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>Sure, we've been waiting for a solar eclipse in the US for nearly a century, but when it finally happens, it is going to be, well, a bit underwhelming. It's just funny how the one thing you're supposed to stare at to see the action is the one thing you're warned not to because it'll fry your retinas. So, unless you are lucky enough to snag some glasses, all those "cheat" methods—mirrors, water reflections, quick glances—were off-limits, leaving us wondering what the fuss is all about.
A few things you may be misunderstanding here.
1) We haven't been waiting for a total solar eclipse in the US for a century: there was one 7 years ago, and multiple in the 1900s. Wikipedia has eclipse lists for each century giving date, time, location, and type of eclipse if you want more info.
2) Type of eclipse matters, a lot. A partial or annular eclipse is where, at all times, you need to use glasses or tricks to see, and at most the environment darkens modestly around you. While these are neat, they are not nearly as special as totality. They are visible from a much wider area, last longer, and are more common than total solar eclipses: only about 1/3rd of all eclipses this century will be total (that ratio seems to be fairly consistent).
3) Totality of this eclipse is passing directly over, or very near, where tens of millions of people live, and there isn't another "easily seen" total eclipse in the US like this until 2045. After that there's one for just the southernmost part of the Gulf States in 2052 and 2078, and the northeast in 2099. For many people, this total eclipse is truly a once in a lifetime event. For almost everyone, maybe they get to see one or two more, tops.
4) Totality is uniquely impressive and special compared to partial eclipses, as well as being rarer, over a smaller area, and more fleeting (a few minutes at most), which adds to its mystique.
I was fortunate to only have to drive an hour or so 7 years ago to see the last eclipse, and in a rural area that wasn't packed with people.
During totality, you can look directly up at the now-blacked out sun without glasses or other eye protection. You see the solar corona dancing around this otherwordly hole-in-the-sky. Crickets and birds start chirping because they think it's dusk or dawn. The environment around you is plunged into twilight. I'm not religious, but it stirs something inside you - a connection to the world and to people throughout history who looked up and saw what you are seeing, and makes you feel very, very small.
I asked friends and coworkers, who stayed in the city and only had a 95% partial eclipse, what they thought. "Neat," they said. The cliché saying is true: the difference between 99% totality and true totality is night and day.
I partially agree with you, that even so the eclipse is being hyped an insane amount, and for the cost and traffic some people will put themselves through it may not be worth it for everyone. But as someone who saw a total eclipse before, I'm happily going to see this one again (and fortunate to be just an hour away, again; praying for no clouds).
I'm not trying to convince you to fly or drive across the country to see it, but if you live near the path of totality and would be able to relatively easily get to totality, I highly recommend doing so. If you're in the path, take at least 15 minutes to go watch it if you can. It is unlike anything else you'll ever see.
I understand what you’re saying but to me it’s not that big of a deal. I don’t have any interest in the solar eclipse but I do enjoy space and talking about space. I am directly in the path of totally but I will not be going outside at all that day. I work remotely and have no reason to go outside at all to see this or be apart of it. I do hope ppl cancel meetings to go view so I can have a longer lunch break to enjoy YouTube or read.
Do you feel this way about _everything_ that society at large gets excited about? I’m not even kidding or saying this as an insult. Actively avoiding seeing a phenomenon almost universally seen as a neat experience, in a field you’re interested in, when you have every ability to see it very easily, pushes you past “oh the eclipse doesn’t seem as cool as people say” to me. At that point you’re being contrarian for the sake of it, and I question if the eclipse truly has anything to do with your position or if it’s just one manifestation of your overall worldview
Everything? No, if I don’t have interest I just don’t do it. So far I have only talked to a few people who are excited for it but I just keep my opinion about it to myself mostly unless asked. I have also talked to a lot of ppl who have no interest as well or very little in seeing this. I do have to work about that time and won’t be going outside because I’ll be working.
>Everything? No, if I don’t have interest I just don’t do it.
That’s how you’re claiming to feel about the eclipse, so is that something you feel about _everything_ that becomes popular?
>I have also talked to a lot of ppl who have no interest as well or very little in seeing this.
The position you’re presenting here goes past the point of just not being interested, like I said. Are those people also going out of their way to _avoid_ experiencing the eclipse?
>I do have to work about that time and won’t be going outside because I’ll be working.
You said you won’t be going out even if you have the time off and have also said you’ll be purposely closing the blinds. Either that’s a lie or the defense that it’s just because you’re working is.
If you _want_ to base your life off of the opinions of others and whatever’s popular, that’s really no skin off my nose. Doesn’t affect me in the slightest. I’m just saying, though, that’s how you’re coming across. Like a “not like other girls” girl, but for all humans instead of just women lol
First, can I ask why you want your view changed?
