# Things I Have Learnt From Science Fiction **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 25, 2006, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-have-learnt-from-science-fiction/341542 "2006-01-25T13:07:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2006, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-have-learnt-from-science-fiction/341542/161 "2006-01-28T17:54:47Z")
Every sapient being has a name expressible in familiar phonemes, even if his/her/its vocal apparatus bears no resemblance to humans’. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2006, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-have-learnt-from-science-fiction/341542/162 "2006-01-28T19:53:12Z")
> [@asterion](#): > > Nah, that fits right in with the thread. Heinlein sure seemed convinced of it, at least. I don’t think Jubal Harshaw was much of a GQ pallete; he seemed to be more of a Hawaiian shirt type. But Heinlein was certainly convinced of Harshaw (and other old letch characters) sexual appeal to young ladies. Actually, that’s a general theme in science ficiton, the authorship being largely male-dominated. I’m struggling to think of an example of a mature, sexually independent female character with one or more younger inamorato. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2006, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-have-learnt-from-science-fiction/341542/163 "2006-01-28T20:50:02Z")
> [@Stranger On A Train](#): > > I’m struggling to think of an example of a mature, sexually independent female character with one or more younger inamorato. > > Stranger Servalan? Mind you, she probably threw them out the airlock when she was done with them. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2006, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-have-learnt-from-science-fiction/341542/164 "2006-01-28T21:54:29Z")
> [@saoirse](#): > > When traveling time for the future of mankind, avoid the great magnetic field. > > Think the 80s backlash was bad? In the 24th Century, wanting to command a starship will be evidence of mental illness in a woman. Fortunately, it will have passed by the 25th Century. You mean the 23rd & 24th centuries, Capt. Hernandez must have done something massively bad. And speaking of alternate universes no matter how far back in time the point of divergance was or how different that universe is all your ancestors still bred with each other at the same times and produced and alternate you (and the alternate you knows the alternate versions of your friends/coworkers). ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2006, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-have-learnt-from-science-fiction/341542/165 "2006-01-28T22:41:29Z")
Either all spaceships have a single shift of command crew, or nothing ever happens except on the main shift. Corrolary: if you wear a red shirt, put in for the second shift. It may be boring, but you’ll survive to get home. All ships of all races, human and alien (including aliens who have had no contact with humans), have special beacons that tell other ships their orientation on the galactic plane. How else do they make sure that every time they meet, they’re rightside up? All humans can read the controls and fly of any alien spaceship. ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2006, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-have-learnt-from-science-fiction/341542/166 "2006-01-28T22:55:23Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > All humans can read the controls and fly of any alien spaceship. In one episode of TNG, we even see a Romulan taking the controls of the Enterprise (after the controls had exploded, knocking out the Starfleet officer who had been using the controls. Presumably, control panels in the mid 24th century are designed with a high degree of redundancy.) ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2006, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-have-learnt-from-science-fiction/341542/167 "2006-01-28T22:58:52Z")
> [@Stranger On A Train](#): > > I don’t think Jubal Harshaw was much of a GQ pallete; he seemed to be more of a Hawaiian shirt type. But Heinlein was certainly convinced of Harshaw (and other old letch characters) sexual appeal to young ladies. > > Actually, that’s a general theme in science ficiton, the authorship being largely male-dominated. I’m struggling to think of an example of a mature, sexually independent female character with one or more younger inamorato. > > Stranger From what I recall of Stranger in a Strange Land, I wasn’t even sure if Jubal was getting any action from his trio of companions. For all I could tell, he may have just been enjoying their company while making use of their more resume-worthy skills (such as one being a Fair Witness, a sort of SuperNotary). That said, I seem to recall that SG1 has a character played by Claudia Black who apparantly likes to use sex to her advantage. I saw an episode from the beginning of the 9th season where she was folliwing Dr. Jackson around teasing him incessantly. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2006, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-have-learnt-from-science-fiction/341542/168 "2006-01-28T23:11:36Z")
