# "Next Big Things" that weren't so big **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 3, 2011, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-big-things-that-werent-so-big/577044 "2011-04-03T15:57:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-big-things-that-werent-so-big/577044/61 "2011-04-04T15:02:50Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > The technology for some form of videophones/picturephones has been around for decades. But, voice-only is good enough for most communication. Remember that before the telephone, government and commerce and all long-distance social communication were based on letters and telegrams; we know how to get things done with just words. Furthermore, as [David Szondy remarks:](http://davidszondy.com/future/Living/picturephone.htm) Yes, the “practical and societal reasons” I referred to. One significant niche for videophones is Skype and the like for families/friends who are separated because of migration. Seeing a loved one is more useful than seeing your boss’s ugly mug. If I go to a local internet café typically there are several people having video conversations with their families back home and when friends of mine have moved abroad they’ve communicated with home that way. It helps that services like this are available free whilst long-distance calls tend not to be. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-big-things-that-werent-so-big/577044/62 "2011-04-04T15:14:41Z")
EST/The Hunger Project Diet Coke (You’re going to drink it just for the taste of it) ---
**Author:** ![Sr\_Siete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@Sr\_Siete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sr_Siete)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-big-things-that-werent-so-big/577044/63 "2011-04-04T15:20:34Z")
Wait, wait, I’m about to win: Ready? … M. Night Shamalayan, the “next Spielberg” ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-big-things-that-werent-so-big/577044/64 "2011-04-04T15:26:23Z")
> [@Death\_of\_Rats](#): > > Every single American Idol winner since Kelly Clarkson. Now you are better off losing or being the funniest screwup in the audition process then winning. Every America’s Next Top Model. I think the only one who became close to a household name was the first season winner who did a couple reality shows and Playboy. I know the rest had their obligatory Covergirl commercials or whatever but none approach the “supermodel” status of the 80’s and 90’s. Of course, I don’t think anyone seriously expects them to become household names any more after year after year of nothing. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-big-things-that-werent-so-big/577044/65 "2011-04-04T15:44:10Z")
Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-big-things-that-werent-so-big/577044/66 "2011-04-04T15:47:12Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark. Hey, that could still be a BIG failure! ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-big-things-that-werent-so-big/577044/67 "2011-04-04T15:53:15Z")
> [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](#): > > Diet Coke (You’re going to drink it just for the taste of it) For that matter, New Coke. ---
**Author:** ![GoodOmens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@GoodOmens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GoodOmens)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-big-things-that-werent-so-big/577044/68 "2011-04-04T16:25:31Z")
> [@Jim\_s\_Son](#): > > I remember my second grade teacher telling us we would probably be working a 4 day 32 hour week when we graduated college. These days many graduates would be happy to be working 32 hours a week. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-big-things-that-werent-so-big/577044/69 "2011-04-04T16:28:54Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > Actress Gretchen Mol is famous for this, after her appearance on the cover of Vanity Fair magazine. She said she “watched the doors open, and then the doors closed”. Maybe being on the cover of VF IS a curse. I hope things pick up for her. I thought she was terrific in Life On Mars. She’s a hottie and I think a pretty good actress. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-big-things-that-werent-so-big/577044/70 "2011-04-04T16:29:43Z")
Where’s all the oxygen bars? I certainly could use a blast of oxygen most days, I’d rather be able to take a deep breath than guzzle down a Bud Light. Or a ‘smart drink’. ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-big-things-that-werent-so-big/577044/71 "2011-04-04T16:56:49Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > Where’s all the oxygen bars? I certainly could use a blast of oxygen most days, I’d rather be able to take a deep breath than guzzle down a Bud Light. Or a ‘smart drink’. I used to live about 75 feet from one - “22o2” in San Francisco. Apparently, they are gone, and were the last one here. They lasted WAY longer than I ever expected - maybe 5+ years. Joe ---
**Author:** ![LonesomePolecat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a88e57/32.png) [@LonesomePolecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonesomePolecat)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-big-things-that-werent-so-big/577044/72 "2011-04-04T17:22:04Z")
[Quadraphonic sound.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quadraphonic_sound) [General semantics.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_semantics) Esperanto and pretty much any artificial language. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-big-things-that-werent-so-big/577044/73 "2011-04-04T17:36:28Z")