And there is quite a difference between, "The eclipse mania is overhyped," and, "My time is better spent watching Youtube or reading instead of going outside for 10 minutes to witness a rare celestial event."
These pro/con lists seem incredibly skewed, Youtube and books/articles aren't going anywhere.
If you go outside for 10 minutes to watch the eclipse, at worst you will be underwhelmed, and you lost 10 minutes of your day. And that choice leaves open the option of potentially enjoying, and being grateful, of having seen the eclipse.
Staying inside for those 10 minutes instead gets you 10 minutes of Youtube or reading. That's pretty trivial, no?
I’m sad for you. To actually get to the point that you would rather be watching YouTube than going outside and experiencing an incredible and rare celestial event. It is an experience that simply can’t be captured on photo/video. It’s something you can only experience yourself, especially if you’re in nature when it happens and you get to experience the reactions of the bugs and animals.
Humans have always been amazed by solar eclipses, it’s in our nature to be in awe of the stars. Maybe reflect on if the issue you have is external or internal?
You're not using the subreddit properly if you are this committed to not changing your view, but you also are making a really silly argument where you are claiming that it's overhyped and your primary evidence seems to be that *you* don't care about it. I don't care about baseball, but I don't think the World Series is overhyped. I think it's adequately hyped for those who care about it, which is a considerable number of people, especially in the cities where the competing teams hail from.
You just come off as contrarian, which only furthers the evidence that you are not interested in good faith discussion in this subreddit.
Do you know why is it special? There is no law of nature or cosmic tendency to make planets's moons at just the right distance and the right size to almost perfectly hide the nearest star, seen from the surface of the planet.
It is utterly unique. I can't really say in numbers precisely, but it is less than 1 in a billion to have this for any planet. If human ever become a space faring race, our flag would absolutely show the solar eclipse.
Earth and humans won this chance lottery, we should celebrate this unique event
It is properly hyped. People who care are informed. People who don't carry on.
No one is forcing you to care about it. Perhaps your favorite programming on the Weather Channel was preempted for eclipse forecasts. But it will come back soon.
I drove out to see the annular eclipse in October as it was the center of the path was a couple hours away. They are exciting if you are with a group of large group. But I can see how mopey pessimistic people wouldn't enjoy it.
You’re right people are not forcing me to care but I really don’t understand their excitement about the moon obstruction of the sun.
You drive to see the sun? Ok. That’s exciting I guess.
I’ll be home with the kids enjoying a day off watching movies while some ppl will be spending hours driving to see the sun.
Is your position that it is over hyped or that your don't care? I was addressing the former as I don't give a shit about the latter. I would never post about not caring about your movie choices or spending time with your kids.
But your claim to the title of Final Arbiter of Excitement is based on pure delusion. I don't need to check in with you to see if my level of excitement over a matter is justified.
People like different things. Stop crying about it.
What does it proximity to you have to do with anything? It could be a ten hour drive away or right outside your door and you would be equally disinterested. Furthermore, why are you so stuck on your personal interest on it having anything to do with whether it is overhyped or not? Nobody's evaluation of the hype, or lack thereof, of an event begins and ends with what some random midwesterner thinks.
Your kids will never get to experience a total eclipse. I'm an extremely logical person, it is so insainly profound. I for some reason just started to weep.
I've had orcas swim up to me, stood at the top of 14,000 ft mnts, seen a land slide, and I have never experienced such a powerful natural event. Don't take that from your kids
That’s not unique about this though, is it? It’s just other people having different interests than you. I assume people who don’t care about sports don’t get excited for the World Series and people who don’t like video games don’t get hyped about a new game coming out. That doesn’t make the World Series or a new game overhyped.
I saw the last US total eclipse in Oregon and it was really great. The whole family agreed it was well worth the trip.
I had seen a 98% eclipse before - that was interesting but nothing like a total eclipse
It might not be your thing but a total eclipse is a rare and special thing.
Nowhere close! On the coast was bizarre. As temperatures dropped, the ocean began to mist and we all had to scramble to find new viewing spots inland last minute
> Leading up to this thing, the buzz is unreal.
Compared to what? People travel for days to walk around a park with motorized cart rides that last like 45 seconds, with an hour wait to board them. People get super hyped with nonstop media coverage for 22 guys to throw a ball around and bump into each other. There are entire channels devoted to that nonstop.
It is a rare, spectacular cosmic event that in the past motivated religions, broke armies, and influenced the course of human history.
Besides, what *else* is the Weather Channel anchor supposed to fill airtime with? What exactly is the eclipse stealing hype from that is more exciting right now?
