On 11-5-2010 14:36, Mike Raiford wrote:
> On 5/8/2010 5:40 PM, andrel wrote:
> 
>>> Ah, but no - that just shows that the dude had a sense of humour.
>>> (Something which apparently nobody today expects scientists to have...)
>>>
>> Oh come on, I am I scientist too...
>> Ok, I see what you mean.
> 
> What does make one a scientist? 

That is probably round three or four for Darren. ;)

> Someone once told me with all of the 
> things I do I should be a scientist.
> 
> ... My thought was, "By experimenting with the world around me, and 
> observing the effects ... doesn't that by definition make me one?"
> 
> Then again, I'm not a professor, I have no college degree, and my career 
> choice is "Code Monkey" so, does that exclude me from being a scientist? 
 >
> Do I need a career as a researcher to consider myself a scientist?

No. Until quite recently most scientists had a day time job too. Very 
few could live from just doing science.

> You see. That simple statement she made threw me into an existential 
> crisis ...
> 
> I'm socially awkward... but, that only makes me a nerd, not a scientist :)

The two are not mutual exclusive.

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