# Shame on you, "Science" Channel! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 14, 2016, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shame-on-you-science-channel/757383 "2016-06-14T23:27:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2016, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shame-on-you-science-channel/757383/21 "2016-06-15T17:37:21Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > I’m bored as fuck, so I turn on the tube. Not much to pick from on the 900 channels I have to pay for so I can get the one that I do want. … [snip] You must _really_ like that one channel … ---
**Author:** ![curlcoat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea5d25/32.png) [@curlcoat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curlcoat)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2016, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shame-on-you-science-channel/757383/22 "2016-06-15T17:49:04Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > I’m bored as fuck, so I turn on the tube. Not much to pick from on the 900 channels I have to pay for so I can get the one that I do want. > > Humm… _Andy Griffith Show_? Nah. How about _What On Earth_? I’ll take a look. > > Premise of the show is they look at strange satellite photos and, well, tell you something, kind of, about what they are on Earth. Okay. > > A Lake of Blood in Iraq! Well, no, probably not. 10 minutes of wild speculation with no conclusion. Strange lights in the Australian Outback! Fires? Probably not. Mining? No. 10 minutes of wild speculation with no conclusion. > > A strange “cave-like” entrance in Antarctica? Here is what the “Science” channel proposes: > > An underground Arctic Nazi Fortress, naturally. :rolleyes: Give me an Actual Fucking Break! > > That’s when I turned _that shit_ off. Fucking “Science”, Indeed! You forgot that some of their, ahem, content had already been proven to be something harmless months before their show aired. But still wild speculation and no conclusions. :rolleyes::smack: ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2016, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shame-on-you-science-channel/757383/23 "2016-06-15T18:19:01Z")
\*What on Earth \*is a really stupid show. They look at Google Earth and other aerial pictures and find anomalies, glitches or just artifacts of the blending and pasting process. Found a triangle in Russia. Must be a downed stealth fighter plane. Lost civilizations, hidden air bases, alien billboards saying “land here.” Of course they are, what else could they be? Is it possible? Well, is it possible? Repeat until a gullible audience says, well maybe. Of course it is. What else could they be? It is like the Alex Jones of TV. ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2016, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shame-on-you-science-channel/757383/24 "2016-06-15T18:43:40Z")
What irritates me to no end is when these type of shows come back from commercial break, they spend five minutes repeating what they said before the commercial … like the average viewer would forget everything they said just ten minutes ago … it’s like _The Clan of the Cave Bear_ of television … ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2016, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shame-on-you-science-channel/757383/25 "2016-06-15T19:47:41Z")
> [@watchwolf49](#): > > What irritates me to no end is when these type of shows come back from commercial break, they spend five minutes repeating what they said before the commercial … like the average viewer would forget everything they said just ten minutes ago … it’s like _The Clan of the Cave Bear_ of television … One, it means they don’t have to write as much material. Two, they’re taking into account their typical viewer with the memory of a goldfish. ---
**Author:** ![OffByOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/45deac/32.png) [@OffByOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OffByOne)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2016, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shame-on-you-science-channel/757383/26 "2016-06-15T20:09:14Z")
> [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](#): > > And when did the “sci-fi” channel start showing only horror movies? The “Sci-Fi” channel had to change their name because they NEVER SHOWED ANY EFFING SCIENCE FICTION. Now, the are called SyFy and they can show whatever dungeons and dragons and witches and ghosts and hobbits and fairies and CHTHUHUHUHLUHHHH they effing want, because I WON’T WATCH IT! (Just my opinion, your mileage may vary.) Bitter? Who me? ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2016, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shame-on-you-science-channel/757383/27 "2016-06-15T21:13:47Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > One, it means they don’t have to write as much material. Two, they’re taking into account their typical viewer with the memory of a goldfish. I accept your second point but as far as your first point, you may well be assuming any of it is written. Do you know how expensive Union script writers cost? ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2016, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shame-on-you-science-channel/757383/28 "2016-06-15T21:44:17Z")
> [@watchwolf49](#): > > You must _really_ like that one channel … I’ve only missed maybe 5 Formula One races in the last 30 years! I see it as a challenge. 😉 And Comedy Central ain’t too bad. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2016, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shame-on-you-science-channel/757383/29 "2016-06-15T23:04:38Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > One, it means they don’t have to write as much material. Two, they’re taking into account their typical viewer with the memory of a goldfish. And three: they must take into account their twenty minute commercial breaks. ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2016, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shame-on-you-science-channel/757383/30 "2016-06-16T02:42:29Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > I’ve only missed maybe 5 Formula One races in the last 30 years! I see it as a challenge. 😉 > > And Comedy Central ain’t too bad. I miss ESPN’s sports programming since I cut my cord … I’ll admit that … but I’m glad to be rid of all the others, happy they’re never part of my life. I’m kinda proud that there’s only _nine_ other channels I never watch. ---
