Scientific theory and good parenting

When Daniel first started blogging, he did a series on "how and why things work" that was very interesting and informative (sorry, no link to specifics, couldn't find anything on his page for that).

Being a grad student and lab rat research assistant, he probably doesn't have time for that series anymore, and we haven't seen one in quite a while. That's a shame.

So as a service to the Rocket Jones readers, I'm going to pick up the torch and run with it, much like the scissors mom warned you about. Not being a professional scientist (or even one in training), I'll have to apply my innate parental skills to the task.

First question:

Why does water run downhill?

continued in the extended entry

Answer: Because it is lazy.

See how simple that is? Now I could list pages of mathematical formulas and logic constructs to explain it all, but a good parent crafts an answer that simultaneously accomplishes two things.

Firstly, the answer should make sense to the young and inquiring mind, thus shutting him up satisfying their curiousity.

Secondly, once the answer is recognized as nonsense by the now-older child, it gives the parent the opportunity to say "go look it up". That moment is one every parent relishes, and probably drives 30% of all sales of home reference materials.

Next time, we'll explain how teenage sex causes zits.

Posted by Ted at December 18, 2004 09:43 AM
Category: Square Pegs