Dinosaurs

What's the first thing that pops into your head when you hear or read this word?  Land Before Time?  T-Rex?  A vast collection of memories from your childhood?

The truth is, I get a sense that in fact a great many people have thoughts of childishness and, well, silliness.  How do dinosaurs go from being so exciting and fascinating to just plain childish?  Now, you may be saying to yourself, "Hey, I don't think loving dinosaurs is silly.  I respect an adult who loves to study them."  Consider this:

Imagine working in some office.  This an office of a fairly well-to-do business, though no Microsoft by any means.  Imagine the kinds of side conversations going on between co-workers.  Maybe a couple of guys are talking about skiing over the weekend.  Then there might be another group talking about how they just saw a great movie.  There could be a woman talking about going on a date with a certain special someone.  Imagine someone talking about dinosaurs.  The context behind this conversation doesn't matter.  It sounds kind of out of place no matter which way you spin it.  The only people I can possibly imagine bringing up dinosaurs in an office would be Michael Scott or Dwight.  Quirky and nerdy.

Now don't get me wrong, this post is about how unfortunate it is that dinosaur lovers have this stigma.  Type in "dinosaurs" in google and see what comes up.  The second one listed (only after wikepedia) is called "kidsdinos.com".  Why are dinosaurs for kids?  This doesn't look like something cute and cudly. 

you technically can't even access the website for the video game this picture comes from unless you are 17 or older

I don't know if it was Barney that started it or if that show was a result of years of unspoken social rules.  I see nothing childish in people interested in studying the early inhabitants of this earth.  It sounds quite fascinating to me personally.  Yet, those who visit dinosaur museums tend to be either kids or scholars.  Your run-of-the-mill adult could not show an outward passion for dinosaurs without losing some kind of social status. 

I think dinosaurs are great and those adults who embrace their interest and love for dinosaurs should be praised for their lack of conformity.  I have a couple of friends who have had dinosaur parties and though probably most of us kind of chuckled at the thought of a dinosaur party, they were well attended and we enjoyed them. 

So next time you find yourself snickering at someone mentioning or talking about dinosaurs, think twice before labeling that person as childish.  There are plenty of intelligent people who have spent their lives not letting others' opinions deter them from studying and teaching others about these creatures.