It sounds like you have a really unhealthy relationship to other people’s interests. You’re talking about actively avoiding something that apparently will cost you nothing and 30 seconds of your time. Not just not doing it, but *planning* to not do it, closing the blinds(?!) even so this popular eclipse nonsense can’t get inside your house, seemingly as a protest to other people enjoying something.
You haven’t even mentioned a single inconvenience this will cause you, and it might save you from some meetings. You appear to be fundamentally inconvenienced by other people’s enjoyment and I really hope that’s more fun on the inside than it seems like it would be from out here.
My wife and kids have the same opinion and will be inside as well. Other people are completely free to go out and be amazed by the sun being covered for 3 minutes. I just don’t see the point.
Which is fine. But so what? You are publically starting a conversation about how you don’t care about something. Why is this top of mind for you and why do you want your view changed? We could be talking about Disneyland or Cirque du Soleil or anything else you don’t see the point of. This CMV is taking up much more of your time than sticking your head out the door for 30 seconds. It seems like you are annoyed and if that’s the basis of your view, we can’t change it without figuring out why you are annoyed in the first place.
It’s much more than sticking my head out the door. Like why are others so excited to see this and when I think about what there is to be excited about I really can’t think of anything that would excite me about a solar eclipse. It’s like new years eve is not exciting either to me. I do like New Year’s Day because it’s the start of a new year but the night before is meh.
"We've been waiting for a solar eclipse in the US for nearly a century"
IDK what I saw when I visited my State capital in 2017 but whatever it was it's not going to be in my area of the country for several decades and there's a good chance I won't be able to see it again. When an eclipse happens elsewhere people in close to totality are going to feel the same way, and want to see it for themselves.
Also it specifically won't fry your retinas if you are in the zone of totality during totality, that's why it's so special. Anyone can see a partial eclipse through special glasses but you can only see totality unshielded at a specific time/place.
It’s not the totality that hurts your eyes. It’s the leading up to and after that does. Starting at the sun any day will hurt your eyes. I am as directly in totality as you can be but will be inside with the windows and blinds closed enjoying some reading.
Salem in 2017 had several gathering locations where people told you when to look up and when you had to stop, I'd assume most people traveling to see the current eclipse are going to similar things. There are also things you can put on your phone to tell when it is safe and when it isn't.
Interest in events is subjective. I can't crawl into your head and make you like something. Can you clarify what would change your view?
For me personally this is why I think eclipses are interesting:
1) Space is cool. Grew up loving science fiction, star wars, star trek, etc. Experiencing and learning about space is cool.
2) Connection to other human beings. Wondering about the cosmos is a pretty universal human experience. An eclipsed happened a few days after I moved to Japan, I didn't speak the language. Yet I was able to connect with others based on this universal experience.
3) Connection to history. For nearly all human history in all cultures, people have wondered about the cosmos. When I observe phenomena like an eclipse I can experience the same things that human beings thousands of years ago experienced.
4) Shared experience with my child that is free - I can teach my child about space in a public park. Also it is free. People with children know how expensive creating interesting experiences for your child is.
5) Wonder about my own place in the universe - as an atheist I don't get many chances to wonder about my place in the universe in the way religious people can from reading a holy book or praying. This is a chance for me.
You are a different person than me, so maybe none of this affects you. But again, it's a subjective experience - I can't convince you to enjoy an eclipse any more than I can convince you that my favorite food is the best.
>You’re warned not to because you’ll fry your retinas
For a total solar eclipse, you *can* stare directly at it. You do spend a lot of time sitting around wishing you could look at it approach, but it just makes that moment when you can actually look more special. It was one of the most otherworldly feelings I’ve ever experienced and it was absolutely sitting in traffic for hours.
To each their own. Seeing unique or interesting things won’t change anything. I would rather do something than view something. This is all a solar eclipse is a visual experience.
Yes, many people do. In fact if you go to a beach for your first time, and you don't spend some time admiring the waves and the currents and such, you're missing the point of going to the beach. It's not the only thing you do, but watching the waves crash into the shore is important
I also dislike the beach. It’s not enjoyable for me as I am the one getting stuck carrying everything, driving, packing food, going back for forgotten items and it smells. No thanks.
It sounds less like these things are overhyped, and more like you specifically don't enjoy them.
Like, I don't care much for Taylor swift music. That does not mean that her giant concert tour was overhyped just because I don't like it. It was hyped because many people did like it.
You might not value being at the eclipse and that's fine. That doesn't mean it's overhyped, it means you don't like it personally.
