The Practice of Science
Xislakilinia
30-05-2006, 04:15
For all the mind-boggling and counter-intuitive stuff that science uncovers, the practice of science is for the most part mind-numbingly dull. Endless experiments that often don't work and then time (weeks!??!) wasted troubleshooting them that don't contribute to anything meaningful. An occasional new finding, if not scooped by some other group on the other side of the world, is almost always a small gain, useless to everyone outside the field of research.
Is is any wonder that ID proponents would rather do their religious quasi-scientific theory-attacking than actually do science? They would become as drunk, bored and broke as real scientists! Banish the thought!
quasi-scientific
That's giving their "methods" too much credit, right there.
United Uniformity
30-05-2006, 04:28
well they do say science its 9 parts persperation and 1 part insperation.
But what can be better than learning (abet slowly) how the universe works?
HotRodia
30-05-2006, 04:31
well they do say its 9 parts persperation and 1 part insperation.
But what can be better than learning (abet slowly) how the universe works?
Making shit up and getting on with your life?
Xislakilinia
30-05-2006, 04:35
well they do say science its 9 parts persperation and 1 part insperation.
But what can be better than learning (abet slowly) how the universe works?
Many things. Porn and Chocolate immediately come to mind. :rolleyes:
Xislakilinia
30-05-2006, 04:37
That's giving their "methods" too much credit, right there.
"faux-scientific"?
Last time I did a scientific experiment, I nearly lost my hand...
Still had fun though...
AB Again
30-05-2006, 04:44
You missed an option on the poll.
I did science and it was a real test of patience so I went to do something more interesting such as accounting.
(true in my case, but I changed from accounting later too.)
Xislakilinia
30-05-2006, 04:46
You missed an option on the poll.
I did science and it was a real test of patience so I went to do something more interesting such as accounting.
(true in my case, but I changed from accounting later too.)
Yup. But do you still like reading popular science articles and stuff? Follow up on the latest developments?
AB Again
30-05-2006, 04:49
Yup. But do you still like reading popular science articles and stuff? Follow up on the latest developments?
I read Sci Am every month, if you count that as popular. The rest of the stuff available here in Brazil is about as reliable as the National Enquirer. (No New Scientist/Nature/Mind or anything like that)
Xandabia
30-05-2006, 10:28
Science is our only hope of continued survival
Xislakilinia
30-05-2006, 10:45
Science is our only hope of continued survival
Do you really think so? We came through like 10 000 years of prescience civilization fairly ok. Darned high death rate through infant mortality and disease and stuff though.
I agree entirely. I'm reading Natural Science, and the theoretical Physics is far more exciting stuff than the practical stuff (ever had to sit through 3 hours of watching frequency counters without losing concentration?), but both are a vital aspect of the course and the field in general.