The science communication minefield.
(And a shout out to Dot Earth readers who somehow found their way here on this fine summer afternoon – it’s nice out today! Quit the keyboard and go out and play!)
jfleck at inkstain
A few thoughts from John Fleck, a writer of journalism and other things, living in New Mexico
I hate to say it, but it seems like most “normal” Americans just aren’t interested in science anymore. On our recent road trip we came across throngs of—I hate to call them “The Dumb”—people who had decided to leave their curiosity and wonderment tucked back in a dusty closet next to their high school diploma and cap and gown.
I overheard some of the finest conversations: “Gee, how does the cell phone know to update the time”? or “I don’t know where [the Anasazi] got metal like that” (while pointing to an obviously modern-made gutter at a well-known Ruins).
Worse still, I saw a group of kids taunting and crucifying another as “A Nerd!” the other day, which leads me to believe that our society values brains a lot less than it values the ability to send text messages to your friend sitting right across from you at the ice cream parlor.
Pardon my cynicism, John. This comment might have a point in it somewhere, but I can’t seem to remember what it was now.