Comments on: Symmetry Breaking http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/07/25/symmetry-breaking/ Random samplings from a universe of ideas. Sun, 05 Jul 2009 08:42:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Allyson http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/07/25/symmetry-breaking/#comment-42072 Allyson Thu, 31 Jul 2008 17:39:15 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/07/25/symmetry-breaking/#comment-42072 Samia, I think the assholeness in that sceniario goes something like this: Woman standing up for herself = emotional Man standing up for himself = passionate But seriously, only assholes think that way. Fuck em! Samia, I think the assholeness in that sceniario goes something like this:

Woman standing up for herself = emotional
Man standing up for himself = passionate

But seriously, only assholes think that way. Fuck em!

]]> By: Samia http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/07/25/symmetry-breaking/#comment-42071 Samia Wed, 30 Jul 2008 20:27:53 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/07/25/symmetry-breaking/#comment-42071 Aren't women generally chastised a little more harshly for speaking or acting in their self-interest/defense? We're frequently expected to "go with the flow" and not stir up the waters. In some environments, it may be less okay for a woman to stand up for herself than for a man to do the same thing, especially of the asshole in question is a man. Aren’t women generally chastised a little more harshly for speaking or acting in their self-interest/defense? We’re frequently expected to “go with the flow” and not stir up the waters. In some environments, it may be less okay for a woman to stand up for herself than for a man to do the same thing, especially of the asshole in question is a man.

]]> By: JCF http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/07/25/symmetry-breaking/#comment-42070 JCF Wed, 30 Jul 2008 06:40:12 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/07/25/symmetry-breaking/#comment-42070 Lawrence B. Crowell: Regarding McCain's sojourn in the Hanoi Hilton, one might reasonably conclude on reviewing the facts that it has proven a very positive development, as overcoming extreme adversity through courage and tenacity can provide uncommon fortitude to certain individuals, as the fight against polio did for FDR. McCain's 26 years in Congress, marked more by principle than expediency, certainly point to that. Who knows what "demons" run through anybody's head? Lawrence B. Crowell:
Regarding McCain’s sojourn in the Hanoi Hilton, one might reasonably conclude on reviewing the facts that it has proven a very positive development, as overcoming extreme adversity through courage and tenacity can provide uncommon fortitude to certain individuals, as the fight against polio did for FDR. McCain’s 26 years in Congress, marked more by principle than expediency, certainly point to that. Who knows what “demons” run through anybody’s head?

]]> By: Kaleberg http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/07/25/symmetry-breaking/#comment-42069 Kaleberg Mon, 28 Jul 2008 22:59:59 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/07/25/symmetry-breaking/#comment-42069 If you have ever attended a Passover seder you may remember the comparison between Pharaoh and Laban (the Syrian). Since the seder as we know it is modeled on a Greek symposium, this kind of question comes up, and the official consensus is that Laban was more evil than Pharaoh because Laban had it in for everyone, but Pharaoh had it in only for the Jews. Things are clearly different in academia. If you have ever attended a Passover seder you may remember the comparison between Pharaoh and Laban (the Syrian). Since the seder as we know it is modeled on a Greek symposium, this kind of question comes up, and the official consensus is that Laban was more evil than Pharaoh because Laban had it in for everyone, but Pharaoh had it in only for the Jews. Things are clearly different in academia.

]]> By: pollux http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/07/25/symmetry-breaking/#comment-42068 pollux Sun, 27 Jul 2008 15:34:56 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/07/25/symmetry-breaking/#comment-42068 They're all around, it seems. From my side, my experience was in my first international meeting. I don't have a permanent job... yet... still a fresh post-doc. This guy came and started to say that I did some things wrong and even suggested that I was not honest in my last paper. I was really upset the way he put things and used his "authority" in the field to put pressure on me. From the conversation, I guess he did not even read the paper. Only after I went back to the Hotel I could calm down and see things clearer... and how an asshole he is/was. As always, afterwards, I heard about several other stories about him. They’re all around, it seems. From my side, my experience was in my first international meeting. I don’t have a permanent job… yet… still a fresh post-doc.
This guy came and started to say that I did some things wrong and even suggested that I was not honest in my last paper. I was really upset the way he put things and used his “authority” in the field to put pressure on me. From the conversation, I guess he did not even read the paper. Only after I went back to the Hotel I could calm down and see things clearer… and how an asshole he is/was. As always, afterwards, I heard about several other stories about him.

