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Legallee Insane
Skeptic Friend
Canada
126 Posts |
 Posted - 12/13/2002 : 20:08:39
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I'm just curious about something. Knowing that almost everyone who posts here can be considered hardened skeptics, is anyone looking forward to movies like "Star Trek: Nemesis" and "LotR: The Two Towers"?
I'm just curious as to whether people's skepticism plays a role in the entertainment they seek.
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--"Only the fool says in his heart: There is no god -- The wise says it to the world"
--"I darn you to HECK!" - Catbert
--"Don't worry, we're not laughing at you, we're laughing near you." |
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Gorgo
SFN Die Hard
USA
5310 Posts |
Posted - 12/13/2002 : 21:31:29 [Permalink]
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Hardened?
Don't know where you get that adjective, but yes, I'm going to see Nemesis Sunday, and I'll go see Towers, and then Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson. None of that has anything to do with skepticism. No one is telling me that this is anything but fiction. |
I know the rent is in arrears
The dog has not been fed in years
It's even worse than it appears
But it's alright-
Jerry Garcia
Robert Hunter
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Lisa
SFN Regular
USA
1223 Posts |
Posted - 12/13/2002 : 22:59:19 [Permalink]
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Have read Tolkien a boatload of times. I also enjoy science fiction.
The ability to discern reality from fantasy doesn't impact my appreciation of popular entertainment. |
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@tomic
Administrator
USA
4607 Posts |
Posted - 12/13/2002 : 23:09:46 [Permalink]
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quote:
The ability to discern reality from fantasy doesn't impact my appreciation of popular entertainment.
Heh, I have been suffering through all 20 hours of "Taken" and people seem surprised I would watch it but this quote says it all. This being said, I can't watch John Edwards but maybe that's because people take it seriously and despite the disclaimers accept it as real.
I'm more excited about Children of Dune on the Sci Fi channel. It may not be the best production but seems to have a better interpretation of the story and themes than David Lynch could muster.
@tomic |
Gravity, not just a good idea...it's the law!
Sportsbettingacumen.com: The science of sports betting |
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Mr. Spock
Skeptic Friend
USA
99 Posts |
Posted - 12/14/2002 : 01:31:25 [Permalink]
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Same here. I indulge in all kinds of fantasy and folly in my personal tastes, but don't play fast and loose with logic and refuse to buy into an idea or position simply because it indulges the more whimsical aspects of my personality.
I believe that we have had this discussion before, but I suppose that what frustrates skeptics is not so much the fact that we find much of the content of popular entertainment to be utterly unbelievable, but rather the fact that many either can not, or refuse to, make the distinction between entertainment and reality.
For instance, while I would never waste my money having my palms read, I suppose that there is nothing inherently "unskeptical" about going to a palmist, either to satisfy one's curiosity or simply for a good laugh. One might even temporarily suspend one's disbelief just for the fun of it and walk out of the experience with skepticism intact. As you have all just stated, one compromises reason only when fact and fiction are confused.
I suppose that what disgusts us is when people present such flim-flam not as entertaiment, but as reality. I suppose that we could get started again on the moral questions involving media accountability in this respect, if anyone is interested..... |
"The amount of noise which anyone can bear stands in inverse proportion to his mental capacity." --Schopenhauer |
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riptor
Skeptic Friend
Germany
70 Posts |
Posted - 12/14/2002 : 04:41:10 [Permalink]
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- Uh, huh huh huh. Hardened
- Shut up, Beavis
Okay, back to topic. I am looking forwards to both, ST and LotR, although I like LotR more.
I'm into both, SF and F and did also publish some short stories an dpoems of that area in Germany. It looks pretty much like fantastic literature is very popular among skeptics.
Perhaps because we KNOW that it's just fiction. Others even take the bible serious. Poor fools :D Oh, Spock just said that last part as I couldn't do any better. |
Hail the Big bearded Jellyfish up in heaven above. |
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Lisa
SFN Regular
USA
1223 Posts |
Posted - 12/14/2002 : 05:41:59 [Permalink]
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Is this a bad time to mention that I think "Spike" on Buffy the Vampire Slayer is really hot?
Yes, I am a skeptic. And I don't believe in any sky daddies, fairies, unicorn, or various elves. Over at JREF, I been threatened with a new title - "Flaming Bitch From Hell". (@tomic, don't even think it  )
Yet I still like to read fantasy books. Eddings, Lackey, MacCaffery, Cook, love em all. Escapism? Perhaps. Or maybe I just like a good story with interesting characters. |
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@tomic
Administrator
USA
4607 Posts |
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Espritch
Skeptic Friend
USA
284 Posts |
Posted - 12/14/2002 : 14:47:26 [Permalink]
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I've been a Tolkein fan every since my Dad read "The Hobbit" to me when I was a wee little lad of 4 or 5. My biggest worry when I heard that they were doing a movie version of LOTR, was that they would royally botch it up. So "The Fellowship of The Ring" turned out to be a pleasant surprize and I am looking forward to the "Two Towers".
