• glitchdx@lemmy.world
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    9 hours ago

    bill nye is not a scientist, and he never claimed to be one. He is a science communicator, a role he has done well for some time.

    Same with Neil DeGrasse Tyson.

    • Twoafros@sh.itjust.works
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      2 hours ago

      Neil DeGrasse Tyson has a Phd in astrophysics and he has published a lot of papers. He is a scientist and a science communicator. Neil DeGrasse Tyson and Bill Nye are not the same.

    • merc@sh.itjust.works
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      5 hours ago

      Not the same with Neil DeGrasse Tyson.

      I’m not his biggest fan, but I fully respect his scientific credentials. He has a PhD from Columbia. He published at least a dozen papers. There’s no question that he’s a scientist, a manager of scientists, as well as a science communicator.

      The problem is that his success seems to have destroyed his humility. It’s not that he brags about being so incredibly smart. It’s more that he doesn’t ever seem to sit back and say “hey, maybe this isn’t something where my contributions won’t be appreciated”. I think his science communication is doing more good than harm. I think he’s a great role model for little black boys who think all scientists are white, or that they’re all stuffy nerds with no personality. But, I think he’s at his best when he’s in a show where there’s a script and an editor. On social media and on free-form podcasts, he comes off as a know-it-all ass.

      • P00ptart@lemmy.world
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        4 hours ago

        He is a know-it-all ass. He’s a self-important dickhead. But I appreciate his role in getting young black kids seeing a role model that they can relate to. That’s far more important than his ego.

        • merc@sh.itjust.works
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          2 hours ago

          Ha! It makes it sound like you’re saying that young black kids are self-important dickheads and that’s why he’s a good role model.

          But, yeah, I know what you’re trying to say. Despite his social media presence, the image that kids generally see is a very positive one. He’s a somewhat stylish (in his own way) guy, who clearly has personality, and is a very accomplished scientist. I just cringe any time he comments on something not related to astrophysics.

          • P00ptart@lemmy.world
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            1 hour ago

            Exactly. He doesn’t need to ruin movies. We know that movies are for entertainment, it doesn’t need to be dissected as fact. And we certainly don’t need someone taking our escapism away from us. Let us have this, dude. We need this right now, including from the time he became prominent. He killed Pluto, which I guess is fine because it was accurate, but he didn’t need to shove himself into movies and try to ruin our very-much-needed escapism. It’s egotistical, and insulting, as if we don’t know that it’s a movie.

      • pixeltree@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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        9 hours ago

        Sure but watching him on nova when I was a kid is a big reason I got so into science and engineering so I don’t really care

      • MonkeMischief@lemmy.today
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        8 hours ago

        Unfortunately same with Bill Nye. He seemed so pissed at getting recognized by people at a Symposium.

        Like geeze dude sorry you inspired people as kids and encouraged them to pursue science and they’re excited to meet you.

      • S0ck@lemmy.world
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        9 hours ago

        It’s a downside of being educated and fascinated by what you’ve learned.

      • LustyArgonian@lemmy.world
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        9 hours ago

        Neil regularly gets osmosis wrong and thinks it/distilled water can “suck minerals” from your body, something I was taught repeatedly in basic A&P, biology, and chemistry, that isnt true bc osmosis is the movement of water, not solutes.

        • NιƙƙιDιɱҽʂ@lemmy.world
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          3 hours ago

          Well, considering that’s not astrophysics, I can’t say I’m surprised. Not trying to defend the guy; he can be confidently wrong and a dick at times and should be more aware of what he doesn’t know. On the other hand, I’ve never heard anyone say anything bad about Bill.

        • Doxatek@mander.xyz
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          6 hours ago

          Neil regularly says super dumb shit lol I don’t subscribe to him but I see random clips of him talking sometimes and not getting things right