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Duer 157099

(17,742 posts)

52. Many scientists are introverts and deeply buried in their research

Sun Mar 24, 2013, 06:30 PM

Mar 2013

Most that I know "volunteer" a whole bunch of their free time doing research, which is the best use of their time.

Not everyone has to do everything. Why would you want someone that is working on a cure for a disease to take a break from that to volunteer in a soup kitchen? Just think about it for a moment.

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Does studying science make you a better person? [View all] DavidDvorkin Mar 2013 OP

Studying science does teach some sort of logical process MineralMan Mar 2013 #1

That could be a factor DavidDvorkin Mar 2013 #2

It might be the same thing, really. MineralMan Mar 2013 #3

"He taught me the process he used to correctly determine what was wrong with a system." AikidoSoul Mar 2013 #75

That's very interesting stuff, and I use that type of MineralMan Mar 2013 #77

You are right about this. And of course it's also true of the computer business, which is what AikidoSoul Mar 2013 #79

Thanks for your reply and for the discussion. MineralMan Mar 2013 #89

+1 uponit7771 Mar 2013 #10

People who study science, & track research, often feel compelled to look at who funded the research AikidoSoul Mar 2013 #68

As important as logical thinking is quantitative thinking FarCenter Mar 2013 #108

That's an important point. DavidDvorkin Mar 2013 #115

I guess that tells us what the 1% aren't studying Fumesucker Mar 2013 #4

One of my favorite scenes. Brigid Mar 2013 #54

I know in my heart that it does. Blanks Mar 2013 #5

Kicking to keep this going. GoneOffShore Mar 2013 #6

Compared to the alternative, sure, it makes sense.... Wounded Bear Mar 2013 #7

And you get to do cool shit. progressoid Mar 2013 #8

Thanks. I needed that. JDPriestly Mar 2013 #37

The helical model - our solar system is a vortex... Cool stuff! dkf Mar 2013 #38

Facinating and a bit mezmerizing. progressoid Mar 2013 #44

And beyond the visuals quite thought provoking. dkf Mar 2013 #47

And some super bad shit too. Edward Teller, "Father of the Hydrogen Bomb" is also a designer AikidoSoul Mar 2013 #91

To be fair laundry_queen Mar 2013 #97

I think what makes a person better is getting to know people on a one to one personal basis. liberal_at_heart Mar 2013 #9

This also, science trains a persons mind to accept realities better imhe...the current GOP does not uponit7771 Mar 2013 #11

That's true, but science represents a way of looking MineralMan Mar 2013 #12

"I think what makes a person better is getting to know people on a one to one personal basis." AikidoSoul Mar 2013 #78

+1000 YoungDemCA Mar 2013 #83

Flow makes you a better person. gulliver Mar 2013 #13

Flow. I like that. liberal_at_heart Mar 2013 #14

Yep. Logical reasoning is the key to life. Zoeisright Mar 2013 #15

+infinity Apophis Mar 2013 #17

And BTW, good research is designed to Zoeisright Mar 2013 #16

The last line was meant humorously DavidDvorkin Mar 2013 #20

Does studying literature, art, philosophy, history, any of the humanities make you a better person? Tierra_y_Libertad Mar 2013 #18

All of the above bhikkhu Mar 2013 #19

"'Than you would be otherwise' being a necessary caveat. Not all science and not all practitioners liberal_at_heart Mar 2013 #32

As a graduate of the arts, I would like to think so. progressoid Mar 2013 #22

But scientists are the more important out of those. nt Generation_Why Mar 2013 #24

My gut makes me want to agree.. awoke_in_2003 Mar 2013 #27

Was that sarcasm? I hope that was sarcasm. Nevernose Mar 2013 #56

Science will eventually kill us Art_from_Ark Mar 2013 #61

Amen to that! Most science is used to make people rich....and much of it is AikidoSoul Mar 2013 #94

I don't think the poster of the thread meant for it to be a competition between students of. AikidoSoul Mar 2013 #82

Thank you DavidDvorkin Mar 2013 #87

I was talking about the post, not thread Nevernose Mar 2013 #90

I've never heard Paul Ryan say anything poetic or uplifting, but your comment made me think about AikidoSoul Mar 2013 #92

Probably Sgent Mar 2013 #26

People who study science are no better or worse than anybody else. liberal_at_heart Mar 2013 #28

This kind of study is notoriously hard to make valid. Igel Mar 2013 #40

Big deal. Tierra_y_Libertad Mar 2013 #41

It's almost as though things can change in four or five decades. Imagine. (nt) Posteritatis Mar 2013 #43

Answer: Yes. blackspade Mar 2013 #21

People that study science are less likely to hold misinformed opinions... Generation_Why Mar 2013 #23

Just like a lot of Western medicine, I'm sure some eastern medicine is BS. But you are wrong to AikidoSoul Mar 2013 #93