]]> By: Solomon http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/07/25/symmetry-breaking/#comment-42067 Solomon Sun, 27 Jul 2008 14:53:42 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/07/25/symmetry-breaking/#comment-42067 Roberto Gonzalez-Plaza, ???? ?? ?? Roberto Gonzalez-Plaza,

???? ?? ??

]]> By: Lawrence B. Crowell http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/07/25/symmetry-breaking/#comment-42051 Lawrence B. Crowell Sun, 27 Jul 2008 01:47:29 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/07/25/symmetry-breaking/#comment-42051 The human mind is a delicate instrument. Under sufficient perturbtations it can begin to behave abnormally. One of the problems with our modern society, which existed in prior societies to some degree as well, is that an enormous emphasis is place upon competition and the high price on "proving oneself." This can easily lead to narcissitic behavior. I think this is what often lies behind a person who we might identify as the asshole. We must also be honest and admit the whole process of academia can easily foster this behavior as well. The corporate system is rife with this. If one is familiar with the history of Stalinist Russia it is apparent that much the same existed. However in that system there was a high measure of paranoid behavior as well. On a somewhat tangential issue, the GOP candidate for the President spent 6 years in the Hanoi Hilton. That frankly couldn't have been a positive development in McCain's psychology. His outbursts of anger and some strange ideas he has might indicate he has some demons running around his head. If the guy should become President he will have the nuclear launch codes. Lawrence B. Crowell The human mind is a delicate instrument. Under sufficient perturbtations it can begin to behave abnormally.

One of the problems with our modern society, which existed in prior societies to some degree as well, is that an enormous emphasis is place upon competition and the high price on “proving oneself.” This can easily lead to narcissitic behavior. I think this is what often lies behind a person who we might identify as the asshole. We must also be honest and admit the whole process of academia can easily foster this behavior as well. The corporate system is rife with this. If one is familiar with the history of Stalinist Russia it is apparent that much the same existed. However in that system there was a high measure of paranoid behavior as well.

On a somewhat tangential issue, the GOP candidate for the President spent 6 years in the Hanoi Hilton. That frankly couldn’t have been a positive development in McCain’s psychology. His outbursts of anger and some strange ideas he has might indicate he has some demons running around his head. If the guy should become President he will have the nuclear launch codes.

Lawrence B. Crowell

]]> By: Roberto Gonzalez-Plaza http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/07/25/symmetry-breaking/#comment-42050 Roberto Gonzalez-Plaza Sat, 26 Jul 2008 21:31:25 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/07/25/symmetry-breaking/#comment-42050 solomon: got carried away with the praxis of the lexis and aH symmetry..[i may be mildly disgraphic] ??????? solomon: got carried away with the praxis of the lexis and aH symmetry..[i may be mildly disgraphic] ???????

]]> By: Pieter Kok http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/07/25/symmetry-breaking/#comment-42049 Pieter Kok Sat, 26 Jul 2008 17:53:45 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/07/25/symmetry-breaking/#comment-42049 According to Dostojevski, one should judge a society by the way it treats its prisoners. According to Dostojevski, one should judge a society by the way it treats its prisoners.

]]> By: Solomon http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/07/25/symmetry-breaking/#comment-42047 Solomon Sat, 26 Jul 2008 16:07:44 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/07/25/symmetry-breaking/#comment-42047 Roberto Gonzalez-Plaza, Pirkei Avot, not Havot - from the word Av (father), and the plural form Avot (fathers). Roberto Gonzalez-Plaza,

Pirkei Avot, not Havot - from the word Av (father), and the plural form Avot (fathers).

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