Appalling purported Science/Astronomy journalism

ngcles · #1 20-01-2011, 01:49 AM

Hi All,

If this wasn't so seriously awful, you'd think it a joke. Make sure you have a handful of stematil on hand when you read it. Can't imagine Brad Carter is too impressed having his name associated with such drivel. They even managed to get a mention for 2012 in there.

http://www.news.com.au/technology/sc...-1225991009247

The comparison with Tatooine's "twin-suns" is mind-blowingly bad. Little wonder the level of scientific literacy among the general population is so poor considering they have to read this rot.

"Betelgeuse ... the second biggest star in the Universe". Gosh !

"Yet it's not just a figment of George Lucas's imagination - twin suns are real. And here's the big news - they could be coming to Earth." You're kidding right?

Will someone please take the "author" of this crapology out-back and hit her very hard (and repeatedly) over the back of the head with a cricket bat until she promises to stop.

Rant over ... for now! Really, quite cranky ...

Best,

Les D

renormalised (Carl) · #2 20-01-2011, 02:24 AM

Nothing new under the Sun, unfortunately, Les. Oh boy!!!!

Poor Ford Prefect. Looks like the cargo hold of that Vogon Starcruiser is going to be his permanent home!!!!

that_guy (Tony) · #3 20-01-2011, 02:49 AM

I facepalmed so hard I created a new sun....

Tandum (Robin) · #4 20-01-2011, 03:07 AM

Seems like a standard FOX report to me. You don't really expect reporters to understand what they are writing do ya?

Octane (Humayun) · #5 20-01-2011, 03:42 AM

1 part truth, 3 parts know-how. Stir, thoroughly.

H

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #6 20-01-2011, 08:06 AM

"The interwebs is being flooded with doomsday theories saying the impending supernova confirms the Mayan calendar’s prediction of the Armageddon in 2012."

She's off with the fairies this one.

mswhin63 (Malcolm) · #7 20-01-2011, 09:00 AM

I think the writer has done what she has intended, got people to read it and consequently look at the adverts. Her boss will be happy.

Thats how they get paid.

kitsuna (Adam) · #8 20-01-2011, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by that_guy

I facepalmed so hard I created a new sun....

Now there's a neat party trick.

Nortilus (Josh) · #9 20-01-2011, 12:03 PM

I dont know if i was amused or offended at the level of her stupidity...or obviously her boss said...do a story on this...while the science reporter was doing a story on something he/she knew nothing about.

Shano592 (Shane) · #10 20-01-2011, 12:15 PM

I was definitely offended, and wrote a big rant. Named a bunch of other stars bigger than Betelgeuse.

Wow, won't it be great next year when we have 2 suns?

I didn't think astronomers had catalogued all of the stars in the universe. I was sure that there was at least another 3 months' worth of work there...

wasyoungonce (Brendan) · #11 20-01-2011, 01:05 PM

Hey it was "News.com.au"... which is a trashy as they get.

Pity its not print media...at least you could use it to line the Budgie cave to catch the rest of the Cr&p".

Moon (James) · #12 20-01-2011, 02:16 PM

Les
Two wrongs don't make a right. Your comment about the cricket bat isn't too flash either.
James

ngcles · #13 20-01-2011, 03:02 PM

Hi James & All,

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moon

Les
Two wrongs don't make a right. Your comment about the cricket bat isn't too flash either.
James

You are perfectly correct that two wrongs do not make a right. I apologise to you if that comment caused you personally any offence.

However, the comment was intended as rhetoric (and thus far appears to have been interpreted by everyone else in that way) in the form of hyperbole.

Hyperbole –noun Rhetoric. Pron [hahy-pur-buh-lee]

1. obvious and intentional exaggeration.
2. an extravagant statement or figure of speech not intended to be taken literally, as “to wait an eternity.”

Basil Fawlty used it very occasionally ...

(Whoops ... I did it again !)

Best,

Les D

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #14 20-01-2011, 03:13 PM

and since when has Betelgeuse been in the Orion Nebula?

"The infamous red super-giant star in Orion’s nebula - Betelgeuse - . . ."

Moon (James) · #15 20-01-2011, 03:17 PM

Quote:

However, the comment was intended as rhetoric (and thus far appears to have been interpreted by everyone else in that way) in the form of hyperbole.

No worries Les, that was clear and I wasn't offended.

But you were having a go at her writing style (which was a fair call by the way). I just recon you could have done a better job with yours, that's all. Taken out of context, it doesn't look too good.
James

OzRob (Rob) · #16 20-01-2011, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjjnettie

"The interwebs is being flooded with doomsday theories saying the impending supernova confirms the Mayan calendar’s prediction of the Armageddon in 2012."

She's off with the fairies this one.

I thought that was due to a planet that none of us knows about that will collide with the Earth...or was it the rare alignment of the Earth, the Sun and the centre of the galaxy that would do it..mmmm, I'm confused now....lol

pgc hunter · #17 20-01-2011, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ngcles

Hi All,

If this wasn't so seriously awful, you'd think it a joke. Make sure you have a handful of stematil on hand when you read it. Can't imagine Brad Carter is too impressed having his name associated with such drivel. They even managed to get a mention for 2012 in there.

http://www.news.com.au/technology/sc...-1225991009247

The comparison with Tatooine's "twin-suns" is mind-blowingly bad. Little wonder the level of scientific literacy among the general population is so poor considering they have to read this rot.

"Betelgeuse ... the second biggest star in the Universe". Gosh !

"Yet it's not just a figment of George Lucas's imagination - twin suns are real. And here's the big news - they could be coming to Earth." You're kidding right?

Will someone please take the "author" of this crapology out-back and hit her very hard (and repeatedly) over the back of the head with a cricket bat until she promises to stop.

Rant over ... for now! Really, quite cranky ...

Best,

Les D

wow, the title already made me dry heave

I like this bit:

"The infamous red super-giant star in Orion’s nebula - Betelgeuse - is predicted to go gangbusters and the impending super-nova may reach Earth before 2012, and when it does, all of our wildest Star Wars dreams will come true."

And then we have idiots like this that somehow made it through the gene pool teaching at universities , apparently...

"When that happens, we'll get our second sun, according to Dr Brad Carter, Senior Lecturer of Physics at the University of Southern Queensland."

Is this supposed Physics Lecturer for real?

Can't help but laugh my head off and be disgusted at the same time

mswhin63 (Malcolm) · #18 20-01-2011, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pgc hunter

And then we have idiots like this that somehow made it through the gene pool teaching at universities , apparently...

"When that happens, we'll get our second sun, according to Dr Brad Carter, Senior Lecturer of Physics at the University of Southern Queensland."

Is this supposed Physics Lecturer for real?

Can't help but laugh my head off and be disgusted at the same time

More than likely as usual the media interpreted the information provided by the Prof and came to the wrong conclusion. Really it is the media that have done this. I wouldn't be judgemental to the lecturer until we get his side of the story.

OICURMT · #19 20-01-2011, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shano592

Wow, won't it be great next year when we have 2 suns?

w00t! more global warming!

mithrandir (Andrew) · #20 20-01-2011, 05:33 PM

It's managed to get an apology added at the bottom:

Quote:

Addendum: NEWS.com.au would like to apologise for their error - as we all know, Betelgeuse is the second biggest star in the Orion constellation, not the universe.

but a complete retraction would be better.

Of course it will be recorded for all time by the wayback machine.

Current comment count: 266