# Neil Armstrong death: Surprised at size of reaction? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 26, 2012, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-armstrong-death-surprised-at-size-of-reaction/632729 "2012-08-26T16:49:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2012, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-armstrong-death-surprised-at-size-of-reaction/632729/21 "2012-08-26T19:55:22Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > And since the man strongly shunned the trappings of celebrity cult, it is not surprising if there are no screaming crowds rending their garments and **pouring Tang on their hair in the middle of Main Street**. . I laughed and cried a bit with that one. I think a Tang Vodka chaser may have become an annual tradition with me from now on. ---
**Author:** ![Sudden\_Kestrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@Sudden\_Kestrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sudden_Kestrel)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2012, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-armstrong-death-surprised-at-size-of-reaction/632729/22 "2012-08-26T20:15:42Z")
The reaction is about as I would have expected it to be. Reports of his death and reaction to it were widespread across serious news sources and science, technology and space sites. I’ve seen appropriate (and quite touching) expressions of grief, as opposed to the customary melodramatic howling and rending of garments that accompany the death of a pop star or a movie idol. If you believe Armstrong is receiving inadequate attention, you might be looking in the wrong places. ETA: Honest, the garment rending just floated into my subconscious from _somewhere_ (see\*\* JRDelirious’\*\* post). ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2012, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-armstrong-death-surprised-at-size-of-reaction/632729/23 "2012-08-26T20:49:45Z")
> [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](#): > > There are thousands of people that are sad today because Neil Armstrong died just days after losing his Tour de France titles. Never discount the blatant idiocy of people. I have heard this joke a thousand times. I have yet to see an actual example. I’m sure you can come up with one but they seem to be rather hugely outnumbered. ---
**Author:** ![PSXer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/48db29/32.png) [@PSXer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PSXer)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2012, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-armstrong-death-surprised-at-size-of-reaction/632729/24 "2012-08-26T20:52:20Z")
Disappointing but not unexpected Damn kids these days don’t care about great American heroes ---
**Author:** ![Pitchmeister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pitchmeister/32/3459_2.png) [@Pitchmeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pitchmeister)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2012, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-armstrong-death-surprised-at-size-of-reaction/632729/25 "2012-08-26T21:02:24Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > If someone older than 4 years old didn’t know who Neil Armstrong was, I’d think they were living on the moon or something. Well, if they lived on the moon, and are older than 43 years, you would certainly expect them to know… ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2012, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-armstrong-death-surprised-at-size-of-reaction/632729/26 "2012-08-26T21:06:53Z")
> [@Simple\_Linctus](#): > > I am amazed how limited the reaction to Armstrong’s death has been. I really expected something much bigger. Huh? It’s been top of the front page of the news websites here. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2012, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-armstrong-death-surprised-at-size-of-reaction/632729/27 "2012-08-26T21:16:49Z")
> [@Simple\_Linctus](#): > > It’s not like finding out who Perry Como was (something I only discovered the other week). He landed on the fucking moon! Perry Como went to the moon? Wow! The Luner Crooner! ---
**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreasyJack)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2012, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-armstrong-death-surprised-at-size-of-reaction/632729/28 "2012-08-26T23:20:37Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > Perry Como went to the moon? Wow! The Luner Crooner! Yep, NASA couldn’t refuse him when he crooned his demands: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nzzs32RTEgg](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nzzs32RTEgg) ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2012, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-armstrong-death-surprised-at-size-of-reaction/632729/29 "2012-08-26T23:39:08Z")
Well, since NBC first reported that Neil Young had died… > **[NBC Reports ‘Neil Young’ Dead](https://www.thedailybeast.com/nbc-reports-neil-young-dead)** > > Instead of Neil Armstrong. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2012, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-armstrong-death-surprised-at-size-of-reaction/632729/30 "2012-08-26T23:41:55Z")
Diana Krall played Fly Me To The Moon last night at the Hollywood Bowl, saying she had the good fortune to meet Armstrong and share a glass of wine with him. ---
**Author:** ![Indian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@Indian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indian)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2012, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-armstrong-death-surprised-at-size-of-reaction/632729/31 "2012-08-27T00:38:23Z")
Armstrong did the first moonwalk. But MJ was the best moonwalker ever. ---
