It kind of infuriates me that so many members of the skeptical movement (namely Dawkins) think that Tyson is too NICE to people and should really take them to task on everything that's "wrong" rather than reaching out to let people learn things in a positive way.

Do you really think the people on that side of the fence (ie, tea party, neo-conservatives, bible-thumpers) are rational people and will be talked down if you word it nicely?


Calling them stupid wont work either, but it's so satisfying.

Yes, because it's very important to belittle the opposition as much as possible so that they will see that you are right. That always works. Make the people who feel persecuted feel even more persecuted so that they will listen to you with open ears.

On a happier note: I want to have this man's star babies.

Hey (Dear) fluffy,

Stop calling it skepticism.

Call it what it really is.

Realism.

Thank you (sincerely),

Jeffy

in this case the opposition prides itself on being ignorant and never changing it's mind, no matter what.

they also think a magical wizard will give them eternal life in a paradise if they just keep believing in him and hating the gays.



You could blow them while explaining evolution and it wouldnt be nice enough to change their minds.

The problem I have with Neil Degrasse-Tyson is that when he produces his own television show (Nova Science Now being an excellent example), he is adamant in the belief that you are stupid. Really, really thick.

He doesn't do pop-science like Bill Bryson or RadioLab. He does hard science, and tries to explain it to you as though there is a worm inside your brain that is shitting pure stupid into your prefrontal cortex.

To me, that's more insulting.

I do like him in interviews, though.

He's right, though. He makes a poor Pop Science spokesman, he'll never be a Sagan, but he's right. I never warmed to his personality either but he won me over when he managed to convince me that Pluto is not a planet and I was dumb for thinking otherwise.

Fluffy: Dawkins is an ass and right as he is he should not be allowed to speak for skeptics ever. Sagan never called anyone stupid, never called a question stupid, and was delighted to field simple minded questions, and answer them in a beautiful and honest way.

There'll never be another Sagan, but Tyson is at least patient and not much of an asshole. The skeptical movement needs someone who is nice, but patient will do for now.

Think of how happy Sagan would be to answer questions posed to him by 5 year olds, or their mental equivalent. He'd do that all day and it was awesome. That is the kind of spokesperson that science needs. Someone who can answer "Who made the Sun?" with a near beat poem of gorgeous truth and not a bitingly witty forum post flaming their Xian ignorance.

FACT.

I will never stop loving that word.


FFFFFFFFFFAAAAAAAAAAAAACCCCCCCCCCCCCTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!