Netflix's "Bill Nye Saves The World" (Season 1)

[Talzin78]

I know quite a few people with Mechanical Engineer degrees and they do not proclaim themselves scientists. He talks about ecology, atmospheric phenomena, and biological studies. None of which he has studied professionally. He is a hobbyist, who created a character that has been presented as a real scientist.

[TheLaughingMann]

Originally Posted by Talzin78

I know quite a few people with Mechanical Engineer degrees and they do not proclaim themselves scientists. He talks about ecology, atmospheric phenomena, and biological studies. None of which he has studied professionally. He is a hobbyist, who created a character that has been presented as a real scientist.

I have a Mechanical Engineering degree from my Community College. Handling basic Calculus was a pain, but I took easily to basic and advanced Physics. I think I tend to take to doing things practically a lot more. Doing math just to show off? Meh. Doing math for a purpose? I can get into it.

I also am a fan of both Samurai/Warring States era history and Ancient Roman history and have done a LOT of recreational reading for that.

And I do a fair bit of writing for fantasy of any kind in my spare time.

I'll never be a scientist, but it did open me up to the ways of the world to think differently. It taught me that "perfect" is a word of fantasy and that "ideal" is a word of reality, and we must always strive for "ideal" because it is attainable from a human standpoint.

[Darth Marcus]

Well yes, they consider themselves engineers, yet in what they do (especially those who work at places like Boeing) they practice the scientific method in nearly everything they do. I started out my collegiate career in the mechanical engineering program at N.C. State University before switching to focus on accounting because I enjoyed it more, but I know too well the rigors of the program and what a degree of that caliber requires. Just because he doesn't have a degree in ecology or biology doesn't mean he can't be well versed in those subjects. Especially when he is actively involved in the scientific community and is actively engaged with what you would call "actual scientists". So no, he's not sitting somewhere in a lab all day looking at test tubes, but I would definitely argue that he mostly knows what he's talking about. I'm not saying he's infallible, but I am saying that he is more than educated with the experience to back it.

[wormraper]

Originally Posted by Talzin78

I know quite a few people with Mechanical Engineer degrees and they do not proclaim themselves scientists. He talks about ecology, atmospheric phenomena, and biological studies. None of which he has studied professionally. He is a hobbyist, who created a character that has been presented as a real scientist.

bingo, he's a hobbyist who's had a BACHELORS degree in engineering (usually what most people would consider the first STEP towards becoming an "expert", and an engineering degree is usually not what one would consider a scientist). He likes to talk about Biology, Ecology, and Chemistry like he's some expert when his education is that of of a modified mathematician light. That's like saying "I studied computer programming at the UofA... I'm a scientist right!".

Bill Nye was a DECENT engineer from what co-workers have said about him at Boeing, he was a failed comedian who lucked out when he was offered his famous TV show, and is basically an entertainer these days has he has refused continuing higher eductation and just "dabbles" in the differing fields of science. His honorary degrees mainly come out of gratitude for the job he did as the Science guy by getting kids interested in science (something which is quite admirable and he did a good job of it).

but educationally, the guy's no more qualified to talk about gender, biology, climatology, or chemistry than your average hobbyist who reads up on the subject, taking a couple of classes on Math and physics to gain a BACHELORS (which is one of the lowest forms of higher education you can get) doesn't make one a "scientist". Hey, I took three classes of advanced bio, calculus AND calculus II and III to gain my degree. Guess I'm a scientist too.

[Trekkie313]

He's called "Science Guy" as part of his character, he's not a formal scientist but he knows most of what he talks about.

[jacobsever]

Originally Posted by wormraper

but educationally, the guy's no more qualified to talk about gender, biology, climatology, or chemistry than your average hobbyist who reads up on the subject

You realize everything on his show isn't just him, right? It's not a 1-man job. His show has plenty of writers involved. I'm sure everything he says is factually accurate. He's just the face the information comes out of.

[wormraper]

Originally Posted by jacobsever

You realize everything on his show isn't just him, right? It's not a 1-man job. His show has plenty of writers involved. I'm sure everything he says is factually accurate. He's just the face the information comes out of.

yup, cuz everything on TV is rigorously factually accurate, and the show itself isn't the problem. Bill Nye likes to pass himself off as an "expert" and speak at panels etc. It's not just about the show. Nye the bow tied douche bag guy is KNOWN for being an overly opinionated egotist outside of his show too.