**Author:** ![Laggard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de053/32.png) [@Laggard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laggard)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2012, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-armstrong-death-surprised-at-size-of-reaction/632729/32 "2012-08-27T00:42:14Z")
He had the misfortune of dying in the midst of tropical storm that threatens parts of the U.S. Not that he would care. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2012, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-armstrong-death-surprised-at-size-of-reaction/632729/33 "2012-08-27T00:43:03Z")
My family and I just arrived home from a birthday party, and I was able to point my 9 yo son to the half-moon hanging in the sky. I got him to focus on the the dark patch, told him that is the Sea of Tranquility, and the first human to ever set foot on the moon, did so right in _there_ — and that very first footprint on _another world_ is still as fresh as the day he made it over 40 years ago. And that man just died yesterday, but that first footprint, which remains as clear as your boot print in fresh snow… the first one mankind can _literally_ point to as our first step beyond our own planet… will be there for as long as the moon will be. Then I just watched him stare silently at the moon, like he was looking at it for the first time. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2012, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-armstrong-death-surprised-at-size-of-reaction/632729/34 "2012-08-27T00:47:53Z")
My parents tell me that my first word wasn’t mom or dad or kitty…it was “moon!” (with pointing to said thing as well). I guess I am Neil’s long lost reincarnated relative that didn’t make the big time… ☹ ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2012, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-armstrong-death-surprised-at-size-of-reaction/632729/35 "2012-08-27T01:07:05Z")
> [@Szlater](#): > > During an English lesson with a class of 10-11 year olds recently, I asked them if the knew the name of the astronauts involved in Apollo 11. Most put up their hands. Well, I’m impressed. I only know two of the three. The reaction to his death was about exactly what I expected it to be. It seems neither overblown nor under-reported. Just right. ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2012, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-armstrong-death-surprised-at-size-of-reaction/632729/36 "2012-08-27T04:46:30Z")
> [@Szlater](#): > > During an English lesson with a class of 10-11 year olds recently, I asked them if the knew the name of the astronauts involved in Apollo 11. Most put up their hands. > > I was impressed, as their knowledge of recent history is quite weak (to be fair they don’t really study recent history a great deal in primary school except for the units on Britain post-1945 and the Second World War). Not that I’m doubting you, but seriously? They knew Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong, and Michael Collins? I teach graduate students and even among my Ph.D. holding colleagues, I doubt that more than a handful would know all three. Armstrong is a slam dunk, and Aldrin is quite famous… but Michael Collins? No-one would figure him out. Or did they just need to name one? Armstrong was heralded as a humble hero, and his actions post-Apollo 11 certainly demonstrate that. He didn’t do a huge press junket, left NASA, taught at Purdue, and was pretty reclusive. I saw the recent interview he did on - was it 60 Minutes? I think that was his first interview in decades. He shunned the spotlight and didn’t fly again. So think the response was expected. It was covered by all the major media outlets, and the president issued a statement. That seems right and appropriate for an American hero. Not much value added if Snooki is tweeting how much it sucks that you’re gone, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2012, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-armstrong-death-surprised-at-size-of-reaction/632729/37 "2012-08-27T05:24:03Z")
I’m very surprised. I’m travelling today, checked into my hotel room and have had CNN on for the past 2 hours, and Armstrong’s death wasn’t even mentioned. They’re focusing on the election, they just ran a lengthy interview with Romney, and have had some stories of storm Isaac. No mention of Armstrong’s death. Damned CNN. I learned about it here on SDMB! ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2012, 10:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-armstrong-death-surprised-at-size-of-reaction/632729/38 "2012-08-27T10:04:24Z")
Of the twelve men to walk on the moon, eight are still walking on the earth: 1. Neil Armstrong: August 5, 1930 - August 25, 2012 2. Buzz Aldrin: January 20, 1930 - 3. Pete Conrad: June 2, 1930 - July 8, 1999 4. Alan Bean: March 15, 1932 - 5. Alan Shepard: November 18, 1923 - July 21, 1998 6. Edgar Mitchell: September 17, 1930 - 7. David Scott: June 6, 1932 - 8. James Irwin: March 17, 1930 - August 8, 1991 9. John Young: September 24, 1930 - 10. Charles Duke: October 3, 1935 - 11. Eugene Cernan: March 14, 1934 - 12. Harrison Schmitt: July 3, 1935 - (I also posted this on [Celebrity Death Poll 2012 in The Game Room](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=15427984#post15427984)) ---
**Author:** ![Bozuit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/edb3f5/32.png) [@Bozuit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bozuit)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2012, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-armstrong-death-surprised-at-size-of-reaction/632729/39 "2012-08-27T10:13:44Z")
It’s been a bad week for this guy hasn’t it? First he loses all his Tour de France titles, now he’s dead. What next? ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2012, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-armstrong-death-surprised-at-size-of-reaction/632729/40 "2012-08-27T10:21:12Z")
Yeah, that’s a rough week. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-armstrong-death-surprised-at-size-of-reaction/632729.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-armstrong-death-surprised-at-size-of-reaction/632729.md?page=3)