Those Trite Comparisons Ever Make Rocket Scientists Or Brain Surgeons Anxious?

Think about those trite, overused phrases: “It’s not rocket science” or “It’s not brain surgery.” We all know what they’re about. The speaker is (usually trying to set someone at ease) trying to show something isn’t that complex by comparison. However, how does this make brain surgeons and rocket scientists feel? Do they get anxious?

After all, though these are highly complex fields, the people in them are highly trained. They go to school for many, many years, are extensively trained after schooling, and are probably smart people to begin with. Their work isn’t quite as complicated to them as it is to those of us who have absolutely no training in them. Yet, we keep reinforcing that their work is unimaginably complex.

Do they ever internalize that? Do they ever start wondering if they might not really be up to the job after all? They have years of training and qualifications, but people think it’s so complex. What if they don’t have enough?

I just wonder. It could undermine my self-confidence at some point. Good thing I don’t do rocket science or brain surgery.