So far, I am not a fan of this Jorn Hurum…
So…
Meet the Missing Link (or at least the latest claim to the throne). What makes this one different, however is how we are apparently going to be bludgeoned over the head with it’s purported significance. Now, there’s a reason why the NYTimes covered this under their ‘Media’ section and it’s because of the (upsetting) bit described below:
“the event, which will coincide with the publishing of a peer-reviewed article about the find, is the first stop in a coordinated, branded media event, orchestrated by the scientists and the History Channel, including a film detailing the secretive two-year study of the fossil, a book release, an exclusive arrangement with ABC News and an elaborate Web site. “Any pop band is doing the same thing,” said Jorn H. Hurum, a scientist at the University of Oslo who acquired the fossil and assembled the team of scientists that studied it. “Any athlete is doing the same thing. We have to start thinking the same way in science.”
Now, I disagree. Because I believe it is the lack of superficial zeal that makes (some) people still have respect for science. Science is careful and steady. Media is glib and fast. The History Channel has been running mysterious promos equating with this discovery to the Apollo landing, the JFK assassination and well, just about every other damn thing ever. Witness that brilliance:
As much as I love the bit about throwing the lie of creation in people’s faces (which is what I think it was doing?), this is really just degrading Science for ratings’ gain, diluting the credibility Science usually has in contrast to slick, worthless entertainment. Should I really be upset about this? The majority of the History Channel’s programs are an embarrassment anyway (half on Nostradamus, half on Ancient Aliens), but I truly hope it is not the case that Science should “start thinking the same way” as entertainment. Cable news (News, in general) is shameful enough. Please at least let us keep science.
On the flip side, maybe this will help shift some of those “No Opinion Either Way” replies (disgusting) to the right side. Even if this doesn’t turn out to be the Missing Link.
Hint: It’s not.
