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Wait, So There's Science In Science Fiction?
Science Bloopers (and Successes) from Battlestar Galactica

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The_Sporean_Bob
07/24/09

In reply to Wait, So There's Science In Science Fiction?
also, let's not forget about all those shops in between where you want to go and where you are. They would lose a lot business! I bet they would start installing transporter pop-ups, where you get transferred to one of their stores instead of the place you want to go...
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Evdor
07/24/09

@The_Sporean_Bob: Hahaha, I could SO see that.

You go to teleport to Grandma's house. "What the hell!? McDonalds!? I didn't ask to teleport to" "Now that you're here, how about a Big Mac?"

*Sigh* Into the teleporter again. "What...Wal-Mart, WAL MART!? DAMN IT!"
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Roklimber
07/24/09

In reply to Wait, So There's Science In Science Fiction?
I can see it already... people's minds and life experiences being illegally downloaded through bit-torrent-like peer-to-peer networks.

And that reminds me... will you legally own your own mind? Given the absurd, but true, reality that drug companies have already patented people's DNAs, effectively owning them, I can see mind downloads being the next victim.

Good thing I've already backed up my life.
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Dr Emilio Lizardo
07/24/09

In reply to Wait, So There's Science In Science Fiction?
I haven't seen Caprica yet, but didn't Frederick Pohl do the whole downloading your personality thing decades ago in the "Gateway" books?
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Grey_Area
07/24/09

@Dr Emilio Lizardo: Nothing new under the sun, any sun. It's all in what the writers do with a similar trick. It looks like the Heechee books and Caprica have quite different approaches to downloadable dead people. Cut 'em some slack, Doc.
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Evdor
07/24/09

In reply to Wait, So There's Science In Science Fiction?
Right, Science moving ahead unguided by morality leading to terrible things. Because that trope hasn't been done to death Thank you, 'cutting edge' mainstream Sci fi writers.
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nakootie
07/24/09

@Evdor: And yet it's still as relevant as ever. The reason it keeps coming up is because we keep pressing ahead so often, without considering the moral or ethical ramifications of our advancements
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Evdor
07/24/09

@nakootie: While it may or may not be relevant, it's handled in a way that's completely formulaic, and devoid of any interesting subtext, right down to the grizzled old timer who tries to be the voice of reason in a room full of haughty, arrogant scientists who aren't thinking about what they're doing.
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The_Sporean_Bob
07/24/09

@Evdor: also not done very well. In reality, I don't think any truly dangerous tech, besides maybe some weaponry, has lead to such terrible things that people are not willing to use it. I mean, look at cars. We SEE bad accidents occur everyday, and yet we still drive them like crazy!
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Log1c
07/24/09

In reply to Wait, So There's Science In Science Fiction?
Man, I wish I could have attended this panel so I could ask them if they could give me a job.

Even if it could just be correcting computer jargon...
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WindowlickinDaywalker
07/24/09

@Log1c: Sometimes I think that that's all the science consultants do is correct the use of jargon, like: "Hey. Hey! You can't use 'quantum' in that context. It's micro!"

Watching any sci-fi show, there's gonna be a blurry line where the consultant simply has to shrug and say, "Sure, sounds good--not possible in this universe--but run with it."
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Log1c
07/24/09

@WindowlickinDaywalker: They pulled some goofy computer terms in TSCC which made me cringe. Out there space sci-fi or super futuristic stuff I can let stand for the most part, but simple basic computer knowledge irks me.
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