patrick.net
An Antidote to Corporate Media
1,209,117 comments by 14,372 users - AmericanKulak, DemocratsAreTotallyFucked, ForcedTQ, The_Deplorable online now
Are Many Science & Engineering Careers Obsolete?
invite response
2012 Jul 25, 6:40am 30,136 views 117 comments
« First « Previous Comments 105 - 117 of 117 Search these comments
Rin
2012 Jul 29, 1:53pm
One is never too old. 60 is the new 30, right?
Yes, one is never too old to attend medical school. In fact, that PhD engineering guy, who'd finished his residency at 53 years of age, was treated as an experienced doctor on his first job out, because he had the look of experience and know-how.
Peter P
2012 Jul 29, 2:58pm
See, in the end, we just cannot give ourselves excuses why we are not doing what we think we are meant to do. ;-)
freak80
2012 Jul 30, 12:37am
Why would anyone want to be in a protected profession? How interesting will that be? Isn't it better to take risks? Unless you intended to become a Nietzschean Last Man.
Pete I can tell you've never worked in Corporate America. ;-)
You think Big Government is corrupt? It is for sure, but so is Big Business.
freak80
2012 Jul 30, 12:43am
Then again at least most of us don't have the specter of pestilence, plague, famine or domestic war hovering over as our ancestors did.
Many of our ancestors died in childhood or as infants.
I envy them. ;-)
New Renter
2012 Jul 30, 1:20am
Then again at least most of us don't have the specter of pestilence, plague, famine or domestic war hovering over as our ancestors did.
Many of our ancestors died in childhood or as infants.
I envy them. ;-)
Liar!
No-one's ancestor has EVER died as an infant or in childhood
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/ancestor
:)
freak80
2012 Jul 30, 1:25am
Of course those unfortunate children and infants are no-one's ancestors.
Good point. I guess I didn't mean "literal" ancestors.
New Renter
2012 Jul 30, 1:27am
Then again at least most of us don't have the specter of pestilence, plague, famine or domestic war hovering over as our ancestors did.
Many of our ancestors died in childhood or as infants.
I envy them. ;-)
Liar!
No-one's ancestor has EVER died as an infant or in childhood
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/ancestor
:)
Aw damn, I was hoping to sneak my edit in before you could see my reply
Peter P
2012 Jul 30, 1:46am
Pete I can tell you've never worked in Corporate America. ;-)
I have worked in Corporate America. That was when I discover the hilarity of humanity. :-)
Rin
2012 Jul 30, 7:34am
I have worked in Corporate America. That was when I discover the hilarity of humanity. :-)
Pete, it's one thing to watch Monty Python, it's another to live in it and depend upon it for food and shelter.
freak80
2012 Jul 30, 8:59am
Pete, it's one thing to watch Monty Python, it's another to live in it and depend upon it for food and shelter.
Exactly.
Rin
2012 Jul 31, 8:50am
Rin says
Pete, it's one thing to watch Monty Python, it's another to live in it and depend upon it for food and shelter.
Exactly.
Is this one of the few threads, where there's actually a type of consensus, despite slight differences in opinions or viewpoints?
« First « Previous Comments 105 - 117 of 117 Search these comments
Here's the problem: any work reducible to equations and computer-aided-design can be automated or outsourced thanks to computers and the internet.
Unless you're doing original research or engineering something that is inherently "on site" (like bridge construction), the future of American science and engineering looks pretty bleak. I think the claimed "shortage" of scientists and engineers in America is propaganda.
Remember, a lot of the political emphasis on "math and science" came from the Cold War (the nuclear arms race and the space race). The Cold War is over.
I guess there are still good jobs developing predator drones.
When it comes to the private sector, how many companies are willing to take on the high-risk, high-reward task of R&D? Warren Buffett famously does not usually invest in technology companies for that very reason.