I think the biggest reason behind why I like shows like Star Trek is the great science role models they have. How many times have you see a movie where, surprise surprise, the only scientist in the show is insane/evil/immoral and a superweirdo. *sigh* It seems rare to come across a hero like Indiana Jones, who is just as irresistible in his professor-bow-tie suit as he is with his whip. There are many reasons why so many people love Star Trek (I’m a TNG girl), but mine would be how it presented a world that valued intellectuals.
The crew of TNG were renaissance men (female crew included); they had a broad base of knowledge on everything–art, music, history…they read books and poetry, played instruments, and even did theatre. In the universe of Trek, if you weren’t well-read, couldn’t do math, spoke with poor grammar or you were just plain ignorant, you were very uncool indeed! A lot of shows will have a main character, who is a good leader, brave, social, charming, etc., use a nerdy socially awkward secondary character when they need ta gets some science stuff done. But in Trek, the scientists and engineers were the main characters, and those who were ignorant about science and math were the weirdos.
Unfortunately, I haven’t seen much of this myself from the general public of small towns up here in the north; I hate coming across this attitude of being proud that you can’t do math, don’t read, don’t know history, and speak with horrid grammar. But what annoys me slightly more are those who say they are “fans of science”. Why? Because every time I’ve heard this, it’s been from someone who will add a “but…” to the end of that statement.
Oh, they’re a fan of science all right. They think that Hubble and the Mars rovers are cool and will at least know what the LHC is. They like their smartphones and not-dying from smallpox. But perhaps the reason I don’t like hearing “Hey, I’m a big fan of science…” is because what immediately follows is usually a rant about new age woo, pseudoscience, or fluffy spirituality. Ugh.
This reminds me of the typical movie hero I mentioned; They’re just “fans” of science when they need it…and call upon the nerdy science wiz in their group. But when science starts to tell them something they don’t like, they put it on their ignore list. Please, if you’re going to tell me things like “faith and science will one day merge”, “I’m not religious. I’m spiritual”, or tell me that science is wrong about astrology/dowsing/numerology/pokadotpineappleology, then please don’t tell me you’re a fan of science, mmkay?
Because you’re making ME not want to say what a big fan of science I really am! So until all you pseudofans stop using that phrase, I’m going to steal the lame teenybopper style phrasing that you find on Wet Seal graphic tees and say that Music Science is my Boyfriend! lol
January 18th, 2009 at 11:24 am
Oh goodness, I know what you mean. I’m starting to really regret having moved back up north – the outright hostility I have sometimes faced (even in job interviews) the moment the topic of my education, or even where I studied comes up. Yet, at the same time, you still hear people around here whine about all the young professionals who take their talent elsewhere. It’s just stunning.
I miss living in an environment where being well read in a number of disciplines was seen as an actual *asset*.
January 19th, 2009 at 6:56 pm
Scientists are weirdos… just look at Geordi La Forge (all his friends are robots) … or any space station scientist they had ever came across… Just Weird, the lot of them. Luckily we have our Empathic Feeling Machine on board… “Troi. Earl Grey. Hot.”
On the whole, being a ‘big fan of’ something is generally dismissive… ever have someone that’s a ‘big fan of your work’ (i am, btw).. it’s usually dismissive of the subject at hand.
Science is a tool, not so much a belief system. I think it’s important to make the deliniation in that. Most woo is self agrandizing, confirmation biased bull pucky and is far more biased than ‘your so called science’. Gimme the goods, will ya?
Mob rule, my friend… plant the seed of doubt, keep it friendly and respect their thoughts on the subject (no matter how unrespectable they may be). Ask the almighty W5 of them and let them know that you are not the one making outstanding claims. They are. Outstanding claims demand outstanding evidence.
Science is my non-gendered, non-physically embodied rational way of thinkin bout stuff.
AC B
February 26th, 2009 at 6:39 pm
Followed a link to your site from BA and Dr. Phil (the good Dr. Phil, not the evil Oprah Dr. Phil). Loved the Death from the Skies delivery cartoon.
))
Good point about TNG crew being renaissance men/women, while most tv shows have the geeky sidekick to the suave but not so bright main character. I hadn’t thought about that before (no tv set so only see it when I’m visiting others).
Glad to hear you are a true fan of science…Northern Ontario needs more [real] science fans.
I love working in Northern Ontario, most people I’ve met are great, but there is that subset you (and Veronica) have mentioned….sighhh.
If you haven’t read the 2005 Esquire column on Idiot America by C Pierce, you might want to Google it. It is relevant to Canada too. It’ll fire your determination to stay a fan of science just so you don’t become one of that subset.
All the best with the blog and your books, Sara.
DJ
P.S. Next time you see a disreputable scruffy dirty-looking guy in the Kirkland Lake library he may not be homeless–he may be a field biologist who has been in the bush for 10 days (my Kirkland Lake library card is still valid and although I got some strange looks, they never kicked me out…kudos to them!
.