# Sci-Fi becomes SyFy **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 16, 2009, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sci-fi-becomes-syfy/489628 "2009-03-16T15:46:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2009, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sci-fi-becomes-syfy/489628/101 "2009-03-17T03:45:11Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#): > > err… where do you think “wi-fi” comes from? I’m pretty sure it’s a throwback to the early days of radio serials, which were called “wireless fiction.” (ahh well, maybe hi-fi isn’t quite as dead as I’d hoped.) ---
**Author:** ![Terrifel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c68b51/32.png) [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2009, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sci-fi-becomes-syfy/489628/102 "2009-03-17T03:48:56Z")
> [@Baal\_Houtham](#): > > I’m pretty sure it’s a throwback to the early days of radio serials, which were called “wireless fiction.” That’s dreadful! I approve. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2009, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sci-fi-becomes-syfy/489628/103 "2009-03-17T04:05:55Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > Outside of nerd wars, where are these terms used? If I go into a Barnes and Noble and ask for “science fiction” and am lead to a section that includes a hefty helping of Star Wars novelizations, can I yell at the clerk for his incompetence? > > There is no difference between SF, sci-fi and science fiction. They’re an abbreviation, a shortening and the complete phrase. That’s it. Lynn is no doubt referring to the pair of Bat Durston stories on the back cover of Galaxy Vol. 1, No. 1, which made exactly her point. Sci-fi is science fiction, of course. The definition of sf never says anything about it being good. I’m sensitive to this, since when I was on Jeopardy Alex said something about my being a sci-fi fan (not what I told the AD.) I started saying that sf not sci-fi, then I thought of Forry, who I had met at the Ackermansion, and didn’t want to diss him on national TV. It came out a mess which luckily they cut most of in favor of Fred getting his car. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2009, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sci-fi-becomes-syfy/489628/104 "2009-03-17T04:07:29Z")
> [@Baal\_Houtham](#): > > I’m pretty sure it’s a throwback to the early days of radio serials, which were called “wireless fiction.” > > (ahh well, maybe hi-fi isn’t quite as dead as I’d hoped.) Or it could refer to the Venus Equilateral stories too. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2009, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sci-fi-becomes-syfy/489628/105 "2009-03-17T10:16:15Z")
> **[syf - Wiktionary, the free dictionary](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/syf)** y is proper plural. Apparently, Sci-Fi has bit the wax tadpole, and chosen a word that means ‘a couple cases of syphilis’ in Polish. ---
**Author:** ![Terrifel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c68b51/32.png) [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2009, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sci-fi-becomes-syfy/489628/106 "2009-03-17T10:38:20Z")
> [@E-Sabbath](#): > > [syf - Wiktionary, the free dictionary](http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/syf) > > y is proper plural. > > Apparently, Sci-Fi has bit the wax tadpole, and chosen a word that means ‘a couple cases of syphilis’ in Polish. Well that’s hardly fair is it? According to your own link, the word can also mean “filth” or “pimples.” Yes, I can certainly see the cross-marketing potential in “The Acne Channel.” That should really broaden their appeal beyond the basement-dwelling geeks that they’re traditionally associated with. Maybe if they emphasize the syphilis in their advertising… Excellent catch, **E-Sabbath**. Out of curiosity, how long did it take you to track down that information? As opposed to the marketing team who were paid to screen those 300 potential names (and none of whom apparently were Polish-- or at least one was, and secretly didn’t like SciFi). ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2009, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sci-fi-becomes-syfy/489628/107 "2009-03-17T11:11:35Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#): > > On another level this makes me sad, because their slogan Sci Fi … iF (with the Sc and the i fading out) was rather visually clever AND said something true and good about the genre. In fact, the new network name should be “iF.” > > But for good or ill, my days of marketing in SF/Fantasy are behind me. When they first introduced those adverts I was recovering from surgery and on some pretty heavy pain killers and those commercials always messed with my mind. For some reason I just couldn’t follow how they got from SciFi to iF. Once I was free of the drugs I looked back and couldn’t figure out what was so freaking difficult. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2009, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sci-fi-becomes-syfy/489628/108 "2009-03-17T12:35:48Z")
It’s stupid. But you know, I can sort of see their point, in terms of branding. You cannot use “Sci-Fi” or “SciFi” as a distinct brand. Lynn aside, to the English-speaking word “Sci-Fi” is a generic terms for all science fiction. Trying to create a brand and branch out into other forms of business with “Sci-Fi” would be similar to trying to do it with a name like “Westerns” or “Drama” or “Comedy.” So dumb though SyFy might seem now, in five or ten years it may turn out well. ---
**Author:** ![Jayn\_Newell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jayn\_Newell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jayn_Newell)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2009, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sci-fi-becomes-syfy/489628/109 "2009-03-17T13:13:39Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > There is no difference between SF, sci-fi and science fiction. They’re an abbreviation, a shortening and the complete phrase. That’s it. Pretty much. There’s no real point in trying to assign different meanings, because most people will never understand the difference. On the other hand, getting people to understand that SF is not a catch-all term that includes fantasy is a cause I heartily approve of. ---
**Author:** ![PerditaX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@PerditaX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PerditaX)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2009, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sci-fi-becomes-syfy/489628/110 "2009-03-17T14:08:04Z")
If the people who actually like science fiction and would, in fact _watch_ the channel if it truly showed any of same don’t like the old name, much less the new name, it _does_ make a difference what you call it. However, the network has clearly never intended to program for such people, so it’s irrelevant. There are only only a handful of shows I’ve ever watched on Sci-Fi, mainly Doctor Who (and The Sarah Jane Adventures) when I miss them on BBC America. I did like their original series **The Dresden Files** which only survived a handful of episodes probably because it was actually _good_ (and was written with the blessing and input of the books’ author Jim Butcher). Is their new tagline going to be “yF?” ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2009, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sci-fi-becomes-syfy/489628/111 "2009-03-17T14:13:52Z")
