Re: How do I convince my son's teachers that the US landed men on the Moon?
- From: "gwlucca" <gwlucca@xxxxxxxxx>
- Date: 13 Feb 2006 13:53:42 -0800
The analogy with the Shackleton expedition is good, but I fear my son's
two "doubting Thomas" teachers would sidetrack us by asking for
evidence to prove that Shackleton and his crew ever made their
expedition. We'll try to keep it focused on the Moon with simple
science and pictures.
How do these things get started, and why do they persist? One could
probably write a book on that! My current thinking is that there are
several types of personalities that promote these "conspiracy" or
"hoax" stories. A few type-players
(1) Pranksters. They are laughing up their sleeves at anyone foolish
enough to fall for their "evidence". Their primary motivation is
self-amusement.
(2) Shysters. (E.g. some film "documentary" producers.) They are
laughing on their way to the bank. Their primary motiviation is
self-enrichment.
(3) Manipulators. They are using this as a way to discredit the US, or
the space program, or all of science, or whatever they dislike or
mistrust. Their primary motivation is political.
(4) Gullible. Some will believe anything they are told, or anything
they are told not to believe. Many of these people also think that TV
all-star wrestling is for real. Logical arguments are generally wasted
on these types.
(5) Uneducated. These people respond well to common-sense arguments and
may even have the patience and intelligence to understand scientific
explanations.
I want to thank everyone who has helped by giving good arguments for
Type 5 persons. My son was in this category for this subject, but has
graduated to Type 6 Informed. Thanks!
As for my son's two teachers, I am tentatively classifying one as
mostly Type 5 (with a little Type 4 mixed in) and the other as a rather
nasty pure Type 3.
.
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