At first, it looked like an ordinary marble, but it was far from it. But how could Tim have known that, when he had much so many other valuable marbles that earned him the Nobel prize in science? So he threw that dull ordinary marble in the dirt ..
When he opened his mouth in a science delegation in Korea, stupid words poured out: “Let me tell you about my trouble with girls. Three things happen when they are in the lab. You fall in love with them, they fall in love with you, and when you criticise them, they cry,”
The room was still ,like the calm before the storm. Not aware of the big hole he was digging himself, he continued, “I’m in favour of single-sex labs but I don’t want to stand in the way of women”
The prevalent theory in the scientific community: Tim has lost all his marbles. In reality all he lost was one ordinary dull marble called : common-sense.
——————————————–
“lost his marbles” is an euphemism for “losing one’s mind” or “acting stupidly”
The above quotes in blue are from Tim Hunt, who is more famous for his sexists remarks than his Nobel Prize in 2001. More news about him is in the below link:
http://www.theguardian.com/science/2015/jun/13/tim-hunt-forced-to-resign
His remarks have started an avalance of tweets from women scientists who have posted humorous pictures under the hash tag #distractinglysexy.
———————————————————————————————————————–
The above story was in response to ‘Monday’s finish the story’ flash fiction challenge. This unique flash fiction challenge provides a new photo each week, and the first sentence of a story. The challenge is to finish the story using 100-150 words, not including the sentence provided. Details are available here:
https://mondaysfinishthestory.wordpress.com/2015/06/15/mondays-finish-the-story-june-15th-2015/
Love the link to history. I thought of that as soon as I read the first quote!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like that! Well done! Thanks for writing again for the Mondays Finish the Story challenge and be well… ^..^
LikeLike
Thanks!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I do not think the part of his brain which controls common sense was working when he said that.
Great story!
LikeLike
Thanks! That common sense part of the brain is something we undervalue and only if it doesn’t work do we feel the pain 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
This made me laugh and the fact that it’s real made me laugh harder. What a good story. 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks! sometimes the real stories going on around us are the funniest 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
I agree. 🙂
LikeLike
Heh, very topical! I still can’t believe he said those things, what a muppet. Well done linking it to the marble picture 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks!
LikeLike
This is pretty funny. Maybe this is where the “mad” scientist originated. LOL! Very interesting!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Excellent and so much fun to read!
LikeLike
Thanks
LikeLike
OMG…. I love, love, love this. I was a female scientist working in a lab, and if I remember correctly, the male scientists did all the chasing! Not all of them but a few…. This was wonderful!!!!
LikeLike
Thanks.
LikeLike
The fact that these quotes are real makes the story even more entertaining! Love it.
LikeLike
Thanks
LikeLike
That is an excellent and very contemporary take on this prompt. Very well done.
LikeLike
Thanks
LikeLiked by 1 person
I laughed when I read your post. That would explain why the guy was such a jerk at that conference.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What I’ve heard is that if sense was common, everyone would have it. How very unfortunate he was put in a position where his views made news. Well done. 😀 — Suzanne
LikeLike
Thanks Suzanne.
LikeLike