> [@Case Sensitive](#): > > Servalan? Mind you, she probably threw them out the airlock when she was done with them. I should have qualified that as a protagonist. And I wouldn’t admit to more than a passing knowledge of _Blake’s 7_ if I were you. 😉 Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2006, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-have-learnt-from-science-fiction/341542/169 "2006-01-28T23:18:42Z")
> [@Raguleader](#): > > From what I recall of Stranger in a Strange Land, I wasn’t even sure if Jubal was getting any action from his trio of companions. For all I could tell, he may have just been enjoying their company while making use of their more resume-worthy skills (such as one being a Fair Witness, a sort of SuperNotary). True, but it was clear that they were all supposed to be sexually attracted to him, as was Dawn, the young high priestess of The Church of All Worlds. Ditto with Woodrow ‘Lazarus Long’ Wilson Smith and his cotre of groupies, et cetera. And we won’t even go into the Woody Allen-esque scenerio of _The Door Into Summer_. Methinks Bob Heinlein and [Charles Dodgson](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/041119.html) would have gotten on quite well. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![saoirse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@saoirse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saoirse)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2006, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-have-learnt-from-science-fiction/341542/170 "2006-01-29T00:16:07Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > You mean the 23rd & 24th centuries, Of course. > [@](#): > > And speaking of alternate universes no matter how far back in time the point of divergance was or how different that universe is all your ancestors still bred with each other at the same times and produced and alternate you (and the alternate you knows the alternate versions of your friends/coworkers). They may, however, have goatees and be evil. ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2006, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-have-learnt-from-science-fiction/341542/171 "2006-01-29T02:18:20Z")
> [@Stranger On A Train](#): > > I don’t think Jubal Harshaw was much of a GQ pallete; he seemed to be more of a Hawaiian shirt type. But Heinlein was certainly convinced of Harshaw (and other old letch characters) sexual appeal to young ladies. > > Actually, that’s a general theme in science ficiton, the authorship being largely male-dominated. I’m struggling to think of an example of a mature, sexually independent female character with one or more younger inamorato. > > Stranger Hilda and Zeb, from _The Number of the Beast_–it’s clear from the first couple of chapters that he’d been chasing her and she turning him down, but she eventually beds him. She’s pretty close to twice his age. Star, Empress of Twenty Universes and Oscar–if THAT ain’t May-December I don’t know what would qualify! Maureen Smith in her older years by definition had to be sleeping with younger men, and had a very nice time of it. Sorry, but Heinlein definitely gave his women their spot in the limelight, and he made no bones that he considered women to increase in attractiveness as they aged–heck, Valentine Michael Smith and Jubal both considered the Rodin sculpture of [She Who Was the Helmet-Maker’s Beautiful Wife, c. 1889–90](http://www.lacma.org/art/perm_col/europe/M84_164.jpg) to be infinitely more beautiful that the nubile young ladies lounging around the pool… I think you’re barking up the wrong tree accusing Heinlein of being a teeny worshipper writing wank fantasies for old letches. Heinlein just didn’t think any of the usual societal sexual no-nos applied to a rational human who had the guts to think things through on his or her own–strangely enough, neither do I! ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2006, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-have-learnt-from-science-fiction/341542/172 "2006-01-29T03:19:53Z")
Although Jubal’s favorite was [this one](http://www.bc.edu/bc_org/avp/cas/fnart/rodin/rodincaryatid.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2006, 9:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-have-learnt-from-science-fiction/341542/173 "2006-01-29T09:16:29Z")
All medical facilities have no other patients except for the one guy who’s just had his hand cut off/succumbed to Wuzzle’s Disease/been discovered in a coma on a mysterious derelict ship. Doctors in the future have _way_ too much time on their hands. ---
**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:** [January 29, 2006, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-have-learnt-from-science-fiction/341542/174 "2006-01-29T11:34:55Z")
Camouflage? Our soldiers don’t need no stinking camouflage! Heck Cylon warriors are made out of reflective tin-foil! ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2006, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-have-learnt-from-science-fiction/341542/175 "2006-01-29T14:29:18Z")
