WACO residents think the moon is a light source

[Rye]

Link

Bill Nye, the harmless children's edu-tainer known as "The Science Guy," managed to offend a select group of adults in Waco, Texas at a presentation, when he suggested that the moon does not emit light, but instead reflects the light of the sun.

As even most elementary-school graduates know, the moon reflects the light of the sun but produces no light of its own.

But don't tell that to the good people of Waco, who were "visibly angered by what some perceived as irreverence," according to the Waco Tribune.

Nye was in town to participate in McLennan Community College's Distinguished Lecture Series. He gave two lectures on such unfunny and adult topics as global warming, Mars exploration, and energy consumption.

But nothing got people as riled as when he brought up Genesis 1:16, which reads: "God made two great lights -- the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars."

The lesser light, he pointed out, is not a light at all, but only a reflector.

At this point, several people in the audience stormed out in fury. One woman yelled "We believe in God!" and left with three children, thus ensuring that people across America would read about the incident and conclude that Waco is as nutty as they'd always suspected.

This story originally appeared in the Waco Tribune, but the newspaper has mysteriously pulled its story from the online version, presumably to avoid further embarassment.

http://www.wacotrib.com/news/content/ne ... llnye.html

Well, what can you say?

[Crossroads Inc.]

Wow...

So, the question is, did they think Bill was knocking the Bible? Or that they REALLY believe the moon gives off light.

I think the real thing to be embaressed here is that there are people who are SO senstive about DA HOLY BIBLE, that pointing out something that is so obviously wrong ((IE the moon gives of light)) actually offends these people.

The bible also says the wrold is flat, and that the Sun revolves around the Earth..

Any comments there?

[chitoryu12]

Where did the Bible say that the moon actually gives off light instead of reflecting it?

[Eris]

Where did the Bible say that the moon actually gives off light instead of reflecting it?

Genesis 1:16 as was quoted in the article maybe? That whole God separated the light into one greater and one lesser bit.

[General Zod]

Wow...

So, the question is, did they think Bill was knocking the Bible? Or that they REALLY believe the moon gives off light.

I think the real thing to be embaressed here is that there are people who are SO senstive about DA HOLY BIBLE, that pointing out something that is so obviously wrong ((IE the moon gives of light)) actually offends these people.

The bible also says the wrold is flat, and that the Sun revolves around the Earth..

Any comments there?

It sounds more like they were getting pissy over perceived slights against their sacred cow.

[Raw Shark]

The sad thing is that Nye probably whipped out The Bible reference in an attempt to connect with the audience on their own terms.

[OmegaGuy]

I saw this in a YTMND made years ago.

http://ytmnd.com/sites/profile/391307

Made in 04-2006

Old news

[J]

Actually, light as we know it is an illusion, only now are we beginning to unravel the true story.

[Superman]

Me thinks genetic diversity amongst the population of Waco must be quite slim...

[Superman]

Actually, the first thing that comes to mind is some coverall wearing yokel with a banjo.

"Hey ma! This here city feller with thuh fancy white coat is sayin' the moon ain't got no light!"

"No light? When will these city fellers learn?"

"I dunno but the last time some city feller came round here, he said we couldn't marry cuz you're mah ma."

"Didn't I tell you don't call me ma no more since we got hitched?"

[chitoryu12]

Was I the only one who read the thread title as "WHACKO"?

[Duckie]

Was I the only one who read the thread title as "WHACKO"?

Yes, the rest of us are literate.

=======

Amusing. Poor Bill was probably only trying to get the audience to understand how common the misconception is...

[Alyrium Denryle]

Wow... just..wow. But this what you get when your answers to questions about the universe are, for lack of a better term "canned"

I once had to convince a religious fundamentalist that stars are actually orders of magnitude larger than our planet and were a loooooong way away. Because he thought that, as per Revelation, stars would literally fall from the sky and bombard earth.

It took a bit of explaining for him to see how nutty that was...

[Molyneux]

Was I the only one who read the thread title as "WHACKO"?

Yes, the rest of us are literate.

=======

Amusing. Poor Bill was probably only trying to get the audience to understand how common the misconception is...

With that particular town...eh, same difference.

[Levy Leah]

You know, having lived just a stone's throw away from Waco my entire life, I can honestly say that I have never met the likes of these people mentioned in this article. Though I suppose it is possible that I simply have tuned out such nonsense over the years, I have never seen anyone in Waco, or for that matter anywhere, get so upset over such a trivial issue.

[Lonestar]

Me thinks genetic diversity amongst the population of Waco must be quite slim...

You laugh, but I once had the unfortunate experience of trying to drive around Waco, where many of the streets are one way. This in of itself is not a problem, but the city is not on a grid.

[ThatGuyFromThatPlace]

Waco, Texas

There's your problem.

Shit, us Texans don't even take Wacko, Tx. seriously. Those guys are fuckin' nuts.

[B5B7]

This reminds me of the old joke:
Teacher: Which is more important - the sun or the moon?
Small Boy: The moon, because it provides light at night when we really need it.

[Adrian Laguna]

Where did the Bible say that the moon actually gives off light instead of reflecting it?

Genesis 1:16 as was quoted in the article maybe? That whole God separated the light into one greater and one lesser bit.

You can always just say that distinguishing between "light" and "reflector" detracts from the poetry of it all, but maybe that's not literal enough for Bible thumpers.

[Flagg]

If'n the moon aint light, how come it floats?

[Sriad]

...

...well, if you wanted to meet them halfway, you could concede the moon is a light source in the far FAR infrared...

[Tanasinn]

...

...well, if you wanted to meet them halfway, you could concede the moon is a light source in the far FAR infrared...

I somehow doubt anyone as stupid as the people mentioned in this article have even heard of infrared light.

[jegs2]

As we all know, the moon is made of cheese, and the "landings" were staged.

[ThatGuyFromThatPlace]

...

...well, if you wanted to meet them halfway, you could concede the moon is a light source in the far FAR infrared...

Isn't it only lit up in IR because of energy absorbed from the sun though? IIRC the moon doesn't have a molten core and therefore does not radiate any energy it didn't pick up elsewhere.

[Molyneux]

...

...well, if you wanted to meet them halfway, you could concede the moon is a light source in the far FAR infrared...

Isn't it only lit up in IR because of energy absorbed from the sun though? IIRC the moon doesn't have a molten core and therefore does not radiate any energy it didn't pick up elsewhere.

The IR is being reemitted...but it is being emitted, not reflected.