Ok, I'll add my own 5 cents worth (anyone have 3 cents change?)...
For the last 9 years of my working life I have had astronomy included in my job. It has either been the main role of my job or as an extra that I have willingly done. Working in the tourism industry has allowed me to do this and to observe people and their reactions to the subject of astronomy in general.
My first comment is that the vast majority of the population (western style population as a clarification) simply do not look up anymore. So even if these people have a house with an awesome view, how can mozzies and little smudges of faint light compete with Australian Idol on the idiot box?
Added to this is the mentality that I have come across all to often and originally mentioned by Ziggy.
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Ziggy Stardust
.... but ask her to see the grace in a spiral galaxy and she say..."uhhmmm ok, what you smoking out there again... where is it.... oh you mean that little smudge!!!
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I used to show people the Sombreo or NGC 5128 and all I got was a
yeah.....and??? People expect Hubble quality images through a 4.5" TASCO and it simply ain't gonna happen!! When I was studying tourism, one of my lecturers said all people really want to see are "the big sexy animals" - kangaroos, dingoes, koalas etc. - show them an endangered cricket the size of your thumb with delicate markings and again "so what who cares".
The axiom "familiarity breeds contempt" is quite close to the mark in this case. "Familiarity breeds ambivalence" would be more apt and I can vouch for this personally. How many of you have seen Ayers Rock? If so, were you impressed? One can hardly fail to be impressed but when I lived out there, after 3 weeks I would barely glance at it. So those people who live in small communities, whether you were born in the bush or have had a "tree-change" (love that expression!) then you see stunning skies on a very regular basis. The number of people who have come up to me at the planetarium and stated that they have the "dark country skies at home" are numerous...but they still insist they can
"see Scorpio all the time but you did not mention it"
"That's because it is below the horizon"
"But I can see it all the time"
You get the idea.
So we have the fact that people have other things to occupy their minds at night (TV, internet
, movies etc.). Some can't see the beauty and some have it front of them all the time that it simply does not sink in. There is one more thing. An abiding interest.
That's what we have but not all share this interest and I will admit to not seeing the "thing" that attracts many people to other areas. I have a good friend who is nuts on geology. A rock is a rock is a rock to me.
Given all these factors I am not suprised that there are people who live in ideal situations yet fail to take advantage.
Peter.