Well, at least they didn't suffer....

[Pretender]

link


<< When surges of volcanic ash and gas hit the inhabitants of the ancient coastal city at the foot of Mount Vesuvius they died instantly, before they had time to panic or protect themselves, Italian scientists said Wednesday. >>

....

<< But the scientists said the frozen life-like stances of the skeletons, which showed no signs of contortions or agony, indicate the scorching ash must have expanded and then suddenly deflated, cooling and fixing the victims in their positions. >>

Does it bother anyone else that our culture has become so soft that instead of trying to solve real problems, we have scientists examining the death of people 2000 years ago to make sure they didn't go through pain when they died?

 

[warcleric]

Pretender: are you so narrow minded that you cant realize how studying the past can affect our future?

 

[Linflas]

Not at all. I have visited Pompei and it is a fascinating place. I most vividly recall returning to the ship after my visit, anchored in Naples Bay, and observing that beneath this beautiful background of Mt. Vesuvious was an entire metropolitan area. We humans learn little it seems.

 

[Pretender]

<< Pretender: are you so narrow minded that you cant realize how studying the past can affect our future? >>

Yes, I am. Please explain to me how knowing if a group of people suffered while being smothered in volcanic lava will help us at all.

 

[Capn]

It's patently stupid to think that we should limit ourselves to study what we perceive as our only problems today. Scientific and historical research is for the good of everybody eventually.

 

[warcleric]

Knowing the conditions that led up to the ash suddenly contracting could be useful for starters, to prevent a major catastrophe like this in the future. Also the fact that they didnt suffer tends to suggest that they had almost 0 warning, so would lead to a line of research to improve warning times for future eruptions. If I can see possibilities here as just a layman, then there must be even greater possibilities to the professional scientists.

 

[loup garou]

<< Does it bother anyone else that our culture has become so soft that instead of trying to solve real problems, we have scientists examining the death of people 2000 years ago to make sure they didn't go through pain when they died?
>>



And just what modern-day problems would you like these scientists to fix?

Are you saying that archaelogy, history, anthropology, and thousands of other social sciences are worthless because we need to &quot;solve real problems?&quot;

 

[LadyNiniane]

Actually, there are some modern reasons for studying Pompeii and Mt. Vesuvius, mostly relating to eruption predictions and types.

IIRC, that eruption has fingerprints similar to the Mt. St. Helens eruption and several in Central America and the Caribbean, notably one on Martinique in the early 1900s (St. Pierre) that destroyed that city in much the same fashion as the destruction of Pompeii.

And besides the known active volcanoes on Hawaii, there are reports of other rumblings offshore near Oregon, and concerns that other volcanic mountains in the Pacific Northwest and elsewhere may be stirring to life again, with potentially disasterous results.

I don't see anything particularly wrong with the research.

Lady Niniane

Edit: Geez, you people are fast...
And Warcleric, you're correct. My family learned quite a bit about this research when we got the opportunity to visit Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and the Hawaii Volcano Observatory. Fascinating place...

 

[Pretender]

<< And just what modern-day problems would you like these scientists to fix?

Are you saying that archaelogy, history, anthropology, and thousands of other social sciences are worthless because we need to &quot;solve real problems?&quot; >>

No, I've never liked the study of history, but I don't think it's useless. The thing that disturbes me is that this seems to be a study intended simply to determine how they died (suffocation vs. heat), which does seem useless to me. If they were trying to find out, as Warcleric stated, how the volcano started, if it was a surprising, etc, that would be useful. However, from the story, it seems as though physicists and medical doctors are studying the bodies, which does seem like a complete waste to me.

 

[Stark]

I agree 100% !!

don't get me started on those lazy musicians and artists. Plato was right about poets in Republic...


<< OF the many excellences which I perceive in the order of our State, there is none which upon reflection pleases me better than the rule about poetry.

To what do you refer?

To the rejection of imitative poetry, which certainly ought not to be received; as I see far more clearly now that the parts of the soul have been distinguished.

What do you mean?

Speaking in confidence, for I should not like to have my words repeated to the tragedians and the rest of the imitative tribe -- but I do not mind saying to you, that all poetical imitations are ruinous to the understanding of the hearers, and that the knowledge of their true nature is the only antidote to them. >>



oh wait, that's more stuff about history and the past... and we all know there's nothing of value there! To the future!!

 

[GasX]

Pretender,

What, pray tell, is your profession? I do hope that your work is a life long struggle to fix all of society's ills, because if it isn't then shut yer trap.

If you have time to spend screwing around on ATOT, then I think it is just fine that someone wants to devote their lives to the study of history - in all of its forms.

After all, those who do not study history are doomed to repeat it...