Zimok: You would have been better off using Asimov as an example.
He basically got the entire field of mechatronics and robotics started, and was used as a consultant for numerous companies during the 70s and 80s that were attempting to develop automated and/or intelligent systems.
All this while still lecturing in Chemistry fields.
He also did all this starting from a basic education in the public school system.
Which is why taking science out of curriculum is fucked... It means we're not going to have any good SF writers!
At the same time, you need to concede the papjohn has a point.
Most people haven't heard of Sagan, and would probably have trouble telling you who Newton was.
These same people watch The Big Bang Theory and Frasier.
I simply have an affinity for Sagan's writings, I read around 10 of his books and I'm still looking forward to reading the rest of them when I get a chance.
There's plenty of examples I could of chose, maybe you have a fondness for Asimov because he grasped and shook your mind as a child. Science fiction is great, but I just can't bring myself to read it. I always have this feeling like I'm wasting my time, wandering in someone else's imagination when I have my own.
Nothing brings me more joy then laying in bed with a Sagan book and all of a sudden things come together, and you're jolted with thoughts which you comprehend but you almost can't believe they're real. You just wait, your mind bringing you every which way, connecting thoughts, feeling the universe within your mind.
The impossible odds, our origins, our struggle and survival. The realization that life on Earth is just that, life on Earth. It holds no special bearing in the universe, it's an odd little miracle, but not any of the kind religion likes to make you believe. At any moment, a solar flare, a blast of cosmic radiation, a catastrophic impact, the perfect virus, an ice age or several supervolcanos could sweep our precious little layer of life into oblivion.
The realization that 99.99~% of all life that ever existed is extinct, what other creatures of intelligence would of eventually arose, possibly superior to our own?
The realization that the sun, our mother, our life bringer, will eventually expand and consume the Earth, will we have moved to another solar system by then?
Everything ends, even the universe.
Wow, ok. Miscommunication there. I'll +rep you when I can. Yeah I understand where you're coming from though, my apologies. I was going on personal attitude and such from colleagues more than anything.
Thanks! I'll get you back tomorrow, we're all good.
edit: read this again, got a little carried away hahaha. Oh well, sue me.