> [@Paul in Saudi](#): > > Camouflage? Our soldiers don’t need no stinking camouflage! Heck Cylon warriors are made out of reflective tin-foil! No. Recycled PIB cans. _Only_ PIB. ---
**Author:** ![dogbutler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogbutler/32/428_2.png) [@dogbutler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dogbutler)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2006, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-have-learnt-from-science-fiction/341542/176 "2006-01-29T15:18:32Z")
> [@Paul in Saudi](#): > > Camouflage? Our soldiers don’t need no stinking camouflage! Heck Cylon warriors are made out of reflective tin-foil! [Tinfoil](http://zapatopi.net/afdb/) keeps the mind rays out! ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2006, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-have-learnt-from-science-fiction/341542/177 "2006-01-29T16:39:06Z")
> [@Paul in Saudi](#): > > Camouflage? Our soldiers don’t need no stinking camouflage! Heck Cylon warriors are made out of reflective tin-foil! That’s so you can see the fear in your face reflected in the last moments of your life. Wahaahahahahahahaha! Okay, I got nothing. Except, with metal, you need to prime it. Who wants to go through the trouble of putting on two coats? Unless you’re one of them Redneck Cylon Designers who just wants to paint yours primer… -Joe ---
**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:** [January 29, 2006, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-have-learnt-from-science-fiction/341542/178 "2006-01-29T18:25:26Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > And speaking of alternate universes no matter how far back in time the point of divergance was or how different that universe is all your ancestors still bred with each other at the same times and produced and alternate you (and the alternate you knows the alternate versions of your friends/coworkers). The excellent TNG novel **Dark Mirror** , by Diane Duane (which deserves to be canon as strongly as the Mirror episodes of DS9 and Enterprise do not) touched on this. Examining who has a Mirror duplicate and who does not, Picard and crew speculate on whether the Mirror universe is simply an alternate timeline, or whether in some fashion it’s somehow a distorted copy of their own universe. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2006, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-have-learnt-from-science-fiction/341542/179 "2006-01-29T18:46:37Z")
> [@SmartAleq](#): > > Hilda and Zeb, from _The Number of the Beast_–it’s clear from the first couple of chapters that he’d been chasing her and she turning him down, but she eventually beds him. She’s pretty close to twice his age. Not hardly. Zeb is in his early thirties–less than 34, I clearly remember; Hilda is 42. A mere nine or ten year difference, nowhere near twice. He does mention that he’s “not the only loonie in [Hilda’s] stable.” He may have just meant that she had a coteries of weird friends, but I had the feeling that Hilda had endless suitors, both older and younger. (She herself mentions that she has a boring plethora of applicants" for the position of bedmate.) Star, Empress of Twenty Universes and Oscar–if THAT ain’t May-December I don’t know what would qualify! > [@](#): > > Maureen Smith in her older years by definition had to be sleeping with younger men, and had a very nice time of it. Definitely. Also, I’m sure she was equally popular once she came forward in time to Tertius’ age and displaced her son as the Senior. (Admittedly, I never bought the argument that she was the oldest living human; Lazarus might have been born later, but he lived through a lot more time than she did. On the other hand, he probably conceded the status because he didn’t want the attention in the first place.) Given how the Howards judged sexual attractiveness, her genetic fitness must have shot her up most men’s charts. > [@](#): > > Sorry, but Heinlein definitely gave his women their spot in the limelight, and he made no bones that he considered women to increase in attractiveness as they aged–heck, Valentine Michael Smith and Jubal both considered the Rodin sculpture of [She Who Was the Helmet-Maker’s Beautiful Wife, c. 1889–90](http://www.lacma.org/art/perm_col/europe/M84_164.jpg) to be infinitely more beautiful that the nubile young ladies lounging around the pool… I think you’re barking up the wrong tree accusing Heinlein of being a teeny worshipper writing wank fantasies for old letches. Consider also Tamara. It’s clear that every male who meets her loves and adores her, in both sexual and non-sexual ways, and her cosmetic age had nothing at all to do with it. ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2006, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-have-learnt-from-science-fiction/341542/180 "2006-01-29T21:34:52Z")
> [@dogbutler](#): > > [Tinfoil](http://zapatopi.net/afdb/) keeps the mind rays out! [No it doesn’t.](http://people.csail.mit.edu/rahimi/helmet/) :wally [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-have-learnt-from-science-fiction/341542.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-i-have-learnt-from-science-fiction/341542.md?page=10)