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(I know this isn't exactly your intention, but it's a similar situation.)

Do you think that we should give funding to study the mating habits of endangered iguanas in the Sonoran desert, or should we be funding cures for alzheimer's and diabetes?

Trick question, it's the same thing!

Science often finds weird things in weird places.

Shamelessly plagarized from this tumblr post:

https://i-draws-dinosaurs.tumblr.com/post/811645777885741056

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They aren't the same thing though. They wield different expected results: - Studying the mating habits of endangered iguanas (or other apparently random research) is about describing real-life phenomenon; - Finding cures for Alzheimer's and diabetes are focused studies that funnel resources towards solving the diseases directly. The first is a breadth-first search that can provide inspiration and unique ideas for further research, and the second is a deep-dive, trying to solve a particular issue. They both have their times and places, but it is important to not paint them as "the same".

No and I have no problem with others being fascinated by history's dead-ends. I was just expressing my own leanings (in case it resonated with others—perhaps not, ha ha).

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