I hate it when people say "it's not rocket science" when they think something isn't that hard. As if rocket science is so hard.
What the hell is rocket science anyway? I'm sure the people who do the thing that we think rocket scientists do call themselves something else. The point is, who really knows how hard rocket science is? Someone told me once that quantum physics is much harder, so maybe people should say, "This isn't quantum physics" and they wouldn't sound as dumb then either.
One of the surgeons I worked with used to say to me, "This is just vascular surgery, it's not rocket science." Well, let me tell you, I don't think a "rocket scientist" could walk in and do an aortic aneurysm repair just like that.
I have 2 family members who are aeronautical engineers, aka "rocket scientists." One has a masters in the field, and one a PhD. I cannot even remotely begin to conceptualize what they are discussing when they talk about the field. It seems really freakin' hard to me - a lot harder than safely removing an actively hemorrhaging spleen from a shocky patient, for example. But that's just one person's opinion.
ReplyDeleteI think it's human nature to diminish one's own accomplishments. I wouldn't be surprised if rocket scientists say, "it's not vascular surgery." However, there's
ReplyDeleteonly one "Mount Everest" and if you get to the top, they award you the title:
Physician.
-Paul
As an actual trained rocket scientist, I always found it fun to say, oh wait, taking out the trash is rocket science. Interestingly enough, when I changed careers, I found studying A&P as an older student far more difficult than going to engineering school as a younger student. I worked a lot harder for grades in what most would consider an easier discipline, probably because I think like an engineer.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I like to say "it's not rocket surgery."
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THNPmhBl-8I
ReplyDeleteI used to be friends with a real life rocket scientist (although I have no idea what he actually did). But it was great ribbing him every time he had difficulty with something. C'mon, it's not rocket science! :)
ReplyDeleteAww well in Arabic the expression goes like " it is not a nuclear science". A science I hope we keep away from. So it is hard to relate ;)
ReplyDeleteI've heard the expression,"it's not brain surgery".
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that someone has linked to the relevant David and Webb sketch, which deals with exactly this... I was about to! Nikki
ReplyDeleteComing from both worlds, I'm pretty sure that both groups imagine the other to require Olympian levels of prowess when in reality it's really just a matter of diligence and practice.
ReplyDeleteMost "rocket scientist" types of engineers are actually trapped in 1980s technology, afraid to do anything different than what they've done before. And unfortunately, a large percentage of "brain surgery" type of physicians are stuck doing what they were taught in residency 25 years ago, out of fear of being sued or thought inferior.
The reality? Progressive thinkers are few and marginalized in just about every field. For reasons that escape me, actually using your brain and being willing to do things differently seems to be a skill in rare demand.
We have an elderly aerospace engineer living nearby who was instrumental in developing solid rocket fuel. Her publications have titles like Initiation Mechanisms of Solid Rocket Propellant Detonation and Recommended Hazard Classification Procedures for In-Process Propellant and Explosive Material. We do refer to her as our local rocket scientist.
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