a question - is there anybody out there (down here)?

fringe_dweller · #1 18-01-2006, 12:09 AM

Myself and some friends have for sooo long wondered about something to the point of distraction (or me anyway) - i wonder if anyone else has wondered this.
In my daily travels, as must many people, i see houses that live in or at fantastic vantage points for astronomy and nature photography - some cases in point-
for adelaide it would be the people that live with awesome views and vistas on the adders hills face, or along the beach in two story mansions (these even all seem to have brass telescopes proudly displayed in their front beachside window - hhmmmm) or live in the country - I know many people fortunate and/or hard working enough to do this of course
these houses at such locations must number in the thousands - multiply that by the number of people living in each house ect.
now to me it seems the majority of the photography and astronomy is done by ppl that dont live in such advantageuos locations - rather more like inner city/suburbs
has anyone else ever thought this was strange - i mean i would expect there to be many times the amount of images turning up, even on the net - and of a quality that would suggest these home locations (barring a lot of ppl who like me actually driving to good locations)
I am not saying there is none - but the sums just dont add up?
sorry but maybe i could be completely wrong of course
ie i can think of lots of local examples of the top of my head - for instance why i dont see a huge amount great aurora pics comin out of say somewhere heavily populated se of adders like Goolwa or anywhere down there? which would be seriously easy to achieve with the flat ocean views and dark southern skies..

janoskiss (Steve H) · #2 18-01-2006, 12:23 AM

Geez, Kearn, you're a non-skim-readabe poster!

But yes there are people everywhere. And most people are where many other people are, around lots of light pollution.

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #3 18-01-2006, 12:25 AM

Dedicated amateur astronomers need to live in the suburbs, to be near their jobs, that finance their hobby. By spending all their spare cash on new eyepieces, they cannot save enough money to afford buying these homes in ideal locations.
Those that do live in homes at these ideal locations are spending all their cash paying off said homes and cannot afford to take up a hobby like astronomy.
That's the way I see it.

RAJAH235 · #4 18-01-2006, 12:35 AM

Maybe they're just not into Astronomy. With a 'brass' t'scope, doesn't really sound like it, does it? aka 'Frasier'! Prob just look @ passing whales or ships, or too busy counting their money?

L.

fringe_dweller · #5 18-01-2006, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjjnettie

Dedicated amateur astronomers need to live in the suburbs, to be near their jobs, that finance their hobby. By spending all their spare cash on new eyepieces, they cannot save enough money to afford buying these homes in ideal locations.
Those that do live in homes at these ideal locations are spending all their cash paying off said homes and cannot afford to take up a hobby like astronomy.
That's the way I see it.

aha!! thats it - JJ! makes perfect sense to me now - i knew someone would know - Thanks!

fringe_dweller · #6 18-01-2006, 12:42 AM

Steve, that is also very true -
also a few people have said to me i should be a politician or at least write their speeches :p why say something in 2 words when you can say it in 200! ... beazly move over!

Rajah yes, but also could be white pointers in the bay as well maybe - (i often wondered how much that account for refractor sales in oz?

asimov (John) · #7 18-01-2006, 01:09 AM

Yes, a 500 or 600 buck brass telescope on display in the front beachside window is a necessity whilst paying off an expensive house.

janoskiss (Steve H) · #8 18-01-2006, 01:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fringe_dweller

Steve, that is also very true -
also a few people have said to me i should be a politician or at least write their speeches :p why say something in 2 words when you can say it in 200!

it was not the number of words i was commenting on - but the way you presented them -

- with no capitals or punctuation except for the occasional - which goes unnoticed - because of the unfamiliarity with that seemingly eccentric way of writing - but i could get the hang of it -

ving (David) · #9 18-01-2006, 09:31 AM

these peole are still a minority...the percentageof these people doing astronomy is proabaly the same as the rest of us but we number 1000% more.

fringe_dweller · #10 18-01-2006, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by janoskiss

but i could get the hang of it -

hehe - thats funny, i can understand it perfectly well?

-
see its a lot of fun and quick to not have to construct proper sentences that make sense - do you think it will catch on?

