In the context of "funny answers kids give on science tests" I
personally thought this was great.
>From: Michael Lorrey <retroman@tpk.net>
>>
>This also distrubs me. It brings to mind a passage from Niven &
>Pournelle's book _Fallen Angels_. [...]
>"Mundanes think that if you can explain the underlying causes to
>why something is acting as it does, that you 'ruin the magic'. I think
>that knowing how something as beautiful as this can naturally occur
>makes it even more magical."
>
>This is how I look at it, as I beleive most people on this list....
The quoted passage sounds resentful, defensive, insensitive, formulaic
and self-congratulatory to me, not magical at all. Brutishness aside,
sure, explanations don't necessarily ruin magic.
--Steve