[Varangian (John)]

Good post Robert.

Originally Posted by madbadgalaxyman

Anecdote 1 :
Years ago, I was stationed in Darwin, and founded the Darwin Astronomy Group. We had set up a couple of 'scopes right in front of the cinema, for a public star party:

I was very happy because I had got this British girl's keen interest, seemingly both in astronomy and in me!!

However, after I had spoken for a while about astronomy, she exclaimed, rather dismissively:

"You're just like Patrick Moore!"

Anecdote 2:

Unfortunately, astronomers can sometimes have an image problem. I know that a friend of mine (male gender), who is very presentable in looks and who has an affable and urbane manner in a 'publicly acceptable way', used to set up his telescope regularly along a well-frequented street in Darwin. For the most part, despite the many females that turned up to look through his telescope, he never 'got the girl'.

Anecdote 3:
Just try telling a prospective romantic partner : "I do science for a hobby, and most of my hobbies are scientific"
This is probably the worst thing you can say in this situation!!
If I had said "I am a bi-sexual punk poet who dances naked in a vat of baked beans", instead of saying that I do science, I would have had greater success with the girls!
_______________________________

Madbadgalaxyman's comment of the day (seriously now):
Much of human behaviour depends on mere 'stimulus and response'/
In this, we are not so different from other animals.
Those who get on with other people, or who 'get the girl' or 'get the boy', have simply learned to provide the appropriate stimuli in a social situation. People with scientific hobbies, or who are very learned, find it difficult to do this.