I - am - sorry - Steve -but i - didnt - realise - that - it - was - that - annoying ;-))))

fringe_dweller · #11 18-01-2006, 02:20 PM

Ving, John and all - i dont think i explained myself clearly ( my fault) in my original post. of course i realise the majority of the population live like us without wonderful views and vistas.
My (possibly strange) point is, that if you or I lived at such a location, and it was a matter of simply walking a few metres to your top floor balcony, or exclusive dark garden, whatever. And you could easily see these sights. (while eating your dinner or doing the washing up - you know in your face) - like sunsets, sunrises, major eyecatching events like the tight planet grouping last year for example. And possibly you are retired or/and have certainly sufficient funds for a lousy digital camera (they certainly seem to be able to afford brand new top of the range Toyota 4 wheel drive ect.) wouldnt you be much more likely to be inspired and inclined to grab a quick snap if it required very little effort to do so? I know i would - maybe i am just weird? so even tho they make up a small percentage of pop. the fact they can see this stuff so easy actually elevates their percentage beyond the real factual percentage - does this make any sense?

DRCORTEX (Lance) · #12 18-01-2006, 02:49 PM

I can understand the rich city dwellers - the majority probably spend there time paying for huge mortgages, or trying to entice others into one.

Country people with fantastic dark views, I'd say for the most part, simply couldn't afford a good scope - they are to busy trying to get out of the country, and into the same places that those people offering the huge mortgages are.

ciao.

Lance

Ziggy Stardust · #13 18-01-2006, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asimov

Yes, a 500 or 600 buck brass telescope on display in the front beachside window is a necessity whilst paying off an expensive house.

thats not a Brass Scope...!!!!!!!!!!!

This is a BRASS SCOPE!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://img44.imageshack.us/img44/365...fractor3fo.jpg
now this in your window makes a statement!!!!!

Tony

fringe_dweller · #14 18-01-2006, 03:02 PM

man that would make an awesome statement to the world in your window - I have arrived!

thanks for the laugh Tony

fringe_dweller · #15 18-01-2006, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRCORTEX

I can understand the rich city dwellers - the majority probably spend there time paying for huge mortgages, or trying to entice others into one.

Country people with fantastic dark views, I'd say for the most part, simply couldn't afford a good scope - they are to busy trying to get out of the country, and into the same places that those people offering the huge mortgages are.

Lance, a very sharp and funny observation, cheers for that!

rumples riot · #16 18-01-2006, 04:28 PM

Sorry, never thought about it and glad that there are not that many people into it.

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #17 18-01-2006, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRCORTEX

Country people with fantastic dark views, I'd say for the most part, simply couldn't afford a good scope - they are to busy trying to get out of the country, and into the same places that those people offering the huge mortgages are.

ciao.

Lance

What a load of rubbish Lance!!!!

Kearn, I know what you mean. In our town of 150 population and lovely dark skies there would be less than 6 telescopes! And I have 2 of them!!! I know who owns 3 of the others and there must be at least one more somewhere around here. People in general just aren't that interested as a hobby. Most like to have a look once or twice in their life and that will do them.

Boy, are they missing out!!!

Astroman (Andrew Wall) · #18 18-01-2006, 05:08 PM

I find it interesting that parents would buy their kids telescopes but they themselves arnt into astronomy, or have no interest. Would be interesting to know what percentage of parents actually do encourage their kids and keep encouraging them after the purchase.

DRCORTEX (Lance) · #19 18-01-2006, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ballaratdragons

What a load of rubbish Lance!!!!

Kearn, I know what you mean. In our town of 150 population and lovely dark skies there would be less than 6 telescopes! And I have 2 of them!!! I know who owns 3 of the others and there must be at least one more somewhere around here. People in general just aren't that interested as a hobby. Most like to have a look once or twice in their life and that will do them.

Boy, are they missing out!!!

Why is it rubbish ? You disagreed, but havn't put up an arguement

ciao

Lance

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #20 18-01-2006, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRCORTEX

You disagreed, but havn't put up an arguement

Neither did you! You made a statement, so did I.

I don't need to place an argument.

Number of population moving from Suburban & Inner City to Rural & Regional centres outnumbers the opposite!

And the majority are financially secure. Plus, property in Rural & Regional centres is 30% - 60% cheaper than City prices leaving lots more to spend on the trimmings!

Our little town (like most) is being invaded by city folk moving in. It has become such a trend they call it the 'Tree-change'.