+1000 PADemD Mar 2013 #112

ouch. Phillip McCleod Mar 2013 #113

And politics... LanternWaste Mar 2013 #95

Maybe folks who study science are smarter than those who don't, and valerief Mar 2013 #25

Not too many scientist or intellectuals volunteering at the places I help out at... demosincebirth Mar 2013 #31

Yes, because soup kitchens are the only way someone can contribute to the common good. valerief Mar 2013 #33

It's not the only way but it's always good to get out and see the people. liberal_at_heart Mar 2013 #36

scientists can probably help out in other ways, many wingnuts volunteer at soup kitchens JI7 Mar 2013 #50

the point is the poor need both good policy and someone to actually come and give them liberal_at_heart Mar 2013 #53

You have to have empathy which many of the rw'ers don't have. Haven't met one yet down here demosincebirth Mar 2013 #58

Many scientists are introverts and deeply buried in their research Duer 157099 Mar 2013 #52

I guess I just don't know why it's an either or situation. It's okay to take a 2 hours break to go liberal_at_heart Mar 2013 #55

2 hours to get there, 2 hours to serve, 2 hours to return home is 6 hours. valerief Mar 2013 #64

You won't see me in Oakland quaker bill Mar 2013 #57

It's not so bad. You just have to treat them with respect and dignity...thats the key. demosincebirth Mar 2013 #59

On a side note, re: Quakers. Thanks! OriginalGeek Mar 2013 #73

Many Friends did good (while doing very well) quaker bill Mar 2013 #98

Those "common ol' folks" have never been exposed to science? Hissyspit Mar 2013 #63

I don't know about better, but it sure makes you smarter. n/t Cleita Mar 2013 #29

I agree. demosincebirth Mar 2013 #35

On Facebook this afternoon, chervilant Mar 2013 #30

Sorry but that does not compute for me. ananda Mar 2013 #34

eating frosted flakes makes you more likely to help injured unicorns markiv Mar 2013 #39

An important scientific principle to remember in connection with this claim... DreamGypsy Mar 2013 #42

a good education makes you a better person BainsBane Mar 2013 #45

Not necessarily. VenusRising Mar 2013 #46

I think a well rounded education felix_numinous Mar 2013 #48

very well said! liberal_at_heart Mar 2013 #49

+1 uponit7771 Mar 2013 #60

GREAT post! YoungDemCA Mar 2013 #86

Damn straight! Duer 157099 Mar 2013 #51

As a scientist, it depends on how you view the data quaker bill Mar 2013 #62

Studying science, especially the subjects that interest me the most, makes me happy...eom Tikki Mar 2013 #65

I answered a post on the Salon forum Rozlee Mar 2013 #66

Yes! The ONLY topic worth majoring in is science. joanbarnes Mar 2013 #67

Scientists are left-brained, there's little room for ambiguous 'stuff'. toby jo Mar 2013 #69

Good scientists do not reject ambiguity... LeftishBrit Mar 2013 #71

Good post. YoungDemCA Mar 2013 #84

+++1 patrice Mar 2013 #106

Actually, it is the nature of what many refer to as "proof" that it is always open-ended. patrice Mar 2013 #107

With the exception of Harlow Shapley. aquart Mar 2013 #70

Seriously studying anything probably does help to 'improve the mind' to use an old-fashioned phrase LeftishBrit Mar 2013 #72

A better person? No. TroglodyteScholar Mar 2013 #74

I've been thinking of a list of 'scientists'... CanSocDem Mar 2013 #76

So a bunch of Scientist decided what they study makes them better 4Q2u2 Mar 2013 #80

Anything that teaches critical thinking makes you a better person hobbit709 Mar 2013 #81

In my humble opinion, if people at all levels of society were more educated.... YoungDemCA Mar 2013 #85

My niece has Down's Syndrome LanternWaste Mar 2013 #88

I love your post! liberal_at_heart Mar 2013 #100

No authentic scientist would invalidate what you just said. patrice Mar 2013 #104

Does social science of questionable methodology count? Recursion Mar 2013 #96

Imperfection is a powerful drive for learning & there are real reasons to value patrice Mar 2013 #102

Science is Satan's henchman !!!!!! olddots Mar 2013 #99

There are people who experience the processes of science as a type of delight in the universe. patrice Mar 2013 #101

Yes, indeed. DavidDvorkin Mar 2013 #103

I should have said "... delight encoded in the universe ..." with which we have an affinity patrice Mar 2013 #105

Won't hurt. blkmusclmachine Mar 2013 #109

It depends on what the person would be "better" at. Jamaal510 Mar 2013 #110

I think thinking makes you a better person Warren DeMontague Mar 2013 #111

Studying is one thing... Alkene Mar 2013 #114

Academic STEM research is probably more of a swamp than business research FarCenter Mar 2013 #117

I used to work at NIH in Bethesda deutsey Mar 2013 #116