Off My Mind: Why Do Mad Scientists Turn to Crime?

its simple...1. they r crazy so they r inclimed to do crime from that and 2. well being evil is easier than being good so in order to reach their goals if they want to do it as quick as possible they will become evil

Good thing it's not the case in real world or we'll be under the rule of Dr. Sheldon Cooper!

One part of it is that not all science is particularly right: legally, morally, or ethically. Like human experimentation for example. From the scientist point of view he doesn't see what he's doing as either right or wrong. It's merely a way to further his understanding of science.

Dr. Horrible's Sing a Long Blog!!!!!! EPIC WIN. Love that movie.

Because when your a super smart life really doesn't have any challenges for you so you turn to evil to meet the ultimate challenge to rule the world

I don't agree with this the definition of scientist is  an  expert  in  science,  esp.  one  of  the  physical  or  natural  sciences. Their are scientist who are good  hank pym, reed richards, tony stark, spider-man, batman,  superman just saying 

"Lex is certainly an evil criminal mastermind, and he definitely has the chrome dome for it.  But he doesn't have the labcoat or glasses.  No mad scientist is worth his (or her) NaCl without a labcoat!  ;)"

Over worked, under paid and their wife doesn't own a liquor store.

Thing is scientists are so smart at making these gizmos that they become stupid at deciding what they're going to do in life.

Most mad scientists are cliche and boring and should probably not be used anymore.

Mad scientist share a common characteristic, they know money it´s the chain that bound then to the establishment, they just want to be free! They are pretty critics of the "establishment" they know it´s unfair and keeps people being enslaved specially by money, so if they want money they won´t be mad scientist but just common people. The mad scientist want´s to bend the rules of the society to make his own utopia.

I believe they are geniuses from the start. The thing is that if they do good, they are not able to complete their own agenda.  
 
The idea of all of them falling into World Domination and Evil Scheming is caused by the fact that, being nice and doing good stuff is cool for a time. Being evil and causing mischief and havok is way cooler and lets accept it, it's way funnier.

That's what mad scientists do. They're mad.

Mad scientist is often a cliche but could still be used in new and interesting ways.

" That's what mad scientists do. They're mad. "

Because they're Mad, and when they're Mad, they become Mad as a Hatter

What else do you do with a PHD in horribleness?

I would guess that after a defeat or two by a caped crusader, crime might become sort of an after thought to a person, instead they just want revenge.

They want REVENGE or TO RULE THE WORLD! Wahahahaha!

because no retard is taking over the world

Only way folks respect smart people is if they are solving their problems or causing them, nobody looks at a nerdy geek and says I wanna be that guy when I grow up. Truth be told if Dr.Doom didn't have a bada** suit of armor and a country under his control he would look like a chomp lol. Sad thing is that most super smart folks are incredibly under appreciated and most of em gotta go mad scientist just to get recognized, sad really

What's the name of the guy who invented the air conditioner, vacuum cleaner, blue ray player, portable dialysis machine, mechanical hot dog stuffer? Whoever they are, they are all probably filthy rich and totally anonymous. That's why a guy like the Wizard never just patented his flying disc things and retired to Maui. The money's not the motivation; it's the desire to show the world how smart they are that drives the mad scientist.  

Maybe we should think of them as serial-killers. They're the kids that  pulled the wings off flys and killed their neighbor's pets. In the end they just want to prove how smart they are or see what they can get away with. Winning or money don't matter because nothing ever fills the empty space inside, or feels like victory.

Most research does not lead to fame or fortune.  I know some people doing research in some very interesting and helpful areas.  Generally, they spend almost half of their time begging for grants that probably will not fund all of their work.  If and when they make their breakthroughs, the entities that provided the grants will ,in fact, own the the rights to the discovery. 
Most patents are unused devices due to lack of marketing ability on part of the inventors.  Again, the individuals of corporations that provide the marketing take the majority of fame and fortune.
Those with the ego and sociopathic tendencies inherent in most mad scientists find this to be unaccetable in their schemes

 These brilliant men (and women) should use their intellect and inventions to make money. With all the gadgets and high-tech arsenal they create, they could patent them and make a fortune. They could use their brains to create devices or cures for the ailments of mankind. They come up with such elaborate schemes and if they focused that energy into creating something useful or even something cool, they could make money and gain the world's respect. In some cases they commit crimes in order to have more funding to further their misunderstood research and experiments. But if they tried selling or patenting their creations, they wouldn't have to resort to crimes.     

"With my Freeze Ray I will.... STOP......"

This is why Reed Richard's idea of the Future Foundation will ruin us all!

"Spider-man once asked Norman Osborn why he doesn't just cure cancer or help the world in some other way. Y'know what his answer was?
 

"BECAUSE I DON'T GIVE A DAMN."

"