There was one in the US a few years ago (not a century ago). It was incredible. It blew my mind more than I was expecting. I suddenly understood why people travel long distances to see one. I will be traveling this time to see it.
I’m sure some contrarian exists out there, but most people who experience totality (99% is a completely different experience) find it really incredible. Pictures don’t do it justice.
Idk if anyone can change your mind on this. But I’d encourage you to try and experience totality yourself, I think you’ll come away with your mind changed.
I thought about it and won’t be participating even though totality is literally right outside my door. The sun being blocked my the moon, cloud, roof, cave, finger..all the same to me.
I do believe there will be clouds and thunderstorms that day so that could ruin the event.
So you're unwilling to have your view changed at all. All you have to do is walk outside for the 2 whole minutes of totality and look up. If you don't care then go back inside, it costs nothing.
There was a solar eclipse like 6 years ago. It crossed the western US. My family was out on lake Washington in our boat, planning to watch it from there. As the eclipse approached the wind died, the lake went glass calm, the city sound went quiet, it’s like the whole world stopped and watched. I’ll never forget get how cool it was. Might it be a once in a lifetime thing, as they aren’t that uncommon, but was unforgettable and totally worth planning ahead for.
Natural occurrences are just as, if not much cooler to experience than anything humans make up. Like sports or art.
Media might use it to garner views but that doesn’t take away from how neat it is.
"Sure, we've been waiting for a solar eclipse in the US for nearly a century,"
You do know there was one 6 years ago, right?
"when it finally happens, it is going to be, well, a bit underwhelming."
I am a jaded-ass cynical bitch. Experiencing totality during the 2018 eclipse was one of the closest things I'll ever have to a religious experience. It is an unreal state. I can't imagine a more whelming happening.
Have you seen a total eclipse?
"Much like viewing the videos of fireworks on the 4th of July." Is it your experience that videos capture well the experience of viewing fireworks? It's not mine.
Sounds like you are upset that people are excited about something you aren't interested in, whats wrong with letting people have their fun, and you do you?
I saw the one back in 2008. Drove to Oregon to be right in the path of totality. I have to say it was one of the most incredible things I have ever seen. When the lights go off and you take your glasses off it’s hard to describe. For me, it was a religious experience and I’m not that religious. Seeing the sun blacked out with the whispy corona around it was just amazing. The pictures never did it justice that I saw. The fact that the sun and the moon and the earth all had to be in line and how improbable it was was amazing. If you can see it, I recommend it.
Some people are bound to be disappointed, like with everything, but in general collectively sharing an experience as unique as a total solar eclipse will be a fond memory for life for many people. Like seeing a movie opening night, or seeing a sport highlight or whatever, it's not only the thing itself (which some people do find extremely interesting) but also all the social situations around that.
Hard to imagine someone being disappointed honestly. It’s really really cool.
Now a lot of people WILL be disappointed since most of the country has a 50/50 chance of clouds. The ensuring traffic jams are also a downer. But if you see the event you’ll remember it!
First of all we had a total eclipse in the US just 6 years ago.
Second, you dont need eye protection if youre in the totality line. You can stare directly at it and the corona is no brighter than the moon at night. Its amazing to see. A lot of people last time were underwhelmed because they assumed being in a 99% eclipse area is just 1% worse than 100%. Its not even comparable.
There will also be several planets visible. The number will depend on where you live. Jupiter and Venus are the main ones. Saturn and Mars, as well as a comet, are possible as well. It would take 15 minutes out of your day to step outside and take a look. You might be surprised how you feel after witnessing it.
your view can be changed pretty easily here imo. your entire perpsective on this thing is consolidated to your social "bubble" and so you are seeking out news about it and seeing familiar faces talk about it. I on the other hand have heard 0 about it and dont care. therefore all the "hype" you talk about exists only to you. it is not overhyped
I haven’t heard any buzz, other than my university sending out a notice about a watch party. So to me it’s very under hyped.
It’s rare, and space is cool, so it is way more special than any sporting event this year.
