By ZG_Rules - 20/03/2015 14:38 - Netherlands - Wageningen

Today, I disproved a scientific theory created by my supervisor. He was furious and said that I shouldn't have tried to disprove him. He told me to continue working with his theory and now he threatens to fire me if I publish my work. FML
I agree, your life sucks 34 668
You deserved it 2 971
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Top comments

TheBookWyrm 18

Who cares? Publish it. Scientific advancement is more important than a job, and if you can disprove theories made by older and more experienced scientists, I'm sure you could find work elsewhere. Props for doing that, by the way.

811 4
Joshwarrior 39

Publish it, discredit him, and take his job. I understand that respect is important, but you will make a name for yourself if you do, and regret it if you don't. #1 beat me to it haha but plus why would you want to continue working for such an Asshole?

476 2

Comments

TheBookWyrm 18

Who cares? Publish it. Scientific advancement is more important than a job, and if you can disprove theories made by older and more experienced scientists, I'm sure you could find work elsewhere. Props for doing that, by the way.

811 4
ElizaWy 25

Well... quite a few people probably care, actually. The scientific community is fraught with politics... to the point where if you disprove popular theories (or theories that may have provided you funding) you could be black-balled from the profession altogether.

57 11
heftysmash253 6

Easy to say that when it's not your job on the line. Yes, scientific advancement is important, but so is having a job to support yourself. It is possible he could get some sort of reward for this new theory, but it could be a hit or miss.

37 7
Enslaved 36

The scientific community is bias towards good evidence, reality and have very strict standards that can withstand peer reviews as an acceptable science. If one could overturn (or disprove) a popular scientific theory, they would earn Noble prizes and huge grants.

43 5
tantanpanda 26

if you get your journals and credible theories published, you'd get many job openings. if you become well known for it and you get fired all of the sudden, people will wonder.

21 2
migmit 11

True, but if you can tolerate working with a douchebag who doesn't appreciate being proven wrong and pulls rank on you instead, you are not a real scientist.

19 2
devildog562 33

If you do decide to publish It, you had better make damn sure your data is repeatable and correct. You may want to sit on it for a little bit and discuss it with him and perhaps his superior .

25 2
ZG_Rules 14

OP here, I am already working on getting my research published but that can take a while. The problem is that the research team I am working for has been built around this theory and we are probably going to lose our funding now. Well, time go looking for another project I guess. Still, although my boss is not happy, his boss will write me a letter of recommendation so I will be alright.

11 0
Joshwarrior 39

Publish it, discredit him, and take his job. I understand that respect is important, but you will make a name for yourself if you do, and regret it if you don't. #1 beat me to it haha but plus why would you want to continue working for such an Asshole?

476 2
Voij 16

All things considered, it might just be that the supervisor is trying to get OP involved in the project, then publish the discreditation himself and shove all responsibility of failure off to OP. It'd probably be the easiest way for the supervisor to save his ass... and he even has OP as the perfect scapegoat.

32 1
buttcramp 21

i agree, OP should publish whatever OP wants. the important thing is the right answer, not the credit.

10 2
davidl7 17

I agree, respect is important, but if he doesn't respect you, why should you reciprocate?

7 1
WCARlover 34

May be time to quit, OP. Depends how morally obligated you feel to the situation. Best of luck.

71 4
uncle_ssaamm 12

******* PUBLISH IT ... i bet youll get a new job with that! working for him would be a downgrade then

49 3
garf3265 12

Comment moderated for rule-breaking.

Show it anyway
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laden_swallow09 34

You have no idea how scientific publications work.

48 0
mattzawesome 28

Publish it, and look into a lawsuit (if he fires you). Scientific advancement is always a step forward, and you can clearly work with "senior" scientists.

52 2
fiveforfighting 26

Publish it and you'll get job offers for sure

14 2
LiGhTMaGiCk 18

Sounds like a good plot for a Big Bang Theory episode.

25 8
Inuyasha843 12

I think they did one like this before lol

3 9
briang959 47

If you publish it, just be warned that your supervisor may try and take credit. It's a slipper slope but there are ways to protect yourself. Make sure your supervisor doesn't try to steal your work and publish ahead of you.

57 1