What Are Some Antisocial Jobs for Science and Tech Enthusiasts?

[heartless]

I'm wondering what are some jobs tha don't require you to be good at communication with people, good at social skills, and where you don't have to meet groups of people everyday, but just simply work alone, and at the same time you need knowledge of either physics, pure math, or computer science?
One of them is programming, many people work in house, and just sometimes do some social gatherings to discuss new projects, etc.
Do you know any others?

 

[Kurdt]

You could do freelance research but not sure if there would be any call for that. I'm currently working on my own projects in the hope I'll get a scholarship from somewhere that will let me pursue my own interests rather than looking for one that is similar. Seeing as I do not get paid its not really a job though. I would prefer to work from home doing research and being paid but perhaps that is not going to happen.

 

[Math Is Hard]

dog grooming?

 

[Kurdt]

Well you'd have to meet people for dog grooming when you hand the mutt over. Were it not for the meeting people criteria I'd have said referee.

 

[Rach3]

Professor of mathematics.

 

[Gokul43201]

dog grooming?

Dog grooming - while some might mock it - is a complex topological problem, typified by the Hairy Ball Theorem.

Topology addresses the Hairy ball theorem. This states that a hairy ball (sphere) cannot be brushed so that there is no parting. The best that can be done is for everything to be smooth except at one point. See diagram. Suprisingly this has many uses. It can be used to prove that every polynomial has a complex root, every dog has a parting, and at any moment of time there is a point on the Earth where there is no wind.

http://www-xray.ast.cam.ac.uk/~jgraham/hypo/h12/topology.html

Ask Rose. She's spent countless hours drinking tea out of a donut.

 

[3trQN]

Is the hairy ball theorem related to the distribution of electric field about a point charge like kinda stuff?

Shouldnt that be " Every polynomial with at least one complex coefficient and of degree greater than one, has at least 1 complex root ", the fundamental theorem of algebra? (just curious)

 

[Gokul43201]

Is the hairy ball theorem related to the distribution of electric field about a point charge like kinda stuff?

Yes, it can be applied to fields from different charge distributions.

Shouldnt that be " Every polynomial with at least one complex coefficient and of degree greater than one, has at least 1 complex root ", the fundamental theorem of algebra? (just curious)

Yeah, it looks like a loose - but really, a polynomial of degree 0 is hardly a polynomial, so it's not really that bad - rewording of the fundamental theorem.

PS: Note that polynomials of degree 1 must have a root as well, so you're missing an "or equal to" in your statement.

 

[3trQN]

Yeah, wasnt trying to be pedantic, just accurate for my own understanding. Thanks Gokul.

 

[desA]

The Hairy Ball Theorem seems to be fatally flawed. It would be possible to design a static brush that would set (brush) the hairs in such a way that they stand normal to the surface. No singular point then exists. All in the eye of the beholder.

 

[berkeman]

I'm wondering what are some jobs tha don't require you to be good at communication with people, good at social skills, and where you don't have to meet groups of people everyday, but just simply work alone, and at the same time you need knowledge of either physics, pure math, or computer science?
One of them is programming, many people work in house, and just sometimes do some social gatherings to discuss new projects, etc.
Do you know any others?

There's a difference between antisocial and nonsocial jobs. Which are you most interested in? Nonsocial jobs would be isolated research positions (observing polar bears in the Arctic, etc.). Antisocial jobs would be positions where you get to insult and belittle folks for fun (<insert-your-favorite-here>).

 

[Moonbear]

Shepherd.

and at the same time you need knowledge of either physics, pure math, or computer science?

You need a good grasp of how levers work to appropriately use the shepherd's crook to catch the sheep, and being able to count them is essential too...math doesn't get any more pure than that.

Okay, more seriously, are you looking for something that requires NO interaction with other people, or just keeping it to a minimum? For example, an architect has to deal with clients, but once the client meeting is over, most of the real work can be done solo.

 

[berkeman]

Antisocial jobs would be positions where you get to insult and belittle folks for fun (<insert-your-favorite-here>).

-- DMV desk worker
-- DMV driving examiner
-- Drill Instructor in the military
-- Political Campaign Advisor
-- Police Interrogation Specialist
-- Military Interrogation Specialist
-- Lawyer (hey, there you go, plus it's a Lawyer joke!)
-- etc.

 

[GCT]

Very interesting Gokul

...professor of mathematics definitely qualifies for the op's description, if you can spend all day and night in one room and contribute to scientific discoveries, then it qualifies as prosocial behavior. However, depending on the actual talent, one will need to teach and interact intimately if this is the sole option of earning an income.

Among scientists, there are usually three types of individuals, those that enjoy the interaction, those that simply need to job stability, and those that are truly interested in the research, among this latter group some will contribute through team research, and there are many examples of eminent scientists and mathematicians who were recluses while having spent the better part of their life in one domain while being considered by many standard texts as the most important individuals that have ever lived.

