CJH
but surely if you laugh brayingly after every small joke a smart man makes then you must be a genius as well

HankFinch
He draws that kind of crowd because he uses a lot of new age terms. These people are more focused on the concept that they are "empowered" than actual science.

Ursa_minor
I don't think it's that pathetic, hank - these are just uber-nerds trying to look funny and cool and appreciative in front of someone they idolize.

Anaxagoras
Ursa: your scenario is quite a bit more pathetic than Hank's.

Ursa_minor
No it isn't. We all do this, it's a pretty human response. I knew your response was coming - and after this I assume that someone will be like "nuh uh I always act cool and am never nervous".

I will assume that someone will be a bouncer.

If you aren't a bouncer, you're guilty of this type of behavior too. Maybe not as loud or obnoxious, but you've done it.

Baldr
When confronted with a person I admire, I have a deep urge to urinate on myself and run out of the room screaming. Despite this, I expect the people I admire to be as uncomfortable in the face of compliments as I am.

The laughter you're hearing are the squeals of the weak. The soft who feel that their status is enhanced by sharing the opinions of someone who worked their ass off to hold those opinions. Does Tyson appreciate that laughter? Or does he sound almost angry as he says, "I never want you to quote me, citing my authority as a scientist for your knowing something."

Johnny Madhouse
I know this shit and I think it would be great to banter obnoxiously with Tyson about this. There's a lot of jealousy in this subthread, I think.