XPost: sci.physics.relativity   
   From: jl@glen--canyon.com   
      
   On Sat, 14 Feb 2026 22:42:53 +1100, Bill Sloman    
   wrote:   
      
   >On 14/02/2026 4:03 pm, john larkin wrote:   
   >> On Fri, 13 Feb 2026 23:40:25 +0100, nospam@de-ster.demon.nl (J. J.   
   >> Lodder) wrote:   
   >>   
   >>> john larkin  wrote:   
   >>>   
   >>>> On Fri, 13 Feb 2026 09:50:59 +0100, Thomas Heger    
   >>>> wrote:   
   >>>>   
   >>>>> Am Mittwoch000011, 11.02.2026 um 19:47 schrieb Liz Tuddenham:   
   >>>>>> john larkin  wrote:   
   >>>>>>   
   >>>>>>   
   >>>>>> [...]   
   >>>>>>   
   >>>>>>> Why are physics types so often insulting and obnoxious?   
   >>>>>>>   
   >>>>>>> I've been to physics meetings that shocked me with their brutality.   
   >>>>>>> That mentality is terrible for brainstorming and inventing things.   
   >>>>>>   
   >>>>>> Physicists are particulary careful to prove that they are NOT inventing   
   >>>>>> things.   
   >>>>>>   
   >>>>>>   
   >>>>>   
   >>>>> Of course physicist could invent whatever they want and have the ability   
   >>>>> to invent.   
   >>>>>   
   >>>>> Science isn't organised in 'guilds' and everybody has the right to   
   >>>>> invent, which would include physicists.   
   >>>>>   
   >>>>> But mainly the engineers invent things, because they have more training   
   >>>>> in the use of the required means.   
   >>>>   
   >>>> Training teaches repetition. Dogs are trained.   
   >>>>   
   >>>> Inventing things is a separate skill. It involves being crazy,   
   >>>> exploring the extremes of the solutuin space, staying confused.   
   >>>   
   >>> It would seem that you have no problem with that,   
   >>>   
   >>> Jan   
   >>   
   >> Most engineers are reluctant to stay confused.   
   >   
   >Confused isn't the right word for it. Exploratory is probably closer to   
   >the mark.   
      
   It doesn't matter what you call it as long as you are willing to do   
   it.   
      
   >   
   >> They dislike uncertainty, so lock down on a conventional, clumsy circuit or   
   >> architecture asap and then grunt it out.   
   >   
   >Laziness does encourage people to go with the first idea that comes to   
   >mind. They will try to make it work long after they should torn up the   
   >first idea and started looking at other approaches. Not something you've   
   >ever talked about doing.   
      
   It's not usually laziness. It's fear of being criticized, fear of   
   rejecting authority, fear of being wrong even temporarily. In the case   
   of managers, it's fear of not meeting rigid milestones.   
      
      
      
      
      
   >   
   >> It's better to explore possibilities for a while, see if there is a   
   >> better idea somewhere out there.   
   >   
   >That's certainly true, but they aren't confused while they are looking -   
   >just in exploration mode rather than being locked into single-minded   
   >exploitation   
      
   I encourage genuine confusion. That's fun and it works.   
      
   >   
   >> Then  switch gears to careful, disciplined design, to get it right the   
   >> first time.   
   >   
   >You can't be careful and disciplined until you know exactly where you   
   >are going, and you frequently don't know that until you've got most of   
   >the way there.   
   >   
   >> Not many people can do both.   
   >   
   >And nobody sane would try to.   
      
   I do, but I don't claim to be sane.   
      
   >   
   >> The last name of s.e.d. is design.   
   >   
   >And you don't seem to know much about it.   
      
   Design something. Then sell it.   
      
      
   John Larkin   
   Highland Tech Glen Canyon Design Center   
   Lunatic Fringe Electronics   
      
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