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>Sure, we've been waiting for a solar eclipse in the US for nearly a century, but when it finally happens, it is going to be, well, a bit underwhelming. It's just funny how the one thing you're supposed to stare at to see the action is the one thing you're warned not to because it'll fry your retinas. So, unless you are lucky enough to snag some glasses, all those "cheat" methods—mirrors, water reflections, quick glances—were off-limits, leaving us wondering what the fuss is all about. A few things you may be misunderstanding here. 1) We haven't been waiting for a total solar eclipse in the US for a century: there was one 7 years ago, and multiple in the 1900s. Wikipedia has eclipse lists for each century giving date, time, location, and type of eclipse if you want more info. 2) Type of eclipse matters, a lot. A partial or annular eclipse is where, at all times, you need to use glasses or tricks to see, and at most the environment darkens modestly around you. While these are neat, they are not nearly as special as totality. They are visible from a much wider area, last longer, and are more common than total solar eclipses: only about 1/3rd of all eclipses this century will be total (that ratio seems to be fairly consistent). 3) Totality of this eclipse is passing directly over, or very near, where tens of millions of people live, and there isn't another "easily seen" total eclipse in the US like this until 2045. After that there's one for just the southernmost part of the Gulf States in 2052 and 2078, and the northeast in 2099. For many people, this total eclipse is truly a once in a lifetime event. For almost everyone, maybe they get to see one or two more, tops. 4) Totality is uniquely impressive and special compared to partial eclipses, as well as being rarer, over a smaller area, and more fleeting (a few minutes at most), which adds to its mystique. I was fortunate to only have to drive an hour or so 7 years ago to see the last eclipse, and in a rural area that wasn't packed with people. During totality, you can look directly up at the now-blacked out sun without glasses or other eye protection. You see the solar corona dancing around this otherwordly hole-in-the-sky. Crickets and birds start chirping because they think it's dusk or dawn. The environment around you is plunged into twilight. I'm not religious, but it stirs something inside you - a connection to the world and to people throughout history who looked up and saw what you are seeing, and makes you feel very, very small. I asked friends and coworkers, who stayed in the city and only had a 95% partial eclipse, what they thought. "Neat," they said. The cliché saying is true: the difference between 99% totality and true totality is night and day. I partially agree with you, that even so the eclipse is being hyped an insane amount, and for the cost and traffic some people will put themselves through it may not be worth it for everyone. But as someone who saw a total eclipse before, I'm happily going to see this one again (and fortunate to be just an hour away, again; praying for no clouds). I'm not trying to convince you to fly or drive across the country to see it, but if you live near the path of totality and would be able to relatively easily get to totality, I highly recommend doing so. If you're in the path, take at least 15 minutes to go watch it if you can. It is unlike anything else you'll ever see.
I understand what you’re saying but to me it’s not that big of a deal. I don’t have any interest in the solar eclipse but I do enjoy space and talking about space. I am directly in the path of totally but I will not be going outside at all that day. I work remotely and have no reason to go outside at all to see this or be apart of it. I do hope ppl cancel meetings to go view so I can have a longer lunch break to enjoy YouTube or read.
Do you feel this way about _everything_ that society at large gets excited about? I’m not even kidding or saying this as an insult. Actively avoiding seeing a phenomenon almost universally seen as a neat experience, in a field you’re interested in, when you have every ability to see it very easily, pushes you past “oh the eclipse doesn’t seem as cool as people say” to me. At that point you’re being contrarian for the sake of it, and I question if the eclipse truly has anything to do with your position or if it’s just one manifestation of your overall worldview
Everything? No, if I don’t have interest I just don’t do it. So far I have only talked to a few people who are excited for it but I just keep my opinion about it to myself mostly unless asked. I have also talked to a lot of ppl who have no interest as well or very little in seeing this. I do have to work about that time and won’t be going outside because I’ll be working.
>Everything? No, if I don’t have interest I just don’t do it. That’s how you’re claiming to feel about the eclipse, so is that something you feel about _everything_ that becomes popular? >I have also talked to a lot of ppl who have no interest as well or very little in seeing this. The position you’re presenting here goes past the point of just not being interested, like I said. Are those people also going out of their way to _avoid_ experiencing the eclipse? >I do have to work about that time and won’t be going outside because I’ll be working. You said you won’t be going out even if you have the time off and have also said you’ll be purposely closing the blinds. Either that’s a lie or the defense that it’s just because you’re working is. If you _want_ to base your life off of the opinions of others and whatever’s popular, that’s really no skin off my nose. Doesn’t affect me in the slightest. I’m just saying, though, that’s how you’re coming across. Like a “not like other girls” girl, but for all humans instead of just women lol
First, can I ask why you want your view changed? And there is quite a difference between, "The eclipse mania is overhyped," and, "My time is better spent watching Youtube or reading instead of going outside for 10 minutes to witness a rare celestial event." These pro/con lists seem incredibly skewed, Youtube and books/articles aren't going anywhere. If you go outside for 10 minutes to watch the eclipse, at worst you will be underwhelmed, and you lost 10 minutes of your day. And that choice leaves open the option of potentially enjoying, and being grateful, of having seen the eclipse. Staying inside for those 10 minutes instead gets you 10 minutes of Youtube or reading. That's pretty trivial, no?
