On 12/4/2014 8:31 PM, 'Chris de Morsella' via Everything List wrote:
*From:*[email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] *On
Behalf Of *LizR
*Subject:* Re: Edge: Myth of A.I.
On 3 December 2014 at 17:17, 'Chris de Morsella' via Everything List
<[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:
Liz, I am with you here that evolution and e=mc2 make for highly visible, honey pots
tempting all manner of oddball, legend-in-their-minds geniuses (or the pious pompous
religious sort for the league of Darwin haters). I also agree that the tactic used is
similar – spotting the overlooked flaw etc. However, I do not see the reason or need to
invoke anti-Semitism – in Einstein’s case, as being the main driver. Sure some of his
detractors are driven by the racist impulse, controlling their illing minds, but most –
in my experience – seem to be ultimately harmless sorts, even if, often they are
obnoxious, socially retarded bores.
Liz>>Yeah I may have overstated that. It was just a passing thought really - I thought
perhaps there was a subconscious element of that involved, but if there IS any
subconscious motive it may just be that some people don't like seeing someone who's
touted as being a genius when they know they have the real answer.
No problem – was just observing that in my experience most of the “theorists” claiming
to have disproved GR were more driven by that legend-in-their-mind bug that worms its
way into illing brains.
>>My thought was along the lines of - they see this guy - he's a pacifist liberal,
possibly with Buddhist leanings - and in some cases (I wasn't thinking everyone, I think
I phrased that badly - have to dash off some of these posts!) they react against that.
Oh, he thinks he's so clever but he wouldn't last five minutes in the real world - or
words to that effect. I just threw "Jewish" in there because I thought it might also be
a component in some cases but I seem to have hit a nerve, and I apologise to anyone who
found my comment offensive or indeed just wide of the mark, as it perhaps was in 99% of
cases.
I wasn’t offended in the least, by the way. (Just wanting to make that clear) It was a
fairly casual observation of mine… that by far most E != mc2 geniuses are certainly
certifiable J
>>My main feeling is as stated, that some theories are both against some people's idea of
common sense and appear easy to understand and attack. (I have seen people argue
seriously that "if we evolved from apes, why are there still apes around?" and "what
would happen if you travelled one kilometre per hour slower than light, and fired a
bullet ahead of you?" They seem like sensible questions if you know little enough about
the subjects.) Perhaps in some cases the image of the originator of the ideas is
important, but probably not most.
I agreed with that earlier Liz and continue to think that is a good observation you
made. Some ideas become outsized targets; it is interesting to speculate on why. It is
enjoyable as well… for the inquisitive mind. Why do some ideas achieve pop status while
other also fundamentally important ideas remain ghettoized in the ivory tower world of
science? How many people’s eyes light up when they hear the words “quantum mechanics”…
my guess would be not too many.
I just taught a public outreach "quantum mechanics for poets" kind of class at the local
university. 34 people paid the tuition and 18 finished the class. So there is interest.
But I think it doesn't elicit the kind of response relativity does because it is SO weird
people just think, "Well that can't be right. I must not understand it."
I'm signed up to do the same for relativity starting in March. I'll let you know how it
works out.
Brent
>>That was a throwaway comment that I should have thought about for a bit longer before
pressing "Send".
I – and most likely anyone who is honest with themselves – will freely admit having
shared that sentiment exactly.
Cheers -Chris
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