That I can see, but not Ancient History. Even speculative ancient history (e.g., why is there water erosion on the Sphinx?) is not a part of most Ancient History curricula.

The definition of "overreaction" now includes the above post as an example.

This reminds me of the /. post a few days ago about those who are ignorant of science and proud to be so. This is how I think some of them might perceive this situation:

Last week, a Normal would have been told by Those Who Do Science that a neutrino has no mass, and that is the end of the matter. A non-physicist has nothing to contribute to the discussion. Persistent disagreement amounts to sheer ignorance, so keep quiet.

But now, it would appear that either neutrinos have mass or the Standard Model is wrong. Science has revealed its own ignorance. Everyone who was wrong last week is right this week. But the message to the Normals remains the same: it doesn't matter that we were wrong last week; eventually, We Who Do Science get it right. You still have nothing to say. Keep quiet.

The Normals perceive the above and conclude that it's hypocrisy. Hence, they can ignore science and be proud that they are smart enough to avoid hypocritical know-it-all's.

BTW: Yes, this is post if Offtopic, but it's not Flamebait or Troll. I'm not agreeing with this POV; I'm passing on my perception of it. And how else can one discuss the interrelationship between topics without being regarded as Offtopic in regards to one post or the another?

I wish I had an answer of how to fix the above problem. Eliminating arrogant PhD's would be helpful, but that would leave all of the arrogant Normals -- and the rest of us aren't free from shocking amounts of arrogance at times, either. We could use another Sagan to highlight that math+science is a process that anyone can join in on once the ground-rules are mastered. However, it would me imperative that the next spokesperson not be hostile to religion -- the Normals are hypersensitive to this issue, and getting in their face about the matter only increases the alienation. [Not saying that Sagan was hostile to religion -- just saying then next spokesperson cannot be.]

Every employee at FB ought to read that post.

No, I haven't RTFA, but there's plenty of evidence from the field (as it were) that those who are trained to think scientifically do not do so when their prestige (or even their chance of obtaining tenure) is on the line.

This is exactly what will happen (up to isomorphism, of course).

In ancient Mayan sewers, the team comes face-to-face with the ghosts of Mayan Roto-Rooter men!

Ironic, true, but still a load of crap...

Does it pass the Turing Test?

Great response.

Just use the transporter?

I thought we agreed not to tell the non-techies about this!!

No freaking kidding. In 7th grade, I came to the conclusion that I had been sentenced to a 6 year prison sentence for no reason, because there was no way for me to either graduate early or, as a compromise, finish the 'general education' courses quickly so I could specialize. So, I "rebelled" by wasting my time.

What a mistake.

Lovelock stated that, once the planet had been saved, it would be time for a good spanking. "Yes," he declared, "we must all have a good spanking!"

Lovelock later apologized and said that once he started fantasizing, he found it hard to stop.

Dressed as zombies, of course. That will help gamers' reputations with the ladies.

I can't think of anything that will do more to reinforce the stereotype that gamers are a bunch of pathetic losers than their efforts to "raise awareness" to this issue by dressing up as zombies and "marching" in "protest".

If the general response to their efforts is "Get a life", they will have deserved it.