I usually don't read the "Job Posting" threads for two reasons: a) I'm
not looking for a job (because I'm working on my PhD), and b) because
they're usually quite silly.  So thanks for bringing to my attention the
need to weed out some PhD-haters in our midst. 

You hear me, scoundrels? Yah, I'm talkin' to you. Come and get your just
desserts from a real life PhD student. 

Now in all seriousness.  I happen to agree that the ability to get a PhD
is a great indicator of a lot of things. I don't know about the
question "could you get a PhD", though, because I wouldn't really trust
the answer. I know some people who I think could get a PhD if they
applied themselves to that task who would say no, and I know perhaps
more people who (honestly, they think) would say yes but when it came
down to it probably wouldn't be able to. In essence, if they could know
that they could get a PhD then they could also know that they were
perfect for the job (or not) for which they are applying. It's the ol'
deciability problem again.

Maybe you should ask "would you get a PhD? If not, why?" Yes, you'd get
lots of excuses to read through, but the people you're looking for would
have already given this question some thought and know precisely why
they're not going on to get a PhD, and some of those will be the ones
you want. 

On Wed, 12 Jul 2006 at 14:07 -0600, Gregory Mockett wrote:
> Its amazing how one person interprets a line and can create an entirely new
> and even distracting and counter thread. 
> 
> The line was: 
> 
> "IF you...
>       ... are a genius (yes, really. Could you get a PhD if you sought
> to?)"
> 
> It is a simple acid test, not a requirement. "could" is the determinant
> operand. You would not believe the number of geeks that think that they are
> geniuses who miserably fail our assessment tests! Putting some sort of
> waterline is necessary, trust me.
> 
> And admittedly PhD is a poor test, but find me a brief (and cheeky (tone))
> one-liner that says "real creative and logical aptitude for solving the
> unsolvable combined with a doggedness that achieves in spite of seriously
> popular and dogmatic obstacles" and I will edit and repost.
> 
> Actually, we have never hired a PhD. We like to hire what we call Pre-PhD,
> because these folks are hardworking, creative, clever (genius), determined
> to prove themselves, free-thinkers, who have not gone focused (read
> narrow--think medical specialist). Many of our management team prefer
> pre-PhD, because an academic setting will often ruin talent from a business
> utility perspective--not always, but quite often--by exposure to highly
> divergent accountability and 'success' standards. 
> 
> In previous hirings at other gigs, our Pre-PhD's have gone on to perform--in
> many cases--to explore very intriguing new territory in their PhD research
> projects in AI, Machine Learning, Graphics Rendering, etc., and in such fine
> institutions as UNC, BYU, UofU, UMich, etc. 
> 
> All of them brilliant--and beautiful people. (Your comments tell me that you
> would have liked them too.) I cherish my associations with all of them! Even
> those who have finished their PhD programs!
> 
> So . . . If any of you brilliant PhD haters/apethetists/apologists/et al
> think you have the chops for i.TV . . . please send in your resume! We would
> love to chat with you. What we are doing is nothing short of rocket science
> and is very fun and could be hugely contributing to society, to boot. 
> 
> Greg Mockett
> i.TV, LLC
> 801 705-9263
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Sent: Wednesday, July 12, 2006 12:00 PM
> To: [email protected]
> Subject: PLUG Digest, Vol 19, Issue 8
> 
> Send PLUG mailing list submissions to
>       [email protected]
> 
> To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
>       http://plug.org/mailman/listinfo/plug
> or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
>       [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> 
> You can reach the person managing the list at
>       [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> 
> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
> than "Re: Contents of PLUG digest..."
> 
> 
> /*
> PLUG: http://plug.org, #utah on irc.freenode.net
> Unsubscribe: http://plug.org/mailman/options/plug
> Don't fear the penguin.
> */
> 

-- 
Hans Fugal ; http://hans.fugal.net
 
There's nothing remarkable about it. All one has to do is hit the 
right keys at the right time and the instrument plays itself.
    -- Johann Sebastian Bach

Attachment: signature.asc
Description: Digital signature

/*
PLUG: http://plug.org, #utah on irc.freenode.net
Unsubscribe: http://plug.org/mailman/options/plug
Don't fear the penguin.
*/

Reply via email to