As to whether or not nerds are superior..... well, I am a nerd, and I have to say, not really. I'm a biologist, but I have done some chemistry, and while you can't be an idiot and succeed in science, neither do you have to be a genius to get a science degree. The key ingredients to being a good scientist or intellectual are:
1) A passion for the subject (in my case, genetics and developmental biology)
2) A reasonable memory
3) Training in sceptical (skeptical if you're American) thinking and the scientific method.
While I don't know any idiots in the scientific field, most of us, including myself, aren't world-renowned geniuses either. Frankly, your average scientist might think clearer than most, but that's because they've had training (Yes, you CAN be trained to think better, and that's what a good university can do for you).
But having an innate interest in science isn't proof of superiority or a great intellect. My brother is, frankly, probably smarter than me and more imaginative to boot. He went into IT and business and he hated science and didn't do too well in school (well enough to pass, but getting A's was the least of his concerns). By having a Master's Degree in a scientific discipline, am I better than my Brother? Hell no! My Brother's great. He's just as smart, probably smarter than me, and is probably a nicer guy (although I have a better control over my temper, he's the one with the real heart).
Being a nerd doesn't make you superior in any way. Bullies target people just because they can. I've met some real jerks in science, believe me. There are some scientists who derive no greater pleasure than from tearing, absolutely TEARING apart a colleague in public. Yes, good scientist are supposed to be ultra critical of all papers, but some of the stuff I've seen just borders on plain, pure psychotic emotional abuse. Many scientists are no better than anyone else, and I say that as a scientist. Luckily, my colleagues that I've worked with so far have been great. The nice scientists are the ones who tend to be at the bottom of the food chain. But in science, the higher up you go, the more the human and emotional side of people starts to show. Virtually all the heads-of-schools that I've met have been dead cold socio-paths who would THROW YOU TO THE WOLVES, LITERALLY, if it meant that they could get their hands on another PCR machine. I have known several academics, paranoid and mean-spirited, but in positions of great power, who basically spent WEEKS trying to collect signatures to get another fellow academic evicted and fired, just because they didn't go to their birthday party. I have met (not worked with, thankfully) some scientists who will try to sabotage your experiments, or take your reagents, or contaminate your equipment, for no real reason other than they don't like your face. Luckily, such psychotic jerks don't last long in science, but the insidious, emotionally abusive scientists often rise to the TOP of their department.
I've been with more than enough Nerds to know that they are really no better than anyone else. Believe me, if you have ever worked in a large lab or a building with multiple labs and warring departments all competing for limited resources, it gets REALLY UGLY, REALLY FAST. Which is really depressing - as scientists, aren't we supposed to be more rational, less emotional, fair-minded and driven solely by results? Well, that's the idealised image we try to project. But let me tell you, you sit in on some lab meetings, and you can sense the violence, the sheer violence and hatred in the air. You'd think there would be less bullying, harassment (sexual or otherwise) or meanness in an academic setting. No. Not at all. There's no escaping the human element, and scientists are humans, and some humans will be jerks and bullies. Same goes for Nerds.
And that's why I hate most lab meetings. And it's also why I'm depressed most mornings when I have to wake up.
1) A passion for the subject (in my case, genetics and developmental biology)
2) A reasonable memory
3) Training in sceptical (skeptical if you're American) thinking and the scientific method.
While I don't know any idiots in the scientific field, most of us, including myself, aren't world-renowned geniuses either. Frankly, your average scientist might think clearer than most, but that's because they've had training (Yes, you CAN be trained to think better, and that's what a good university can do for you).
But having an innate interest in science isn't proof of superiority or a great intellect. My brother is, frankly, probably smarter than me and more imaginative to boot. He went into IT and business and he hated science and didn't do too well in school (well enough to pass, but getting A's was the least of his concerns). By having a Master's Degree in a scientific discipline, am I better than my Brother? Hell no! My Brother's great. He's just as smart, probably smarter than me, and is probably a nicer guy (although I have a better control over my temper, he's the one with the real heart).
Being a nerd doesn't make you superior in any way. Bullies target people just because they can. I've met some real jerks in science, believe me. There are some scientists who derive no greater pleasure than from tearing, absolutely TEARING apart a colleague in public. Yes, good scientist are supposed to be ultra critical of all papers, but some of the stuff I've seen just borders on plain, pure psychotic emotional abuse. Many scientists are no better than anyone else, and I say that as a scientist. Luckily, my colleagues that I've worked with so far have been great. The nice scientists are the ones who tend to be at the bottom of the food chain. But in science, the higher up you go, the more the human and emotional side of people starts to show. Virtually all the heads-of-schools that I've met have been dead cold socio-paths who would THROW YOU TO THE WOLVES, LITERALLY, if it meant that they could get their hands on another PCR machine. I have known several academics, paranoid and mean-spirited, but in positions of great power, who basically spent WEEKS trying to collect signatures to get another fellow academic evicted and fired, just because they didn't go to their birthday party. I have met (not worked with, thankfully) some scientists who will try to sabotage your experiments, or take your reagents, or contaminate your equipment, for no real reason other than they don't like your face. Luckily, such psychotic jerks don't last long in science, but the insidious, emotionally abusive scientists often rise to the TOP of their department.
I've been with more than enough Nerds to know that they are really no better than anyone else. Believe me, if you have ever worked in a large lab or a building with multiple labs and warring departments all competing for limited resources, it gets REALLY UGLY, REALLY FAST. Which is really depressing - as scientists, aren't we supposed to be more rational, less emotional, fair-minded and driven solely by results? Well, that's the idealised image we try to project. But let me tell you, you sit in on some lab meetings, and you can sense the violence, the sheer violence and hatred in the air. You'd think there would be less bullying, harassment (sexual or otherwise) or meanness in an academic setting. No. Not at all. There's no escaping the human element, and scientists are humans, and some humans will be jerks and bullies. Same goes for Nerds.
And that's why I hate most lab meetings. And it's also why I'm depressed most mornings when I have to wake up.
