Do you find that you intimidate others because you study physics?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the experiences and feelings of students studying physics, particularly regarding the perception of intimidation among peers due to their academic performance and enthusiasm for the subject. Participants explore themes of self-perception, ego, and the challenges of academic pressure, along with the social dynamics that arise from being perceived as highly capable in physics and mathematics.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses feeling like they intimidate classmates due to their strong performance in physics and math, despite being friendly and helpful.
  • Another participant challenges the first by suggesting that it may not be intelligence that intimidates others, but rather an ego that could be perceived as arrogance.
  • A different participant shares their struggles with maintaining good grades in a challenging semester, indicating that their peers are not intimidated but rather engaged in their own academic successes.
  • Some participants reflect on their experiences of feeling misunderstood or judged based on their academic pursuits, particularly in physics.
  • One participant suggests that the original poster (OP) should focus on their desire to help others, which could alleviate feelings of intimidation.
  • Another participant notes that the perception of being impressive often leads to awkward social interactions and a sense of discomfort when discussing their major.
  • There is a shared sentiment that high school physics and math courses may not fully represent the challenges faced in higher education, leading to a reevaluation of self-worth among students.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a mix of agreement and disagreement regarding the feelings of intimidation and the impact of ego. Some believe that the OP's self-perception may contribute to how others view them, while others emphasize the broader context of academic pressures and comparisons among peers. The discussion remains unresolved with multiple perspectives on the issue.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention varying experiences with academic performance and social interactions, highlighting the subjective nature of intimidation and self-esteem in the context of studying physics. There are references to personal struggles with grades and the pressure of maintaining a certain image among peers.

  • #31
This thread is hilarious! Even though I don't understand some of the humor (yet)(a little comprehension about the complex plain; not much) you people are awesome! Thanks again for all the help!
 
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  • #32
AnTiFreeze3 said:
But where's Waldo?


Waldo's momentum will be more uncertain the more precisely you measure his position, he might run away faster :biggrin:
 
  • #33
I am merely an aspiring physics student--I'm not in university yet--but whenever I tell people that I want to study astrophysics, I always get weird responses that make me uncomfortable. I either get astonishment or, sometimes, I feel that people don't really take me seriously. This bothers me because I don't think physics is nearly as esoteric as a lot of people think. I understand that there is a maths barrier, but I often liken it to learning a new language: it's certainly tricky for most, but once you've learned the fundamentals, everything else comes much more quickly. Perhaps I'm over-simplifying it, but that's just what I've learned from personal experience. Part of the problem also seems to be that when people think of physics they immediately think of Einstein or Newton, who are indeed intimidating, but who are also outliers.

To answer your question more directly, no, I've never sensed that I have intimidated others. Maybe that's because I have yet to actually prove anything. The physics that I want to study intimidates others, though.
 
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