Comments on: Sex(hausted)? Curiosity About Whether ‘Being Sexy Sells Science’

By: Leona Wysinger

Leona Wysinger — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 13:05:22 +0000

I think this will make Twilight even more popular. Why? Because I will never ever ever ever see the movies because they seem so freakin stupid will all the barechested gay men running everywhere. I MIGHT pick up and read one of the novels someday….(probably not). But I will definitely read the graphic novel. 100% chance. So I think the series has a chance to pick up new fans like me that were just waiting for the right medium to experience it in. The art so far looks really good. So I have a positive feeling towards the book.

By: make more money online

make more money online — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 17:25:42 +0000

The world is so small sometimes. I just read a feature about Henrietta Lacks a couple of weekends ago, and this is such an interesting question: her cells werent discarded, they were removed, presumably with her permission (a large presumption in the circumstances and perhaps false). Maybe this is the fine print were always urged to read I wonder if now there is some clause by which we sign away our rights to our cellular property. Its eventual uses for science is one thing, but its eventual value in a commercial sense is another, and Lackss family should have the benefit of at least some kind of royalty. That they havent received a dime of this fortune is absolutely reprehensible, a gross negligence and dereliction of the medical industrys (and it is a whopping great industry) duty of care.

By: Badger

Badger — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 15:49:03 +0000

I think the sexy aspect is kind of a red herring at this point. But I understand why you posted what you did. I guess I’m just on about something that I think is relevant. Sorry for derailing.

What I mean is that no matter how sexy the messenger, if the message doesn’t grab the audience, all they’ll get is “nice norks”. Adam Savage, for instance, not the sexiest dude around. But, he transfixes due to his ability to communicate his passion AND the information. I don’t even think about his norks.

Using sexy to sell science is putting the cart before the horse, in my opinion. If we want to accomplish anything, we need to be able to communicate with nonscience/tech people way more effectively than we do. I think that we each need to look at ourselves (and I mean in the mirror, you, me, that guy over there, the lurker, everyone) and honestly evaluate how we are coming across. Videotape ourselves, whatever.

And we need to critically think about how we each as individuals can communicate better.

Ok, I’m starting to ramble. Maybe I should gather my thoughts and see if they can be posted as a separate blog post here!

I love this place!

By: Podblack

Podblack — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 15:31:18 +0000

Oh, yes, Badger! But because it is such a larger issue, I focused on only one aspect, and that was the response of the email I got. :) I would write more, but as you can see – it goes for about three pages in just addressing this one part.

By: Badger

Badger — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 14:30:38 +0000

I think the issue is bigger than “Does Sex Sell Science”. That is only part of the “Marketing Campaign” if you will.

http://www.dontbesuchascientist.com/

talks about how, in general, scientists and intellectuals find it difficult to get their messages across. I think that the comments and perspectives are relevant, whether or not boobies are involved.

Learning to communicate what you have to say in a form that other people can easily understand is what we all should aim for.

By: Arthwollipot

Arthwollipot — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 11:39:02 +0000

Unfortunately, I think that any scientific message that is sold by sex, given that most of the time they are being targeted at the 48% of men who like sexual ads, may be overwhelmeed by the “BOOBIES!!!” effect. A bloke will see the sexual content and not pay any attention to what it’s trying to sell.

By: Mick

Mick — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 06:53:49 +0000

Thank you for another thoughtful article.

I guess what I take from this is that we really need to explore further which approaches work and which don’t when it comes to selling science and critical thinking to all areas of the public, and that to do so we need as wide a variety of voices as possible.