(disclaimer: I am a programmer who works for startups, but I&#x27;ve always admired scientists and researchers and have often contemplated a career switch to biotech.)<p>How can an entire discipline that is supposedly based on rational evidence-finding be such a cliquey clusterfuck? You&#x27;re basically saying that if you don&#x27;t follow the community rules, which more or less boil down to &quot;hazing,&quot; you&#x27;ll be excommunicated. Sounds like a cult, to me... as is any culture where &quot;fear&quot; is the primary motivator not to try something different.<p>Don&#x27;t the laws of nature exist <i>everywhere</i>? Why can&#x27;t anyone &quot;do science,&quot; then?<p>I am glad I work in a meritocracy-based industry where anyone with any background can &quot;ship&quot; and succeed, and that has a low tolerance for bullshit.