Thread: Decline of Science in the US

Science is boring. Kids don't want to stand around looking at DNA samples or punching numbers into computers. They want to do drugs, have lots of sex, and drive fast cars. Two of which scientists help make possible, but none of which they actually do on a day to day basis.

There's your problem.

Originally Posted by deathgodusmc

First off pull your panties out of your ass and read what i said. I didnt say all scientists are garbage. I said the so called ones racking in money doing stupid ass studies. Then i also said those that try to force feed everyone. Pretty sure that still leaves room for those scientists that dont partake in either event.

The waitress situation your trying give excuses for has exsisted since man kind has. You imply it leads to understanding how to combat that behavior in the workplace, on juries, etc. Yet here we are with the exact same issue. So how does it fit that bill?

The internet one i can agree with to a point but i do not think a study is needed in this country to figure out common sense. If people are buying phones because they have internet access then odds are more people are on the internet. However you can enlighten me as to what else can be learned from a study done specifically to find out if more people are going on line then ten years ago.

Yes i know bugs and animals alike have yeilded many things. However how does that change people got paid to figure out a roach farts on average every 15 minutes? What magical reason could there be for that study?

You seriously trying to imply that research for weapon systems yeild very much byproduct knowledge? I cant believe you would even try to imply that from your end of the internet on a computer. Think about it before you reply.

Also i never said climate change isnt fact. Now pull your panties out of the wad they are in and reread my post again.

Can you actually find a study that deals with roach farts? I'd be very impressed if you could. It's silly to pull things like that out of your ass :P

As a high school student, I can blame the education system. It really makes science extremely boring, when in reality it could be a lot of fun. And really, the most important part is inspiring kids. If you can make it look even a little bit cool, then people don't look at it as a waste of time. Maybe that's not happening enough anymore.

Originally Posted by AetheLove

If you think scientists don't like fast cars, chemical enhancements, and getting laid, then you're hanging out with the wrong scientists.

Science isn't boring. Closed minds are boring. You'll find the later scattered about everywhere. It's people who need a priest to sanctify their sex, wine, and material delights, who are the ones trapped in a very small world.

The part about looking at DNA samples is just housekeeping. It's the busy-work that enables the raging party of discovery.

I was simply pointing out the mindset people around me hold. I don't actually hold that viewpoint.

I personally don't care who/where/why it gets done as long as I get to benefit from it at some point without too much effort on my part.

As someone who is finishing up high school as we speak and is going to a great college on a great scholarship, I represent a minority in this forum.. Most of you are older folks and can only speak third hand on the issues.

I, however, have been exposed to many schools in multiple states of varying prestige. I have been home schooled, private schooled, no schooled, and, of course, public schooled. I have been to magnet schools, ghetto schools, even an AoIT. I have seen it.

You can blame this generation all you want for us just wanting to get out and have fun. True, to an extent. But you older people didn't? I've talked to my grandfather, parents, my grandfathers mother, and they were all the same way. Maybe fun has changed a little (barely) but the same general idea of rebelling and having fun has been around for quite awhile my friends. However, the cause for this issue is in YOUR generations. It is in the 50s and 60s who hold office spots as well as the 30s and 40s who parent the kids. We are only a product of our environment, as much as we all know, and we can only be expected to act as such. Bad parenting on so many different levels leads kids into these lives of either too much freedom or none at all. Kids now have no idea how to get out, truly have fun, but to do so responsibly. I consider myself amongst this group. However, I do so willing to accept the fact I have met others like me... Few and far between. This is a parenting fault, NOT the kids.

To go even further, back into the OP of the thread, science not being properly taught in schools is due to politicians and where money gets spent and what is taught in schools. You can bitch and complain and disagree all you want, we go to high school (and even college for that matter) to learn a set of guidelines to pass a test at the end. We do not so much do to Chem 101 as we do Chem Final. Understand? The states standardized tests have been a plague upon teaching standards in multiple states since I can remember in schools. I can't count the number of times I have heard teachers bitch and complain about being forced to teach for the test and only the test, partly because they have to and partly because they feel it their duty to not let the kids fail. Plus, if the kids fail, they lose money. Noone wants that, no matter how much they care for the kids. Now it's getting even worse with this new idea of taking these tests and making it so that EVEN IF YOU HAVE A 110% IN A CLASS, IF YOU FAIL THE STATE STANDARDIZED TEST, YOU FAIL THE CLASS! No ifs, ands, or buts. This is a horrible idea that is only leading further down the same road we were stuck on before.

To bring it all together, education is fucked because of politics. Can you believe I took an FCAT (Florida Comprehension Assessment Test) MATH test on computer a year ago? Math on the fucking computer? All to save a little money? Bitch please.

I just hate this stupid "blame it on the kids" attitude. It's not our fault. It's yours.

Edit: And to go into the science is falling behind part. Sad in some ways, yes. But I got pretty pissed off my freshman year when my biology teacher told me he was forced, by law, to teach the theory of evolution AS A FACT. It was leading nowhere good and was only pissing people off. Kids were being exposed to only half of the story and then shunned away from the other half. In order to legally hear about religion in schools, you must take a religion class or a history class that covers religion. Hah! But even english and social studies have to bring up evolution in their course loads. Come on now. And this is coming from someone who is not a Christiain, so don't get me confused with some overly-religious shaman out to get anyone who mentions evolution because I'm not.

At the same time, science is not a field that really has to be taught in this country anymore. Why? Because the jobs aren't there! We aren't developing shit anymore like we were in post-war America. This country has become a true consumer country with the only in-country jobs being down involving basic mathematics and hands on functions. That's fine with me, I'm going to school to be a doctor. But, realistically, the need for science to be taught in public school as vigorously as it once did just isn't there. As such, we will continute to see science decline in this country. Sad, yes. I prefer it not to be that way. However, it is what is happening and what is likely to continue happening.

But if you read it, you would see that the studie shows that insects account for 20% of methane emmisons. That's not horribly useless information.

Althought I admit studying cockaroach emmisions is a stretch.