I have never understood this. Personally, I couldn't care less about creatures that existed that long ago. On the other hand, I don't have a problem with people who are interested in them and wish to study them, but why must we go so far as to make movies about them and glorify them the way do? It's absurd and ridiculous!
2006-08-13 00:12:49 · 20 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
I have never understood this either. I taught first grade for years. The children loved the dinosaurs. The names were not easy or even phonetically spelled. One of my principals would not let us study them because it is a useless subject. Once you have seen one-you have seen them all as far as I am concerned.
2006-08-18 11:50:46 · answer #1 · answered by Dianne T 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, I'm interested in paleontology in general so pretty much all extinct life from trilobites and ammonites through dinosaurs to moas and mammoths fascinates me. It's really part of a general interest I have in evolutionary biology. Admittedly, however, that fascination was kindled in childhood through dinosaurs.
I suspect the fascination for the public is that they are relatively easy to conceive of, as huge reptiles. Things on a large scale are often easier to identify with and are more exciting to people. It's really no different from the modern day fascination with the dwindling numbers of whales, big cats when there are many amphibians at far greater risk of extinction.
In any case suspect the public fascination with dinosaurs is very superficial as well. I answered a recent question on "what is your favourite dinosaur", and only 3 out of 32 answerers quoted a dinosaur other than Tyrannosaurus rex. And one of those, who quoted Baryonyx, clearly did not know what the animal was. A lot said stupid things like "long necked thing"...
2006-08-13 09:38:19 · answer #2 · answered by the last ninja 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I see you have lots of responses.
The fact that they existed puts a damper on the Creation theory taken literally. This provides evidence of the earth, which we live, has cycles, and could go into a freeze, be hit by an asteroid, etc. Besides it is great for scaring little kids.
2006-08-20 14:14:24 · answer #3 · answered by BuyTheSeaProperty 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
well it ALL depends, there is a saying that history repeats itself and that is one of the reasons we study it, what happened that long ago can help problem shoot for the future.....and Dino's. you don't think it extraordinary that creatures that magnificent, something so huge that people such as your self can not appreciate that they existed till their extinction. i find it fascinating that d a m n near every living thing that long ago was basically a reptilian. and THAT HUGE. open your eyes.......they make movies to open imaginations and to teach.....and to give little kids a little fun while they learn. weren't you EVER A LITTLE KID, or have you always kept your curiosity at bay? its not ridiculous.....ITS FUN...
2006-08-17 03:03:49 · answer #4 · answered by juicy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree, it would make more sense to study the present or late history. Then again, we humans spend at lot of time doing irrational things just for fun. Some like movies, some like novels, some like sex, some like music, some like religion. Compared to all the completely useless things we enjoy to do, I would prefer to study dinosaurs. At least we might be able to learn some general things about ecology and such we also applies today.
2006-08-13 07:25:36 · answer #5 · answered by helene_thygesen 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Because the dinosaur movies will be "Box Office" due to people's curiousity.
2006-08-14 05:37:19 · answer #6 · answered by Hafiz W 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you are spot on and as to those god preachers on here "news flash " there aint no god duhhhh religion is all man made to make some bright person a fortune and so some priests ans holly worshipers can interfere with some kids
2006-08-20 11:38:17 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on your interests. They are always finding different species out there. I think the main thing is, it's like a mystery. No one knows how they died. There are theories, but they can't all be proven.
2006-08-13 13:29:27 · answer #8 · answered by ? 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ancient Romans would say: De gustibus non est disputandum. ("There's no disputing about taste.") You couldn't care less about the dinosaurs, and some people couldn't care less for things that interest YOU. That' life. :-)))
2006-08-13 07:21:52 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
I think it was Stephen Jay Gould who said it best: people love dinosaurs because they are big, ferocious, and extinct.
2006-08-13 10:16:27 · answer #10 · answered by stevewbcanada 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