Rocket Scientists not as Smart as Originally Thought

Yahoo News ^ | September 22, 2006 | Andy Borowitz

[John Jorsett]

Rocket scientists, long considered the gold standard in intelligence among all professionals, are not nearly as smart as originally thought, according to a controversial new study published today by the American Association of Brain Surgeons.

The study, which appears in the organization's monthly publication, Popular Brain Surgery, is entitled "The Intelligence of Rocket Scientists: Myth Versus Reality," and suggests that rocket scientists' reputation for smartness is largely undeserved.

"It does require a superior intellect to function as a rocket scientist," the article concedes. "Having said that, though, rocket science is not brain surgery."

The article drew an immediate rebuke from a spokesperson for the American Society of Rocket Scientists, who blasted the study as "state-of-the-art pro-brain surgeon propaganda."

"As rocket scientists, we take offense at this naked attempt by a devious cabal of opportunistic brain surgeons to supplant us as the smartest people on the planet," the spokesperson said. "If rocket science is so easy, we'd like to see these so-called brain surgeons give it a try one of these days."

Professor Davis Logsdon, a University of Minnesota expert who studies the turf wars between rocket scientists and brain surgeons, said that he believes the latest controversy between the two groups has been overplayed.

"The fact of the matter is, the smartest people in the world have always been, and will always be, University of Minnesota experts," he said.

Elsewhere, after a backup punter at the University of Northern Colorado was accused of stabbing the starter in the leg, he said in his defense, "It was either that or start taking steroids."

Award-winning humorist, television personality and film actor Andy Borowitz is author of the new book "The Republican Playbook," to be published October 2006. To find out more about Andy Borowitz and read his past columns, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

[cripplecreek]

[operation clinton cleanup]

Next they will be saying Einstein was no "Einstein"!

[peyton randolph]

Next they will be saying Einstein was no "Einstein"!

---

Well, he was lousy at math...probably had a poor golf game too. ;-)

[patton]

LOLOLOL

[JRandomFreeper]

As the Chief (only) sysadmin at a WISP startup company.... whenever someone says "This isn't rocket science" I turn my old faded NASA coffee cup around so that the NASA logo faces them and say "It could be".

/johnny

[So Cal Rocket]

I've worked with rocket scientists for the better part of my life... in fact, I married one...

But I will have to say that rocket scientists are incredibly smart... but many are incredibly smart at one thing - rocket science. There's some that aren't smart enough to pour water out of a boot with the instructions written on the bottom.

[stm]

Are you sure this did not come from Scrappleface???? :-)

[edwin hubble]

Borowitz is funny.

But, politically, he is a raving leftist.
A lot like Bill Maher.

[CertainInalienableRights]

I'd hazard a guess that plenty of "rocket scientists" may have noticed the misspelling. But given that NASA is a government agency, and therefore presumably heavily unionized, any attempt to infringe on the work of the "sign hanging job classification" people would likely be met with more than a bit of backlash.

Just a guess, based on my two experiences in working at heavily-unionized organizations. Its one of the reasons why all my jobs since have been with smaller-sized, privately-held companies.

[John Jorsett]

Personally, I love my coffee mug that says,

I'm Proud to be An
engeneer
enginir
engineer

[billorites]

Next they will be saying Einstein was no "Einstein"!

Well, it ain't brain surgery either!

[originalbuckeye]

My occasional experience with rocket scientists has shown me that, while they are incredibly intelligent about many science matters, they are pretty short on common sense.

[John Jorsett]

At the Navy lab I worked at, they once painted on the pavement, "ENTERANCE".

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship. design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly.
Specialization is for insects.

Lazarus Long

[Gay State Conservative]

The American Association of Hollywood Stars and Starlets isn't too impressed with brain surgeons,either.

[JRandomFreeper]

it ain't brain surgery either

But it could be. We can make that happen. :>/

/johnny

[trashcanbred]

Did anyone read the article? This is a joke.

