# 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:** 3
**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:** [August 28, 2009, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupendous-stupidity-in-science-fiction-open-spoilers/507932/41 "2009-08-28T02:54:23Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Oh dear lord, I just defended George Lucas. :eek: > Bourbon. Where is the bourbon? Dude! Don’t screw around _drinking_ it. Use [this.](http://images.rxlist.com/images/rxlist/etanercept7.gif) ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2009, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupendous-stupidity-in-science-fiction-open-spoilers/507932/42 "2009-08-28T03:27:15Z")
_Alien Nation:_ Aliens of a species that evolved on (or was gene-engineered for) an environment near enough to Earth’s that they can breathe our air and eat our food . . . will dissolve in salt water. [_The Core:_](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TheCore) Where to begin . . . where to begin . . . ---
**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2009, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupendous-stupidity-in-science-fiction-open-spoilers/507932/43 "2009-08-28T03:30:18Z")
The OP asked for space operas, but _Jurassic Park II_ is still SciFi and it’s the first thing I think of when I hear talk of stupidity in movies. [ul] [li]They have this trailer that’s clearly designed to withstand attacks by large dinosaurs, but it’s rear window is easily-shattered plar glass and they park it next to a cliff.[/li][li]After touting the T-rex’s great sense of smell, the lady dinosaur expert spends half the movie running around with the blood of the baby T-rex on her jacket.[/li][li]Every member of a large group manages to fall asleep in a rainy jungle and get snuck up on by a T-rex. [/li][li]Pursued by velociraptors in the tall grass, an armed column of men can’t think of the basic infantry tactic of peeling guys off to cover the rear.[/li][/ul] ---
**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:** [August 28, 2009, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupendous-stupidity-in-science-fiction-open-spoilers/507932/44 "2009-08-28T03:40:01Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > _Alien Nation:_ Aliens of a species that evolved on (or was gene-engineered for) an environment near enough to Earth’s that they can breathe our air and eat our food . . . will dissolve in salt water. My goodness…what do they use for blood? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![cerberus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cerberus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cerberus)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2009, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupendous-stupidity-in-science-fiction-open-spoilers/507932/45 "2009-08-28T03:44:57Z")
The problem is that the people writing this stuff, generally speaking, couldn’t/didn’t/never took any logic/mathematics/hard sciences. Even when it is possible to incorporate l/m/hs, it usually is volotionally ignored, contradicted or woo-ed away. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2009, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupendous-stupidity-in-science-fiction-open-spoilers/507932/46 "2009-08-28T04:12:42Z")
> [@cerberus](#): > > The problem is that the people writing this stuff, generally speaking, couldn’t/didn’t/never took any logic/mathematics/hard sciences. > > Even when it is possible to incorporate l/m/hs, it usually is volotionally ignored, contradicted or woo-ed away. See [Did Not Do the Research,](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/DidNotDoTheResearch) [Critical Research Failure,](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/CriticalResearchFailure) [Hollywood Science,](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/HollywoodScience) [You Fail Physics Forever,](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/YouFailPhysicsForever) [You Fail Biology Forever,](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/YouFailBiologyForever) and [They Just Didn’t Care.](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ptitleueswu2fx0swd?from=Main.TheyJustDidntCare) ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2009, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupendous-stupidity-in-science-fiction-open-spoilers/507932/47 "2009-08-28T05:35:46Z")
**Nevada** , a comic book series by the otherwise infallible Steve Gerber, had as a plot point a laser that shot straight up out of the Luxor hotel/casino in Las Vegas, which maintained a laser link with some distant planet, allowing bad stuff to happen. On a message board, I compared it to fixing a laser pointer onto a spinning top and relying on it to stay on any fixed spot while spinning. He didn’t respond. He made a very similar mistake in a \*\*Superman \*\*Elseworlds story he wrote around the same time (Pa Kent knew a comet was on a collision course with Earth, but didn’t know when. You plot the orbits of two bodies; either the paths intersect or they don’t and if they do, their rates of speed bring them into collision or they don’t). Bright guy, but with a real blind spot when it comes to astronomy. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2009, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupendous-stupidity-in-science-fiction-open-spoilers/507932/48 "2009-08-28T07:05:42Z")
\*Signs \*: Yes! Let’s invade the Acid Planet of the Acid People! Where it rains acid, where the inhabitants have hot and cold running acid in their homes, and where the locals spit, pee and bleed acid! And let’s do it NAKED! ---
**Author:** ![Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uosdwis_R.Dewoh)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2009, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupendous-stupidity-in-science-fiction-open-spoilers/507932/49 "2009-08-28T08:03:09Z")
Maybe the aliens did it for the lulz. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Q](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/898d66/32.png) [@Johnny\_Q](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Q)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2009, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupendous-stupidity-in-science-fiction-open-spoilers/507932/50 "2009-08-28T08:08:25Z")
