3 ms·

I would argue it's a waste not because it's stupid, but because it's just extraordinarily trite: http://www.reddit.com/search?q=nuclear+waste+sun&restrict_sr=o

I would argue it's a waste not because it's stupid, but because it's just extraordinarily trite: http://www.reddit.com/search?q=nuclear+waste+sun&restrict_sr=off&sort=relevance&t=all http://www.reddit.com/search?q=nuclear+waste+sun&restrict_sr... ...variations include "why can't we put garbage in the sun", "why can we put nuclear waste in volcanoes", etc. It's a great question coming from a 6-year-old, but if an adult asks it, he's simply not the kind of person who will spend one second in critical thought, or in researching anything himself. So, yeah, not worth it.

phlakaton 12y ago
That is a ridiculous and insulting characterization of the audience and the answer. This is a question that I've actually wondered about on and off over the years, and whatever you think of me for not knowing the answer flat-out, or for never having cared deeply enough about the topic to actually research the answer myself, I did very much appreciate an answer that looked at the actual physics involved, and that led to interesting follow-up questions about orbital slingshots and alternate destinations. One of the college discussions I remember the most fondly was a night spent scribbling on napkins with physics majors over whether you got more wet if you walked more quickly through the rain, and why. Not all questions have to be earth-shakingly brilliant to yield interesting and intellectually stimulating discussions.
washadjeffmad 12y ago
You're right of course, we're free to determine how to spend our time. And you thought it worth yours to search for reddit discussions to post here to illustrate why you felt this topic not worth your time, perhaps as a lone beacon to guide future generations who might be tempted towards the folly of exploring questions which have answers you already know. Discussing good explanations for a topic, no matter how common, is not a waste for anyone who is interested, especially any curious people who might currently be lacking the tools to solve it themselves. I don't believe any of us comes fully equipped.

phlakaton 12y ago

That is a ridiculous and insulting characterization of the audience and the answer. This is a question that I've actually wondered about on and off over the years, and whatever you think of me for not knowing the answer flat-out, or for never having cared deeply enough about the topic to actually research the answer myself, I did very much appreciate an answer that looked at the actual physics involved, and that led to interesting follow-up questions about orbital slingshots and alternate destinations. One of the college discussions I remember the most fondly was a night spent scribbling on napkins with physics majors over whether you got more wet if you walked more quickly through the rain, and why. Not all questions have to be earth-shakingly brilliant to yield interesting and intellectually stimulating discussions.

washadjeffmad 12y ago

You're right of course, we're free to determine how to spend our time. And you thought it worth yours to search for reddit discussions to post here to illustrate why you felt this topic not worth your time, perhaps as a lone beacon to guide future generations who might be tempted towards the folly of exploring questions which have answers you already know. Discussing good explanations for a topic, no matter how common, is not a waste for anyone who is interested, especially any curious people who might currently be lacking the tools to solve it themselves. I don't believe any of us comes fully equipped.