Saturday, April 09, 2011

The biggest problem faced by science

Top scientists, hounded by paparazzi, call for stronger laws protecting their privacy.

Because Americans have such an abiding respect for intellectual pursuits and such an overwhelming preference for science over superstition, top scientists have been hounded by paparazzi trying to get the latest scoop for the tabloids. They've discovered their trash bins ransacked, they've had paparazzi pose as potential grad students doing campus tours, it's been just an awful situation altogether.

Of course, it could be said that this is just a natural consequence of the fame and wealth that these scientists chose when they decided to pursue four years of undergraduate study in science, then four years to get their PhD, then a minimum of two years of post-graduate studies, then a decade moving from adjunct position to adjunct position all around the country prior to landing a tenure track position, then finally qualified for tenure due to the brilliance of their research and political connections with the tenure committee, but really. Oh sure, they chose this life, but even the rich and famous deserve to have a bit of privacy!

-- Badtux the Snarky Penguin

Yeah, I came up empty today. But the World's Most Reliable News Source(tm) came through for me!)

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