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We're off topic a bit here (sorry Mike) but I reckon I've paid a few dues on this thread so ..
Hi Steffen;
Very interesting. I fully admit I learnt, and continue to learn, in the same way as you have. I don't believe my learning preference is necessarily the same as other folk, however.
There are definitely others who don't backtrack in an attempt try to understand why something doesn't make sense and this can lead to major flaws in understanding and ultimately, a complete disrespect for the rational thinking which (mainsteam) Science is really all about.
The education system should also cater for these types of folk and in my view, should be emphasising that there's always more to learn (hence for example, my dumping in terms like 'Baryonic', and lensing concepts .. as a leader for those to research further). This maybe what's happening in the background behind this question and, as other folk have pointed out, the real investigation is probably not 'darkness' at all … perhaps its more about how to do research.
The problem I have though is that the question will ultimately portray Science as shonky and full of 'made up' stories. Its a bit like the creationist journalist questions put to Richard Dawkins about Evolution. A view of mainstream Science being shonky may result if they don't understand yet, what the scientific process/philosophical basis is all about, (and I do doubt they understand this at this educational stage). Its a bit like the creationist journalist questions put to Richard Dawkins about Evolution.
If the teacher understood the basis of scientific principles, the nature of the question would have demonstrated some form of moderation. I see no evidence of this by focusing on dark matter. As a matter of fact, I rarely see any form of moderation of this nature coming from either the Dept of Education, (via the curriculum), or primary school teachers.
Good conversation. Thank you for your views … I really do respect them and its good to have more comments about it all (sorry Mike .. perhaps a separate thread in General Chat ??).
Ultimately, there's no one answer for all this.
Cheers and Regards.
PS: I really like Bert's explanation of DM and lensing too !! Good one, Bert !
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