Posted on 11/14/2014 4:46:14 PM PST by smokingfrog
Matt Taylor, who's a great scientist and seems to also be a pretty cool dude, gave a teary, heartfelt apology for his choice of attire on the day of Rosetta's probe landing.
"I made a big mistake, and I offended many people," Taylor said at Friday's media briefing, his voice trembling, "and I'm very sorry about this."
With that, the briefing moved onto the science (as it should -- Philae's days are numbered, and we want to find out as much as we can from the little probe that could). Taylor seemed to have trouble speaking for a few minutes, but perked up by the end. Many praised his apology on Twitter, and whether or not he was aware of that response, it seemed to have taken a weight off his shoulders.
Because none of the people calling out Taylor's attire wanted him blacklisted from science, or punished, or to run into a corner and cry. The coolest people in the world (like the ones who land probes on comets) should also be held to the highest standards -- they're the ones that the children of the world are watching for cues.
And for young women in the world, a shirt covered in hyper-sexualized women does not send a good message, conscious or otherwise.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
I have to say, I worked in PhD level R&D for over a decade. I NEVER saw anyone wearing something like this. Ever.
Then again, I worked in corporate. Where we had a dress code. And were apparently higher class individuals.
This is a Saturday go to the farmers market shirt. Or a bowling shirt. Or a ‘hey, let’s go get a beer’ shirt. Clearly not an ‘announce to the world a discovery’.
Look at old pictures of the generation that put us on the moon and their work clothes. Compare and contrast and see how far we’ve fallen, culturally, since then.
A PhD astrophysics grunt working for NASA in the 1950’s and 1960’s wouldn’t have to be TOLD that this was inappropriate for work. And there were close to zero women in those jobs back then to be offended if he did so.
His apology notwithstanding, I wonder at the maturity of a grown man who would wear such a thing work. Unless he worked tending bar. A seedy bar.
“But what is that crap all over his arms?”
I grew up seeing livestock being tattooed. I don’t understand humans wanting to inject ink into their skin.
Looks really stupid in my opinion.
Any Spell Checkers?
Merely could have apologized for the shirt, expressing that he meant no harm and stating how he understood how it might be seen as offensive, without making a complete fool of himself. Next question.
Science used to have more dignity.
‘*’ used to have more dignity.
What was the first question?
I’m telling you right now the powers that be would hate my hawaiian shirt collection, especially the ones with native women carrying stuff on their heads.
CC
Oh, it’s tacky...no doubt about it. But look at at the culture we live in. Women wear their pajamas in public, and men go around looking like oversized versions of Charlie Brown (a Freeper once said that; I wish I could remember the name and give her proper credit).
Sloppiness aside, the fact that men appreciate female attributes is offensive to (some) women. Any evidence of such behavior must be met with outrage, and the offender beaten into submission. I don’t understand it, and I don’t have much patience with it.
Are they wearing...uh...coconuts?
“Look at old pictures of the generation that put us on the moon...”
Scientists who can smoke cigarettes and pipes like adults don’t mind dressing conservatively. And, anyway, slide rules clash with Hawaiian-type shirts.
The shirt was designed by a woman who is friends with Taylor.
I think the shirt is awesome. I reminds me of classic Science Fiction and Fantasy illustrations as well as those Mid-Modern pin-up illustrations.
Men aren’t allowed to comment on what women wear because doing so is considered sexist.
So why is it OK for women to comment on what men wear?
What a crock. I cannot say that I have ever felt "unwelcome" in science. I haven't ever counted the PhD scientist women where I work, but I think there are as many of us as there are PhD scientist men.
Who was that guy who was drummed out of some Ivy League school for pointing out that (many) women do not have the temperament for science? And then liberal women bent over backwards whining and generally proving that his statement was right? If there aren't "enough" women in science, one must look at the women--there are no male "gatekeepers" keeping us out!
Okay. I'll get off the soapbox and point out that that shirt *is* incredibly tacky.
That was me in high school. Minus the gloves.
I still dress pretty much the same way.
Hah! Just when I figured I was an official old fart I found one.
Brother we are living in the dark ages. This guy was a real kid when the mission was launched.
I’ve been watching the science channel all day.
Anyone who says there aren’t any women in science is an idiot.
My Dad has a really cool shirt with pictures of 60’s Chevelle’s, GTO’s, Cuda’s and other Muscle Cars all over it.
I guess some Global Warming Alarmist’s would be offended by it.
The realization will come later. And then he’ll be another ex-lefty mugged by the reality of being a flak-catcher.
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