[kingDeeCee]

I'm not all up and arms about Bill Nye not being a scientist. I've seen the first 4 episodes and he isn't exactly spewing out facts that are complex. I can give this a pass and not knowing much about him, I'm sure he's extremely knowledgeable about climate change since he wrote a book and done multiple debates on it. He must have done his research in that department.

However, I'm not sure how much of the population will learn anything from this. The experiments he does are so simple and people should have learned that stuff in high school. The rest of the show is extremely dry and boring and the performances are BAD. SOOOO BAD. I've seen the clip of the Rachel Bloom performance and holy cow, NO!

The problem with this show is that it's meant to educate adults on certain controversial subjects. However, this show PANDERS to the liberal crowd which tend to already be educated in the topics he's covering. The demographic that can learn from this show will be turned off on the get go with the political agenda he is pushing.

[Talzin78]

All I'm saying is he was portrayed as a scientist in many forms of media. Yes he is well versed, however that makes him a hobbyist. I am actually an old fan of his, and I never questioned his credentials. Neil Tyson Degrasse is a scientist who talks about a broad range of science, but his most prolific works are on Astro physics because he has spent his entire life studying it, and he's a scientist.

[jacobsever]

I don't have an opinion on the person either way. He is very charismatic and likable though. I don't give a rats a** about his credentials. His message is more important, and his message is thought out and factually correct (regardless if he discovered the information himself or other researchers/writers did).

[wormraper]

Originally Posted by jacobsever

I don't have an opinion on the person either way. He is very charismatic and likable though. I don't give a rats a** about his credentials. His message is more important, and his message is thought out and factually correct (regardless if he discovered the information himself or other researchers/writers did).

lol, have to disagree on the last sentence.

[jacobsever]

Originally Posted by wormraper

lol, have to disagree on the last sentence.

Oh, was it alternate facts and fake news?

[wormraper]

while the new one isn't exactly hard core intellectualism, I think it's aimed at a broader audience than young kids. Talking about being "hard or moist" or "your sex junk is so oh, oh oh" usually isn't something you throw at young kids

[djgeneral]

I was wondering why this thread blew up lol. Anyways, I watched all of the episodes - many as background noise - but they each had some interesting tidbits. He's a bit too goofy. He tired to maintain the charm of his original show but make it more adult and it kind of got stuck and lost in the middle.

[Darev]

I listened to the 2nd episode on the drive home. Netflix app on my phone linked to the car's bluetooth system...I love science.

I don't have a problem with his credentials, and I was always taught that what makes someone a scientist is following the scientific method, which he seems to do.

I never watched his first show, it seemed gimmicky to me at the time, and this current seems the same way, just with updated gimmicks.
I do, however, remember watching Mr. Wizard as a kid. I don't remember the content, or if it was a 'serious' show or not. I hope it was.

[cynatnite]

I've always loved the guy. He cares about science and education. He can get kids excited about the subject and he does know what he's talking about. Sure, what we see is a character and he does dip into politics when it comes to a subject like climate change. He speaks out as he sees fit.

Regardless, he has a proven background, holds patents and still does some teaching. He's taken classes under Carl Sagan.

I don't get why he gets the grief he does by some. The good he's done far outweighs any negatives others see.

My grandson loves him like crazy. We've watched his stuff on youtube together. That's a testament, I'd say.

[Kevinicus]

The guy is against questioning things...he's anti-science. And he'd a douchebag if you listen to him outside of the show(s). He may be ome on the show too, but I wouldn't know.

[dissention]

Originally Posted by Kevinicus

He may be ome on the show too, but I wouldn't know.

Then why are you here?

[Rodney-2187]

I love Bill Nye. He has proven to be highly intelligent and qualified to speak on a wide rage of topics. However, I do not love his new show. It doesn't really seem like it's for kids or adults. Why have a segment featuring a panel of different opinions if you aren't going to really get into a true discussion? You aren't going to convince anyone of anything disguising it as a debate. I can see people picking that apart as being disingenuous.

I recommend Cosmos. The original with Carl Sagan is one of my favorite things in existence. Carl Sagan is a personal hero of mine. The updated one with Neil deGrasse Tyson is excellent as well and I highly recommend it, but there will always be something special about Carl Sagan.

I look forward to whatever Bill Nye does next.

[Impossible]

Bear Grylls stays in 5 star hotels most nights on shoots and Steve Irwin carried cages of animals around with him and then jammed them under rocks and pretended to 'find' them in their natural habitat.

Ahhh the magic of television...