**Author:** ![Ken001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/43a26b/32.png) [@Ken001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ken001)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2016, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shame-on-you-science-channel/757383/31 "2016-06-16T03:22:24Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > _History_ experimented with drama series, _Vikings_, which was OK. First few seasons were actually pretty good, but then it went off the rails (IMO) History (in NZ) is currently showing a Medieval Month which I have to say is very good. I think it includes The Vikings but haven’t checked them out. There was a marvelous documentary on a few nights ago about the rise of the English monasteries. I do agree however that the “intelligent” channels have slid into the mists of conspiracies and ankledeep knowledge. I tend to glide through them of an evening in the vague hope of finding a gem - which happens from time to time. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2016, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shame-on-you-science-channel/757383/32 "2016-06-16T14:21:56Z")
It’s been said before, but I miss When there was a Biography Channel that ran biographies When The Learning Channel had educatrional stuff on it. Same for The Discovery Channel When SyFy was SciFi and actually ran Science Fiction, and not wrestling (although they have occasional bursts of Good Stuff. And I’ll even take the crappy monster movies) It’s getting so that any dork with a half-baked theory can get on the History Channel. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2016, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shame-on-you-science-channel/757383/33 "2016-06-16T17:29:31Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > NatGeoWild sometimes has some good stuff, but increasingly it’s just PBS. True, though I worry about the amount of Koch money PBS is getting via David Koch. Interestingly, quality need not be expensive. Here in Ontario a good example of quality public television is [TV Ontario](http://tvo.org/), which gets by on an annual budget of only around $65 million, the great majority coming from the provincial government. And that includes a network of digital HD transmitters, so schools and homes that have cut the cable can get it free. As an interesting contrast, the current season of _Game of Thrones_ reportedly cost $10 million per episode, totaling $100 million for Season 6 alone. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2016, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shame-on-you-science-channel/757383/34 "2016-06-17T18:39:31Z")
This happened: I was watching, I think, The Discovery Channel where there was a doc that talked about the mysterious missing island. After much investigation and history and stuff, it was found out that the island started as map making mistake waaay back in the 1400s. Probably, at one point during the colonial period, there may have been one of those pumice islands in the vicinity that was spotted by ships, continuing the incorrect cartology. So, there never was an island there. And then I turned to The Science Channel _right after_ and What in The World came to the conclusion that ‘no one knows how an island disappears’. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2016, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shame-on-you-science-channel/757383/35 "2016-06-17T18:48:29Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > It’s been said before, but I miss > When there was a Biography Channel that ran biographies > > When The Learning Channel had educatrional stuff on it. Same for The Discovery Channel > > When SyFy was SciFi and actually ran Science Fiction, and not wrestling (although they have occasional bursts of Good Stuff. And I’ll even take the crappy monster movies) At least MTV has music again, although it’s on MTV Live (fka Palladia). ---
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2016, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shame-on-you-science-channel/757383/36 "2016-06-18T12:44:50Z")
> [@dasmoocher](#): > > Out of curiosity, what channel(s) should I watch today to get the no-nonsense shows these channels might have produced a decade ago? There isn’t one. Until the Pure Math Channel can draw an audience, anything else is pure propaganda and mental masterbation. Numbers don’t lie (until one finds applied statistics, of course). 2 + 2 = 4 (base 10) is the last, uncorrupted space. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2016, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shame-on-you-science-channel/757383/37 "2016-06-18T13:46:15Z")
> [@dasmoocher](#): > > Out of curiosity, what channel(s) should I watch today to get the no-nonsense shows these channels might have produced a decade ago? Math, geometry, native American affairs, and the like are [covered here.](http://jmstaehli.com/images/TP.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2016, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shame-on-you-science-channel/757383/38 "2016-06-19T15:57:38Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > I would comment on this problem, but I’m only halfway through my alien autopsy and these darn innards just won’t stay in the jars…:eek: You once again forgot to fill the jars with ether, didn’t you? Or you huffed it all- again. ---
**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 20, 2016, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shame-on-you-science-channel/757383/39 "2016-06-20T15:26:06Z")
I am patiently waiting for a 24/7 _Sharknado_ Channel. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2016, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shame-on-you-science-channel/757383/40 "2016-06-20T17:18:38Z")
> [@dasmoocher](#): > > Out of curiosity, what channel(s) should I watch today to get the no-nonsense shows these channels might have produced a decade ago? The various educational channels on YouTube. Crash Course, Mental Floss, Extra History (part of Extra Credits), Vsauce, CGP Gray, ViHart, Numberphile, and Sixty Symbols are the ones that come to the top of my head right now. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shame-on-you-science-channel/757383.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shame-on-you-science-channel/757383.md?page=3)