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0 pointsggm5y ago0 comments

... of his standing.

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4 comments · 2 top-level

i'm not sure why you think it's harder for someone "of his standing" to turn down opportunities. the marginal utility for him is much lower than for grad students that have to choose between RAships and TAships or fresh PhDs that have to choose between risky tenure track grinds and lucrative industry roles.

ggmOP5y ago

I don't think its hard. I just think they don't. I think it's really sad how few senior scientists with standing do this. They seem to lack the fortitude to do something, which isn't that hard when it comes down to it.

I don't blame fresh starts who go for the lucrative roles, they need the money. Once you're established, finding a hill to stand on and choosing to stand on it seems to get .. less likely?

You made the call, good for you. I admire that. I wish more people with established status did, and said so.

Am I missing something? is there a lot of news out there about CompSci and AI profs sticking it to the man (faang) about things? I don't see it, and thats what I'm responding to here. Norbert Weiner was apex in his field. He looked at what was going to happen with it, and decided to stop feeding the beast. Where's the equivalent behavour from his peer-set in todays world?

anon_tor_123455y ago

>CompSci and AI profs sticking it to the man (faang) about things

there are very frequently articles/gossip on quittings/firings of famous researchers. timnit gebru is a recent example.

>Norbert Weiner was apex in his field.

i wouldn't be so quick to lionize him - he was also not very kind to walter pitts and possibly contributed to his suicide

http://nautil.us/issue/21/information/the-man-who-tried-to-r...

1 more reply

brobdingnagians5y ago

Part of the issue might be that those who choose the more moral course don't get the large government grants and military funding, which means that they don't get well known, not because they aren't just as talented but because of lack of funds. So scientists of standing may self select for the kind of person who will do anything for money and fame. If society had more funding for principled causes, or celebrated those with them, we might see more scientists with standing (i.e. well-known) who also stuck to their principles.

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