Rocket Scientists not as Smart as Originally Thought

Yahoo News ^ | September 22, 2006 | Andy Borowitz

[John Jorsett]

Rocket scientists, long considered the gold standard in intelligence among all professionals, are not nearly as smart as originally thought, according to a controversial new study published today by the American Association of Brain Surgeons.

The study, which appears in the organization's monthly publication, Popular Brain Surgery, is entitled "The Intelligence of Rocket Scientists: Myth Versus Reality," and suggests that rocket scientists' reputation for smartness is largely undeserved.

"It does require a superior intellect to function as a rocket scientist," the article concedes. "Having said that, though, rocket science is not brain surgery."

The article drew an immediate rebuke from a spokesperson for the American Society of Rocket Scientists, who blasted the study as "state-of-the-art pro-brain surgeon propaganda."

"As rocket scientists, we take offense at this naked attempt by a devious cabal of opportunistic brain surgeons to supplant us as the smartest people on the planet," the spokesperson said. "If rocket science is so easy, we'd like to see these so-called brain surgeons give it a try one of these days."

Professor Davis Logsdon, a University of Minnesota expert who studies the turf wars between rocket scientists and brain surgeons, said that he believes the latest controversy between the two groups has been overplayed.

"The fact of the matter is, the smartest people in the world have always been, and will always be, University of Minnesota experts," he said.

Elsewhere, after a backup punter at the University of Northern Colorado was accused of stabbing the starter in the leg, he said in his defense, "It was either that or start taking steroids."

Award-winning humorist, television personality and film actor Andy Borowitz is author of the new book "The Republican Playbook," to be published October 2006. To find out more about Andy Borowitz and read his past columns, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

[cripplecreek]

[operation clinton cleanup]

Next they will be saying Einstein was no "Einstein"!

[peyton randolph]

Next they will be saying Einstein was no "Einstein"!

---

Well, he was lousy at math...probably had a poor golf game too. ;-)

[patton]

LOLOLOL

[JRandomFreeper]

As the Chief (only) sysadmin at a WISP startup company.... whenever someone says "This isn't rocket science" I turn my old faded NASA coffee cup around so that the NASA logo faces them and say "It could be".

/johnny

[So Cal Rocket]

I've worked with rocket scientists for the better part of my life... in fact, I married one...

But I will have to say that rocket scientists are incredibly smart... but many are incredibly smart at one thing - rocket science. There's some that aren't smart enough to pour water out of a boot with the instructions written on the bottom.

[stm]

Are you sure this did not come from Scrappleface???? :-)

[edwin hubble]

Borowitz is funny.

But, politically, he is a raving leftist.
A lot like Bill Maher.

[CertainInalienableRights]

I'd hazard a guess that plenty of "rocket scientists" may have noticed the misspelling. But given that NASA is a government agency, and therefore presumably heavily unionized, any attempt to infringe on the work of the "sign hanging job classification" people would likely be met with more than a bit of backlash.

Just a guess, based on my two experiences in working at heavily-unionized organizations. Its one of the reasons why all my jobs since have been with smaller-sized, privately-held companies.

[John Jorsett]

Personally, I love my coffee mug that says,

I'm Proud to be An
engeneer
enginir
engineer

[billorites]

Next they will be saying Einstein was no "Einstein"!

Well, it ain't brain surgery either!

[originalbuckeye]

My occasional experience with rocket scientists has shown me that, while they are incredibly intelligent about many science matters, they are pretty short on common sense.

[John Jorsett]

At the Navy lab I worked at, they once painted on the pavement, "ENTERANCE".

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship. design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly.
Specialization is for insects.

Lazarus Long

[Gay State Conservative]

The American Association of Hollywood Stars and Starlets isn't too impressed with brain surgeons,either.

[JRandomFreeper]

it ain't brain surgery either

But it could be. We can make that happen. :>/

/johnny

[trashcanbred]

Did anyone read the article? This is a joke.

[cripplecreek]

I would look at it as a recognizable sign even if misspelled thus not worthy of the expense of replacement.