When Physicists Attack: Homeless Man Attacks Fellow Transient in Disagreement Over Quantum Physics

This week a homeless man in California hit a fellow transient in the face with a skateboard over a disagreement about quantum physics. In San Francisco, Jason Everett Keller, 40, allegedly attacked, Stephan Fava, over a disputed physics question.

At the time of the attack, Fava was discussing quantum physics with a third homeless man.

I have been warning for years about the danger of “fighting words” in quantum physics discussions. I confess that I have come close to blows when I hear someone disparage Planck’s Action Constant in a bar.

For the Turley bloggers, here are a few pointers to avoid when you find yourself in a heated discussion with an amateur physicist. Likewise, one has to learn to control one’s temper when someone says “Hey, Buddy, I don’t care what the correspondence principle says, all objects do not have to obey the laws of quantum mechanics.”

In the interest of quantum peace, here are my top five favorite pick-up lines for physicists:

1. What’s your resonance frequency?

2. Your smile is warmer than hydrogen plasma.

3. I’m hung like a Foucault pendulum.

4. Heisenberg was wrong. I’m certain about what you’re doing tonight.

5. You make me want to be a better physicist.

For the story, click here.