Kim wrote:

I don't know - I think a true geek would have pigeons. Or chickens.

Kim, I haven't laughed that hard in a long time. Thanks, it hit the spot! I wonder if Ozzy Osborne keeps either? Something Debbie wrote earlier today has been echoing in my head. Perhaps familiarity does breed contempt, but after all these years, an astronomy interest just doesn't impress me in a human being, by itself. Of all the amateur and professional astronomers I've ever met, the most interesting were, without exception, those who had greater interests, other than science and astronomy. Even people on this list- I've met people with serious side interests in various animals & husbandry, farming, music, art, craft, literature & poetry, militaria, history. Sad to say those who centered their lives on science exclusively were the most boring...to paraphrase Homer Simpson (that paragon of wisdom) when referring to a primatologist, "I knew scientists wasted their lives, but JEEZ! You must be the most BORING woman alive!" Now, I know many professional scientists, grew up with more than a few kids who now earn their living as full-blown research scientists, and from experience, it truly is the one-trick-ponies who have wasted their lives. Not that their professional work is without value, but that they have missed-out on so many fantastic experiences, passed up chances for personal growth as human beings, missed opportunities to know their own environment and their place in it, outside of a narrow definition forged as a grad student. Some have such practiced demeanors that they are mere cariacatures of human beings anymore. They are so steeped in playing the role of scientist that they have truly lost the greater part of their own humanity. They take the science too seriously, as an end unto itself, rather than as the means to and end that it really is. Some eventually find this out on their own, and usually drop out of hard-core science after ten or fifteen years and start living again for real, while they have some time left. It seems that Mr. Rolly, whom I'm sure is actually a very fine human being, is laboring under a stereotype. In his mind, anyone who looks at the sky in wonder is a nerd, egghead, geek. To him, we are apart, separate from our fellow humans. He sees us as wasting our lives, or a part of it, without realizing that in most cases, the astronomy is only the tip of the iceberg. One facet out of hundreds on what is really a brilliant gem, cut in many directions. His terminology gives away his real opinion of the person who enjoys the sky, even as he pretends to tilt at a windmill on our behalf. Perhaps instead, he should examine the life of a man who spends most of his working life trying to expose unimportant foibles of others; a man who lives in a glass house yet tosses stones without understanding what his target truly is...and I wonder if he'd still do it if there were not a paycheck involved? Just maybe, if he actually comes out to a "geek" gathering, and meets some of us, his opinion might change for the better. And if it doesn't, no matter. I knew musings columnists wasted their lives, but JEEZ, he must be the most boring man alive!" No reflection on Ann...he's an in-law, not a blood relative, right? ;) __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com