> [@PerditaX](#): > > Is their new tagline going to be “yF?” It’s positioning itself to become “The Furry Channel”. So the tagline will be “yiFF”… ---
**Author:** ![PerditaX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@PerditaX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PerditaX)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2009, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sci-fi-becomes-syfy/489628/112 "2009-03-17T14:17:14Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > It’s positioning itself to become “The Furry Channel”. So the tagline will be “yiFF”… That is disturbing on **so** many levels!:eek: ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2009, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sci-fi-becomes-syfy/489628/113 "2009-03-17T14:32:30Z")
> [@Hypno-Toad](#): > > Can you imagine if CMT called it’s viewers unsophisticated hicks? After TNN was folded into MTV Networks, they pretty much _did_ call their viewers unsophisticated hicks, and promptly switched over to “Spike - the channel for men” or somesuch. I note that they’ve totally dropped the “TV for men” moniker, but otherwise things seem to have worked out pretty well. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2009, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sci-fi-becomes-syfy/489628/114 "2009-03-17T14:56:43Z")
> [@Terrifel](#): > > Excellent catch, **E-Sabbath**. Out of curiosity, how long did it take you to track down that information? Bout twenty minutes after inspiration. Most of which was spent verifying that ‘y’ is a plural in Polish. ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2009, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sci-fi-becomes-syfy/489628/115 "2009-03-17T15:00:01Z")
> [@Jayn\_Newell](#): > > On the other hand, getting people to understand that SF is not a catch-all term that includes fantasy is a cause I heartily approve of. Me, too. I mean, while one could technically argue that science fiction is a type of fantasy, most fantasy has little to do with science of any sort. So why has sci-fi become the catch-all term for speculative fiction? ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2009, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sci-fi-becomes-syfy/489628/116 "2009-03-17T15:22:35Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > Lynn is no doubt referring to the pair of Bat Durston stories on the back cover of Galaxy Vol. 1, No. 1, which made exactly her point. > > Sci-fi is science fiction, of course. The definition of sf never says anything about it being good. > > I’m sensitive to this, since when I was on Jeopardy Alex said something about my being a sci-fi fan (not what I told the AD.) I started saying that sf not sci-fi, then I thought of Forry, who I had met at the Ackermansion, and didn’t want to diss him on national TV. It came out a mess which luckily they cut most of in favor of Fred getting his car. And to people who don’t read SF/sci fi/science fiction (and to a huge chunk of people who _do_), the distinction doesn’t mean anything. So yeah, they cut it because it’s meaningless to 99% of the population and it meant you were probably rambling on and on about something no one had any clue about. ---
**Author:** ![wonderlust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonderlust/32/7237_2.png) [@wonderlust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonderlust)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2009, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sci-fi-becomes-syfy/489628/117 "2009-03-17T15:27:20Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#): > > In their defense, “Sci-Fi” is a somewhat mockable term with the (ahem) SF industry. Within the (ahem) SF industry, the term “sci-fi” is associated with people who are attempting to sound knowledgable, but are failing. > > One might say that “SF” or “SF/Fantasy” is the preferred nomenclature, dude. > > Its a minor hair, but I felt like splitting it. I was about to split the same hair. And so the new name seems to emphasize the schlock factor, like sci-fi to the nth. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2009, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sci-fi-becomes-syfy/489628/118 "2009-03-17T15:30:44Z")
> [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](#): > > Me, too. I mean, while one could technically argue that science fiction is a type of fantasy, most fantasy has little to do with science of any sort. So why has sci-fi become the catch-all term for speculative fiction? In the library world, it hasn’t. While sci-fi and fantasy are often stored together, and the section is referred to shorthand as the “sci-fi section”, it’s very rare for the real name of the section not to be Science Fiction & Fantasy. ---
**Author:** ![Jayn\_Newell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jayn\_Newell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jayn_Newell)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2009, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sci-fi-becomes-syfy/489628/119 "2009-03-17T15:54:26Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > In the library world, it hasn’t. While sci-fi and fantasy are often stored together, and the section is referred to shorthand as the “sci-fi section”, it’s very rare for the real name of the section not to be Science Fiction & Fantasy. I don’t mind if they go so far as to actually name it as such (although it’s still better if they store them in separate–but usually adjacent sections–sections). The distinction between SF&F can be blurry in some instances, but they’re still distinct genres, and ‘science fiction’ does not accurately describe both. It’s a bet of a pet peeve of mine, if you haven’t already guessed. Of course, that’s assuming the library has any sections at all, which is another rant entirely _twitch_ ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2009, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sci-fi-becomes-syfy/489628/120 "2009-03-17T16:48:27Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > It’s stupid. > > But you know, I can sort of see their point, in terms of branding. You cannot use “Sci-Fi” or “SciFi” as a distinct brand. Lynn aside, to the English-speaking word “Sci-Fi” is a generic terms for all science fiction. Trying to create a brand and branch out into other forms of business with “Sci-Fi” would be similar to trying to do it with a name like “Westerns” or “Drama” or “Comedy.” > > So dumb though SyFy might seem now, in five or ten years it may turn out well. Reading Stuart Elliots’s column about this in the Times, I think Dio was correct on page one. This is purely a trademark thing, necessary if the business plan of the channel includes branding other stuff. I’m not sure what name would be better than SyFy given this. I wonder how they are going to distinguish SyFy material from all the science fiction and sci-fi out there already, besides being stuff they show on the network. How would one distinguish a SyFy book from an sf book besides the trademark on the cover? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sci-fi-becomes-syfy/489628.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sci-fi-becomes-syfy/489628.md?page=7)