Anti-science movement was re: Cable ZAPPED

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: Steve Conner <steve@xxxxxxxxxxxx>

At 20:06 04/06/05 -0600, you wrote:
> Original poster: "Paul B. Brodie" <pbbrodie@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>
> Unfortunately, for the past couple of decades, there has been a strong 
> anti-science/anti-intellectual movement in the US. Even before I retired 
> in 1998, people at work seldom if ever discussed anything remotely like 
> science... It has only gotten worse since then, according to my wife.

Hi Paul, it's good to see you back on the list. I see a similar thing 
happening here in Britain, and I think it is probably happening in most 
cultures that take their cues from the US. It just doesn't seem to be 
"cool" to have an interest in science and technology, except in  the most 
shallow way, like owning the latest mobile phone or mp3 pod or sports car. 
It's cool to own these things but if you take any interest in the way they 
work, you are a nerd or an egghead! I wonder why the devices are cool but 
the people who design them are not.

I think in these dark times, people who truly love science and knowledge 
for its own sake have gone into hiding. Organisations like the TCML, the 
Geek Group, and 4hv.org are like an underground resistance movement against 
the creeping tide of reality TV shows, over-loud car stereos, multiple nose 
piercings, and Levi's "Anti-Fit" jeans (which would probably not even be 
possible without computer-aided design, but who cares, man!)

I also think the Tesla coil is a powerful symbol of what we believe in. 
It's pretty much the epitome of science for its own sake, as you will know 
if you've ever demonstrated a coil and been asked "Why did you build that 
thing" or "What does it do" and tried to come up with a satisfying answer. 
You can't explain the reason to someone who has no interest in science, and 
you don't need to explain it to anyone who does.

I hope that one day the zeitgeist will turn back towards an interest in 
science and technology and we will storm the Tate Gallery with Tesla coils 
blazing :-))))

P.S. I apologize for using fancy-a** city boy words like "epitome" and 
"zeitgeist"

Steve Conner