> [@pedescribe](#): > > They explained this one. The admiral Vader force-choked? Vader was pissed because the admiral warped the fleet too close to Hoth at the beginning, giving the rebels a chance to raise a shield that prevented direct orbital bombardment, meaning he would have to engage in a time-wasting ground battle. Another point of stupidity: Put the shield generators UNDER THE GODDAMN SHIELD!!! ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2009, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupendous-stupidity-in-science-fiction-open-spoilers/507932/51 "2009-08-28T08:11:55Z")
> [@Johnny\_Q](#): > > Another point of stupidity: Put the shield generators UNDER THE GODDAMN SHIELD!!! They _were_ under the shield. Why do you think they needed to send AT-ATs to destroy the generators, instead of just shelling them from orbit? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Q](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/898d66/32.png) [@Johnny\_Q](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Q)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2009, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupendous-stupidity-in-science-fiction-open-spoilers/507932/52 "2009-08-28T08:23:22Z")
So they didn’t spring for the shield that protects from lateral attack? Or do the AT ATs just have more firepower than the star destroyers? ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2009, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupendous-stupidity-in-science-fiction-open-spoilers/507932/53 "2009-08-28T08:34:39Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > \*Signs \*: Yes! Let’s invade the Acid Planet of the Acid People! Where it rains acid, where the inhabitants have hot and cold running acid in their homes, and where the locals spit, pee and bleed acid! And let’s do it NAKED! Sounds like Woodstock. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2009, 8:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupendous-stupidity-in-science-fiction-open-spoilers/507932/54 "2009-08-28T08:36:11Z")
The thing about the snowspeeders is that at least they brought a couple of AT-ATs down. What the hell were all those infantrymen doing there? Did they make any difference whatsoever? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Q](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/898d66/32.png) [@Johnny\_Q](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Q)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2009, 8:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupendous-stupidity-in-science-fiction-open-spoilers/507932/55 "2009-08-28T08:39:52Z")
They made the Walkers’ feet a little slick when they got stomped on. Thus making them easier to knock over. ---
**Author:** ![shantih](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@shantih](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shantih)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2009, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupendous-stupidity-in-science-fiction-open-spoilers/507932/56 "2009-08-28T08:43:27Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > See [Did Not Do the Research,](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/DidNotDoTheResearch) [Critical Research Failure,](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/CriticalResearchFailure) [Hollywood Science,](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/HollywoodScience) [You Fail Physics Forever,](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/YouFailPhysicsForever) [You Fail Biology Forever,](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/YouFailBiologyForever) and [They Just Didn’t Care.](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ptitleueswu2fx0swd?from=Main.TheyJustDidntCare) ARGH!! Seriously, do you mind? I’ve got things to do this morning! If I’m still flipping through TV Tropes when my kids get back from school, I’m sending them to you to fix their lunch. I’ll just read one more link and then shut off the computer and get stuff done. Ooo, shiny! ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2009, 8:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupendous-stupidity-in-science-fiction-open-spoilers/507932/57 "2009-08-28T08:52:03Z")
> [@Johnny\_Q](#): > > So they didn’t spring for the shield that protects from lateral attack? The shield generator was taken from a scrapped capital ship. Given that it was designed to be used surrounded by the void of space, coping with terrain masking would not have been a significant concern. ---
**Author:** ![EvilTOJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2009, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupendous-stupidity-in-science-fiction-open-spoilers/507932/58 "2009-08-28T10:46:59Z")
I always wanted an AT-ST as a commuter vehicle. Sure they may not get the best mileage, but with laser cannons NO ONE will cut you off. ---
**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:** [August 28, 2009, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupendous-stupidity-in-science-fiction-open-spoilers/507932/59 "2009-08-28T11:37:46Z")
> [@Johnny\_Q](#): > > Another point of stupidity: Put the shield generators UNDER THE GODDAMN SHIELD!!! Everybody knows that shields are only proof against RED lasers…not GREEN ones. geez. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2009, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupendous-stupidity-in-science-fiction-open-spoilers/507932/60 "2009-08-28T14:14:13Z")
The thing that bothers me about the walkers is, the Star Wars universe obviously has anti-gravity technology. Landspeeders, snowspeeders, floating probe robots, etc… Why not make really big hover tanks? No worries about getting your legs tangled up then. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupendous-stupidity-in-science-fiction-open-spoilers/507932.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupendous-stupidity-in-science-fiction-open-spoilers/507932.md?page=4)