# How could you not have known that? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 10, 2011, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-you-not-have-known-that/584930 "2011-06-10T02:12:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-you-not-have-known-that/584930/21 "2011-06-10T13:29:19Z")
To broaden the OP a little… A few years ago I was talking to a guy about snorkelling. I mentioned how one holds one’s breath, dives under the waves, the surfaces and purges the snorkel by exhaling forcefully. The guy was incredulous. “You can’t do that! You’ll drown!” When I explained how I do it all the time, he said that I must have an incredibly powerful set of lungs to clear that entire column of water. He said it sarcastically, as if I was the biggest liar in the world. The guy owns a dive shop, is a professional diver, and at the time was on a huge project to recover a sunken pirate treasure. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-you-not-have-known-that/584930/22 "2011-06-10T13:48:01Z")
I once encountered an IT guy (IT _kid_, really) who had never before seen nor had even the tiniest clue what to do with a C prompt. I quickly sent him packing and fixed the problem myself. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-you-not-have-known-that/584930/23 "2011-06-10T15:14:42Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > I don’t think that I’ve ever heard of it either…but I’m not much into screened SF. I tend to regard much of what passes as SF/fantasy on the big and little screens to be so much drek. Earlier tonight, my husband was watching and enjoying a movie about Giant Tarantulas Terrorizing the Town. I glanced at it, and thought “low budget nonsense with extreme ignorance” and went back to playing Fallout. > > I wouldn’t say that I’m hard-core, exactly, but I’m a lot more familiar with print SF/fantasy than most people. I agree that _Galaxy Quest_ is part of the SF movie/television world not the SF book world. The equivalent might be a guy who runs a SF bookstore but has never heard of Robert Silverberg. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-you-not-have-known-that/584930/24 "2011-06-10T15:20:34Z")
> [@Larry\_Mudd](#): > > I think you might entertain the possibility that he never got past Tim Allen back in '99, put it out of his head altogether, and hadn’t had the occasion to speak of it since then, despite being surrounded by sci fi geeks. Probably his eyes wandered over the cover many, many times in video stores since then and just… slipped over. This is a natural and understandable phenomenon. He may have just tucked it entirely into the oubliett, title and all. Not deliberately, but perhaps reflexively. > > For many sufferers, this sort of defensive aversion is a necessary coping mechanism for life in the brutal and senseless sort of universe in which Tim Allen occasionally appears in films. I’m not a big Tim Allen fan. I never got into _Home Improvement_ (A sitcom with Tim Allen and Pamela Anderson? No thanks) or his _Santa Claus_ movies. But I do like _Galaxy Quest_ and the _Toy Story_ movies. ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-you-not-have-known-that/584930/25 "2011-06-10T15:23:46Z")
Oh, that’s not right. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-you-not-have-known-that/584930/26 "2011-06-10T15:41:16Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > I do know OF DS9, but if you started talking to me about the characters, I’d probably glaze over. Nobody can have perfect knowledge of any genre. You’ve at least _heard_ of DS9, but another significant distinction here is that _Galaxy Quest_ isn’t just another genre piece that fans might or might not know about or be into, it’s really a meta movie about that fandom in itself. It’s about sci fi geekery more than anything else. I can understand why geeks might have been initially put off by Tim Allen’s name, an assumed it was just some lame comedy, and not a serious effort at the genre, but in the years since it’s been out, I think most of the geeks have discovered that the movie is a love letter to them, and you would expect that someone who is actually in that industry would at least have _heard_ of it. My favorite part: Brandon Wheeger: I just wanted to tell you that I thought a lot about what you said. Jason Nesmith: It’s okay, now listen… Brandon Wheeger: But I want you to know that I’m not a complete brain case, okay? I understand completely that it’s just a TV show. I know there’s no beryllium sphere… Jason Nesmith: Hold it. Brandon Wheeger: no digital conveyor, no ship… Jason Nesmith: Stop for a second, stop. It’s all real. Brandon Wheeger: Oh my God, I knew it. I knew it! I knew it! ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-you-not-have-known-that/584930/27 "2011-06-10T15:43:57Z")
Digitize me! ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-you-not-have-known-that/584930/28 "2011-06-10T15:52:34Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I’m not a big Tim Allen fan. I never got into _Home Improvement_ (A sitcom with Tim Allen and Pamela Anderson? No thanks) or his _Santa Claus_ movies. But I do like _Galaxy Quest_ and the _Toy Story_ movies. There was more than one Tim Allen Santa Claus movie? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-you-not-have-known-that/584930/29 "2011-06-10T15:57:41Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > The equivalent might be a guy who runs a SF bookstore but has never heard of Robert Silverberg. Come on now, Silverberg has been a prolific and occasionally important writer for decades. _Galaxy Quest_ was one lightweight movie. On initially looking at this thread, I thought I hadn’t heard of it either. ---
