# Stupendous Stupidity in Science Fiction (open spoilers) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 27, 2009, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupendous-stupidity-in-science-fiction-open-spoilers/507932 "2009-08-27T17:57:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 16
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2009, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupendous-stupidity-in-science-fiction-open-spoilers/507932/301 "2009-09-14T21:22:06Z")
Thanks, **muldoonthief** , for finding my cites for me. Because that’s the message I remember from _Starship Troopers_ - that citizenship requires sacrifice, and sacrifice breeds motivation. **Shot From Guns** said: > [@](#): > > Here’s my question: did they reference the old Bones nickname, or did they reintroduce the nickname with the new explanation? I haven’t seen the movie since it was in the theater, but it’s my recollection that they just made the passing “Bones” reference–I don’t think Kirk or anyone else referred to McCoy as Bones after that. I don’t specifically recall Kirk calling McCoy “Bones” a lot, though I’m fairly certain he did a couple of times. More specifically, though, I am tying this in with the original episodes. This was not a “reboot” in the sense of _Batman Begins_, where the story is started over and a new creation story is made, the history tweaked. This is a timeline reboot, which is still technically in the same universe as the original stories, and all the original stories happened somewhen. So it is reasonable to conclude that if Kirk calls McCoy “Bones” in both timelines, he does so for the same reason. While it is not impossible for there to be two separate reasons that coincidentally have the same result, it is highly unlikely. So if the “reboot” explicitly shows the assignment of the nickname, then that is assumed to be the reason for the nickname in both timelines. Which makes Kirk a major ass to his best friend\*. * * * - Give or take Spock. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2009, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupendous-stupidity-in-science-fiction-open-spoilers/507932/302 "2009-09-14T21:36:30Z")
I just realized something : in _Star Wars : A New Hope_, when they’re on the Death Star, Artoo does quite a lot of hacking : stopping trash compactors, opening and locking doors & elevators and such. Which means that the Empire’s most high-tech, super secret military project’s systems were shoddy enough that a 30 year old obsolete navigation bot could make them its bitch, and from a random socket in the hangar at that. I’m thinking some IT guy really needs a Force choke. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2009, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupendous-stupidity-in-science-fiction-open-spoilers/507932/303 "2009-09-14T23:59:38Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > I just realized something : in _Star Wars : A New Hope_, when they’re on the Death Star, Artoo does quite a lot of hacking : stopping trash compactors, opening and locking doors & elevators and such. Which means that the Empire’s most high-tech, super secret military project’s systems were shoddy enough that a 30 year old obsolete navigation bot could make them its bitch, and from a random socket in the hangar at that. > > I’m thinking some IT guy really needs a Force choke. I’d always presumed this was possible only because Artoo had the full Death Star plans in his memory, including security codes, datacomm protocols, etc. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2009, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupendous-stupidity-in-science-fiction-open-spoilers/507932/304 "2009-09-15T00:20:57Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > I’d always presumed this was possible only because Artoo had the full Death Star plans in his memory, including security codes, datacomm protocols, etc. Ah! Good point. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2009, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupendous-stupidity-in-science-fiction-open-spoilers/507932/305 "2009-09-15T00:48:56Z")
And here I always figured that Artoo was Just That Good, that he was his universe’s equivalent of a 10th or 15th level rogue-- Remember, he’s already been through a lot by that point. Now that you mention that he already had the plans, it almost sort of weakens that for me. Then again, a high-level rogue wouldn’t hesitate to use any unfair advantage he had, and conveniently forget to point out anything that made him look less impressive, so I suppose it works. ---
