5mo ago

Quick Chat

62 comments

... You know what? I've got time. Do you want some tea or coffee?
- Legitimately would invite them to chill with me on the porch. I'm not inviting them in though
  Vampires ain't gonna trick me a third time.
  
  Is that why you're on the third transporter room? Just beam them out from where you are. Reclaim your space!
  
  It's not like vampires can drink each other's blood, right?
  (You can trust me…)

We should do that. lol
- Do we have to stop at science?
  I'm totally down to welcome in strangers who want to talk history or philosophy, too. Roving bands of people, seeking shelter by paying with their special interests.
  
  Terry Pratchett kinda did this in one of his discworld sub-series.
  There were teachers that would roam from town to town teaching for small amounts of money, or eggs, or carrots, or whatever. It was like tinkers only with information.
  
  Just go hang out in the student union or in the mall of your nearest state university. You'll find plenty of people eager to talk about all sorts of topics.
  
  This sounds somewhat like the end of Fahrenheit 451.
- There’s a couple of science-based social groups (usually ‘skeptics’ is in the name, a la Skeptics Society) where I live (SLC) so might be a very good place to start recruiting ‘sales’ people in your own areas…

I don't let anyone in my house but I would gladly setup a few chairs, picnic umbrella, folding table and a tray if frosty beverages on the front lawn. Why the front? Maybe some neighbors will join in and we can have a science block party with music, balloons, and Mr. Wizard/Bill Nye style physics demonstrations.
- Can I be your neighbor?
- Cool idea in theory, will be immediatly overrun with people trying to discuss phrenology in reality
- I have this notion that one day it would be nice to be neighborly enough to just put out a sign that says “fresh coffee”, “brunch”, “Beer on tap” or whatever as a signal that people should drop by for a chat.
  But I’m not really in my neighborhood’s demographic. It’s an older neighborhood, and the only folks close to my age seem like extreme introverts.
  
  You know how some people are really into.putting up flags? Some hang pride flags, others political flags or country flags, etc. I say you should hang a flag of your favorite hobby (assuming PG rated). Into D&D? Hang a D&D flag. Maybe one of those introverts will be curious enough to say "nice flag", and you take it from there.

"Hunny! The nerds are here, break out the nice silverware!"

As a former Jehovah's Witnesses turned atheist, you all have fun, but I'm not spending my Saturday knocking on doors anymore.
- I'm genuinely curious about how the average interaction went, given that you weren't immediately turned away.
  
  I'll second what QuantumSparkles said. Mostly uninterested or feign interest so you go away. Rarely actual anger. People have an inherent politeness that kicks in here.
  Not that someone inside could say it, but you tend to hope that people won't come to the door. Lots of doorbells either don't work or you can't hear them from the outside, so you learn tricks to pretend to press it.
  
  I was raised that way and got out in my late 20’s (way too long). 7/10 doors nobody answers, most of the people who do either say “no thank you” or “thanks but I have my own religion”, a fair amount of the time you’ll get someone who feigns interest and takes the material just so you’ll leave and they don’t have to feel impolite (it’s not impolite to say no). Sometimes you’ll get someone legit interested. Sometimes you’ll get someone who a n g e r y
- That's fair
- Good on you. Thank you for seeing reason. That was objectively awful.

Shit motherfucker, you had me at abiogenesis.
Come on in

"Thank you, but we follow Martian facts here, we aren't interested in your Venusian ways."

This sounds fascinating. I would totally invite them in.
It also reminds me of a horror story I read that had been written before heavier-than-air flight became possible, but seemed within reach. The story had been written just a few years before the Wright brothers success at Kitty Hawk.
The author imagined ferocious jellyfish-like creatures that lived in the upper atmosphere, and kept themselves aloft with gas-filled bodies. Interesting idea.

"Let's talk about Klingons around Uranus."
-- herp-a-derp
- Q: what was spock looking for in kirk's toilet?
- Astronomers renamed Uranus in 2620 to end that stupid joke once and for all.
  
  You can put the new name up Urectum.

I'd tell them there is almost no water on venus, that it's like thousands of times dryer than the sahara. Until they have a scientific explanation for an alternative biology that is not water based and can survive in air, it's far more likely phosphine is created by some abiotic process.
I do find it funny because this whole hysteria about life on venus is so silly. There is no reason to assume phosphine is being created by a completely alien, non water based biology. But they want to believe and/or sell clicks.

This would be my ideal dating app idea.
Meaning approaching me and starting this conversation. So much better than the current online apps ive tried.

Where do I sign up?

If there's a way to make buckets of money and secure obscene amounts of power by going door to door and talking about phosphene, then I guarantee you someone will do it.

Been saying this for years. I’m supposed to be fine when someone wakes me up on a Saturday morning to shove Jesus up my orifice, or sends my preschooler home from school with bible pamphlets, but if I did that to them with atheism, they’d riot.
And yet somehow they’re being persecuted. Fuck them.
- knock knock Excuse me, Do you have a minute to talk about NASA's Psyche mission and the possible impacts of its success?

I would tell them to leave because any unsolicited person at my door is a complete stranger and potential threat
I don't let strangers in my home

This is why we keep chairs on the front porch. Sometimes, it's worth the weather to have a nice chat

Phosphine is one thing but also ammonia. And considering the climate on venus' surface, that's one important find.
Also, these trace amounts of either are only found in the twilight/night side of venus. They seem to 'burn off' on the day side.

I think I’d still be annoyed.
- Is there a net positive for sects to still do this?
  
  Yeah, but it's not what you think. The door to door proselytizing is for them, not for you. They get turned down, yelled at, doors slammed in their face, it makes them turn to their partner (they never do it alone) and the church more, because it's meant to be isolating.

Serial killers everywhere taking note at the excitement levels in this thread.

That depends, do they have the reference material to back it up, or are they just quoting the headlines?

I do this to my boss and I think it annoys him as well.
I share something cool I observed in the lab "So how does this relate to the project goals?" "It doesn't! I just thought it was cool and wanted to share."

Why yes, come in

The other day at a family gathering, I found myself explaining CRISPR in tones normally reserved for religious fervor.
Excuse me. Do you have time to hear about the good word of our Lady and Savior, Jennifer Doudna?

Though I'd love to talk with them about science, that phosphene thing has been thoroughly debunked

Science says there are multiple realities. Can science please take me to this one?

Science or NASA clickbait?

They should knock to Bill O'Riley and show him how tides work.

If they don't know its probably silicone based, due to Venus' chemistry and temperature, I'm slamming the door.
- I thought all the silicone life we knew about was in California.
  
  I mean California is a lot like Venus

Honestly I could imagine that in a slowed down world

It could never work. Cause dudes like me would be constantly hitting on cute science chick's that are smarter than me. Like you're telling me a quirky woman in love with the ja billion possibilities of space may knock on my door with the consistencies of jehovas witnesses'??? Yeah right but also... please?

62 comments