Young Men Discouraged From Science

[JHB]

19. “Mr. Spock Is Dreamy!” .:. by Isaac Asimov

Perhaps relevant to this discussion, a somewhat older perspective

Originally published in TV Guide, April 29, 1967.
Scientist and science-fiction writer Isaac Asimov is incredulous when his 12-year-old daughter tells him Star Trek's Mr. Spock is "dreamy":
http://www.fanpop.com/spots/zachary-quintos-spock/articles/120017/title/spock-dreamy-isaac-asimov

Do you know what this means to me? Can you imagine what a load of guilt it has taken off my back? Can you imagine what a much greater load of vain regret it has put on my back?

But, heaven help me, it wasn’t my fault. I was misled. When I was young I read books about children; books for which Tom Sawyer was the prototype. Anyone else old enough to remember those books?

Remember the kid hero? Wasn’t he a delightful little chap? Wasn’t he manly? He played hooky all the time and went swimming at the old swimming hole. Remember? He never knew his lessons; he swiped apples; he used bad grammar and threw rocks at cats. You remember.

And do you remember that little sneaky kid we all hated so? He was an unbearable wretch who wore clean clothes, and did his lessons, and got high marks, and spoke like a dude. All the kids hated him, and so did all the readers. Rotten little smart kid!