disinterest

I've followed spaceflight since Mercury, manned and unmanned. I try to interest others, including people including science teachers on the subject. Folks think I'm a weird egghead for entertaining myself with such. They have no inclinations whatsoever regarding the subject. Why do governments allot money for astronomy and space travel, as so few are interested? How can so many be disinterested? How few are we?

John>>>

I have several friends in their 60's disputing Moon landings-of all things. I do not discuss any science 'stuff' with them unless they bring it up first...that's when I nail them to their cross!

I also keep to myself any latest or historic science data not only from these people but usually all my friends...occasional acquaintances are different for they truly do take an interest in what may or may not be happening-simply because they may have an interest but mostly because they may have found a new friend and want to know about you and your knowledge depth.

Most do not know anything about CERN-what it is-what it does-even where it is and what scientists are concerning themselves with it at the moment. But they do have children-and perhaps somehow they figured that out!!!

I have a wonderful black Celestron 8" scope for the past 33 years, complete with motors and computer star-spotting data base...they don't even look through it at the marvels of the universe when I have it set up. Simply no interest.

The main big 'Q' on their minds though is the constant whine directed at me when looking up at the night sky, 'What's it all about dx?' And when these folk are even told about the latest Kepler findings[about to happen on the 400] and the last 3 Martian landers, along with the hunt for Earth-like planets and techniques used-they are baffled that I would know of such things. And on the archaeology front they do not have one human thought about 'Ardi', 'Lucy' nor 'Neanderthals'. I even tried to direct them to the 'exploratorium' website years ago to see the latest real in-your-face Mars pics-all to no avail.

Basically John, people do not read or perhaps never did so they do not have that bug of exploring the world for themselves that infected people like us. No personal interest to do it but surly make the 5 o'clock news their own private knowledge base of information only to place it in retrospective falsification when telling others what they have 'learned'.

Yes I too and many others have followed NASA as we have-and even still before NASA was invented.

Enjoy life John>>>for you're doing fine so far. Just don't let the bastards get you down.

yt
dx

A large part of the problem is the general human propensity for 'easy path thinking', rather than a true distaste for the intrigues of science.
Most have led lives concentrated on as few stresses and challenges as they can arrange, and a majority seek ease and comfort in hearing the noises close to themselves, rather than seeking to build a web of knowledge at a distance from their routines.
I look upon it as the most common religion of the times, and give a few short lectures each day to those not much interested. If we had a public television network on science exclusively, as an alternative culturural support or symbol of involvement in reality and problem solving, differing from the madness of fictional and common propaganda television we all are required to watch, it would still only swing 10 or twenty percent of watchers toward involvement in science .
Worse still, is the newer collapse of science materials as a 'mail' delivery supply for personal education involvement. Since the turn of the century attacks against the public in the US, the prices of tiny quantities of common stains and chemistry has skyrocketed, making a small item doubled to tripled in price for shipping, added to the item cost. Even finding suppliers requires a mailed source delivery, as few cities have 'walk-in' public sources.
The claims of endangerment has caused actual 'hands-on' interest in science to be unavailable at reasonable prices.
We are being led and required to be consumers of goods, not free thinking participants in the science which leads to development of the consumer goods.
Even 'TV science' is designed to corrupt the truth in most common watched shows, giving hopelessness as a common reaction to individual interest in science.
Those beyond school age fall further and further behind the science professionals.

Unfortunately, transferring the daily grind hostilities towards science, as an expensive item not accessible, is one of hundreds of 'easy path thinking' practices causing a rift in possible involvement.

Add to that the delays and small returns of basic truths purchased by these high priced programs compared to current earning levels for most consumers, and the perceived gaps widens to strengthen the perception of a separation of the routine lifestyles of consumers 'versus' the professional science invested sector. As followers of science, we need access such as these current space programs with public galleries of "Open Access" results.

It is not so much people are disinterested they often cannot get their head around what is going on out there. My friends know I am into all things Space related and general Science and often ask questions but find it hard to comprehend either the vasteness and age of our Universe and how tiny the particles are that make everything.
Some find the whole thing frightening others agog at how we can work out the mysteries or land on a target 100's of million miles away and the power of maths. There are those of course who think we should spend that money on the starving millions but have no idea where their iphone or or satnav originated from. We are living in probobly our greatest Space Age and period in Science, there is a lot to take in and people won't give it the time they prefer to live their lives through TV and computer games.

Strangely, many would take the leap to volunteer for a manned colony in space somewhere if it were offered with the probability of success, even though they claim to not be advocates at this early point in the history of space exploration.
To be a 'hands-on' participant is desired by most- hence the excitement of computer 'gaming'.
There are many sports fans and only a small slice of the total are active athletes as well, but, even fewer actively follow space sciences with 'sports' type commitment.
Here is a site page for the MSL rover/lander for 2012, with the totals of the signed up participants to date by state in the US. The states with the greatest numbers are where the economic benefits of wages and facilities are located, with the space program limited in the distribution of development to a few states for the 'big name' space flight institutions which are equivalent to big name sports locales, giving a focused participation by the public.
If we had more launch facilities across the nation, we would draw more excitement and greater numbers, surely.
There is still time to participate in this name list.

http://marsparticipate.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/participate/sendyourname/map/

Stardustathome is operating a 'third stage' process for new volunteers. If you have no microscope this gives a microscopic view of space collector debris and cast-in-place particles both, for interested space or microscopy fans.

http://stardustathome.ssl.berkeley.edu/

The MSL launch will wake many quiet fans in late 2011 to 2012.

Society cannot be worse for our new knowledge, only better off, with the information recorded and available to all.

The future world is growing larger to us with new space missions and devices such as the CERN/LHC.

Dana>>>

Sent name in several months ago and also did participate in 'stardustathome' many years ago. That process took a lot of time-I remember tallying some thousands of image reviews. Gee, if I got paid for that I would have remained there for the duration. LOLOL

yt
dx