tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post2298126301081901318..comments2024-03-25T02:33:41.590-05:00Comments on FemaleScienceProfessor: Crazed TypesFemale Science Professorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15288567883197987690noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-88394570744439095952008-05-04T18:24:00.000-05:002008-05-04T18:24:00.000-05:00My question is where do potential graduate student...My question is where do potential graduate students fit in? The only reason why I ask is because I am currently in that situation and its a strange thing to do. You guys are intimidating...Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14642107044453479333noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-75730980501289803862008-04-29T12:13:00.000-05:002008-04-29T12:13:00.000-05:00Thanks for the categorizing scheme!I would add typ...Thanks for the categorizing scheme!<BR/><BR/>I would add type 5 -- the in-house crazies. For example, former undergrads who graduated, tried to make it in grad school, failed (due to their own craziness), and are now back. They want to sit in on classes and dominate discussion with their amazing insights. Will they ever leave?<BR/><BR/>I think what bugs me most about type 3's is their inconsistency. On the one hand, they show little respect for our training and education; they seem to think "anyone can do this," and that they're qualified to pontificate on any subject without having read what other people have to say about it. On the other hand, they must respect us because they want our affirmation so badly!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-48810470932908445752008-04-29T07:43:00.000-05:002008-04-29T07:43:00.000-05:00Ugh, the loony who wants you to write a book for h...Ugh, the loony who wants you to write a book for him reminds me of Project X that I worked on as an undergrad. <BR/><BR/>Project X was brilliant for bringing the nutjobs out of the woodwork. Among other things, quite a lot of people thought Project X would make a riveting documentary. I thought so too, but that doesn't mean anyone had the time and money to make one. We approached the appropriate department at our university to see if anyone there was interested, got a no-due-to-time-money-constraints, and left it at that. But for the next 2 years we got plagued by random people demanding, "why isn't SOMEONE making a documentary of this??????? SOMEONE should!!!!" That neither we nor the appropriate specialist department had the money and manpower to spare was WRONGWRONGWRONG and simply not acceptable to these people. Resources should just magically appear for every project of value -- how dare they not?<BR/><BR/>Project X was also a wonderful magnet for the I-have-a-brilliant-idea loonies. The ideas were invariably just plain stupid, but there was no telling them that, and better yet, they all tended to use the phrasing that they were oh-so-magnanimously willing to "gift" their brilliant intellectual property (they were always sure their crackpot notions were patentable) to the Project, and would go off into momentary gaze-into-the-distance smug contemplations of their brilliance *and* marvelous humanitarian generosity.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-16432198856399555482008-04-28T23:47:00.000-05:002008-04-28T23:47:00.000-05:00A couple of years ago I advertised for a junior re...A couple of years ago I advertised for a junior research assistant. We had HEAPS of applicants, one of whom was a retiring professor from a peripherally related discipline. On the off-chance he was a Type 3 with merit, we interviewed him. Within about three minutes it was clear that he was probably slightly insightless (e.g. "No, I have never done Super Technical Task but I did Unrelated Stuff about 40 years ago so I will be OK"). He also wanted to have a little chat about his latest idea. We didn't hire him for the low-paid job he was overqualified yet underskilled for. Three weeks later I received an email from him, saying that he'd incorporated the idea from our research project that required the Super Technical Task into a review article about his pet theory of how X works. After about six more emails I was quite sure he belonged in your Type 3a category. I never checked to see whether that got published, but will go off now and see what I missed out on!!!! <BR/><BR/>The joys of academia, but it sure keeps it interesting!Mehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16483811445427052828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-54597515058073077332008-04-28T22:04:00.000-05:002008-04-28T22:04:00.000-05:00Ah yes, the in-house crazies. That's another speci...Ah yes, the in-house crazies. That's another species, and sometimes quite invasive.Female Science Professorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15288567883197987690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-74653376361913888492008-04-28T21:25:00.000-05:002008-04-28T21:25:00.000-05:00I am a new female assistant professor of physical ...I am a new female assistant professor of physical sciences at a state u., and I am really glad I read your blog to know that this type of thing happens. I have started a women's group, and your blog is a top link off the website, because it is so informative.<BR/>On the topic of the current post: We have an insane person lurking in the department. Unfortunately he is an emeritus crazy professor (ECP), so people are still nice to him instead of calling him the crack-pot he is. In addition, he is also misogynist, and I have had more than a few run-ins with him since joining the faculty in Sept. Luckily, I asked a respectable senior faculty, and he told me the scoop about ECP. He also told me that ECP would not have any say about my tenure, so I was at liberty to defend myself and gender.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-88469943106979856652008-04-28T08:57:00.000-05:002008-04-28T08:57:00.000-05:00You didn't include a type 4, more prevalent among ...You didn't include a type 4, more prevalent among biomed researchers, which is people who have a health need. They can come in two categories, too. The one's whose true health need is psychological, or those who think calling up a "heart scientist" is the way to deal with their palpitations.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-90289860500715196502008-04-28T08:03:00.000-05:002008-04-28T08:03:00.000-05:00I am in a constant state of deciding whether to pu...I am in a constant state of deciding whether to pursue a career as a professor. My very favorite thing about your blog is that you make all of these strange and/or non-obvious components of your job more transparent to the average observer. It certainly helps me to make a more informed decision! <BR/><BR/>It also makes me wonder whether it is prudent to keep pepper spray in your desk and an emergency phone number on speed dial.Katiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03180664868764845535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-18647786803043921212008-04-28T06:17:00.000-05:002008-04-28T06:17:00.000-05:00I feel an overwhelming urge to classify[.]AHA!! I ...<I>I feel an overwhelming urge to classify[.]</I><BR/><BR/>AHA!! I <I>knew</I> you were a splitter!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-20515696636846592232008-04-28T05:20:00.000-05:002008-04-28T05:20:00.000-05:00Oh no. I'm one of these people. I only called once...Oh no. I'm one of these people. I only called once, I swear, and it was the Athletics Department. That doesn't really count, does it? The truth is, I couldn't think of anyone else who would know where to buy size 18 tennis shoes (I have a giant of a son). Oddly enough, Wal-Mart doesn't stock them.Mrs. Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14044255357653198954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-75755646757726412292008-04-28T04:26:00.000-05:002008-04-28T04:26:00.000-05:00Thanks for the great follow up. I shall be recomme...Thanks for the great follow up. I shall be recommending the FSP "Field Guide to Spotting Crazy Types" to all my lab mates!Auntie Emhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05042427357649111620noreply@blogger.com