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[mdwlark]

dvf and verafrance, what you may not realize is that you are both right.  When behavioral science is applied, it becomes more communication, compassion, relationship, social smarts, spiritual insight, curiosity and courage than hard science.  At times social science has more in common with literature than science.  And universities may be driving away the empathic students along with the social activists and wildly creative people, the students who used to be our base, in favor of the compulsive whiners with straight A's. 

But the practicianer also needs to think logically and to be able to evaluate the research and know when and how to apply it.  The research we build social sciences on needs to use the scientific method to guard against our very human tendency toward error in what we accept into the body of knowledge.  The most important skill the scientific method teaches student practicianers is when to remain tentative in drawing conclusions.  Good practicianers need both sets of skills, and there are too many practicianers who have one set without the other. 

And, gee, this fora has gotten testy this week.  Not just this thread...

[daniel_von_flanagan]

And universities may be driving away the empathic students along with the social activists and wildly creative people, the students who used to be our base, in favor of the compulsive whiners with straight A's. 

Of course, there are plenty of empathic and creative people who can handle the math, and plenty of compulsive whiners who can't.  I agree that we shouldn't chase away the e&c folk, and would be equally happy to see the whiners kept away from patients.  I just think that the people who can't handle the math should probably find another outlet for their abilities; these exist in abundance.

But the practicianer also needs to think logically and to be able to evaluate the research and know when and how to apply it.

Exactly so. - DvF

[minnesotan]

If only the social activists would be driven away around here.

I'm so sick of having my path blocked by picketers because some politician accidentally stepped on an endangered tree frog in Brazil, or women aren't being hired to donate sperm in this country, or whatever the idiot cause of the week may be.

[cgfunmathguy]

If only the social activists would be driven away around here.

I'm so sick of having my path blocked by picketers because some politician accidentally stepped on an endangered tree frog in Brazil, or women aren't being hired to donate sperm in this country, or whatever the idiot cause of the week may be.

But community organizers do such great work that it qualifies them to be President (or Senator or ...). *tongue planted firmly in cheek*

[minnesotan]

If only the social activists would be driven away around here.

I'm so sick of having my path blocked by picketers because some politician accidentally stepped on an endangered tree frog in Brazil, or women aren't being hired to donate sperm in this country, or whatever the idiot cause of the week may be.

But community organizers do such great work that it qualifies them to be President (or Senator or ...). *tongue planted firmly in cheek*

No one who wants to be president should ever be allowed to be president! I don't care what their job was before becoming a politician.  ;)

[cgfunmathguy]

If only the social activists would be driven away around here.

I'm so sick of having my path blocked by picketers because some politician accidentally stepped on an endangered tree frog in Brazil, or women aren't being hired to donate sperm in this country, or whatever the idiot cause of the week may be.

But community organizers do such great work that it qualifies them to be President (or Senator or ...). *tongue planted firmly in cheek*

No one who wants to be president should ever be allowed to be president! I don't care what their job was before becoming a politician.  ;)

Unfortunately, this leads to the Presidency remaining vacant for a very long period of time. Gone are the days of George Washington, who didn't want the job but took it out of a sense of duty. If no one who wanted it was allowed to be the President, then who becomes President. I seriously doubt that anyone who doesn't want the job would accept it, given the nature of the job today compared to the Early Republic. Just some thoughts.

[minnesotan]

If only the social activists would be driven away around here.

I'm so sick of having my path blocked by picketers because some politician accidentally stepped on an endangered tree frog in Brazil, or women aren't being hired to donate sperm in this country, or whatever the idiot cause of the week may be.

But community organizers do such great work that it qualifies them to be President (or Senator or ...). *tongue planted firmly in cheek*

No one who wants to be president should ever be allowed to be president! I don't care what their job was before becoming a politician.  ;)

Unfortunately, this leads to the Presidency remaining vacant for a very long period of time. Gone are the days of George Washington, who didn't want the job but took it out of a sense of duty. If no one who wanted it was allowed to be the President, then who becomes President. I seriously doubt that anyone who doesn't want the job would accept it, given the nature of the job today compared to the Early Republic. Just some thoughts.

Yeah, cause it would be a shame if here wasn't a president. ;)

[dismalist]

Who said: "If nominated, I will not run; if elected, I will not serve"?

[minnesotan]

Who said: "If nominated, I will not run; if elected, I will not serve"?

I believe that was Richard Pryor in "Brewster's Millions."

[cgfunmathguy]

Who said: "If nominated, I will not run; if elected, I will not serve"?

I believe that was Richard Pryor in "Brewster's Millions."

Actually, that would be LBJ.

[oldadjunct]

Actually, that would be William Tecumseh Sherman, LBJ and others have echoed what has become know as a "Shermanesque pledge."

[minnesotan]

I stick by my answer, as it was much less boring.

[mdwlark]

I stick by my answer, as it was much less boring.

Factual information isn't boring.  That is why we are academics--we like it.

[galactic_hedgehog]

I stick by my answer, as it was much less boring.

Factual information isn't boring.  That is why we are academics--we like it.

Ah, but is it useful?

One winter day, I went out to lunch with the seminar speaker with some others from my department.  As we walked out into a mild winter storm, she asked a colleague, "Which one's your car?"  Before he could answer, I replied, "It's the one covered with snow."  The speaker turned to me and said, "You must be a physicist.  What you said is absolutely true but of no use whatsoever."

[dismalist]

I stick by my answer, as it was much less boring.

Factual information isn't boring.  That is why we are academics--we like it.

Ah, but is it useful?

One winter day, I went out to lunch with the seminar speaker with some others from my department.  As we walked out into a mild winter storm, she asked a colleague, "Which one's your car?"  Before he could answer, I replied, "It's the one covered with snow."  The speaker turned to me and said, "You must be a physicist.  What you said is absolutely true but of no use whatsoever."

How odd. And what was the discipline of the speaker?