Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!uwmcsd1!ig!agate!ucbvax!ucdavis!uop!todd
From: todd@uop.edu (Dr. Nethack)
Newsgroups: sci.misc
Subject: Re: Omni-Americans
Message-ID: <1293@uop.edu>
Date: 23 Mar 88 20:59:07 GMT
References: <5017@uwmcsd1.UUCP> <2790@gryphon.CTS.COM> <1221@uop.edu> <472@flatline.UUCP>
Organization: Uop Ethernet Gateway
Lines: 102

In article <472@flatline.UUCP>, erict@flatline.UUCP (eric townsend) writes:
> In article <1236@uop.edu>, todd@uop.edu (Dr. Nethack) writes:
> 
> > ...  The details of discovery and formations of opinions is far
> > better than Omni-esque attempts at mimickry... mimickry loaded with
> > psuedo reality.
> 
> Wait.  If I never take into consideration really, truely ludicrous ideas
> -- how am I supposed to come up with new ideas?  

You could think for yourself, built on a solid knowledge base.

> Many great theorheticians
> were laughed at, and some were made to revoke their original statements by
> an *uniformed* populace.  Why not have a populace that is ready to accept
> new ideas, even if those ideas are semi-valid?

Why not just have an informed populace, instead of a half-assed awareness?

> If it's science fiction or science "fact" you're still going to have to
> get out to the populace some concepts that they may not be ready for.
> What better way than with science fiction, and trendy silly
> ideas and theories?  

It will take more effort to reteach them the truth, than it would to
teach them the truth in the first place, that is a dismal excuse for
a reason.

> Isn't that better than a nation of "I Love Lucy"
> watchers?

Maybe that is what you watch, would you rather Omni make a T.V. show like
NOVA, only just psuedo science and UFO-ology??  That is as bad as using
Rambo as a roll model for international relations.

>  (A sort of unrealted comment:  My grandfather refuses to believe that
>   a person has ever been into space.  His logic:  God would kill anybody
>   that went up there, so NASA and all that must be a big fake. 1/4 :-)

Maybe you and your grandfather need to learn there are facts that exist
apart from your own conclusions.

> > You want to find out? Read Physics Today, Physical Review Letters,
> > et. al. Professional Journals will tell you better what is going on
> > than anything off a newsstand, the trouble is, that is too much work
> > for *some* (most) people.

> Ok, fine.  Where do I find such wonderful purveyors of fact?  
> Not at the
> 7-11 down the street.  
> Univ of Houston library carries a few good things,
> but those are fought for tooth and nail.  
> I have to subscribe, or hang

Thats right, do you subscribe to Omni?? You don't like having to really
look for facts?? Look at Science News, it will help.

> Once I find them, how do I understand them?  

Do what I did, *read* about them, and *ask questions* of people who will
tell you.

> Again, the "I Love Lucy" watchers that have a 4th grade science education.
> I'd rather have some ill-informed, self-appointed experts than a completly
> ignorant, *apathetic* populace ready to take up the hue and cry of anybody
> with a good line of BS.

Like Omni-- good line of BS.

> > Perhaps some might think that calling a spade, a spade is bad.
> 
> Nit pick:  "Calling a spade a spade" is a racist cliche'.  Like I said,
> it's picky, but valid.

It is invalid, you are assuming because I use an older euphemism that I
am a racist, I am not a racist, you are bordering on foolishness.

> > And I mean worship. Such things are guarded with uninformed opinions,
> > and propagated by those who wish to conform to such models.

> Again, I'd rather have some people that are wrong, but trying, than people
> that couldn't care less. 

You assume I don't care, I *do* care, that is the problem, you are
apathetic, you would rather tolerate error than not.

> > Understand, Omni, although it can be enjoyable is essentially a science
> > fiction rag, not a masterpiece of informative literature.

> Yeah, this is true.  It also points you in the right directions.  I started
With uniformed premise..

> out on s-f fiction and some other pulp crap.  Then moved up to Omni, and
> now am into Sci_Am and a few other "factual" magazines.

Keep going, you'll get better at it...

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