7 ms·

It a shame this is happening. Surprisingly the new Space Force show on Netflix is remarkably topical. There's an episode where a political disagreement is encou

It a shame this is happening. Surprisingly the new Space Force show on Netflix is remarkably topical. There's an episode where a political disagreement is encountered between America and the PRC. The chief scientist at space force (whose character is basically "science good, military bad") argues that a simple conversation with the PRC science team should clear things up, because "science is a fraternity that knows no borders." It goes FUBAR when the PRC science team turn out to be just as political as their bureaucratic counterparts. Ideally science would be a borderless fraternity/sorority... I wonder how bureaucrats and politicians manage to override scientist's own values as such to indoctrinate them with patriotism?

stareatgoats 6y ago
Scientists are vulnerable to nationalist sentiments same as anyone else. “Of course the people don’t want war. But (...) all you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism, and exposing the country to greater danger.” — Herman Goering at the Nuremberg trials
ianai 6y ago
I think the frat/sorority days end when they walk across the stage for their degree if not sooner. Funding needs and publish or perish make people pretty dog eat dog. In my corporate experience the more technical and especially once people have phds they turn pretty toxic and less group oriented quickly.
catalogia 6y ago
I don't know much about America's "Space Force", but as I understand it NASA is forbidden by federal law from collaborating with the PRC, which is why the PRC cannot participate in the ISS.
dumb1224 6y ago
It's such a common theme that I see everywhere. I know the chinese population have been known notoriously nationalistic but having lived in Ireland in my early research years and it was just as bad (was the period when queen of Britain visiting Ireland)... I think it's to do with identity.

stareatgoats 6y ago

Scientists are vulnerable to nationalist sentiments same as anyone else. “Of course the people don’t want war. But (...) all you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism, and exposing the country to greater danger.” — Herman Goering at the Nuremberg trials

ianai 6y ago

I think the frat/sorority days end when they walk across the stage for their degree if not sooner. Funding needs and publish or perish make people pretty dog eat dog. In my corporate experience the more technical and especially once people have phds they turn pretty toxic and less group oriented quickly.

catalogia 6y ago

I don't know much about America's "Space Force", but as I understand it NASA is forbidden by federal law from collaborating with the PRC, which is why the PRC cannot participate in the ISS.

dumb1224 6y ago

It's such a common theme that I see everywhere. I know the chinese population have been known notoriously nationalistic but having lived in Ireland in my early research years and it was just as bad (was the period when queen of Britain visiting Ireland)... I think it's to do with identity.