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 34 670
You deserved it 2 972

Same thing different taste

Top comments

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.

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?

Comments

Eyalsh 32

your supervisor should be ashamed to call himself a scientist in the first place. as a bachelor of science student, the first thing we learn is critical thinking. i know this may sound cheesy, but i'd report him if he had bosses or supervisors himself. or to the Uni if you are at one. he's going against the basics of the scientific method.

You better publish yours and quit your job... "like a boss"

I agree that you should publish, but for the love of Pete...you are using the term "scientific theory" instead of "hypothesis". So unless you are disproving something like the theory of relativity, use the proper terminology! You don't want to lose credibility over something you learned back in science class 101!

shit_fer_luck 8

Yeah, that bugged me as well.

xluciferx666 21

Screw him publish it and if you get fired if your work is solid I'm sure many better job offers will come along

kotake 7

So OP, you know your situation and can explain it better than the 300 character fml can. It really just depends on which is more profitable for you. If you're being THAT threatened and harassed over this, I'd really suggest bringing it to the attention of someone else. Especially if you just started with this professor. You can always find a new professor (sometimes the first match isn't the best match). But it's better to find one earlier than later. Still, I don't really recommend not publishing. Honestly this is classic game theory, a prisoner's dilemma. You can screw your professor by proving him wrong, while he can screw you by utterly trashing you during recommendations. The reason I don't suggest not publishing is because there's no guarantee he wouldn't just talk shit behind your back anyways, especially because the more he does that the less of a threat you are to him. My suggestion, if I was in your shoes, would be to go to someone a bit higher up + someone you trust (not someone they simply disagree with because then you could be making a deal with the devil. your enemy of your enemy is only your friend until the shared business is done) and explain to them the quandary you're in. See if they have any ideas towards resolution, or in any case any ideas towards coping.

I believe there are actually people you can report him to over that. I'm not into all that but if word gets out on what he is doing to you he will likely never be taken seriously again

sahmnc420 13

Screw his ego and stand up for your self. Also try n get his egocentric ass on recording would definitely help your cause. Go for it!! Make changes the world needs them!

ScruffySF7 11

publish it and if its good enough you'll get the recognition and all is well