Anyone on here ever met or worked with a mad scientist?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion explores the existence of "mad scientists," questioning whether such individuals are real or merely a Hollywood construct. Participants share personal anecdotes and observations about the quirks and eccentricities of scientists, touching on both historical figures and contemporary experiences.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express curiosity about the existence of mad scientists, suggesting it may be a fictional trope.
  • Others share experiences with scientists who exhibit unusual or eccentric behavior, noting that many in the field can be quirky or anti-social.
  • A participant recounts a brief experience with a mechanical engineer who claimed to have developed an overunity device, raising questions about the line between mad scientist and con-man.
  • Historical figures like Tesla and Newton are mentioned as examples of scientists who exhibited erratic behavior, with speculation about the causes of their eccentricities.
  • Several anecdotes highlight humorous or chaotic incidents involving scientists, suggesting that while some may not fit the "mad scientist" stereotype, they can still be quite unconventional.
  • One participant humorously lists various emotional states of scientists they have met, indicating a range of personalities without encountering a "mad scientist."

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the existence of mad scientists. While some share anecdotes that suggest eccentricity is common in science, others argue that many scientists are quite normal and down-to-earth. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the definition and reality of mad scientists.

Contextual Notes

Participants' claims are largely anecdotal and subjective, with no empirical evidence provided to support the existence of mad scientists. The discussion reflects personal experiences and cultural perceptions rather than established facts.

Yayfordoritos
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I'm just curious if scientist like that exist, or if it's just a hollywood thing.
 
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Why do you ask? Are you implying something? Just who are you working with anyway? Stop persecuting me!
 
No, but many people in science are weird, annoying, quirky, strange, or just completely anti-social.
 
We must know very different people in science.
 
He was pretty mad the day I spilled acid on his shoe. I didn't work with him very long though - hired and fired the same day.
 
MarneMath said:
We must know very different people in science.

Never said I met anyone like that, I just asked if people like that exist.
 
Never said that you said that.
 
In later life Tesla became something of a Mad Scientist. He veered off the beaten path and became more and more of a crackpot.

Newton seems to have had a couple bouts of complete craziness. These may well have been due to mercury poisoning from his alchemical researches.

However, I never personally met either of them.
 
The last conversation I had with a scientist (a few hours ago) was about: Emerson, Lake, and Palmer; Days of Future Passed by the Moody Blues.
 
  • #10
I have. Two guys, one had a mechanical engineering degree, claimed they had an overunity device. The other guy I have no idea if he had any education. They wanted to generate power and sell back to the grid. I suspect the mech engineer was being played, but I never could figure out for what reason. As far as I know the thing never got off the ground. I know they were not just pulling my leg about their efforts because I have seen the machine or parts of it. It's a long time ago, like 20 years or more. I played along because I wanted to be taken into their confidence. I remember it was some kind of rotary device and recall seeing a full sheet of plywood loaded with 100 watt light bulbs for testing. There were probably over a hundred of them. All I could ever get out of them was that the key was to create an energy void. The device supposedly had a cooling effect on the environment. The one guy disappeared, the mech engineer still lives in the area. Mad scientist or con-man? You tell me.
 
  • #11
Yayfordoritos said:
I'm just curious if scientist like that exist, or if it's just a hollywood thing.

I had a friend whose thesis advisor went insane. Kurt Godel was of rather dubious sanity. It seems to be an occupational hazard for logicians and mathematicians in general. Wolfgang Pauli had some serious mental difficulties and was cured by CG Jung.

Applied sciences are more down to earth.
 
  • #12
BobG said:
...hired and fired the same day.

You or him?
 
  • #13
gravenewworld said:
No, but many people in science are weird, annoying, quirky, strange, or just completely anti-social.

I sort of disagree. Perhaps the numbers of these sorts are a bit higher than the general population, but I think a much larger number of professional scientists are very down to earth, sociable, cooperative people.

All claims in this post are purely anecdotal. Your experience may vary. I am in no way responsible for your dealings with weird, annoying, quirky, strange, anti-social, or even mad scientists.
 
  • #14
I've met:

3 peeved scientists

12 irked scientists

2 irate scientists

5 incensed scientists

but no mad scientists
 
  • #15
One of my uni friends was legendary for his ability to create havoc with lab experiments. Not to mention the time he blocked the river through the town, when the 100-year-old steam powered boat that he was restoring exploded on its maiden voyage.

He decided that blowing things up was obviously he speciality, and went to work for an offshore gas exploration company.

I've met up with him by chance a few times since college days - the 150 decibel high pitched voice and manic laughs are still easy to recognize at long range!

There was another biologist college friend who became a legend in his own final practical exam. This involved electrical stimulation of a (humanely killed) rabbit. About half an hour into the exam, there was a flash and a bang and the lab filled with the smell of singed fur. After which, he picked up the still smouldering rabbit by the ears, marched the length of the lab to the invigilator's desk, banged the charred remains down on the desk, and announced in a loud voice, "THIS RABBIT IS DEFECTIVE"...
 
  • #16
AlephZero said:
"THIS RABBIT IS DEFECTIVE"...
Lol!
 
  • #17
AlephZero said:
One of my uni friends was legendary for his ability to create havoc with lab experiments. Not to mention the time he blocked the river through the town, when the 100-year-old steam powered boat that he was restoring exploded on its maiden voyage.

He decided that blowing things up was obviously he speciality, and went to work for an offshore gas exploration company.
The BP Deepwater Horizon rig I presume?

Garth
 
  • #18
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2iMES08D44

00:53
 
  • #20
collinsmark said:
Some of these guys are pretty mad.
http://www.shadycrypt.com

Hmm, they don't seem crazy enough. Except for the skeleton thing.

Well, my classmate told me that he considers dumping his gf, moving his stuff to a lab, and start living there. But he is a mathematician, so I guess that's normal for him.
 
  • #21
zoobyshoe said:
In later life Tesla became something of a Mad Scientist. He veered off the beaten path and became more and more of a crackpot.

Newton seems to have had a couple bouts of complete craziness. These may well have been due to mercury poisoning from his alchemical researches.

However, I never personally met either of them.

I didn't check how accurate this is, but interesting article: http://amasci.com/tesla/teslabad.html
 

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