Idiots, Idiots, Idiots!

3Jane · 01-26-08, 06:00 PM

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7210342.stm

Torplexed · 01-26-08, 06:22 PM

Sad. Astronomy often gets the short shrift.

It's only been recently that NASA was shamed into deciding to rescue the Hubble Space Telescope one last time. Maybe there will be a similar outcry in Britain over Gemini.

XabbaRus · 01-26-08, 07:33 PM

You kidding, people in the UK don't care about this, it is too clever for the average UKer who have been dumbed down to think education is crap and being thick is good.

3Jane · 01-26-08, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XabbaRus

You kidding, people in the UK don't care about this, it is too clever for the average UKer who have been dumbed down to think education is crap and being thick is good.

How true!

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!

STEED · 01-27-08, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XabbaRus

You kidding, people in the UK don't care about this, it is too clever for the average UKer who have been dumbed down to think education is crap and being thick is good.

:rotfl:

Wait a minute your serious.

Dumb UK.

Penelope_Grey · 01-27-08, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XabbaRus

You kidding, people in the UK don't care about this, it is too clever for the average UKer who have been dumbed down to think education is crap and being thick is good.

A very sweeping and condescending statement.

I care, especially as I like to get my horrorscope. Seriously.

Brag · 01-27-08, 01:31 PM

Idiots, Idiots, Idiots!

Did you call?

Knipper · 01-27-08, 04:55 PM

Sorry for misquoting you 3Jane. Was in a mission and not paying enough attention to the BBS on my laptop. Same applies to Xabbarus though, who yo callin fick?

XabbaRus · 01-27-08, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Penelope_Grey

Quote:

Originally Posted by XabbaRus

You kidding, people in the UK don't care about this, it is too clever for the average UKer who have been dumbed down to think education is crap and being thick is good.

A very sweeping and condescending statement.

I care, especially as I like to get my horrorscope. Seriously.

Sweeping but also very close to the truth. I know there are people who do care but they are in the minority. What I am getting at is in the UK there is teh cult of celebrity and being seen to be smart isn't the cool thing. Take a look at the likes of Jade Goody there is no way on earth she shoul be where she is but for the fact she behaved badly on live TV and as a result has made a mint, and also lost it due to her idiocy. But the fact remains many people bought her book, many people bought her perfume, and believe it or not but her and her ilk are role models albeit bad ones.

I'm as pissed as this announcment as you and many other people are even though I just stare up at the stars and think "cool" but I understand the implications.

3Jane · 01-28-08, 05:27 AM

Speaking of which, dumbing down takes a new twist

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/7209276.stm

That's it!, I'm leaving the country !

Mikey_Wolf · 01-28-08, 05:57 AM

Oh yes! My god! If ever there was a bad thing, this is it. I'm doing an ITT course and the amount of kids that have turned round and said to me "oh I don't need school, I'm gonna get a job when I leave."

I just look at this "McQualifacation" and think, this is going to reduce ethos further. I'm expecting comments like "I don't need school I can get a job at McDonalds, get paid, and get qualifacations"!

Oh boy!

Ah well, it gives the kids something to do.

01-26-08, 06:00 PM	#1
3Jane Ace of the Deep Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: York. Northern England. Posts: 1,004 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Idiots, Idiots, Idiots! http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7210342.stm __________________ Fate opposes me in vitality and morality, forced ever onward, burdened, always in shackles. So this very moment, without tarrying, pluck the quivering strings. Because fate punishes the one who plays, all lament with me. (http://hosted.filefront.com/KatherineRowan)

01-26-08, 06:22 PM	#2
Torplexed Let's Sink Sumptin' ! Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 5,823 Downloads: 43 Uploads: 0	Sad. Astronomy often gets the short shrift. It's only been recently that NASA was shamed into deciding to rescue the Hubble Space Telescope one last time. Maybe there will be a similar outcry in Britain over Gemini. __________________ --Mobilis in Mobili--

01-26-08, 07:33 PM	#3
XabbaRus Navy Seal Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 5,330 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	You kidding, people in the UK don't care about this, it is too clever for the average UKer who have been dumbed down to think education is crap and being thick is good. __________________

01-26-08, 08:08 PM	#5
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	#6
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	#7
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	#8
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

01-27-08, 01:31 PM	#11
Brag Navy Seal Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Docked on a Russian pond Posts: 7,072 Downloads: 2 Uploads: 0	Idiots, Idiots, Idiots! Did you call? __________________ Espionage, adventure, suspense, are just a click away Click here to look inside Brag's book: Amazon.com: Kingmaker: Alexey Braguine: Books Order Kingmaker here: http://www.subsim.com/store.html For Tactics visit:http://www.freewebs.com/kielman/

01-27-08, 04:55 PM	#12
Knipper Machinist's Mate Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bath, SW England Posts: 123 Downloads: 49 Uploads: 0	Sorry for misquoting you 3Jane. Was in a mission and not paying enough attention to the BBS on my laptop. Same applies to Xabbarus though, who yo callin fick? __________________ Only the dead have seen the end of war. - Plato

01-28-08, 05:27 AM	#14
3Jane Ace of the Deep Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: York. Northern England. Posts: 1,004 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Speaking of which, dumbing down takes a new twist http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/7209276.stm That's it!, I'm leaving the country ! __________________ Fate opposes me in vitality and morality, forced ever onward, burdened, always in shackles. So this very moment, without tarrying, pluck the quivering strings. Because fate punishes the one who plays, all lament with me. (http://hosted.filefront.com/KatherineRowan)

01-28-08, 05:57 AM	#15
Mikey_Wolf Torpedoman Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: South Wales Posts: 114 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Oh yes! My god! If ever there was a bad thing, this is it. I'm doing an ITT course and the amount of kids that have turned round and said to me "oh I don't need school, I'm gonna get a job when I leave." I just look at this "McQualifacation" and think, this is going to reduce ethos further. I'm expecting comments like "I don't need school I can get a job at McDonalds, get paid, and get qualifacations"! Oh boy! Ah well, it gives the kids something to do. __________________ Proud Captain of U-37, U-138 (GWX 2), and U.S.S Devastator (Various mods)