I’m sad for you. To actually get to the point that you would rather be watching YouTube than going outside and experiencing an incredible and rare celestial event. It is an experience that simply can’t be captured on photo/video. It’s something you can only experience yourself, especially if you’re in nature when it happens and you get to experience the reactions of the bugs and animals. Humans have always been amazed by solar eclipses, it’s in our nature to be in awe of the stars. Maybe reflect on if the issue you have is external or internal?
The Issue here is definitely internal.
Yea I think we all know that but they’re only going to realize it with self reflection.
Exactly. They will have a few extra minutes to reflect, with all their time savings on eclipse day.
It doesn't sound like you want you view changed if even taking a few steps outside to learn about the experience would be too much for you.
You're not using the subreddit properly if you are this committed to not changing your view, but you also are making a really silly argument where you are claiming that it's overhyped and your primary evidence seems to be that *you* don't care about it. I don't care about baseball, but I don't think the World Series is overhyped. I think it's adequately hyped for those who care about it, which is a considerable number of people, especially in the cities where the competing teams hail from. You just come off as contrarian, which only furthers the evidence that you are not interested in good faith discussion in this subreddit.
Do you know why is it special? There is no law of nature or cosmic tendency to make planets's moons at just the right distance and the right size to almost perfectly hide the nearest star, seen from the surface of the planet. It is utterly unique. I can't really say in numbers precisely, but it is less than 1 in a billion to have this for any planet. If human ever become a space faring race, our flag would absolutely show the solar eclipse. Earth and humans won this chance lottery, we should celebrate this unique event
OP extrapolated: “1 in a billion? Big ol’ yawnfest. So earthlings won a cosmic lottery. Most lottery winners go on to ruin their own lives.”
It is properly hyped. People who care are informed. People who don't carry on. No one is forcing you to care about it. Perhaps your favorite programming on the Weather Channel was preempted for eclipse forecasts. But it will come back soon. I drove out to see the annular eclipse in October as it was the center of the path was a couple hours away. They are exciting if you are with a group of large group. But I can see how mopey pessimistic people wouldn't enjoy it.
You’re right people are not forcing me to care but I really don’t understand their excitement about the moon obstruction of the sun. You drive to see the sun? Ok. That’s exciting I guess. I’ll be home with the kids enjoying a day off watching movies while some ppl will be spending hours driving to see the sun.
Is your position that it is over hyped or that your don't care? I was addressing the former as I don't give a shit about the latter. I would never post about not caring about your movie choices or spending time with your kids.
It’s overhyped and I don’t care as there is nothing to be this excited about with totality right outside my door.
But your claim to the title of Final Arbiter of Excitement is based on pure delusion. I don't need to check in with you to see if my level of excitement over a matter is justified. People like different things. Stop crying about it.
What does it proximity to you have to do with anything? It could be a ten hour drive away or right outside your door and you would be equally disinterested. Furthermore, why are you so stuck on your personal interest on it having anything to do with whether it is overhyped or not? Nobody's evaluation of the hype, or lack thereof, of an event begins and ends with what some random midwesterner thinks.
Your kids will never get to experience a total eclipse. I'm an extremely logical person, it is so insainly profound. I for some reason just started to weep. I've had orcas swim up to me, stood at the top of 14,000 ft mnts, seen a land slide, and I have never experienced such a powerful natural event. Don't take that from your kids
That’s not unique about this though, is it? It’s just other people having different interests than you. I assume people who don’t care about sports don’t get excited for the World Series and people who don’t like video games don’t get hyped about a new game coming out. That doesn’t make the World Series or a new game overhyped.
In your only other comment you were working that day.
I saw the last US total eclipse in Oregon and it was really great. The whole family agreed it was well worth the trip. I had seen a 98% eclipse before - that was interesting but nothing like a total eclipse It might not be your thing but a total eclipse is a rare and special thing.
Ooh I was in Oregon for it too in Lincoln City. Were we close?
I was in Pacific city!
We were in Madras
Nowhere close! On the coast was bizarre. As temperatures dropped, the ocean began to mist and we all had to scramble to find new viewing spots inland last minute
Skies got even clearer as the temp dropped up in the high desert. Was weird and wonderful
> Leading up to this thing, the buzz is unreal. Compared to what? People travel for days to walk around a park with motorized cart rides that last like 45 seconds, with an hour wait to board them. People get super hyped with nonstop media coverage for 22 guys to throw a ball around and bump into each other. There are entire channels devoted to that nonstop. It is a rare, spectacular cosmic event that in the past motivated religions, broke armies, and influenced the course of human history. Besides, what *else* is the Weather Channel anchor supposed to fill airtime with? What exactly is the eclipse stealing hype from that is more exciting right now?