However, if you just want to work by yourself and earn a living at the same time, that you have a fundamental misunderstanding of how a society survives and is maintained. Also, it's somewhat of a strange motivation

 

[3trQN]

The Hairy Ball Theorem seems to be fatally flawed. It would be possible to design a static brush that would set (brush) the hairs in such a way that they stand normal to the surface. No singular point then exists. All in the eye of the beholder.

You mean like a static charge brush? A Vandergraph generator?

 

[desA]

You mean like a static charge brush? A Vandergraph generator?

Exactly...

 

[Rach3]

The Hairy Ball Theorem seems to be fatally flawed. It would be possible to design a static brush that would set (brush) the hairs in such a way that they stand normal to the surface. No singular point then exists. All in the eye of the beholder.

Why don't you go and look up what the theorem actually says, before presuming to declare it wrong?

 

[Cyrus]

I'm wondering what are some jobs tha don't require you to be good at communication with people, good at social skills, and where you don't have to meet groups of people everyday, but just simply work alone, and at the same time you need knowledge of either physics, pure math, or computer science?
One of them is programming, many people work in house, and just sometimes do some social gatherings to discuss new projects, etc.
Do you know any others?

I've always said you ask some weird ass questions sometimes...

 

[Gokul43201]

Why don't you go and look up what the theorem actually says, before presuming to declare it wrong?

Perhaps you missed the winking smilie?

 

[Rach3]

Perhaps you missed the winking smilie?

Of course not, the sarcasm was obvious. Very amusing.

Incidentally, \int_1^{\infty} x^{-2}dx = -1/12. ...[/color]

 

[loseyourname]

I love how you put a period at the end of that equation and it shows up at the top of the 2.

Anyway, you can probably do actuarial work without ever having to perform as part of a face-to-face team, but that is applied mathematics, not pure. For that matter, you can be a bookmaker, compile statistics for a sports information archive, or become independently wealthy speculating on the stock market or horse races.

 

[Gokul43201]

Incidentally, \int_1^{\infty} x^{-2}dx = -1/12. ...[/color]

You got me there. What am I missing? That's an elaborate way to write out a fallacy, if that's what you're doing...so I'm lost.

 

[Rach3]

You got me there. What am I missing? That's an elaborate way to write out a fallacy, if that's what you're doing...so I'm lost.

You're right that it's a fallacy. Did you miss the winking smilie? That means it's sarcasm.

 

[Danger]

what are some jobs tha don't require you to be good at communication with people, good at social skills, and where you don't have to meet groups of people everyday, but just simply work alone, and at the same time you need knowledge of either physics, pure math, or computer science?

Assassin.

(Hey, ballistics is physics.)

 

[Gokul43201]

Assassin.

It's when you quit, however, that you have to go to all those AA meetings and talk to a bunch of strangers about how long it's been since you last...

 

[Danger]

I can quit on my own, if I want to.

Oh, wait... that's smoking I'm thinking of.

 

[3trQN]

Smoking and assasination arnt so different really, except your both the victim and the assasin if you smoke...

 

[Panoramic]

I'm wondering what are some jobs tha don't require you to be good at communication with people, good at social skills, and where you don't have to meet groups of people everyday, but just simply work alone, and at the same time you need knowledge of either physics, pure math, or computer science?
One of them is programming, many people work in house, and just sometimes do some social gatherings to discuss new projects, etc.
Do you know any others?

Fantastic validation of my plan that my google search about "anti social jobs" turned up the top answer on Physics Forums (I was already a member).

After 15 years post-college and 7 jobs failing in the corporate world at office politics (in the end all these employers always say roughly the same thing: "your job performance is good" and then mention something like "communications" or "soft skills"), I've given up to pursue an eventual PhD in either physics or mathematics. (I enjoyed, and did extremely well in, my Mech Engr. undergrad)

Interesting that you mention programming as a possible option, as the jobs I felt most fullfilling (e.g. I was left alone to do my job!) were when I programmed.

...professor of mathematics definitely qualifies for the op's description <snip>

<snip> many examples of eminent scientists and mathematicians who were recluses while having spent the better part of their life in one domain while being considered by many standard texts as the most important individuals that have ever lived.

However, if you just want to work by yourself and earn a living at the same time, that you have a fundamental misunderstanding of how a society survives and is maintained. Also, it's somewhat of a strange motivation

Only a "strange motivation" to those folks who lie further along the social spectrum towards "extroversion." For those of us who struggle to care about these sorts of things, because it simply isn't built into us, there's no "motivation" at all. It's just natural to enjoy spending time alone. I am never more productive in any of my tasks as when I'm working alone.

