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If you want to be remembered in history, it’s much easier to be a mediocre sports athlete than to be the best scientist who actually helps humanity. We are a ri

If you want to be remembered in history, it’s much easier to be a mediocre sports athlete than to be the best scientist who actually helps humanity. We are a ridiculously stupid species

Vt71fcAqt7 4y ago
>We are a ridiculously stupid species Can you explain what you mean by this?
- zethus 4y ago
  Not the OP of the comment, but seemingly a common point of view that the most noble (and in some cases only valid?) pursuit of the human species is science/technology. I do find it interesting of the comparison between "mediocre sports athlete" and "best scientist" from the lens of aid to humanity. One could make an equally valid argument that a mediocre sports athlete brings more immediate utility to people in terms of entertainment, inspired hope, economic spend. In short, value is relative. Being a mediocre professional athlete is still a tremendous achievement. If your goal is to be remembered, you must appeal to the masses. Doesn't mean our species is stupid, it just means we are social.
  - sixQuarks 4y ago
    No, the point of my comment was that most humans appreciate and remember the guy who doesn’t give two shits about them, would rather spend their money on bling and mansions, while the scientist who actually helps humanity tremendously is not even noticed.
    - toombowoombo 4y ago
      Do all scientists create with the goal of helping humanity tho? I get the impression that knowledge for the sake of knowledge can be common too and that the practical applications can be a convenient, but unintended side-effect.
seydor 4y ago
Not true really; name an athlete from the 1400s.
- leoc 4y ago
  I can name a pro athlete from the 1100s and 1200s, at least: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Marshal,_1st_Earl_of_Pembroke https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Marshal,_1st_Earl_of_P... ! Not disputing your point though.
sonofaragorn 4y ago
it's even easier to do somethign atrocious like being a serial killer
bumby 4y ago
Or maybe what's stupid is to set a goal to be remembered in history in the first place :)
- Arrath 4y ago
  Agreed. I'm not too concerned with being remembered by history or not, I am content in having chosen to do good with my time here.
asdff 4y ago
Who you are remembered by is the context. A lot of people like keeping up with sports so thats why they know this trivia. OTOH scientists in field X will know of all the seminal work in their field. You can make a big impact in the field and be totally unknown outside of it, most scientists probably prefer it that way.

If you want to be remembered in history, it’s much easier to be a mediocre sports athlete than to be the best scientist who actually helps humanity. We are a ridiculously stupid species

Vt71fcAqt7 4y ago

>We are a ridiculously stupid species Can you explain what you mean by this?

zethus 4y ago
Not the OP of the comment, but seemingly a common point of view that the most noble (and in some cases only valid?) pursuit of the human species is science/technology. I do find it interesting of the comparison between "mediocre sports athlete" and "best scientist" from the lens of aid to humanity. One could make an equally valid argument that a mediocre sports athlete brings more immediate utility to people in terms of entertainment, inspired hope, economic spend. In short, value is relative. Being a mediocre professional athlete is still a tremendous achievement. If your goal is to be remembered, you must appeal to the masses. Doesn't mean our species is stupid, it just means we are social.
- sixQuarks 4y ago
  No, the point of my comment was that most humans appreciate and remember the guy who doesn’t give two shits about them, would rather spend their money on bling and mansions, while the scientist who actually helps humanity tremendously is not even noticed.
  - toombowoombo 4y ago
    Do all scientists create with the goal of helping humanity tho? I get the impression that knowledge for the sake of knowledge can be common too and that the practical applications can be a convenient, but unintended side-effect.

seydor 4y ago

Not true really; name an athlete from the 1400s.

leoc 4y ago
I can name a pro athlete from the 1100s and 1200s, at least: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Marshal,_1st_Earl_of_Pembroke https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Marshal,_1st_Earl_of_P... ! Not disputing your point though.

sonofaragorn 4y ago

it's even easier to do somethign atrocious like being a serial killer

bumby 4y ago

Or maybe what's stupid is to set a goal to be remembered in history in the first place :)

Arrath 4y ago
Agreed. I'm not too concerned with being remembered by history or not, I am content in having chosen to do good with my time here.

asdff 4y ago

Who you are remembered by is the context. A lot of people like keeping up with sports so thats why they know this trivia. OTOH scientists in field X will know of all the seminal work in their field. You can make a big impact in the field and be totally unknown outside of it, most scientists probably prefer it that way.