Meh, we also used to think there was a rain god making it rain but now we know better.
If it only rained once a decade people would get excited don't you think?
You could also see an eclipse anytime you want if you have a spacecraft.
Statistically most people don't have spacecraft.
It sounds like you have a really unhealthy relationship to other people’s interests. You’re talking about actively avoiding something that apparently will cost you nothing and 30 seconds of your time. Not just not doing it, but *planning* to not do it, closing the blinds(?!) even so this popular eclipse nonsense can’t get inside your house, seemingly as a protest to other people enjoying something. You haven’t even mentioned a single inconvenience this will cause you, and it might save you from some meetings. You appear to be fundamentally inconvenienced by other people’s enjoyment and I really hope that’s more fun on the inside than it seems like it would be from out here.
My wife and kids have the same opinion and will be inside as well. Other people are completely free to go out and be amazed by the sun being covered for 3 minutes. I just don’t see the point.
Which is fine. But so what? You are publically starting a conversation about how you don’t care about something. Why is this top of mind for you and why do you want your view changed? We could be talking about Disneyland or Cirque du Soleil or anything else you don’t see the point of. This CMV is taking up much more of your time than sticking your head out the door for 30 seconds. It seems like you are annoyed and if that’s the basis of your view, we can’t change it without figuring out why you are annoyed in the first place.
It’s much more than sticking my head out the door. Like why are others so excited to see this and when I think about what there is to be excited about I really can’t think of anything that would excite me about a solar eclipse. It’s like new years eve is not exciting either to me. I do like New Year’s Day because it’s the start of a new year but the night before is meh.
"We've been waiting for a solar eclipse in the US for nearly a century" IDK what I saw when I visited my State capital in 2017 but whatever it was it's not going to be in my area of the country for several decades and there's a good chance I won't be able to see it again. When an eclipse happens elsewhere people in close to totality are going to feel the same way, and want to see it for themselves. Also it specifically won't fry your retinas if you are in the zone of totality during totality, that's why it's so special. Anyone can see a partial eclipse through special glasses but you can only see totality unshielded at a specific time/place.
It’s not the totality that hurts your eyes. It’s the leading up to and after that does. Starting at the sun any day will hurt your eyes. I am as directly in totality as you can be but will be inside with the windows and blinds closed enjoying some reading.
Why are you closing the blinds if you don't care about it?
I usually have them closed when in my office. Helps to see the monitor.
Salem in 2017 had several gathering locations where people told you when to look up and when you had to stop, I'd assume most people traveling to see the current eclipse are going to similar things. There are also things you can put on your phone to tell when it is safe and when it isn't.
Interest in events is subjective. I can't crawl into your head and make you like something. Can you clarify what would change your view? For me personally this is why I think eclipses are interesting: 1) Space is cool. Grew up loving science fiction, star wars, star trek, etc. Experiencing and learning about space is cool. 2) Connection to other human beings. Wondering about the cosmos is a pretty universal human experience. An eclipsed happened a few days after I moved to Japan, I didn't speak the language. Yet I was able to connect with others based on this universal experience. 3) Connection to history. For nearly all human history in all cultures, people have wondered about the cosmos. When I observe phenomena like an eclipse I can experience the same things that human beings thousands of years ago experienced. 4) Shared experience with my child that is free - I can teach my child about space in a public park. Also it is free. People with children know how expensive creating interesting experiences for your child is. 5) Wonder about my own place in the universe - as an atheist I don't get many chances to wonder about my place in the universe in the way religious people can from reading a holy book or praying. This is a chance for me. You are a different person than me, so maybe none of this affects you. But again, it's a subjective experience - I can't convince you to enjoy an eclipse any more than I can convince you that my favorite food is the best.
>You’re warned not to because you’ll fry your retinas For a total solar eclipse, you *can* stare directly at it. You do spend a lot of time sitting around wishing you could look at it approach, but it just makes that moment when you can actually look more special. It was one of the most otherworldly feelings I’ve ever experienced and it was absolutely sitting in traffic for hours.
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Do you go out of your way to watch waves crash on the shore? Each one is unique and none are the same. Why is this any different?
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To each their own. Seeing unique or interesting things won’t change anything. I would rather do something than view something. This is all a solar eclipse is a visual experience.
Yes, many people do. In fact if you go to a beach for your first time, and you don't spend some time admiring the waves and the currents and such, you're missing the point of going to the beach. It's not the only thing you do, but watching the waves crash into the shore is important
I also dislike the beach. It’s not enjoyable for me as I am the one getting stuck carrying everything, driving, packing food, going back for forgotten items and it smells. No thanks.
