Date: Jun 22, 2012 3:01 PM
Author: Big Dog
Subject: Re: Here's two reasons why Time dilation may not possible

On Jun 22, 1:44 pm, Tom Roberts <tjroberts...@sbcglobal.net> wrote:

>
> Good question. Koobee is not alone in this.... I do not know what it is about
> relativity that attracts so many kooks and idiots, compared to, say, quantum or
> solid-state physics.
>

Oh, this ain't hard to figure out. There's a mystique about Einstein
-- not from physicists but from popular press -- that smells like
glory to wannabes. Also, there aren't any names that people with grade-
school education will know associated with solid-state or quantum
physics -- and they certainly won't know exactly what their
contributions were. Also, special relativity doesn't require the math
background that quantum physics or solid-state physics does and so
wannabes are not immediately discouraged. Also, there's the FALSE
impression that relativity rests on gedankens and other "just thinking
about it" exercises for its validity, which appeals to armchair
philosophers with wannabe dreams of being a physicist. Also, there are
more efforts to make relativity accessible to the untrained than there
are for quantum physics or solid-state physics, and so you're looking
at low-hanging fruit-feeders. Also, quantum mechanics and solid-state
physics have more ordinary applications than relativity, and so there
isn't really any chance to question their validity. Also, ordinary
Joes aren't under the immediate impression that quantum or solid-state
physics have basic ideas that counter-intuitive, and so there is less
tendency to be reactionary against them like there is for relativity.