Idiots, Idiots, Idiots!

Knipper · 01-26-08, 08:08 PM

@3Jane: Duh, who u callin thick?

Remember, this forum is populated by people from all over the world and we don't want to give them the wrong inpression, now do we

Seriously though, I hear what you're saying. My 14 y-o son is A* all the way in maths, science (including astronomy) and most other things he puts his head around, but to the majority of kids at his school, he's a 'keener'. Thankfully, his attitude is **** you lot, I want a decent job when I'm older. I find the attitude you refer to particularly repugnant as I had to fight for my education against just such entrenched attitudes. It p's me off when people in other parts of the world have no chance of an education whatsoever and I see a bunch of chavs on a street corner throwing it away. Grrrr. Sorry. Rant over. Think I'll go blow up a few English ships...

Blacklight · 01-26-08, 09:36 PM

The bottom line is, unless the people in power see it making money for THEM DIRECTLY and IMMEDIATELY, they aren't going to fund it. Unfortunately, Astronomy is one of those fields that doesn't really give a high financial return unless you take YEARS to study the data, give it to the physics community and they take the lessons they learned to give to the government/investor's scientists to figure out how they can apply the findings to manufacturing and developing new technologies that will make them rich quick.

Astronomy has suffered this stigma since the glory days.

It's not about the discovery anymore.. it's about.. "How much money can this make me ?"

Torplexed · 01-26-08, 09:44 PM

Sad to hear. I've frequented a few astronomy boards and there always seem to be quite a few enthusatic Brits about. But maybe they're the older set.

Knipper · 01-26-08, 10:13 PM

I agree entirely Blacklight. Also, I believe funding astronomy, and by extension space exploration, is absolutely fundamental. It could put an end once and for all to the idea that the Earth is the centre of everything and was created by some deity or other. Now that's what I call useful research!

01-26-08, 08:08 PM	#1
Knipper Machinist's Mate Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bath, SW England Posts: 123 Downloads: 49 Uploads: 0	@3Jane: Duh, who u callin thick? Remember, this forum is populated by people from all over the world and we don't want to give them the wrong inpression, now do we Seriously though, I hear what you're saying. My 14 y-o son is A* all the way in maths, science (including astronomy) and most other things he puts his head around, but to the majority of kids at his school, he's a 'keener'. Thankfully, his attitude is **** you lot, I want a decent job when I'm older. I find the attitude you refer to particularly repugnant as I had to fight for my education against just such entrenched attitudes. It p's me off when people in other parts of the world have no chance of an education whatsoever and I see a bunch of chavs on a street corner throwing it away. Grrrr. Sorry. Rant over. Think I'll go blow up a few English ships... __________________ Only the dead have seen the end of war. - Plato Last edited by Knipper; 01-26-08 at 10:03 PM.

01-26-08, 09:36 PM	#2
Blacklight Ocean Warrior Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Connecticut Posts: 2,507 Downloads: 145 Uploads: 0	The bottom line is, unless the people in power see it making money for THEM DIRECTLY and IMMEDIATELY, they aren't going to fund it. Unfortunately, Astronomy is one of those fields that doesn't really give a high financial return unless you take YEARS to study the data, give it to the physics community and they take the lessons they learned to give to the government/investor's scientists to figure out how they can apply the findings to manufacturing and developing new technologies that will make them rich quick. Astronomy has suffered this stigma since the glory days. It's not about the discovery anymore.. it's about.. "How much money can this make me ?" __________________ Be my friend or be a mushroom cloud. "I am coming at you. You will explode in a couple of minutes !"

01-26-08, 09:44 PM	#3
Torplexed Let's Sink Sumptin' ! Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 5,823 Downloads: 43 Uploads: 0	Sad to hear. I've frequented a few astronomy boards and there always seem to be quite a few enthusatic Brits about. But maybe they're the older set. __________________ --Mobilis in Mobili--

01-26-08, 10:13 PM	#4
Knipper Machinist's Mate Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bath, SW England Posts: 123 Downloads: 49 Uploads: 0	I agree entirely Blacklight. Also, I believe funding astronomy, and by extension space exploration, is absolutely fundamental. It could put an end once and for all to the idea that the Earth is the centre of everything and was created by some deity or other. Now that's what I call useful research! __________________ Only the dead have seen the end of war. - Plato