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Donnie B.
Skeptic Friend
417 Posts |
 Posted - 11/29/2001 : 14:56:44 [Permalink]
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I don't think anyone has raised this point yet...
Why on earth would a school organize a field trip to see an entertainment movie in the first place? Was this the school's Film Club or something? Or was it justified as having some educational merit?
I'm not saying that there shouldn't be purely fun things connected with school -- hell, ideally learning should always be fun (and hard work too, sometimes). But why the "Harry Potter" movie? Why not a natural history museum or something?
If I really strain my imagination I can barely justify the movie as an "encouragement to reading". But from what I've heard, the books are already so popular among kids it's hard to imagine that seeing the movie would send them scurrying off to the library or bookstore.
Or am I just being an old poop?
By the way, I share your contempt for the fundies who spoiled the fun. Regardless of whether the trip was a good idea in the first place, they clearly had "no standing" (in the legal sense) to intervene. Whack their ta-tas!
-- Donnie B.
Brian: "No, no! You have to think for yourselves!" Crowd: "Yes! We have to think for ourselves!" |
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filthy
SFN Die Hard
USA
14408 Posts |
Posted - 12/16/2001 : 11:28:55 [Permalink]
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I don't recall the exact quote (ashamed) but it was to the effect that a technology sufficently advanced, presented to someone who'd never imagined such a thing, that person would probably call it magic or witchcraft. For example, if that stalwart churchman, Pope Urban, he of the First Crusade infamy, were plopped down in the Vatican today, he'd be shrieking about Works of the Devil (between heart attacks and strokes), and this before he even got through the door.
The pitiful part of this is that those who killed the Harry Potter trip are not seeing advanced technology. They are succuming to superstition that dates well before the redoubtable Urban, and should know better.
Wouldn't it be fun to start a rumor amongst these people that their home furnace contains a demon and when they put oil in it, they are feeding a spawn of Satan?
Just might work.
f
The more I learn about people, the better I like rattlesnakes. |
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The Rat
SFN Regular
Canada
1370 Posts |
Posted - 12/16/2001 : 21:44:58 [Permalink]
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quote:
I don't recall the exact quote (ashamed) but it was to the effect that a technology sufficently advanced, presented to someone who'd never imagined such a thing, that person would probably call it magic or witchcraft.
That was Arthur C. Clarke, and I believe he usually calls it Clarke's second law; Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.
Clarke's first law; When a distinguished elderly scientist says that something is possible, he is very probably right, When he says something is impossible, he is very probably wrong.
Clarke's third law; The only way to discover the limits of the possible is by going beyond them into the impossible.
Free speech; excercise it or SHUT UP! |
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gezzam
SFN Regular
Australia
751 Posts |
Posted - 12/16/2001 : 22:12:21 [Permalink]
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quote:
I don't think anyone has raised this point yet...
Why on earth would a school organize a field trip to see an entertainment movie in the first place? Was this the school's Film Club or something? Or was it justified as having some educational merit?
I'm not saying that there shouldn't be purely fun things connected with school -- hell, ideally learning should always be fun (and hard work too, sometimes). But why the "Harry Potter" movie? Why not a natural history museum or something?
If I really strain my imagination I can barely justify the movie as an "encouragement to reading". But from what I've heard, the books are already so popular among kids it's hard to imagine that seeing the movie would send them scurrying off to the library or bookstore.
Or am I just being an old poop?
I dont think you are being an old poop at all Donnie B.
Why take kids to a fantasy movie during school hours, when they could be at a Planetarium or a meuseum learing about our world.....
I know it is not really part of this topic, but it shows the shallowness of a lot of people when Reality TV programs far outrate a documentary or a topical current affairs report.
No wonder there are so many dimwits in the world.....
"Damn you people. Go back to your shanties." --- Shooter McGavin |
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Trish
SFN Addict
USA
2102 Posts |
Posted - 12/16/2001 : 22:28:03 [Permalink]
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It could be related to Modern Literature. Or it could be just something fun to take a break from school.
We had this discussion elsewhere on this board about science fiction/fantasy books being in part commentary on the social/political aspects of contemporary society. If the teachers can gear discussion of the movie in this vein there is absolutely nothing wrong with a bit of escapist literature or movies.
It is by the goodness of God that in our country we have those three unspeakably precious things: freedom of speech, freedom of conscience, and the prudence never to practice either of them. -Mark Twain |
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hatten_jc
New Member
Sweden
44 Posts |
Posted - 12/17/2001 : 03:52:15 [Permalink]
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quote:
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/htx/nm/20011116/en/film-potterschool_1.html
Nonsense from North Dakota.
f
The more I learn about people, the better I like rattlesnakes.
As the Bibel is the OLDES exampel on a Fantasy book they probly afriad of competition..
waith They actualy belive in the bibel then thos fanatics probly belive in Harry Potter to...
Its irritading that a fantasy book like the bibel caus so mutch pain.
After al returning from the grave, making the death alive, walking on wather, and splitting the reedsea, chow that the ONLY place you could stop the bibel is among FANTASY BOOKS...
i gets so angry when fanatics try to force there belife on others....
