We Stopped Dreaming (Neil deGrasse Tyson)

[KichigaiNeko]

You know, I actually have heard arguments from NdGT that specifically posit how we can make the "for profit" argument work in favor of space exploration that does not entail making NASA become the customer of our future in space. Would anyone be interested in me posting it? It's LONG, though, like...an hour and a half long, but it's Neil Tyson so it feels more like 5 minutes and you keep wanting more, so...

DO IT!

Personally don't have time atm. But dooooo IIIIIIIIIIIIIIiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiittt!

[StuW]

Can we swap your Tyson for our Brian Cox? Everytime cox comes on tv here I just want to fall asleep.

[Rahul]

We Stopped Dreaming (Episode 2) - A New Perspective

[orogenicman]

Powerful stuff. Thanks.

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Some of us have never stopped dreaming:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYfok1f4Ju4

[Faith No More]

Can we swap your Tyson for our Brian Cox? Everytime cox comes on tv here I just want to fall asleep.

I agree Cox can be a little drab, but I still love watching his shows for the enthusiasm he has for science.

[Creed of Heresy]

The major thing here is, space is our only way of getting past our issues. To get to space there is so much we have to attain to get there. I fear until we destory "profit" mindset and focus on knowledge and progress we will not improve our situation and our world.

It's not so much about destroying a profit-centric mindset, as it is destroying a short-term mindset, because, let's face it, space is all profit after a while: not is there additional real estate and resources to capitalize on, how much technology initially developed for space travel ended up having commercial applications in the end?

All we need to do is get the business world to stop thinking in terms of the profit that's coming in the next week, month, year or what have you. It's all out there. Waiting.

EXACTLY. Virtually every last modern hi-tech device owes its existence to the space race and to NASA.

Here, I'm gonna post that video I was talking about in its own separate thread because it deserves its own thread. Tyson's passion and drive and absolute furor would put the most fire-and-brimstone preacher to shame, only he's far more eloquent and his message is so much more hopeful, meaningful, promising, and attainable.

[ManMachine]

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How is it people don't see Nationalist propaganda when they see it?

The reason NASA don't have money is not because anyone has 'stopped dreaming' but because the money is being spent better elsewhere on scientific endeavours that do more than prop up a national ego for a decode or so.

MM

[Rahul]

How is it people don't see Nationalist propaganda when they see it?

The reason NASA don't have money is not because anyone has 'stopped dreaming' but because the money is being spent better elsewhere on scientific endeavours that do more than prop up a national ego for a decode or so.

MM

Wow, you just totally missed the entire point.

When NASA put men on the moon it wasn't just seen as a victory for the US. It was seen as a victory for all of humanity. For the first time in the history of our species we all looked back at Earth and felt a kinship among all of humanity like never before.

It inspired people. It made kids want to go into the sciences. It propelled an entire generation of people all over the planet to reach for the stars by going in the STEM fields. Those people developed most of the technology in all fields we have today.

Now kids just want to text friends on their cell phones and go to social media sites because the original drive for going to the moon and beyond disappeared.

Because we stopped reaching for the stars with human based space exploration the number of people going into the STEM fields is dropping precipitiously.

Trying rewatching again.

[ManMachine]

When NASA put men on the moon it wasn't just seen as a victory for the US. It was seen as a victory for all of humanity.

Remind me, is this a scientific fact or nationalistic hyperbole?

I get the point entirely and I see the damage it can do (and is doing). I personally think this is exactly the kind of egotistical nonsense that will undermine genuine, disinterested scientific discovery.


MM

[Rahul]

Remind me, is this a scientific fact or nationalistic hyperbole?

I get the point entirely and I see the damage it can do (and is doing). I personally think this is exactly the kind of egotistical nonsense that will undermine genuine, disinterested scientific discovery.

Former Soviet space official on US moon landing:

SAGDEEV: I think, as many other Soviets, we had mixed feelings. There was some sadness to know that we were not anymore space leaders. But I think at the same time I think overwhelming feeling that Armstrong and all the steps down on the moon surface was on behalf of all of us too. On behalf of all the humankind.

http://www.theworld.org/2009/07/former-s...n-landing/

Although I missed the televised landing and it was years before I saw the footage of the actual landing, I was deeply moved by the rejoicing of people around the world who viewed the accomplishment not so much as an American feat but as a giant step for humanity. "They" felt part of the "we" who put the men on the moon and all identified with the astronauts as human beings.July 20, 1996 was a day on which the world took a giant leap toward unity.

http://www.wherewereyou.com/frames/intl.html

The "success of America" is a "success for every living man" asserted the Swahili-language Ngurumo of Dar as Salaam.

http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/17...2539216923

The flight of Apollo 11 met with an ecstatic reaction around the globe, as everyone shared in the success of the astronauts. The front pages of newspapers everywhere suggested how strong the enthusiasm was. NASA estimated that because of nearly worldwide radio and television coverage, more than half the population of the planet was aware of the events of Apollo 11.

http://blog.nasm.si.edu/history/apollo-1...the-world/