Highly skilled characters - or the lack thereof

[iainjcoleman]

it is nonetheless the case that all PhDs are earned by experience and actual accomplishment.

Actually, not true.

http://www.cs.odu.edu/~home_g/grad_home/grad_info/handbook/hand/node32.html

For MANY PhD's there is NO requirement that you be able to actually produce an end product that would be required if you were working in the field. For many it is simply study and a thesis. So, your statement isn't correct.

From the link you cite:

"The work must represent an achievement in research and must be a significant contribution in the field. Students are required to publish (or have in the revision process) at least one paper in a refereed journal (or refereed conference proceedings) based on their dissertation work."

When you're in a hole, stop digging.

 

[rust]

Equating Skill Level with Education is a weird and artificial thing to do. They may or may not track each other, depending on the individual in question.

Indeed. Just think of a master craftsman's masterpiece, which usually
shows a lot of skill, but says nothing about the craftsman's education
- a master smith may have almost no theoretical knowledge of metal-
lurgy, and still create astonishing works with his skill.

 

[rust]

... it is nonetheless the case that all PhDs are earned by experience and actual accomplishment.

Actually, not really - it very much depends on the education system of the
country in question.

For example, the normal German doctorate in medicine is not acknowled-
ged in several other countries, where it is only treated as a master's de-
gree, because this doctorate does not require any research work and in-
dependent contribution to science.

On the other hand, many engineering doctorates from other countries are
not acknowledged over here, because they are just diplomas from engi-
neering schools, without the research required for an engineering docto-
rate in Germany.

If you really want to know what a doctorate is "worth", you have to look
very closely where it was earned (or bought, easy for example in Califor-
nia).

 

[alex_greene]

Hi.

Can we have some mods in here, please?

 

[rinku]

I guess "skill" in game terms is really a combination of Skill and Characteristic anyway. Qualifications are a combination of Education, Skill and Career - a character who has a high medical skill but no career in medicine and a low Education is probably a natural talent or someone who has learned on the job (maybe a cop given basic paramedic training who has then had to use that basic training an awful lot?). Conversely, a 5 term physician with a high Edu who has only reached Medic 1 is still probably a qualified MD, but is one despite his natural talents instead of because of them. Edu 3 and Medic 3 gives the same task modifier as Edu 9 and Medic 1, after all. Both the cop and the doctor are competent at treatment - in real world terms the doctor would be better at research and the cop better at triage.

 

[DFW]

No, his statement is correct; your definition of "actual accomplishment" is too narrow. A doctorate in an academic discipline such as history or mathematics is only going to produce a thesis, but the "end product" is just as valid as what is produced in an engineering or chemistry one.

http://www2.fiu.edu/orgs/chemistry/Ph_D_Chem.htm

Only study/thesis required. My point stands.

 

[Gee4orce]

Hi.

Can we have some mods in here, please?

Seconded. If you want to continue your argument, please take it to Usenet or a nearby playground.

 

[rinku]

Hi.

Can we have some mods in here, please?

Seconded. If you want to continue your argument, please take it to Usenet or a nearby playground.

Fair enough. I apologise for my part in the flaming - previous post back on track.

 

[rust]

Reported as Spam. ^^