Cold fusion. ---
**Author:** ![Ambihelical\_Hexnut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4491bb/32.png) [@Ambihelical\_Hexnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambihelical_Hexnut)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-big-things-that-werent-so-big/577044/74 "2011-04-04T18:09:09Z")
Console gaming in the mid 1990’s - After the success of the Genesis (a.k.a. Mega Drive), the Saturn was supposed to be the console that would make Sega the undisputed kings of the console market. Although it fared OK in Japan, it flopped badly in the USA and Europe. However, Nintendo couldn’t capitalize on the Saturn’s failings (the N64 did better than the Saturn, but much worse than Nintendo’s previous consoles, the NES and SNES). The result of this? Sony comes out of nowhere to dominate the console market for the next ten years with the Playstation and Playstation 2. Sega doesn’t even make consoles any more. ---
**Author:** ![unwashed\_brain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/a9adbd/32.png) [@unwashed\_brain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unwashed_brain)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-big-things-that-werent-so-big/577044/75 "2011-04-04T18:22:12Z")
> [@LonesomePolecat](#): > > [General semantics.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_semantics) Not really surprising to me. The Structural Differential can likely be distilled down to a children’s book level of simplicity. However, asking the “OMG WTF r u doin?” generation to put a little thought behind how they think and express themselves appears to be asking a bit much. ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-big-things-that-werent-so-big/577044/76 "2011-04-04T18:34:03Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > Actress Gretchen Mol is famous for this, after her appearance on the cover of Vanity Fair magazine. She said she “watched the doors open, and then the doors closed”. Maybe being on the cover of VF IS a curse. I think the fact that it was announced in advance that she was going to be the next “it” girl, before she had really done anything of note, turned people off. If they hadn’t been so blatant about wanting to jam her down our throats we may have swallowed, but Hollywood was so smug and self-assured about it that the public rejected her just to be contrary. ---
**Author:** ![unwashed\_brain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/a9adbd/32.png) [@unwashed\_brain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unwashed_brain)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-big-things-that-werent-so-big/577044/77 "2011-04-04T19:05:11Z")
> [@MOIDALIZE](#): > > I think the fact that it was announced in advance that she was going to be the next “it” girl, before she had really done anything of note, turned people off. If they hadn’t been so blatant about wanting to jam her down our throats we may have swallowed, but Hollywood was so smug and self-assured about it that the public rejected her just to be contrary. I don’t buy that. If you look at her post-1998 filmography, she never was cast in any sort of “it-girl”-making lead role. For that time-period, such a role would be something like a rom-com opposite Hugh Grant. For whatever reasons, she mostly appeared in smaller indie or genre films after Rounders. I can’t really find an “it-girl” role in her resume, and I think that’s the reason she never hit it big. The public never rejected her based on hype; we didn’t have a chance to opine before she faded into relative obscurity. ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-big-things-that-werent-so-big/577044/78 "2011-04-04T19:11:31Z")
> [@wonder\_lust](#): > > I recall a big push to learn to love the metric system when I was a kid. That’s like getting rid of paper dollars and using $1 coins (or maybe even getting rid of pennies). No one wants to take the final blame for the conversion, even though we’d probably all be better off if we just made the switch and was inconvenienced for a few years. Actually I have a theory about the reason we can’t get rid of $1 bills… The strip joint industry has a huge lobby in congress. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-big-things-that-werent-so-big/577044/79 "2011-04-04T19:26:49Z")
> [@Enright3](#): > > That’s like getting rid of paper dollars and using $1 coins (or maybe even getting rid of pennies). No one wants to take the final blame for the conversion, even though we’d probably all be better off if we just made the switch and was inconvenienced for a few years. > > Actually I have a theory about the reason we can’t get rid of $1 bills… The strip joint industry has a huge lobby in congress. What advantage is a $1 coin? I prefer paper money and I think most people do. The coin additionally cost more to make and move. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-big-things-that-werent-so-big/577044/80 "2011-04-04T19:28:34Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > What advantage is a $1 coin? I prefer paper money and I think most people do. > The coin additionally cost more to make and move. Coins last much much longer and therefore don’t have to be replaced nearly as often; the country would save a ton of money on printing costs. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-big-things-that-werent-so-big/577044.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-big-things-that-werent-so-big/577044.md?page=5)