Mitt Romney: The Uncanny Candidate?

This is science?

As every liberal does they feel that if they have any power or respect to USE that power or respect to advance the left wing (progressive?) agenda

If you are a teacher, teach global warming, gay marriage, ocuppy wall street, provide kids with abortions without telling parents

If you are in the media, maximize republican wrondoings, then minimize if D's like jon corzine does the same thing (Enron anyone?)

If you are a scientist do whatever you can to push global warming scareism who cares if it's political, it will help income inequality so it's ok to exagerate

And now this? This isn't even POSING as science

It's pure politics

Demonization

Romney is a robot, he's not quite human, he's different, a demon, not like use, unhuman

Of course he's not human, he doesn't agree with the progressive agenda, and to be a scientist these apparently you also have to not only agree with that agenda but shed any trace of credibility the scientific community has to convince a few people (who prob already hate all republicans or they wouldn't be convinced by this tripe) to vote for obamo cause romney is a demon non human robot?

Tripe, you should be ashamed, this is even worse than the hit piece this site did on republicans who don't go along with yr global warming (Climate changarooski?) nonsense

It's clear the enviros will lie about ANYTHING to push the progressive redistribution/enviromental line

Oh these bulbs last for years (lie)

We can have electric cars at a resonable price within a few years (lies on top of lies, the expense and problems getting these charged are no where near as cheap and easy as was claimed)

The claims of solar and wind are BS, they aren't cost effective enough to stay in bussiness without constant goverment redistribution

Nonsense and lies and now demonization and hatred

Scoff

Poor taste POPSCI. There is no reason for this article on this site. The write-up on Newt Gingrich's (ridiculous) moon base proposal was barely acceptable, but this is just an unnecessary foray into politics. Any visitors of your site that also enjoy keeping up with politics are well aware of The Atlantic - they do not need POPSCI to direct them to it.

@sonicp's comment is a classic example as to why these type of articles should not be on POPSCI - @sonicp just couldn't resist taking it as an opportunity to criticize, and demonize a group of people with opposing views. Seriously, all liberals are at fault for this?

Tone

it

down

a

notch.

I suppose that this probably falls under the heading of science since it relates to political science, but finding this article sandwiched in between "Menstrual Intuition" and "Hilarious Theory of Everything" strikes me as odd.

In any case, my decision not to support Romney has less to do with his looks and mannerisms and more to do with his policies and track record. It's an interesting suggestion that his similarities to robots may influence some people negatively, but there is hardly any evidence in this article that this is a major issue for anyone. This is neither news nor science.

Poor form Popsci, let's try to keep with science and leave articles like this to Wired.

-1 internets

Here we go again, another media outlet using its power in an effort to inluence an election based on their bias. Last I checked this was supposed to be "Popular Science" not a lead-in to politics disguised as science!

Cut the unethical BS and get back to what your supposed to be reporting on POPSCI!

Wow people get worked up fast.

Did any of you actually read the linked article? I find this article refreshing, in so much as it takes a scientific theory and uses it in a non-traditional context. It's quirky.

However, as the comments so far show, people become stupid when exposed to political content. Popsci should've assumed this.

THANK YOU suggestivesimon, i thought had goen crazy and had not actually read the article like most people on here. lol. No Endorsement of Romney was ever portrayed, just a thired party analysis of why his awkwardness makes us feel awkward...... wow PopSci got an unintentional troll GJ PopSci lol. Good article btw guys interesting stuff about science in there

hey sonicp why dont you take your right wing, science hating, fact hating, bs and blow it out your republican,koch sukking,idiotic, bible thumping, rectum.

Robots, Puppets, Marionettes, Hand Puppets, Politicians, it's all the same thing.

I am just waiting for a true leader that has a brain and a plan we can all relate too, does what he says he going to do too.

.............................
Science sees no further than what it can sense.
Religion sees beyond the senses.

I'm actually one of those left-wing nut jobs that promotes the impact of global warming, importance of gay marriage, significance of the occupy wall street movement and the benefits of prochoice (although, only to a point regarding prochoice -- abortion is not birth control).

Yet, I have to agree with sonic on one point: this article does not belong on PopSci.

This is a science website and should remain neutral on politics unless there's a very specific reason behind it -- such as a politicians views on science.

It's really unfortunate too, because the uncanny valley theory tucked away at the bottom of the article is something I actually would have loved to hear more about. That would have made for an *excellent* PopSci article.

----------------
"Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

Rebecca Boyle is a liberal politician, not a scientist. This is just another one of her numerous left-wing articles that somehow PopSci sees fit to publish.

Okay, Rebecca, I gave you the benefit of the doubt here. Maybe you really think Romney had an "uncanny valley" moment. What I saw was just an awkward moment, like everyone has at one time or another. It reminded me for some reason of Kevin Klein singing in "Dave" but I didn't see any "uncanny valley." So I'm withdrawing the benefit of the doubt.

I think you're making a political statement by stretching a connection to Brian Fung's political commentary in The Atlantic. It's a strange meme, Romney's supposed inability to connect with real people. Obviously the Republicans in Florida don't have a problem with it. I just heard a radio interview of several people who know Romney well and they are puzzled by it because they know him to be warm and personable. Maybe it's the media's attempt to nitpick on awkward moments, especially since their guy, Barack Obama, is notoriously cold and prickly.

At any rate, as others have noted, there is no connection to the "uncanny valley" here except the obvious politically-motivated one, so let's lay off the politics and stick to science, technology and cool stuff.

