Stupid comments and uninformed questions. - Page 6

bmitchell82 (Brendan) · #**101** 21-10-2011, 06:17 PM

As a astro photographer i always get asked. so you stay up at night to take photos?... eerrmmm no i take pictures of space at midday..?

and the other one i really like is.

" So you take photos of stuff in space do you use a camera? "

They all make me laugh so its sometimes easier just to show pictures of what you use to take photos then show the photos

makes for a easier transition as most people cannot fathom the reaches of space!

tilbrook@rbe.ne (Justin Tilbrook) · #**102** 21-10-2011, 10:14 PM

Hi,

When I turned 50 and officially becoming a "Grumpy Old Man" I have less patience for stupid questions / jokes, and tend to bite back quickly.

It's usually fairly obvious when someones there just to be a clever dick.!
I like people coming for a look, but keep it one on one or a small family group. They generally contact me, so I get a chance to ask a few questions before they come.
This helps weed out the time wasters.
I don't do public nights any more, had some bad experiences.

Justin

rainwatcher (Peter) · #**103** 17-01-2012, 03:39 PM

I have done several nights for scouts over the years, of all ages, and i can tell you they can be a tough audience, lots of probing questions (once you get over the Uranus one) no pun intended. Enjoyed it. I like kids that want to learn and are inquisitive.

smithcorp (Brian) · #**104** 12-09-2012, 09:46 AM

Sorry to re-animate an old thread, but my mother-in-law reminded me the other day that she had gone out to see the blue moon in August but was disappointed not to be able to see the colour.

Baddad (Marty) · #**105** 12-09-2012, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ric

A good one that I get from time to time is "how far can you see with this scope?"

My answer is that I can see back in time with it which usually leaves them scratching their heads for a while over that one.

I'm rather glad to read this thread again. I chose to quote Ric's post because I consider that quite clever. Nice one Ric.

Cheers

Rob P · #**106** 12-09-2012, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by casstony

. We get the same regarding computers; I do the mechanical alterations ('cos everyone knows girls can't do that stuff) and the wife does all the software, but all computer related questions come to me only to be redirected to my wife.

Regarding the poll, I can tolerate everything except the inane Uranus jokes

. Bottom jokes should be finished by about age 8 I reckon.

Bottom jokes are timeless and cross many cultural boundaries. Feed your inner 8 year old

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2008/0...29052420080731

brian nordstrom (As avatar) · #**107** 12-09-2012, 08:26 PM

Gotta love it aye ? .
The uneducated , shining thru again .
Poles dont lie , just ask any politician

..
This is a cool result , shows the inteligence avaliable here at Ice in Space .

.and cool .

.
Brian.

Nico13 (Ken) · #**108** 12-09-2012, 09:32 PM

This would have to be the best thread, thanks jjj.

The moon landing conspracy would be the one that annoys me the rest I have a bit of fun with.

My most recent was the transit of Venus and when telling a former work mate "Engineer" that I was going to watch the transit and if he wanted he could come round for a look.
He asked what time and when told around midday would be fine he replied "Oh can you see that in the day time".

Not only did this happen once but twice with a second person also well educated. I had to stop myself from LOL

while I explained.
Well meaning questions but funny.

Loved the lost luggage, Saturn will never look the same any more when I look at through the scope I'll have trouble not LOL

Had lots more funny questions all meant well and completely innocent but you just gotta laugh at some of them and try not to offend as it kills the interest.

Thanks again jjj this has made a great read and a good laugh.

alocky (Andrew lockwood) · #**109** 12-09-2012, 09:57 PM

One of my favourites - and it's more bizzarre than stupid, was 'If Jupiter exploded, would it affect us?'. I have no idea where that came from.

On a more positive note, what are some of the best questions? My personal favourite, from a kid who would have been about 10 on a Perth Observatory tour after I'd explained that the reddish hue of Mars was largely due to iron oxide - 'how can the iron have rusted when there's no oxygen in the Martian atmosphere?' Even more amazingly, he didn't want to ask the question out loud because he didn't want to sound stupid in front of the tour group, and his mum dragged him back to ask me in private.

ourkind (Carlos) · #**110** 13-09-2012, 05:57 AM

I constantly get "how do they know what the sun is made up of if they've never been there?!?!"

