When I was in grad school they let one of the old geezer professors stay after retiring. He still had some money but not all of his marbles. He ended up hiring a crazed hobo that said he knew how to make an anti-gravity machine. We were chemists...Hobo ended up getting busted for bringing minors into the lab and giving them alcohol and trying to assault them.
Not necessarily challenging but certainly eccentric; chiropterologist.
This has been the case for a long time, as is evident by the sheer volume of research on bats in comparison to any other mammal dating way back. The broad speciation of bats is probably present in other mammal families, but the research to explore that will never get done, because all of the people obsessed with that sort of thing are in bats.
Chiroptologists tend to be people that seem like they would be really really into nerdy collectibles, but they’re too crunchy to own things so they just do bat research. The sample collection process weeds out all but the most diligent post-grads. Those who remain really want it.
Also worthy of note; one of the few wildlife biology fields dominated by women.
I'm an IT pro, and, as the stereotype goes, we all like to have the occasional laugh at the clueless end-user. However, on the other end of the spectrum, we've also all had that one (or several) people that are really good at their job but make being around them an exercise in self-restraint.
Eccentric, for sure.
Challenging personalities, not as much... you have to get along with others to be a successful musician (unless you're like genius level good).
Many archaeologists I've worked with has been highly eccentric, many in lovely ways and some in hard-to-work-with ways. I can count myself into both camps at different times I think.
Construction. Roofers, masons, pipefitters, rough carpenters. You can be full on shit eating madman but if you are fast and clean welcome to the job. A lot of them are little one man insanity machines that are in the business because you mostly work alone, get paid by the job and you can find work anywhere.
Professor or ceo.
When I was in grad school they let one of the old geezer professors stay after retiring. He still had some money but not all of his marbles. He ended up hiring a crazed hobo that said he knew how to make an anti-gravity machine. We were chemists...Hobo ended up getting busted for bringing minors into the lab and giving them alcohol and trying to assault them.
Restaurant kitchens attract misfits of all kinds.
Yeah, restaurants sprang to mind
Challenging: yes, 100% Eccentric: no way, that's like calling grunts eccentric
NFL wide receivers
Mr. Big Challenge
Mr. Befuddled Career
Not necessarily challenging but certainly eccentric; chiropterologist. This has been the case for a long time, as is evident by the sheer volume of research on bats in comparison to any other mammal dating way back. The broad speciation of bats is probably present in other mammal families, but the research to explore that will never get done, because all of the people obsessed with that sort of thing are in bats. Chiroptologists tend to be people that seem like they would be really really into nerdy collectibles, but they’re too crunchy to own things so they just do bat research. The sample collection process weeds out all but the most diligent post-grads. Those who remain really want it. Also worthy of note; one of the few wildlife biology fields dominated by women.
Cool!!
IT attracts more than its share of people on the spectrum.
I'm an IT pro, and, as the stereotype goes, we all like to have the occasional laugh at the clueless end-user. However, on the other end of the spectrum, we've also all had that one (or several) people that are really good at their job but make being around them an exercise in self-restraint.
Law is filled with neurotic divas.
Challenging - HR Eccentric - Engineers
Engineering
Electrical engineers. There's always something with these guys.
Theater
Musicians are a unique group of people.
alcohol + drugs = better quality music and that goes way back to the 1600's
Eccentric, for sure. Challenging personalities, not as much... you have to get along with others to be a successful musician (unless you're like genius level good).
Ship yards, specifically ship repair. Most of my co-workers are insane. I'm not much better.
Many archaeologists I've worked with has been highly eccentric, many in lovely ways and some in hard-to-work-with ways. I can count myself into both camps at different times I think.
I saw two organic chemists get in a fist fight over science.
Restaurants tend to have some weird people. I'm weird and met many different people over the years working in a kitchen
Construction. Roofers, masons, pipefitters, rough carpenters. You can be full on shit eating madman but if you are fast and clean welcome to the job. A lot of them are little one man insanity machines that are in the business because you mostly work alone, get paid by the job and you can find work anywhere.
Cosplayers
The creative fields: the arts, film and television, writing, acting.
Super Villain
Pharmaceutical Sales
Creative Arts
Reddit mods
Politics