RE: Extropy at the State Fair?

From: Harvey Newstrom (mail@HarveyNewstrom.com)
Date: Fri Feb 16 2001 - 12:55:49 MST


At 8:37am -0700 2/16/01, Terry Donaghe wrote:
>Ummmm... because anywhere there are lots of people is a good potential place
>for meme dispersion? Are you suggesting that rational memes and science
>shouldn't be presented to the people that attend State Fairs?

Basically, yes.

If the Sloan institute announced a cure for cancer, I would be
interested. If a guy at a State Fair is selling bottles out of a
booth, I would be less interested. If my bank offered an investment
plan, I would be interested. If a guy at a carnival was selling
stocks along with the cotton candy, I would be less inerested.

The environment simply doesn't lend itself to that sort of scientific
trust. Any theories taught at a church would be suspected of being
religious. Any theories taught at a State Fair would be suspect of
being a con. I'm not saying it couldn't happen, but it wouldn't be
the best place for scientific education.

-- 
Harvey Newstrom <http://HarveyNewstrom.com>



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