Don't Become a Scientist (1999)

Academic vs. Hobbyist Science

• Several commenters argue the essay should really be titled “Don’t Become an Academic/Professional Scientist”: doing science itself can still be rewarding as a hobby.
• Others push back: many fields (especially experimental ones) require expensive equipment; “do it in your spare time” only really works for theoretical/computational areas or low-cost observational work.
• There’s concern that many self-described hobbyist scientists are cranks, even though amateur communities (astronomy, ham radio) do produce real contributions.

Funding, Crowdfunding, and Capitalism

• Some see the “old web + new web” (personal sites + donation/crowdfunding tools) as a democratizing force enabling independent research.
• Others are skeptical: crowdfunding favors simple, popular, visually compelling topics; niche or “boring-sounding” research can’t raise enough money for serious physical experiments.
• Broader debate erupts about capitalism vs. alternatives: whether science can ever “fit in a capitalist box,” whether social-democratic models did better, and how deregulation and late-stage capitalism affect research and higher education.

Structural Problems in Academia

• Core complaints from the essay are widely affirmed: PhD glut, postdoc treadmill, poor pay, long hours, intense pressure, and the grant-writing rat race where proposals are judged by competitors.
• Many describe professors spending more time on grants, metrics, and politics than on actual research or teaching, with early-career researchers doing most of the hands-on work.
• Some note toxic departmental cultures, backstabbing, and instability so severe that even cleaners may have more job security than scientists.

Career Outcomes and Value of a PhD

• Multiple anecdotes: only a minority achieve tenure; many pivot to industry, finance, data science, or teaching and are ultimately satisfied.
• Others stress opportunity cost: even if you land well, you likely sacrificed higher early-career earnings and stability.
• Some insist a PhD is not “career suicide” and that industry demand (AI, biotech, deep tech) now values scientific training—provided you don’t cling to a narrow idea of “being a scientist.”

Psychological Toll and Vocation

• Several academics describe science as almost a religion: totalizing, identity-defining, and often deeply unhealthy—fueling obsession, insecurity, broken relationships, and workaholism.
• A recurring theme: the “contract” of academia feels broken; people would accept lower pay and teaching in exchange for intellectual freedom, but instead get bureaucracy and metrics.

Dating the Essay

• Commenters note confusion about the true publication year (1999 footer vs. 2001 citations); archival evidence suggests late 1990s/early 2000s, but exact date remains somewhat unclear.