This weekend I was at a friend’s party; large outdoor event, good food, good drink, plus a trebuchet with a 20 foot arm in the back yard. All in all a great time was had by all.
However, I found myself in a discussion with about a dozen people, and the topic of strange beliefs came up. Thinking I was using an example that no educated, intelligent person would disagree with, I said, “Well, there are still people who don’t think that we landed men on the moon.” Two young teachers, both grad students and otherwise seemingly bright people, expressed doubts as to whether we had actually landed on the moon. I was floored. I pushed a little bit, and they both came down not in the denier camp, but rather argued that it is just as likely that the Apollo program was a hoax as that it actually happened. And yes, in the interest of good manners and being a good guest, I dropped it there.
What could I, or should I, have done differently (in the name of fighting ignorance, of course)? Have you faced examples of such invincible ignorance yourself? Why do I feel like I let Cecil down?
In order to be polite but still argue, you might have suggested they look it up on line at badastronomer.com to see how the various arguments for the hoax hypothesis have been debunked. Otherwise you did the right thing.
You should have asked them where they bought the sharpe Nike’s and how the “at-home castration” scar is healing. And why they weren’t wearing the tin-foil hats. (it in the handbook, people!! MUST BE WORN AT ALL TIMES!!)
Overheard at the Shakespeare production:
MAN: What the hell did he just say?
WIFE: He shouldn’t take “No” for an answer.
MAN: Why the hell didn’t he just say that then!
WIFE: Its “Artsy-Fartsy”.
MAN: Its “Fartsy”.
That silly documentary was aired on UK terrestrial TV last night and as usual brought out the usual rash of people who kid themselves that they are being objective and critical when in fact they have just been spoon-fed an unsupportable minority view.
It’s self-fulfilling prophecy all the way: anyone who scrutinises the crumblingly poor evidence put forward by the deniers is labelled as part of the clique or merely brainwashed.