**Author:** ![Rocketeer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocketeer/32/4437_2.png) [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-you-not-have-known-that/584930/30 "2011-06-10T16:00:56Z")
_Galaxy Quest_ is the best Star Trek movie ever made. And Tim Allen isn’t the slightest bit irritating; he does an excellent job of showing his character’s shallowness and eventual growth. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-you-not-have-known-that/584930/31 "2011-06-10T16:23:42Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > There was more than one Tim Allen Santa Claus movie? :eek: There were at least three. :eek: indeed. ---
**Author:** ![kushiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbce88/32.png) [@kushiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kushiel)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-you-not-have-known-that/584930/32 "2011-06-10T17:19:07Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > There was more than one Tim Allen Santa Claus movie? :eek: Yes. And he gets to marry and knock up Juliet from _Lost_. _jealous_ ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-you-not-have-known-that/584930/33 "2011-06-10T17:36:37Z")
Galaxy Quest is a brilliantly funny movie, and any fan of sci-fi should at least give it a try. It gently mocks us and the shows, and Dio said it best: it’s a love letter to us. My favorite part - I forget how it goes, exactly. “WHY do there have to be big chompy things?” “It was in the episode.” “Well I’m not doing it! That episide was badly written!” Or “I see you’ve managed to get your shirt off.” God, even just thinking about the delivery on that line has me laughing. 🙂 And Guy: “Oh…oh…that’s not right.” ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-you-not-have-known-that/584930/34 "2011-06-10T17:39:32Z")
This reminds me of the Doper who told us about that lady who thought airplanes fly because the people in them believe they will. He had to explain lift to her. ---
**Author:** ![Mrs.Cake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2acd7d/32.png) [@Mrs.Cake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrs.Cake)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-you-not-have-known-that/584930/35 "2011-06-10T17:45:49Z")
Even if you can’t get past the idea of Tim Allen (who really is well-cast in this case), the presence of Sigourney Weaver, Alan Rickman, Sam Rockwell, and Tony Shalhoub should be enough to get anyone to give it a try. One of my holiday favorites. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-you-not-have-known-that/584930/36 "2011-06-10T17:53:11Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > Maybe **cmyk** is on to something. Perhaps true SF geeks were to entranced by The Matrix to notice any other movie in 1999. There was also [that little movie](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120915/) which George Lucas released in '99, which got the geeks all excited (and then disappointed and angry). ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-you-not-have-known-that/584930/37 "2011-06-10T18:04:39Z")
Galaxy Quest. Its a parody. Its a comedy. Its a silly adventure. And despite all that it STILL makes more sense and has a more consistent plot and is more believable than many supposedly serious Sci Fi episodes. Any Sci Fi fan should see it. It may not be the greatest movie ever but it is one of the better of its type and there arent many like it. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-you-not-have-known-that/584930/38 "2011-06-10T18:07:12Z")
> [@Rocketeer](#): > > And Tim Allen isn’t the slightest bit irritating; he does an excellent job of showing his character’s shallowness and eventual growth. He does a great Shatner impression. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-you-not-have-known-that/584930/39 "2011-06-10T18:42:39Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I’m not a big Tim Allen fan. I never got into _Home Improvement_ (A sitcom with Tim Allen and Pamela Anderson? No thanks) or his _Santa Claus_ movies. But I do like _Galaxy Quest_ and the _Toy Story_ movies. Well, to be fair, Pam Anderson wasn’t one of the stars. She played a side character who assisted Tim and Al on “Tool Time.” And she left the show after two seasons to appear on “Baywatch.” Patricia Richardson was Allen’s main co-star, and I thought she was excellent. ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-you-not-have-known-that/584930/40 "2011-06-10T18:47:04Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > I don’t think that I’ve ever heard of it either…but I’m not much into screened SF. I tend to regard much of what passes as SF/fantasy on the big and little screens to be so much drek. Earlier tonight, my husband was watching and enjoying a movie about Giant Tarantulas Terrorizing the Town. I glanced at it, and thought “low budget nonsense with extreme ignorance” and went back to playing Fallout. > > I wouldn’t say that I’m hard-core, exactly, but I’m a lot more familiar with print SF/fantasy than most people. You’d probably love _Galaxy Quest_, then. It’s extremely intelligent and self-aware. It’s the best parody of _Star Trek_-style tropes I’ve ever seen, while at the same time having a genuinely big heart and a solid story. Very highly recommended, from a sci-fi fan who also tends to ignore sci-fi on the screen. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-you-not-have-known-that/584930.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-you-not-have-known-that/584930.md?page=3)