But I always get a laugh when I show someone images of the sun and due to the filter the background is black and they ask "Did you take that photo at night???"

hotspur (Chris) · #**111** 13-09-2012, 08:05 AM

Some great reading,love the lost baggage from airports around the world make the rings of Saturn,if you told people at an astro night that,in a serious tone-they would believe you!

Not sure about astrology bashing though-I'm not into that,sure the newsagent thing is annoying,but I've taken a different view point to astrology-sure I do not believe it,but had a few astrology chicks come out to observatory and had a wonderful observing night,they were all Fiona Horne look a likes,smelt better than the usual cigar smoking astronomers that visit here,they bought absinthe-very nice! The only 'fly-in the ontiment' that night was my wife kept making regular visits into observatory-not sure why she has never been in there before

I usually do not do astro presentations to the public,its just too annoying-all those dumb questions,and beliefs the general public have.

Its a credit to those here that regularly do that kind of thing,and put up with such rubbish.

Baddad (Marty) · #**112** 13-09-2012, 09:11 AM

Hi All,

This has been a real eye-opener for me. I was aware that some people are a bit thick but not that thick. Its a shock to hear that so many people are so unaware of the environs. To know so little about their surrounds presents the reason that creationists are so successful.

That question/answer re: "How do you know that?" "Because I'm psychic!"

Love it. A pearler.
So, to improve your credibility at public viewings, we all become psychics.

Cheers

Varangian (John) · #**113** 13-09-2012, 09:20 AM

I play AFL as well so I am around blokey blokes a bit, I just get called super geek a lot, I take it as a compliment. There is nothing more pure in life than pointing your scope at the stars at a dark site.

Jen · #**114** 13-09-2012, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Varangian

I play AFL as well so I am around blokey blokes a bit, I just get called super geek a lot, I take it as a compliment. There is nothing more pure in life than pointing your scope at the stars at a dark site.

really an AFL player amongst us woohooo who do u play for

Varangian (John) · #**115** 13-09-2012, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jen

really an AFL player amongst us woohooo who do u play for

Ha ha no not any more. I played for the Sydney Swans for a while.

Jen · #**116** 13-09-2012, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Varangian

Ha ha no not any more. I played for the Sydney Swans for a while.

Awww bugger my dad is a huge swan fan

Varangian (John) · #**117** 13-09-2012, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jen

Awww bugger my dad is a huge swan fan

Sorry to disappoint. I actually meant that I play AFL (as in the code now) but I did also play AFL (the league) a fair while back now, anyway you're more famous than me, you're making the papers

Jen · #**118** 13-09-2012, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Varangian

Sorry to disappoint. I actually meant that I play AFL (as in the code now) but I did also play AFL (the league) a fair while back now, anyway you're more famous than me, you're making the papers

Haha

Varangian (John) · #**119** 21-09-2012, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alocky

One of my favourites - and it's more bizzarre than stupid, was 'If Jupiter exploded, would it affect us?'. I have no idea where that came from.

On a more positive note, what are some of the best questions? My personal favourite, from a kid who would have been about 10 on a Perth Observatory tour after I'd explained that the reddish hue of Mars was largely due to iron oxide - 'how can the iron have rusted when there's no oxygen in the Martian atmosphere?' Even more amazingly, he didn't want to ask the question out loud because he didn't want to sound stupid in front of the tour group, and his mum dragged him back to ask me in private.

Would it though? Honest question. I'm assuming the answer is possibly? The first issue is how could Jupiter blow up, but if it did... Jupiter keeps the asteroid belt from straying towards the inner planets, if there is no more Jupiter is there potential for the belt to become unstable?

GeoffW1 (Geoff) · #**120** 21-09-2012, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alocky

One of my favourites - and it's more bizzarre than stupid, was 'If Jupiter exploded, would it affect us?'. I have no idea where that came from.

The book and film, 2010 - Odyssey Two