[cripplecreek]

I would look at it as a recognizable sign even if misspelled thus not worthy of the expense of replacement.

[Gay State Conservative]

My occasional experience with rocket scientists has shown me that, while they are incredibly intelligent about many science matters, they are pretty short on common sense.

Growing up,my best friend's Dad was a real rocket scientist (MIT grad) and his Mom graduated from Vassar.It was obvious that his Dad...and the kids,too...were very intelligent.

[Paleo Conservative]

"Having said that, though, rocket science is not brain surgery."

If you want on or off my aerospace ping list, please contact me by Freep mail.

[RightWhale]

I have known a few actual rocket scientists. Even visted a couple at the hospital. It is an adventuresome occupation requiring utmost inventiveness and investigative talent. It is a science of sorts.

[proxy_user]

'A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship. design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly.

Shhh! Don't give the federal education bureaucrats any more ideas for the high school curriculum.

[RightWhale]

Did anyone read the article?

Yeah. How's our improv going? Any of the original riff left?

[SoCal Pubbie]

Bill Maher is funny?

Who knew!

[leda]

do they actually read the directions?

[leda]

funny :D

[thoughtomator]

They all pale in comparison to the legendary rocket surgeon.

[JRandomFreeper]

LOL!!!!!

/johnny

[patton]

Is that like an in-flight missile technician?

[Donald Rumsfeld Fan]

[Erasmus]

I tried that for a while but I didn't like being away from home so much.

[colinhester]

...or rocket surgery for that matter.

[Thombo2]

"Many are incredibly smart at one thing.....rocket science."Excellent observation.IMO they tend to concentrate in one area of expertise to the exclusion of more mundane skills.Anecdote:We had a handfull of science majors(engineering,chemistry,physics,etc)on my floor in college.Most very bright-ie SAT scores in the statosphere,GPA's hovering around 4.0,but when it came right down to it many were lacking in social skills(introverted).One evening my neighbor(aka the Mole)decided to see what would happen if he threw pennies(hundreds)in the WUSF satellite dish.Reasoning?Intellectual curiosity.

[dighton]

Gary Larson’s take.

[Tribune7]

He aimed for the moon but hit London.

[patton]

Hey, you only have to do it once, then you can retire.

[AmishDude]

Amusing. But based on my experience, neither does very well in mathematics.

[Redgirl]

"There's some that aren't smart enough to pour water out of a boot with the instructions written on the bottom."

A co-worker's wife is an OB/GYN. He's amazed that she can surgically remove a baby from a womb, yet cannot change a flat tire. :)

[HereInTheHeartland]

"A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship. design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly."

Someone's been watching me for a week again? Well not the last part.

[Young Scholar]

Adam Smith would strongly disagree.

[Old Student]

"...Specialization is for insects."

I've posted that entire quotation in several of my classrooms. I love it!

[stm]

Except Maher is about as funny as a pay toilet in a dysentery ward.

[burzum]

That is an urban legend. Einstein was not bad at math. You only need to study the general theory of relativity to know that.

[pieceofthepuzzle]

While most brain surgeons are likely smart, what's really required is judgment, patience, and a steady hand. And if you're male, probably a normal prostate. Those surgeries can go on for a long time.

[Hoplite]

They all pale in comparison to the legendary rocket surgeon.

I second your motion.

"And if you touch this bit,
the motor nozzles move!"

---

"Cool! Lemme try!"

[Drammach]

aren't smart enough to pour water out of a boot...

Well, that would require foreknowledge that the instructions were on the bottom of the boot...

I suggest placing additional instructions or directions on the side or top of the boot, directing the individual to the location of the instructions..

A simple equation may suffice..

[lepton]

One evening my neighbor(aka the Mole)decided to see what would happen if he threw pennies(hundreds)in the WUSF satellite dish.Reasoning?Intellectual curiosity.

What was his manner of introducing the pennies, and what was the result?

[JasonC]

Lectroids. Another one say "PITT".