15 years and 7 employers later, I've proven to myself the 8-5 M-F corporate office life is exactly the opposite of what I need (I look back and cannot believe I've lasted THAT long). But my challenge has been to identify something more suitable to my personality type and I've settled on scientific / mathematics professor / researcher.

Is it purely "anti-social?" No. Is it better than the hell I've been facing in corporate life? I'm sold on it.

 

[Jack21222]

Your first post is to resurrect a 4 year old thread?

 

[hypatia]

eh gads

 

[MotoH]

I wonder if the OP has found an anti-social job yet.


I suggest an Evil scientist. They don't seem to have a lot of friends, and all of their minions wear full face masks.

 

[rewebster]

Panoramic--you can go into 'research'-

--some require you to monitor 'things' underground or at the north pole with similar people for maybe 2-3 years at a time

--I like resurrected threads--its a type of recycling


PS--I wonder how many threads could be combined, for example, under one titled--"Young's double slit"

 

[quickme]

A blogger who writes about math or physics or computer and who doesn't like and never comes to gatherings

 

[Panoramic]

Your first post is to resurrect a 4 year old thread?

eh gads

I suggest an Evil scientist.

No substantive answers...? I figured folks would be dying to express an opinion about the corporate vs. academic job thing ...

Panoramic--you can go into 'research'-

--some require you to monitor 'things' underground or at the north pole with similar people for maybe 2-3 years at a time

I was thinking research. But with most things in life there's a scale in-play here. On one the extreme end, maybe a sales job. And the other would be a solo research position at the North Pole! I don't think I'm quite that anti-social - just trying to find a spot where office politics don't trump ability every time.

Maybe a lab, or just my own office in a university with a more open-ended research or writing role (e.g. no micro-managers).

A blogger who writes about math or physics or computer and who doesn't like and never comes to gatherings

Let's do the count:
Math or physics professor.
Researcher.
Programmer.
Writer.

All sounds pretty reasonable to me. When can I start?

 

[rewebster]

When can I start?

What? ITS Self-motivation! YOU have to stand up and grab the utter with both hands!

 

[piccini9]

Clerk in the Swiss patent office?

 

[Panoramic]

What? ITS Self-motivation! YOU have to stand up and grab the utter with both hands!

Maybe ... udder? Like a cow? lol. Good imagery.

So here's the udder I'm working on just now:
linear algebra
differential equations incl. partials & non-linear
applied mathematics (Newtonian mechanics)
numerical methods
Fourier series

Which by October should just about get me to where I left off 15 years ago in my M.E. degree.

Then next year it's Langrangian and Hamiltonian mechanics. And I'm also considering cramming in a Statistics class. Always wanted to take one of those; don't know how applicable it is to Physics ...

... but my goal is a Master's in Applied Maths and then I can make the decision between Physics or Maths PhD.

Big udder. Multi-year udder. Don't know how applicable it is to programming or writing, but it should fall nicely in line with Professor or researcher ...

 

[rewebster]

my, my---you do have both hands full---


good for you--15 years added on to (whatever) and making a go of it---what were you doing before?

 

[CRGreathouse]

Serious answer: medical technologist. I've heard (from those in the field) that many choose it for that reason alone.

 

[Redbelly98]

Another serious answer: every job uses communication and social skills, and being good at them would always help you perform better.

 

[jobyts]

Pathologist, to some extend.

 

[Panoramic]

what were you doing before?

Thank you for asking.

The long answer is: something called "control systems engineering." A lot of proprietary applications development with the added bonus of having the program do something in the "real" world like open valves, start gas turbines (and keep them from blowing up). In the oil & gas industry. The first 10 years. Lately I"ve been estimating: putting prices together for a client to accomplish some task on an offshore platform for them. Fixing a pipe, changing out instruments, building, maintaining, etc.

The short answer? I sit at a desk and stare at a computer from 8-5 M-F, week-in, week-out in a big room of rows of other people sitting at desks, staring at computers.

Whoever invented the concept of "open office plan" was an ancestor of the anti-Christ

 

[MotoH]

You could become a ninja.

 

[SpanishJim]

Ah, yes. I have pondered that question many times.

In our society it is harder and harder to have "people skills", i.e. to remain patient and polite in the face of pathologic, malicious idiots.

Although these jobs probably do not meet the requirements OP listed, these three are potentially useful to look at for someone who lost their job because of interaction with others:

Military. US or foreign (Foreign Legion) offers many training programs that deal with gadgets. Also, if you like the idea of shooting people, nothing beats the military - and you get paid for it, and with nice benefits too.

Truckdriver. You are in your cab away from people, get to listen to music of any kind and at any volume, and text while you work, not to mention watch porn or play with the CB radio, all without ever being seen.

Corrections officer. Good pay, and a very solid job security. Can be a little dangerous, but you definitely don't have to smile and fake happiness.