Gee...What the hell is going on here! This article should never had been posted here! If you wanna play left wing bullshit politics go ahead, but don't count on me to read your magazine or your web site.....You better stay focused on science and achievements and leave the political bull in the pen....you must have sorry jackass editors at this site!

So....... since POPSCI is giving the floor now to politicians, who else may we see? Is their an all Star Bangle Line UP, with high kicks and dancing too! Will any of them sing? Oooops, sorry, I am sure all of them will say something famous in POPSCI scientific terms jargon to make it to the POPSCI lime light! This is what POPSCI is all about, "POPULAR SCIENCE!"

.............................
Science sees no further than what it can sense.
Religion sees beyond the senses.

So far the change has been all bad.

Why are liberals so mean?

It could be more that Romney is a tall person. They are kind of cold seeming but you find they are great folk when you get to know them.

Seems PopSci is joining in on the Political slandering and such... A American tradition it seems?... Anyway I watched the video and he is not the best singer but I don't see how he's anything like a Robot...

Glad I'm not an American, the choices you guys are forced to pick for candidates for your dictatorship are kinda poor. Its like you can't make a right choice even if you wanted too... LOL

(there is no democracy in existence on planet earth today, we have yet to witness a true democratic society 'Venus Project')

Yep i must be crazy because i'm the only one that doesn't see this as a non political post..............

It's not so much that it's not science or that they are somehow obligated to stay centrist, it's that they insult our intelligence by assuming they've duped us.

I can see her sitting back in her chair with a smile on her face hitting the submit button saying "Ahh yes, just enough science in this diatribe to keep the sheep engaged."

Like one of those people that cover their hand over their mouth when they insult someone ... that way it's like it never really happened.

So, what this article is saying is that either (A) Romney is a normal person with uncomfortable moments like we would all have under such scrutiny or (B) he is a robot and people can subconsciously tell.

If it is (A) then the article is pointless - uncanny divide applies only to non-humans. Any revulsions towards a human are not uncanny divide, the are natural divide. UD might reject a robot because it looks corpse-like in its stiffness. People reject corpses, not because they are robot-like, but because they are corpses!!! (with hardwired distaste as a disease control mechanism in our psyche)

If it is (B) then I welcome a robot so advanced that it can callously make so much money take it can continue to make over 20 million dollars a year in dividens and intrest decades later on the money already made. So advanvced that even the one article that noticed he is robot like does not believe he is a man like robot, but thinks he is a robot like man.

I, for one, welcome our silent alien overlords who have been trying to rule us directly through alien politicians for years (Romney, Al Gore, Richard Nixon, etc).

Demonic Robot is the perfect description for Mitt Bush Romney. I always thought that he looked like John Wayne Gasy, the serial killer, in makeup. He certainly has all the behaviors of Gasy and Bush, Jr. and Sr.. Romney will stand there and lie to you and when you call him on it, the first thing out of his mouth is, "Your taking my words out of context," or, "I didn't say it that way." He is Bush, Jr's twin.

What is uncanny is the stretch Ms Boyle makes to bring a political opinion into the article.

The concept of the 'uncanny valley' is genuinely interesting to me (though I don't find the realism discomforting personally), but its a shame that it had to be sullied as nearly a straight rip off (a dumbed down one at that) of a shamelessly biased article.

To the few who have said "did you read the article??", yes, and I saw that she conveniently tacked on some semblance of a scientific disposition on the theory. It filled a cozy little bottom third of the article. One part science, two parts drivel; a winning formula for Popular Science.

What's most insulting to the reader, is the hollow assurance that there is no intended judgement passed. Does Rebecca believe she has fooled anyone? Perhaps, sadly, she has.

SonicP would be better served on Fox "News'" or some creationist website...

I liked the article. I've had this talk about Romney before. Why do you think people call him the "plastic man"? Lighten up folks...

@ Frostty

You rebuke SonicP, but let similarly outrageous posts as JamesDavis and D13 slide on by?

For all his faults in his post, SonicP points out a valid criticism of this site. This author in particular. There have been many agenda driven articles flowing through PopSci, which one can see from either side of the fence.

Bias goes both ways, as the existence of both SonicP, this article, JamesDavis, and yourself are proof positive. Neither has a place in the appreciation of science, and both should be treated with equal disdain.

Science should stand on its own. Spinning the facts and reaching for connections disservices us all.

(sorry D13, not picking on you, just the first post was similarly off color, thoguh not as severe... or perhaps it was satire, in which case I'll give you credit where due)

Please keep Politics out of Science.

Ron Paul anyone? media? helloooo

Perhaps I should stop coming to this site, and cancel my subscription as it doesn't understand the value of Science.

Take your politics elsewhere. Many of us Science readers have no desire to read about the political systems of this country or any other.

Seems like a silly debate. Waste of time. Obama will win because the pubs are a mess.

-

"I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours"

- Stephen Roberts

WTF!!! This is total crap! I will re-subscribe to PopSci when Rebecca Boyle, and anyone who is more concerned with a political agenda then science is fired, and an apology is issued for this kind of political writing in what should be a science publication!

Willard Mitt Romney (born March 12, 1947)
That die he uses in his hair is GOOD!
At least he stands a chance of living through 2 terms.

Newton Leroy McPherson; (born June 17, 1943)
Newt might finish his first term, before kicking the bucket!

In the USA, males die averagely at 75. years currently.

.............................
Science sees no further than what it can sense.
Religion sees beyond the senses.

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my roomate's aunt makes $83/hr on the laptop. She has been without work for 8 months but last month her pay was $8682 just working on the laptop for a few hours. Read more on this site...Nuttyrich . com