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.
Science used to have more dignity.
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.
“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.
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.
Are you talking about the generic “NASA Geek” look? Which consists of a white dress shirt, solid black tie, pocket protector filled with pencils, pens and the mandatory slide rule, topped off with the black plastic “birth control” glasses? That’s just as bad, if not worse in it’s own way. Most geniuses are a litte weird and eccentric. I think this is a expression of that eccentricity. If that’s not your thing, fine. But no matter what he looks like, it’s hard to argue with success. I guess for me I don’t really care what you look like. My question is can you do the job and show results? And this guy gets it done.
CC
Maybe he tended bar while working his way through college.