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In reply to the discussion: How would somebody trick you into narrating a film that says the sun travels around the earth? [View all]brooklynite
(95,016 posts)24. Lawrence Krauss: I Have No Idea How I Ended Up in That Stupid Geocentrism Documentary
Slate:
A month or so ago, and again last night, my email, Facebook, and Twitter accounts began to buzz about clips of me appearing in some purported new documentary film promoting wait for it geocentrism! The notion that anyone in the 21st century could take seriously the notion that the sun orbits the Earth, or that the Earth is the center of the universe, is almost unbelievable. I say almost, because one of the trials and tribulations of being a scientist with some element of popular celebrity is that I get bombarded regularly by all sorts of claims, and have become painfully aware that ideas as old as the notion that the Earth is flat never seem to die out completely.
Nevertheless, even after being inured to such things, I was surprised to learn of the premise of the film, until I learned that its producer also apparently questions the Holocaust. It is tempting to say that both claims are obscene nonsense, but I believe that does a disservice to the word nonsense.
So, the question I had to face after discovering this abuse of my words was what to do about it. I have no recollection of being interviewed for such a film, and of course had I known of its premise I would have refused. So, either the producers used clips of me that were in the public domain, or they bought them from other production companies that I may have given some rights to distribute my interviews to, or they may have interviewed me under false pretenses, in which case I probably signed some release. I simply dont know.
Many people have suggested I litigate. But this approach seems to me to be completely wrong because it would elevate the profile of something that shouldnt even rise to the level of popular discussion. The best thing we can all do when faced by nonsense like that, or equivalent silliness promoted by biblical fundamentalists who claim that science supports a literal interpretation of the Bible, is to ignore it in public forums, and not shine any light on the authors of this trash. As far as this particular film is concerned, one might hope that it has high production value that cost the producers a lot of money. Then, when no one beyond the three people in the country who may somehow have missed the last 500 years of science and history during their education watches the film, we can hope that the whole misbegotten enterprise will bankrupt the production company, or at least severely cramp its style.
A month or so ago, and again last night, my email, Facebook, and Twitter accounts began to buzz about clips of me appearing in some purported new documentary film promoting wait for it geocentrism! The notion that anyone in the 21st century could take seriously the notion that the sun orbits the Earth, or that the Earth is the center of the universe, is almost unbelievable. I say almost, because one of the trials and tribulations of being a scientist with some element of popular celebrity is that I get bombarded regularly by all sorts of claims, and have become painfully aware that ideas as old as the notion that the Earth is flat never seem to die out completely.
Nevertheless, even after being inured to such things, I was surprised to learn of the premise of the film, until I learned that its producer also apparently questions the Holocaust. It is tempting to say that both claims are obscene nonsense, but I believe that does a disservice to the word nonsense.
So, the question I had to face after discovering this abuse of my words was what to do about it. I have no recollection of being interviewed for such a film, and of course had I known of its premise I would have refused. So, either the producers used clips of me that were in the public domain, or they bought them from other production companies that I may have given some rights to distribute my interviews to, or they may have interviewed me under false pretenses, in which case I probably signed some release. I simply dont know.
Many people have suggested I litigate. But this approach seems to me to be completely wrong because it would elevate the profile of something that shouldnt even rise to the level of popular discussion. The best thing we can all do when faced by nonsense like that, or equivalent silliness promoted by biblical fundamentalists who claim that science supports a literal interpretation of the Bible, is to ignore it in public forums, and not shine any light on the authors of this trash. As far as this particular film is concerned, one might hope that it has high production value that cost the producers a lot of money. Then, when no one beyond the three people in the country who may somehow have missed the last 500 years of science and history during their education watches the film, we can hope that the whole misbegotten enterprise will bankrupt the production company, or at least severely cramp its style.
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How would somebody trick you into narrating a film that says the sun travels around the earth? [View all]
OmahaBlueDog
Apr 2014
OP
Enormous checks are responsible for lots of otherwise unexplainable actions...
OmahaBlueDog
Apr 2014
#2
Clearly people are way to focused on science and not focused enough on Benghazi
OmahaBlueDog
Apr 2014
#11
I remember like 25 years ago, Jacqueline Bissett claimed similarly trickery in a lowbrow teen comedy
OmahaBlueDog
Apr 2014
#14
What's odd to me is that her publicist had not heard anything about this project before yesterday
Starry Messenger
Apr 2014
#16
Lawrence Krauss: I Have No Idea How I Ended Up in That Stupid Geocentrism Documentary
brooklynite
Apr 2014
#24
Hey, that sort of thing just happens when you forget to reverse the flux capacitors.
winter is coming
Apr 2014
#28
for 1 million dollars I would say it with a straight face. - 5 million I would say it and believe it
Douglas Carpenter
Apr 2014
#39
This. She may have only been told that this was a "science documentary".
backscatter712
Apr 2014
#60