P.S. Being a skeptic doesn't mean you can't enjoy fantasy, it just means you can differtiate between fantasy and reality. |
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Slater
SFN Regular
USA
1668 Posts |
Posted - 12/14/2002 : 17:35:01 [Permalink]
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Now I see why they called it "Taken"
20 hours, 10 directors, and nothing happened....I've been Taken (by the SicFi channel marketing dept) |
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I learned something ... I learned that Jehovah's Witnesses do not celebrate Halloween. I guess they don't like strangers going up to their door and annoying them.
-Bruce Clark
There's No Toilet Paper...on the Road Less Traveled |
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@tomic
Administrator
USA
4607 Posts |
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ntech
New Member
USA
8 Posts |
Posted - 12/25/2002 : 16:22:29 [Permalink]
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I feel like such a newbie. I am atheist but have christmas and Im a skeptic and still love good Scifi. Nemesis was disappointing though.
Nice site layout! |
Faith is to the human what sand is to the ostrich. - Anonymous
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filthy
SFN Die Hard
USA
14408 Posts |
Posted - 12/25/2002 : 17:42:14 [Permalink]
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A little fantasy? Sure! I love fantasy. Without fantasy, we'd have no Mark Twain, Kurt Vonnegut, John D. McDonald, nor Mickey Spillane.
But, I have learned to ignore the voices.......
f |
"What luck for rulers that men do not think." -- Adolf Hitler (1889 - 1945)
"If only we could impeach on the basis of criminal stupidity, 90% of the Rethuglicans and half of the Democrats would be thrown out of office." ~~ P.Z. Myres
"The default position of human nature is to punch the other guy in the face and take his stuff." ~~ Dude
Brother Boot Knife of Warm Humanitarianism,
and Crypto-Communist! 
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Lisa
SFN Regular
USA
1223 Posts |
Posted - 12/26/2002 : 01:06:56 [Permalink]
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quote:
Originally posted by ntech
I feel like such a newbie. I am atheist but have christmas and Im a skeptic and still love good Scifi. Nemesis was disappointing though.
Nice site layout!
Ray old boy! Good to see you here. You'll notice this is a somewhat more troll-free environment.
Back on topic: Love SciFi/Fantasy. I don't have any superstitions to fall back on, so I just like to let my brain go for a few hours of ripping good entertainment. Only one thing I ask: out here, it costs $7.50 to get into a movie. Please entertain me, even if the critics hate it.
Today's major disappointment: Shadowman just got back from the desert, and really wants to see "The Two Towers". We planned to go on xmas. We really didn't figure there'd be too many people there. We've been under the impression this is a pretty fundy area. On xmas, shouldn't everyone be busy indocrinating their children into useless mythology? Brainwashing their kids about Santa and god, and other mutually exclusive things?
Man, were we wrong.
Got to the theater, and there had to be over a hundred people waiting to get in. Yeeks, we said. We've decided to put off this little adventure until next week. |
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welshdean
Skeptic Friend
United Kingdom
172 Posts |
Posted - 01/03/2003 : 03:24:06 [Permalink]
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Love LotR, adore Star Trek (is it me or is Kirk, Spock, Scotty et al significantly better than the New Gen, Voyager etc). I've tried to explain the reasons why i love the whole Sci-Fi / fantasy genre to my mates. Put simply, if I want to educate myself, I'll pick up a book. If I want to enjoy some "chewing gum for the eyes" I'll sit and watch a film.
Incidentally for those of you that enjoy a good film, yet despise going to the cinema (or am I alone in this?) spend about £2000 ($3000) on a good Home Cinema amplifier. You'll then be able to decode sound formats that cinemas only dream about and it massively enhances the viewing experience. |
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---- Muhammad Ali
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Dr Shari
Skeptic Friend
135 Posts |
Posted - 01/03/2003 : 14:38:12 [Permalink]
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Next Gen is fundamentally better written and has had the chance to excell with better special effects. I loved Kirk, Spock etc. but a little to cowboy for me.
You need Sci-Fi/Fantasy for escapism. Where else can we see men fly, go to three ringed moons or chase a Unicorn? Most of my freinds read Tolkien in college so I saw the LOTR's movies and they made me and appreciated the "movie magic" and effects of a big budget picture. BUT..people too often try to read some sort of mystic following into good movies. People tried to follow the Force or believed in ET a little to much instead of just appreciating the story. That is how I see religion too. A good story. |
Death: The High Cost of Living
It is easier to get forgiveness then to get permission! |
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