General advantages/Disadvantages of going into physics

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The discussion highlights the challenges faced by physics students, particularly regarding societal perceptions and the difficulty in meeting women. Participants express frustration over the dismissive reactions they receive when sharing their choice of major, often feeling misunderstood or judged by peers outside the sciences. There is a debate about the necessity of genius in the field, with some arguing that intelligence and passion for science are sufficient for success, while others believe that only those with exceptional intellect should pursue physics. The conversation also touches on the competitive nature of graduate school, contrasting the collaborative spirit of scientific inquiry with the pressures of academic competition. Overall, the thread reflects a mix of humor and seriousness about the unique struggles of being a physicist.
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general opinions? hate your job? have trouble meeting women? what problems are there living as a physicist

(yes i am aware that this is the PF lounge. I'm posting here on purpose)
 
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Ki Man said:
have trouble meeting women?

Well, from the physics scenes in Spiderman 3, there are oodles of attractive female physicists. Of course they were all working on a machine that can break a man up into particles and still leave him alive, so they probably are to busy to date the rest of us male physicists...:smile::rolleyes:

Seriously though. I'd say the worst part of being a physics STUDENT is the looks you get... You know, the "why the hell would you want to do THAT for living look?" :eek: whenever you tell someone outside the sciences what your major is.
 
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Personally, i think it is very impractical for some one to go into the field and not as a genius.
 
kant said:
Personally, i think it is very impractical for some one to go into the field and not as a genius.

I'm sorry, do you mean that a person has to be a genius for it to be practical to go into physics?

If this is the case, I must disagree. I think a person must be intelligent, but not a genius to be a successful physicist.
 
G01 said:
If this is the case, I must disagree. I think a person must be intelligent, but not a genius to be a successful physicist.

string theory got pretty far using that method
 
G01 said:
Seriously though. I'd say the worst part of being a physics STUDENT is the looks you get... You know, the "why the hell would you want to do THAT for living look?" :eek: whenever you tell someone outside the sciences what your major is.

yeah... i get that from my friends sometimes when i tell them my goals. what i want to know is "how can you NOT be obsessed with physics?!" :bugeye:
 
Ki Man said:
string theory got pretty far using that method

Well really any field. Consider the members of this forum. Do you consider the members here who are known to be successful physicists with jobs and publications to be geniuses? I wouldn't think so. I far as I can tell, they are just intelligent people, with a love for science and good work ethic.
 
Ki Man said:
yeah... i get that from my friends sometimes when i tell them my goals. what i want to know is "how can you NOT be obsessed with physics?!" :bugeye:

Hehehe, I wonder how they would answer that?
 
kant said:
Personally, i think it is very impractical for some one to go into the field and not as a genius.

I disagree. Every little contribution helps.
 
  • #10
Pythagorean said:
I disagree. Every little contribution helps.

Exactly. Science is something that the scientific community works on together. It's not a competition between scientists.
 
  • #11
generals don't win wars by themselves
 
  • #12
G01 said:
Exactly. Science is something that the scientific community works on together. It's not a competition between scientists.

well... depending on the scientist; They actually make us compete with each other in Grad School... but yeah, that is the ideal.
 
  • #13
G01 said:
Seriously though. I'd say the worst part of being a physics STUDENT is the looks you get... You know, the "why the hell would you want to do THAT for living look?" :eek: whenever you tell someone outside the sciences what your major is.

I'm entering college fall 07, but I've already received that look from people asking what my major will be... Goes something like this

Friend: What are you planning on majoring in?
Me: Physics
Friend: Why would you do that? What will you do with a physics degree?
 
  • #14
moose said:
Friend: Why would you do that? What will you do with a physics degree?

That's my favorite line!

I also like what happens next...

Me:Well, What's you major?

Friend: Communications:approve:

Me::rolleyes:
 
  • #15
Heard that line more times than I can remember.
 
  • #16
I know an astrophysicist, and when he gets asked "What do you do?" by the person sitting next to him in a plane, he responds:

"I'm an astronomer" if he feels like talking;

"I'm a physicist" if he doesn't want to be disturbed.
 

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