Lighthearted--Scientists as addictive personalities

[Petrel]

I was looking up something for the thread on addiction and stumbled across [this article], which originally appeared in Science in 1990.

Dr. Noitall: An addictive person is one who has a compulsion to behave in ways that his or her family members consider detrimental to their interest. An addictive person will frequently conceal the extent of his addiction, will lie to his family about it, is immune to logical arguments to correct the error of his ways, and foregoes income that would require abandoning the addiction.

Science: Are we talking about a dope addict or alcoholic?

Dr. Noitall: No, I am describing a scientist. It is well known that work habits of scientists are addictive, leaving their spouses in tears, their children pleading, "Come home, Mommy (or Daddy)," and involve long hours in hostile instrument laboratories or cold rooms, exposed to noxious gases and radioactivity - conditions that no sane person would choose.

There is some truth to it!

Even though it is not really scientific I thought I would post it here so that those in the field can read it.

 

[fossilman]

Compulsive behavior is a very subjective topic. I wouild venture a guess that there are far more compulsive Christians than there are compulsive scientists (since there are, at least in the good ol' US, far more Christians than scientists -- not that the two groups are mutually exclusive). Compulsive Christians spend far too much time away from their families, give far too much of their money to their church, and are "immune to logical arguments to correct the error of their ways."

I used to be one. Now that I've left compulsive Chritianity behind, I am a happier person, a better Christian, and a better scientist.

Edited to add: I'd prefer long hours in hostile instrument labs over many pastor's "preaching" any day.

 

[jcrawford]

Originally posted by fossilman:
I wouild venture a guess that there are far more compulsive Christians than there are compulsive scientists (since there are, at least in the good ol' US, far more Christians than scientists -- not that the two groups are mutually exclusive). Compulsive Christians spend far too much time away from their families, give far too much of their money to their church, and are "immune to logical arguments to correct the error of their ways."

I used to be one. Now that I've left compulsive Chritianity behind, I am a happier person, a better Christian, and a better scientist.

Hi fossilman. I like your name. I've heard of compassionate conservatism but compulsive 'Christianity' is a new one on me. If I seem to be posting like a compulsive creationist on these forums sometimes, its only because I'm creatively critiquing compulsive neo-Darwinists.

 

[jcrawford]

Originally posted by Petrel:
I was looking up something for the thread on addiction and stumbled across [this article], which originally appeared in Science in 1990.

Even though it is not really scientific I thought I would post it here so that those in the field can read it.

Not really scientific?

Dr. Noitall sounds like a good psychiatrist to me.

 

[Petrel]

I think Dr. Noitall must be related to most of the regular posters on the Baptist Board.

 

[jcrawford]

Originally posted by Petrel:
I think Dr. Noitall must be related to most of the regular posters on the Baptist Board.

Do you think he shares a common ancestry with any of us?

 

[Petrel]

Of course, since we're all Homo sapiens!

Excluding those of us descended from the Neanderthals, of course.

 

[PamelaK]

Dr. Noitall just sounds like a "know-it-all" to me!!

 

[jcrawford]

Originally posted by Petrel:
Of course, since we're all Homo sapiens!

Excluding those of us descended from the Neanderthals, of course.

What about those of us who are descended from the late Homo erectus and early/archaic Homo sapiens populations which historically occupied the Eurasian land mass before becoming modern Homo sapiens?

Should we and our human ancestors also be excluded from full and equal human status along with Neanderthal people and their descendents?

 

[jcrawford]

Originally posted by PamelaK:
Dr. Noitall just sounds like a "know-it-all" to me!!

He sounds like an expert on Homo sapiens to me.

 

[fossilman]

I tried to find the original source and found a "transcript" of the original interview. Found it at:

http://www.he.net/~seidel/addictive.html

The original citation was the 30 November, 1990 issuce of Science v. 250, no. 4985, no page given.

Looked it up and, sure enough, it was there. Dr. Noitall turns out to be Dr. Daniel E. Koshland's alter-ego who turns up from time to time as scientist extraordinair to give expert testimony on the day's pertinant issues. Koshland was, I believe, the editor of Science for a number of years.

 

[jcrawford]

Originally posted by fossilman:
I tried to find the original source and found a "transcript" of the original interview. Found it at:

http://www.he.net/~seidel/addictive.html

The original citation was the 30 November, 1990 issuce of Science v. 250, no. 4985, no page given.

Looked it up and, sure enough, it was there. Dr. Noitall turns out to be Dr. Daniel E. Koshland's alter-ego who turns up from time to time as scientist extraordinair to give expert testimony on the day's pertinant issues. Koshland was, I believe, the editor of Science for a number of years.

Excellent research, fossilman. What do you think of Professor Lubenow's research on the human fossil record?