:
The Measurement of Contraction

The theory of relativity is presented as one that cannot be understood
by most people.

Unfortunately that is how it is often presented.

This aura of complexity and difficulty is maintained
by using ambiguity and vagueness in describing and defining the theory

Quite true. I often wondered why they would present the theory in such
a vague and confusing way, when it can be simply presented w/o
vagueness and confusions. Rare are the SR books which are well
presented.

I have come to the conclusion that SR authors are either clueless
about relativity and thus remain vague in its descriptions or that
those authors are just really bad pedagogists.

I am not saying that SR is wrong and I tend to say the opposite.
But I do say that SR is badly represented or described. If relativity
authors really wanted to, they can introduce SR
in simple terms well accessible to highschool students. But then SR
would loose all of its "mystery" and relativist would no longer be
viewed as "brilliant".

guido:
Let's see if you don't find my approach perhaps less vague, clueless,
confusing (if a bit messy, yes:-), mysterious :
SRT made easy, intuitive, geometrically and logically satisfactory:
http://home.scarlet.be/~pin12499/paratwin.htm
SRT in my QBasic pages with some graphic examples:
http://home.scarlet.be/~pin12499/qbRelaty.html

guido