**Author:** ![Trepa\_Mayfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@Trepa\_Mayfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trepa_Mayfield)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2009, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupendous-stupidity-in-science-fiction-open-spoilers/507932/306 "2009-09-15T01:16:29Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > And here I always figured that Artoo was Just That Good, that he was his universe’s equivalent of a 10th or 15th level rogue-- Remember, he’s already been through a lot by that point. Now that you mention that he already had the plans, it almost sort of weakens that for me. > > Then again, a high-level rogue wouldn’t hesitate to use any unfair advantage he had, and conveniently forget to point out anything that made him look less impressive, so I suppose it works. Plus, he’s also a [hopeless munchkin](http://www.darthsanddroids.net/episodes/0046.html). ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2009, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupendous-stupidity-in-science-fiction-open-spoilers/507932/307 "2009-09-15T03:08:59Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > I’d always presumed this was possible only because Artoo had the full Death Star plans in his memory, including security codes, datacomm protocols, etc. You mean to say that while tall, dark and Vador knew full well that the Rebellion had stolen the plans-including-security-codes, nobody even bothered to \*change the bloody codes \*?! Screw Force choking, somebody’s getting zapped 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Uzi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/91b2a8/32.png) [@Uzi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uzi)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2009, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupendous-stupidity-in-science-fiction-open-spoilers/507932/308 "2009-09-15T12:16:31Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > I’d always presumed this was possible only because Artoo had the full Death Star plans in his memory, including security codes, datacomm protocols, etc. IIRC, he was also hacking doors on Bespin (even though he couldn’t tell a power socket from a data port initially) and was tasked with opening the back door to the shield generator. ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2009, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupendous-stupidity-in-science-fiction-open-spoilers/507932/309 "2009-09-15T12:50:47Z")
> [@Uzi](#): > > IIRC, he was also hacking doors on Bespin (even though he couldn’t tell a power socket from a data port initially) and was tasked with opening the back door to the shield generator. Talk about a gaping hole in building codes there! See! Star Wars is what happens when you don’t have litigation! No hand rails No safety belts or ABS on the speeder bikes Lazer swords with no guards Battle Armor that’s taken down by teddy bears with rocks unprotected exhaust ports ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2009, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupendous-stupidity-in-science-fiction-open-spoilers/507932/310 "2009-09-15T13:10:13Z")
> [@Unintentionally\_Blank](#): > > Talk about a gaping hole in building codes there! See! Star Wars is what happens when you don’t have litigation! > > No hand rails > No safety belts or ABS on the speeder bikes > Lazer swords with no guards > Battle Armor that’s taken down by teddy bears with rocks > unprotected exhaust ports “Trust the Force Luke! You can’t trust the specs!” ---
**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:** [September 15, 2009, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupendous-stupidity-in-science-fiction-open-spoilers/507932/311 "2009-09-15T13:24:42Z")
> [@](#): > > Talk about a gaping hole in building codes there! See! Star Wars is what happens when you don’t have litigation! > > No hand rails > No safety belts or ABS on the speeder bikes > Lazer swords with no guards > Battle Armor that’s taken down by teddy bears with rocks > unprotected exhaust ports **The New Empire – now ISO9001 Compliant!** ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2009, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupendous-stupidity-in-science-fiction-open-spoilers/507932/312 "2009-09-15T13:37:58Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > You mean to say that while tall, dark and Vador knew full well that the Rebellion had stolen the plans-including-security-codes, nobody even bothered to \*change the bloody codes \*?! Screw Force choking, somebody’s getting zapped 😛 I can imagine an Imperial security officer discussing this with Darth Vader: **Security Officer** : “My lord, a security breech of this level requires a full replacement of our entire firewall system.” **Darth Vader** : “How long would the Death Star be inoperable?” **Security Officer** : “To replace all our security codes and then confirm that all necessary and authorized personel and droids have the new codes- at least six standard days.” **Darth Vader** : “Unacceptable. The Death Star must go into service immediately. I will see to recovering the stolen plans”. **Security Officer** : “-” (thinks twice about arguing with Darth Vader) “As you command, my Lord”. ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2009, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupendous-stupidity-in-science-fiction-open-spoilers/507932/313 "2009-09-15T15:21:58Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > This was not a “reboot” in the sense of _Batman Begins_, where the story is started over and a new creation story is made, the history tweaked. This is a timeline reboot, which is still technically in the same universe as the original stories, and all the original stories happened somewhen. So it is reasonable to conclude that if Kirk calls McCoy “Bones” in both timelines, he does so for the same reason. While it is not impossible for there to be two separate reasons that coincidentally have the same result, it is highly unlikely. You’re thinking about this too logically. The new \*Star Trek \*has \*\*already \*\*had some things happen the same as in TOS but for different reasons (e.g., Kirk becoming captain of the Enterprise). And I still want to see a cite for Kirk calling McCoy Bones in the 2009 movie (not that I’m sure it didn’t happen, but I don’t remember it happening, and it’s pretty central to the discussion here). ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2009, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupendous-stupidity-in-science-fiction-open-spoilers/507932/314 "2009-09-15T15:30:11Z")
> [@Shot\_From\_Guns](#): > > And I still want to see a cite for Kirk calling McCoy Bones in the 2009 movie (not that I’m sure it didn’t happen, but I don’t remember it happening, and it’s pretty central to the discussion here). I believe it was when they first meet, on the shuttle to the academy. ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2009, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupendous-stupidity-in-science-fiction-open-spoilers/507932/315 "2009-09-15T16:40:42Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I believe it was when they first meet, on the shuttle to the academy. No, that was when the dialogue has McCoy himself \*\*obliquely reference \*\*the TOS nickname. He didn’t call himself Bones, and Kirk didn’t call him Bones. ---
**Author:** ![Icerigger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icerigger/32/432_2.png) [@Icerigger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icerigger)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2009, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupendous-stupidity-in-science-fiction-open-spoilers/507932/316 "2009-09-15T17:03:53Z")
The **Interceptors** from **UFO**. A squadron of three with one shot each, what if they miss or the aliens send more than three. ---
**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:** [September 15, 2009, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupendous-stupidity-in-science-fiction-open-spoilers/507932/317 "2009-09-15T17:10:25Z")
Artoo is _just that good_. He’s the only one who actually knows everything that’s going on through all six movies, you know. Don’t forget he was Anakin’s pet starfighter droid for most of it. He probably still has most of those codes, and so on. And Anakin went _everywhere_. ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2009, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupendous-stupidity-in-science-fiction-open-spoilers/507932/318 "2009-09-15T17:43:04Z")
> [@Icerigger](#): > > The **Interceptors** from **UFO**. A squadron of three with one shot each, what if they miss or the aliens send more than three. Ah, there’s a blast from the past. Indeed, why not mount a couple of missiles per craft? Especially when the sea based interceptor manages to do so. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2009, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupendous-stupidity-in-science-fiction-open-spoilers/507932/319 "2009-09-15T19:45:34Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > I can imagine an Imperial security officer discussing this with Darth Vader: > > **Security Officer** : “My lord, a security breech of this level requires a full replacement of our entire firewall system.” > **Darth Vader** : “How long would the Death Star be inoperable?” > **Security Officer** : “To replace all our security codes and then confirm that all necessary and authorized personel and droids have the new codes- at least six standard days.” > **Darth Vader** : “Unacceptable. The Death Star must go into service immediately. I will see to recovering the stolen plans”. > **Security Officer** : “-” (thinks twice about arguing with Darth Vader) “As you command, my Lord”. Alternate version - **Security Officer** : Well, my lord, if price is no object we can have it done tomorrow by noon. **Vader** : Eeeehhh… **Security Officer** : We’ll get estimates **Vader** : Yeah, get estimates -Joe ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2009, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupendous-stupidity-in-science-fiction-open-spoilers/507932/320 "2009-09-15T20:07:07Z")
> [@Merijeek](#): > > **Vader** : Yeah, get estimates Just choke the service guy before he can cash the check. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupendous-stupidity-in-science-fiction-open-spoilers/507932.md?page=15) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupendous-stupidity-in-science-fiction-open-spoilers/507932.md?page=17)