must be wrong. But **SamuelA** I will remind you for a fourth Goddamned time, that I want to know what credibility, certification, or education you have to call some of these people into question. For all intents and purposes, you could be a goddamed shoe clerk with opinions on nuclear weapons, and it just doesn’t fucking matter. Please do tell where you’re coming from. > > Tripler > **Fifth time** : What are your qualifications to speak on these matters? Where I’m coming from is that I can estimate the impulse imparted by hot gas as much as anyone else. Publicly available sources show 3 kilotons/kilogram is achieved in the best optimized devices. What “illuminati response”. Who’s they? I stated specifically that “they” are bullshitters if they can’t produce empirical evidence? How the fuck is that a conspiracy belief? That’s, like, the opposite. What I’m hearing is that you’re a fucking moron. You’ve been riding a desk for the last 10 years telling other people to finish their TPS reports. You sound about like a C student as well. But hey, I’m just thinking that. I don’t have enough evidence to conclude I’m right. Just a hunch. But by your reasoning, you’re the kind of poindexter where if one of your subordinates comes in with some calculations that say the weapons in your bunker are unstable because the explosives are degrading, and they come in with a sample of the suspect explosive, you’ll pull out the manual, find it isn’t mentioned, and call high command. Their “expert” with more credentials than your subordinate with the evidence in his hands says it’s impossible, and you continue mismanaging your unit. Thinking like that [lead to this](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Individual_involvement_in_the_Chernobyl_disaster#Anatoly_Dyatlov). Also the Challenger disaster, come to think of it. What I’m hearing is that because I don’t have a degree in aerospace engineering, just 2 different stem degrees, I can’t make comments, in your mind, on ablative nuclear propulsion. Which, by the way, obviously works at least a little, but you should realize that claiming the “orion drive would work even in vacuum” and “the orion drive lets you reach interstellar travel velocities” are enormously different things. Something you’d know if you even had your claimed credentials. What smoke and mirrors am I hiding behind? I’ve not claimed to be in aerospace. I’ve done some basic math. Maybe you’re a fucking liar, so I asked for you to do some calculations that would take about 3 minutes if you really passed aerospace engineering. Also, if you had done them, you would realize that the Orion drive does _not_ let you reach interstellar travel velocities unless you serious adjust your performance assumptions. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/278 "2017-12-28T22:02:12Z")
> [@SamuelA](#): > > I did use tenet correctly. I just mispelt it in a way that the spell check didn’t warn me about. And you’re accusing me of asperger’s … I didn’t accuse you of having Asperger’s, you reading-impaired moron, and I mentioned “tenant” and “per say” because your idiotic blunders were funny. That wasn’t the point, comprehension-impaired fuckwit. The point was the correlation between competence and intellectual humility, or lack thereof, and where you are on that distribution. Where you are [on this curve](https://graphpaperdiaries.files.wordpress.com/2017/08/dunning-kruger-chart.jpg?w=676), specifically. Which is very high on the Y-axis “confidence” scale, and very close to the left, or zero, on the “competence” scale. Which is, in fact, fairly typical of the Dunning-Kruger symptom, as **LSLGuy** very kindly tried to tell you in what I predicted would turn out to be a misplaced sense of compassion. I’m serious: if someone put you in a room with Noam Chomsky, you’d fucking argue with him and tell him why he’s wrong about generative grammar because it’s all so simple, dammit, if you’re just smart enough to understand the basic principles! P.S.- You misspelled “mispelt” (alternately “misspelt”). 😃 > [@Mr.Nylock](#): > > I think it’s dust mites. No, it’s the damn brain circuits, Scotty! I dannae if she can take any more, Captain. **SamuelA** [tells us that](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=20517089&postcount=43): … the brain is the effect of thousands of physical computational circuits **SamuelA** ’s brain has almost 2,500 individual circuits. But a normal human has about 100 billion neurons each of which is able to connect with up to 20,000 others, so we see that **SamuelA** is at a distinct disadvantage here, no doubt accounting for some of his eccentric pontifications. Furthermore, the intellectual strain causes his neurons to overheat and short-circuit with a loud pop. More than 800 of them have already short-circuited. Most have safely blown fuses but a few hundred are actively emitting sparks and smoke, which is being vented out of his earholes. Keep that in mind when reading his posts. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/279 "2017-12-28T22:02:33Z")
> [@SamuelA](#): > > Yes, it’s very well and good when it’s deserved. More and more with every new post you write, Sammy. > [@SamuelA](#): > > But when you try to kick someone’s ass, and end up kicking your own ass by proving yourself wrong/dumb instead of them, well, it’s embarrassing. Wait…_‘I’m rubber, you’re glue’_… that’s your best come-back?! Sick burn, Sammy. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420/280 "2017-12-28T22:02:37Z")
> [@SamuelA](#): > > Where I’m coming from is that I can estimate the impulse imparted by hot gas as much as anyone else. Publicly available sources show 3 kilotons/kilogram is achieved in the best optimized devices. > > What “illuminati response”. Who’s they? I stated specifically that “they” are bullshitters if they can’t produce empirical evidence? How the fuck is that a conspiracy belief? That’s, like, the opposite. > > What I’m hearing is that you’re a fucking moron. You’ve been riding a desk for the last 10 years telling other people to finish their TPS reports. You sound about like a C student as well. But hey, I’m just thinking that. I don’t have enough evidence to conclude I’m right. Just a hunch. > > But by your reasoning, you’re the kind of poindexter where if one of your subordinates comes in with some calculations that say the weapons in your bunker are unstable because the explosives are degrading, and they come in with a sample of the suspect explosive, you’ll pull out the manual, find it isn’t mentioned, and call high command. Their “expert” with more credentials than your subordinate with the evidence in his hands says it’s impossible, and you continue mismanaging your unit. > > Thinking like that [lead to this](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Individual_involvement_in_the_Chernobyl_disaster#Anatoly_Dyatlov). Also the Challenger disaster, come to think of it. > > What I’m hearing is that because I don’t have a degree in aerospace engineering, just 2 different stem degrees, I can’t make comments, in your mind, on ablative nuclear propulsion. Which, by the way, obviously works at least a little, but you should realize that claiming the “orion drive would work even in vacuum” and “the orion drive lets you reach interstellar travel velocities” are enormously different things. Something you’d know if you even had your claimed credentials. > > What smoke and mirrors am I hiding behind? I’ve not claimed to be in aerospace. I’ve done some basic math. Maybe you’re a fucking liar, so I asked for you to do some calculations that would take about 3 minutes if you really passed aerospace engineering. And your qualifications are…? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420.md?page=13) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-doesnt-work-that-way-samuelas-pit-thread/803420.md?page=15)