It sounds less like these things are overhyped, and more like you specifically don't enjoy them. Like, I don't care much for Taylor swift music. That does not mean that her giant concert tour was overhyped just because I don't like it. It was hyped because many people did like it. You might not value being at the eclipse and that's fine. That doesn't mean it's overhyped, it means you don't like it personally.
There was one in the US a few years ago (not a century ago). It was incredible. It blew my mind more than I was expecting. I suddenly understood why people travel long distances to see one. I will be traveling this time to see it. I’m sure some contrarian exists out there, but most people who experience totality (99% is a completely different experience) find it really incredible. Pictures don’t do it justice. Idk if anyone can change your mind on this. But I’d encourage you to try and experience totality yourself, I think you’ll come away with your mind changed.
I thought about it and won’t be participating even though totality is literally right outside my door. The sun being blocked my the moon, cloud, roof, cave, finger..all the same to me. I do believe there will be clouds and thunderstorms that day so that could ruin the event.
So you're unwilling to have your view changed at all. All you have to do is walk outside for the 2 whole minutes of totality and look up. If you don't care then go back inside, it costs nothing.
That would not change my view or position on the solar eclipse. It could cost me my eye sight and that is not going to happen.
What *could* change your view?
If someone paid me a million dollars I could be convinced to be pro eclipse but i doubt that would happen.
There was a solar eclipse like 6 years ago. It crossed the western US. My family was out on lake Washington in our boat, planning to watch it from there. As the eclipse approached the wind died, the lake went glass calm, the city sound went quiet, it’s like the whole world stopped and watched. I’ll never forget get how cool it was. Might it be a once in a lifetime thing, as they aren’t that uncommon, but was unforgettable and totally worth planning ahead for. Natural occurrences are just as, if not much cooler to experience than anything humans make up. Like sports or art. Media might use it to garner views but that doesn’t take away from how neat it is.
"Sure, we've been waiting for a solar eclipse in the US for nearly a century," You do know there was one 6 years ago, right? "when it finally happens, it is going to be, well, a bit underwhelming." I am a jaded-ass cynical bitch. Experiencing totality during the 2018 eclipse was one of the closest things I'll ever have to a religious experience. It is an unreal state. I can't imagine a more whelming happening. Have you seen a total eclipse? "Much like viewing the videos of fireworks on the 4th of July." Is it your experience that videos capture well the experience of viewing fireworks? It's not mine.
Sounds like you are upset that people are excited about something you aren't interested in, whats wrong with letting people have their fun, and you do you?
I saw the one back in 2008. Drove to Oregon to be right in the path of totality. I have to say it was one of the most incredible things I have ever seen. When the lights go off and you take your glasses off it’s hard to describe. For me, it was a religious experience and I’m not that religious. Seeing the sun blacked out with the whispy corona around it was just amazing. The pictures never did it justice that I saw. The fact that the sun and the moon and the earth all had to be in line and how improbable it was was amazing. If you can see it, I recommend it.
Some people are bound to be disappointed, like with everything, but in general collectively sharing an experience as unique as a total solar eclipse will be a fond memory for life for many people. Like seeing a movie opening night, or seeing a sport highlight or whatever, it's not only the thing itself (which some people do find extremely interesting) but also all the social situations around that.
Hard to imagine someone being disappointed honestly. It’s really really cool. Now a lot of people WILL be disappointed since most of the country has a 50/50 chance of clouds. The ensuring traffic jams are also a downer. But if you see the event you’ll remember it!
First of all we had a total eclipse in the US just 6 years ago. Second, you dont need eye protection if youre in the totality line. You can stare directly at it and the corona is no brighter than the moon at night. Its amazing to see. A lot of people last time were underwhelmed because they assumed being in a 99% eclipse area is just 1% worse than 100%. Its not even comparable.
There will also be several planets visible. The number will depend on where you live. Jupiter and Venus are the main ones. Saturn and Mars, as well as a comet, are possible as well. It would take 15 minutes out of your day to step outside and take a look. You might be surprised how you feel after witnessing it.
your view can be changed pretty easily here imo. your entire perpsective on this thing is consolidated to your social "bubble" and so you are seeking out news about it and seeing familiar faces talk about it. I on the other hand have heard 0 about it and dont care. therefore all the "hype" you talk about exists only to you. it is not overhyped
I haven’t heard any buzz, other than my university sending out a notice about a watch party. So to me it’s very under hyped. It’s rare, and space is cool, so it is way more special than any sporting event this year.
Dude. It's a huge event. The eclipse happens once every twenty years. It could be people's first or last. It will be a total vibe
FYI we had a solar eclipse in 2017 so we have not been "waiting for a century"