This is one of the best blog posts I have read in weeks. Months.
Having had my own run-ins with hundreds of scientists, which have ranged the gamut from life-changing to decidedly unpleasant, I cannot say that I have unbounded love for all scientists the way Allyson Beatrice clearly expounds in that post. But her point about the love, the wonder, and the science itself are right on the money.
But Allyson, if I may: we need more people like you. We do science because we love to do it, but we can do science because of the love people like you have for it.
So on behalf of all scientists: thanks.
If you like her article, please Digg it!
November 12th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
Dr. Phil Plait:
November 12th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
ERRATUM:
Which scientists were “decidedly unpleasant” towards you, Phil? P. Z. Myers?
Or are you referring to those bloody creationist ’scientists’?
November 12th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
And my mind instantly goes “blue”. *sighs*
November 12th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
I done Dugg it and Stumbled it.
Neat article. I think the reason I like scientists is that they literally make the world a better place (there are some other professions I can think of that might not do that as much).
There are some people close to me that got sick and probably would have had a very bad outcome if it wasn’t for the research and work that doctors and scientists have cumulatively done.
November 12th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
The most important lesson: be nice to the departmental admins and secretaries…
Her descriptions of her scientists are so like the folks I used to work with it almost made me homesick for the lab!
(looks around for a grad school to go back to…)
November 12th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
But… but… teh Hollywood tells me that scientists turn us into zombies or make us all the dead! I can no trust the Hollywood???
November 12th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
For some reason the title of this post reminded me of that old Twilight Zone episode “To Serve Man”…
November 12th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
@QD
No, Hollywood is right. Allyson is clearly just a part of the coverup. “They” got to her.
November 12th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
You say it like zombification is a bad thing! Come on, you’ll love it. Think of the time you’ll save showering alone!
November 12th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
ccpeterson – There is just something special about the academic world that draws us back, hmm? I’ve been in the workforce for 5 months and before I went completely insane, I sent in my part time grad school application. If you’re serious about it, there are certainly a lot of professors who are willing to accommodate around work schedules!
November 12th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
[...] pointage from the [...]
November 12th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
I wish more scientists were like Allyson*
I too have had my run-ins with cranky, poorly-socialized scientists. I dislike them and seek to avoid them whenever possible. But Allyson not only tolerates them, she actually has a fondness for them. She is some kind of special.
*and Phil, too, not to be too sycophantic.
November 12th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
Thanks so much for this, Phil. I’ve had an overwhelmingly warm welcome over at CCP, and suspect that I’ll be getting a metric assload of loot on secretary’s day next year.
November 12th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
Allyson, thank you for writing such a great post!
November 12th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
And DUGG!
November 12th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
I don’t like my scientist. He’s old and crabby.
November 12th, 2008 at 8:06 pm
Do I know you, PsyberDave? Does your last name start with a “T”?
Phil, thanks for sharing that. It is a lovely ode to all things scientific.
I hope so, Allyson! You are a jewel! (but not a Jewel)
November 12th, 2008 at 8:14 pm
Annette, I’ve been thinking about that distance larnin’ thang… I’ve already got one graduate degree, but would like to get the other one…
November 13th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
Hi Barber,
No, my last name starts with a “K”. I could try a “T”, I suppose.
I checked out your website and you don’t look familiar to me. But then again, I have spotty facial recognition skills. Your last name sounds familiar though…
November 20th, 2008 at 7:43 am
Hey Allyson:
I sent you an email, and on MySpace.
If you don’t find it too weird, could you send a response?