how many engineers, scientists, and technologists do we need to stay ahead? every single one we can get... meanwhile, movies, tv and radio call these same kids nerds or geeks, attempting to dissuade them from perusing the field.
that's my point. stop with the fanning of hobbies that won't help ... and also stop the degradation of those we need.
and for the record, handling reptiles for a living is fairly pointless except for maybe the 1,000 or so people in the US that do it for venom research/antidotes/etc. (can't we outsource THIS CRAP instead??)
Where do you think they get the venom for the research?
Normally a herpatologist is the person that actually gets the venom from the snake.
Do we need more snake charmers? Probably not.
Do we need more movie directors? I sure would like to see some conservative patriotic ones in the mix, so maybe we do.
Do we need more scientists, engineers, etc. Most assuredly, but not EVERYONE is gifted in that respect.
As for calling them geeks, nerds, etc, I WAS one of those that got called those names. Didn't matter to me.
I was raised to believe in myself.
If you have the talent and brains, it shouldn't put you off just because someone else doesn't realize what you're worth.