Intro Physics Courses Save Lives

Following a series of links (first, then, finally) got me to this "old physics joke" related by one Craig Moe (in 2001).

Honestly, I'd never heard this one, so it struck me as a real knee-slapper. I'm still giggling.

A physics professor's teaching an introductory course, and going over kinectics in mind-numbing detail, when a pre-med student yells in exasperation, "How is this shit useful?" (I know, an asshole pre-med. Who could imagine such a thing?) The professor, without turning around, responds "It saves lives."

The lecture continues for a couple of minutes, until the same pre-med student asks "How does this help save lives?" The professor, again without turning around, replies "It keeps ignoramuses like you out of med school."

Posted on December 10, 2009 at 00.45 by jns · Permalink
In: All, It's Only Rocket Science

2 Responses

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  1. Written by S.W. Anderson
    on Thursday, 10 December 2009 at 23.18
    Permalink

    I vaguely recall a similar put-down joke in a slightly different context.
    Good one, in both cases.

  2. Written by chris
    on Tuesday, 15 December 2009 at 00.46
    Permalink

    I taught many many pre-med students in my day, in Chemistry labs. They were SO competitive, and whinged about every half-mark. They reminded me (in retrospect) of Beaker (the muppet lab assistant) in the persistent complaints.

    "Why did I only get 7.5 on this quiz?" / "because it's worth 6 and I was feeling charitable, now go away".

    Now, I teach Engineering students, and the difference is like chalk and cheese. They're already IN a professional school, so the competitiveness is gone completely. [some of them still whinge like Beaker (meep-meep-meeep!), but I can deal with that]

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