Never underestemate a humans capaity for activ stupity
Sorry about my lousy English ? can we talk in Swedish :) |
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Trish
SFN Addict
USA
2102 Posts |
Posted - 12/17/2001 : 04:00:09 [Permalink]
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quote:
Never underestemate a humans capaity for activ stupity
Sorry about my lousy English ? can we talk in Swedish :)
I'm sure the majority of us won't have a problem with your 'lousy English'. The problem here is, our Swedish would be even worse than you English. It doesn't take too much transliteration to read your posts. At least what I've read of them so far. 
It is by the goodness of God that in our country we have those three unspeakably precious things: freedom of speech, freedom of conscience, and the prudence never to practice either of them. -Mark Twain |
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Garrette
SFN Regular
USA
562 Posts |
Posted - 12/17/2001 : 04:20:45 [Permalink]
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My Swedish is limited to the Swedish Chef variety of Muppets fame. If that won't do, I suggest we stick with your English which is just fine.
My kids still love me. |
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Donnie B.
Skeptic Friend
417 Posts |
Posted - 12/17/2001 : 05:16:20 [Permalink]
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To-deyyy, ve cookie de cheekie!
-- Donnie B.
Brian: "No, no! You have to think for yourselves!" Crowd: "Yes! We have to think for ourselves!" |
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Snake
SFN Addict
USA
2511 Posts |
Posted - 12/17/2001 : 17:05:11 [Permalink]
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quote:
Why take kids to a fantasy movie during school hours, when they could be at a Planetarium or a meuseum learing about our world.....
I know it is not really part of this topic, but it shows the shallowness of a lot of people when Reality TV programs far outrate a documentary or a topical current affairs report.
No wonder there are so many dimwits in the world.....
What!!!
I don't think you thought that through when you wrote it unless you are not an open minded freethinking person.
What is wrong with fantasy? ART and music where do you think the greatest minds in those fields would be if they didn't or weren't allowed to daydream? Or think beyond the limits of what could be. Excuse me but many of the outstanding artists over the years if held to your standards would have been confined to staying within the lines.
We, IMO, have so many idiot 'dimwits' running around BECAUSE they are taking away art programs in the schools.
Rap Crap is to music what Paint by Numbers is to art.
Oh yeah and one more thing....the reason we have so many of those unbelievably stupid reality shows IS because there's no one(well hardly anyone) in the industry now who has any creativity. LOL, trust me, I live in the area of where all those phoney people are.
Edited by - snake on 12/17/2001 17:15:45 |
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hatten_jc
New Member
Sweden
44 Posts |
Posted - 12/17/2001 : 17:25:34 [Permalink]
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quote:
My Swedish is limited to the Swedish Chef variety of Muppets fame. If that won't do, I suggest we stick with your English which is just fine.
My kids still love me.
I'm hope that you dont pay the muppet cook any mony for his lesson becuse i am Swedish and I dont understand him..
He probly have a Dysfunction of some kind :)
am glad you and you kids get along
Never underestemate a humans capaity for activ stupity
Sorry about my lousy English ? can we talk in Swedish :) |
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Garrette
SFN Regular
USA
562 Posts |
Posted - 12/18/2001 : 04:33:49 [Permalink]
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quote:
I'm hope that you dont pay the muppet cook any mony for his lesson becuse i am Swedish and I dont understand him..
He probly have a Dysfunction of some kind :)
Hmmmmm..... So it takes an American who can't speak a certain language to understand that language when spoken by an American who is only pretending to speak that language? Got it. Maybe if the Chef just talks louder you'll understand? I seem to remember that trick from my cultural relations courses.
My kids still love me. |
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PhDreamer
SFN Regular
USA
925 Posts |
Posted - 12/18/2001 : 06:55:43 [Permalink]
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quote:
Oh yeah and one more thing....the reason we have so many of those unbelievably stupid reality shows IS because there's no one(well hardly anyone) in the industry now who has any creativity. LOL, trust me, I live in the area of where all those phoney people are
Would that this were so. The show creators are only as creative as the ratings. The creators aren't being deliberately uncreative, they're giving the viewing public (at least a portion thereof) what they want to see. That said, I object to even calling those sorts of shows 'reality.' The cast members are actors, just like any other show, they just don't have any scripts.
Adventure? Excitement? A Jedi craves not these things. - Silent Bob |
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Donnie B.
Skeptic Friend
417 Posts |
Posted - 12/18/2001 : 08:04:57 [Permalink]
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Sort of "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" writ large, eh?
OK, topic hijack: I say the British "Whose Line" (with Clive Anderson) is far, far wittier and more enjoyable than the American one (with Drew Carey). Any dissenters?
-- Donnie B.
Brian: "No, no! You have to think for yourselves!" Crowd: "Yes! We have to think for ourselves!" |
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Valiant Dancer
Forum Goalie
USA
4826 Posts |
Posted - 12/18/2001 : 08:46:40 [Permalink]
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quote:
Sort of "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" writ large, eh?
OK, topic hijack: I say the British "Whose Line" (with Clive Anderson) is far, far wittier and more enjoyable than the American one (with Drew Carey). Any dissenters?
-- Donnie B.
Brian: "No, no! You have to think for yourselves!" Crowd: "Yes! We have to think for ourselves!"
Not here. They had funnier cast members. (With the exception of the two guys who were regulars on both programs.) A much funnier host because he didn't get involved and let the comics go with it. Clive had more variety in what he could ask the performers to do.
I like them both. I just think Clive Anderson's is better.
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