# Why are so many threads like bad sci-fi con panels? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 2, 2003, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-threads-like-bad-sci-fi-con-panels/185777 "2003-07-02T14:41:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-threads-like-bad-sci-fi-con-panels/185777/1 "2003-07-02T14:41:18Z")
Moderator - if this is considered trolling then please delete as it is not my intention. I’m just amazed that we have this great forum and yet so much bandwidth seems to be used up on threads that come straight out of sci-fi con hell. I won’t pick on any one in particular because there have been so many and I’m sure there will be more. I could make up a real crazy one like “What if the Enterprise found a world just like Middle Earth where a Frodo-like character is developing warp drive?” and I’d probably find 300 replies by daybreak. At cons I tend to avoid these panels like the plague. Anyone care to take a stab on why these sort of threads thrive? ---
**Author:** ![Jayrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Jayrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jayrot)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-threads-like-bad-sci-fi-con-panels/185777/2 "2003-07-02T14:50:43Z")
No, I think your bigger question is: _Why do sci-fi cons thrive?_ Find the answer to that, and you have the answer to your OP. ---
**Author:** ![butter\_pie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aca169/32.png) [@butter\_pie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butter_pie)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-threads-like-bad-sci-fi-con-panels/185777/3 "2003-07-02T14:53:37Z")
Why are you so concerned with what other people do with their time? It’s not like _you’re_ the one paying for the bandwidth here. ---
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-threads-like-bad-sci-fi-con-panels/185777/4 "2003-07-02T14:58:36Z")
**jinwicked** It’s not the bandwidth. It’s just that in my experience the sci-fi con panels I alluded to tend to be sparsely attended (I know I said I avoid them, but I used to check them out and got disenchanted). At a con of moderate size they seemed to attract a fringe group. Yet on SD they seem quite popular, and I’m trying to reconcile this seeming contradiction. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-threads-like-bad-sci-fi-con-panels/185777/5 "2003-07-02T15:09:18Z")
Easy, we don’t have to drive anywhere or get all dressed up to post on The Dope. I like your title suggestion… may I? (I’m curious 😃 ) ---
**Author:** ![El\_Elvis\_Rojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@El\_Elvis\_Rojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Elvis_Rojo)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-threads-like-bad-sci-fi-con-panels/185777/6 "2003-07-02T15:26:17Z")
But…we can still dress up, right? ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-threads-like-bad-sci-fi-con-panels/185777/7 "2003-07-02T15:32:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BwanaBob \* > \*\*At cons I tend to avoid these panels like the plague. > > \*\* Might I reccomend you avoid those threads like the plauge also? What’s the matter? you never thought about what would happen if you shot an elf with a phaser? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Fibber\_McGee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a6a055/32.png) [@Fibber\_McGee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fibber_McGee)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-threads-like-bad-sci-fi-con-panels/185777/8 "2003-07-02T15:46:42Z")
Hell man, you think that sort of thing is bad around here, I know of a board where _every_ thread is like that. It’s absolutely horrifying. Actually, horrifying doesn’t \*begin[/] to describe it. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-threads-like-bad-sci-fi-con-panels/185777/9 "2003-07-02T15:55:42Z")
[Photo](http://www.nexus1.net/OST-Photos/OST-16.jpg) of me using Alladin’s Say n Type software to post in the next _Enterpise_ thread. And, forgive me, but [I can’t wait!](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=194877) ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-threads-like-bad-sci-fi-con-panels/185777/10 "2003-07-02T16:00:10Z")
Hey, I’ve _hosted_ sci-fi con panels and… well… I should probably be offended at something in this thread, but I’m not sure what. Debating some hairsplitting point about fictional characters strikes me as no more pointless than, say, debating who will win an upcoming tennis match or football game. ---
**Author:** ![joshmaker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a587f6/32.png) [@joshmaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joshmaker)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-threads-like-bad-sci-fi-con-panels/185777/11 "2003-07-02T16:37:06Z")
Because Batman wins if he is prepared? Errrr… wait no, thats not it. While I agree that debating which fictional character from different series will win in a fight is kinda pointless, I think people are just being silly and having fun. Most of these threads that I have read are lighthearted and an excuse for for Geeky humor. Personally, I can’t seem to recall any pit threads started over whether or not the USS Enterprise could destroy a Star Destroyer. Just a fun way to waste a little time I guess – much like most SDMB posts really. ---
**Author:** ![NoCoolUserName](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5fc32e/32.png) [@NoCoolUserName](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoCoolUserName)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-threads-like-bad-sci-fi-con-panels/185777/12 "2003-07-02T17:21:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BwanaBob \* > \*\*Anyone care to take a stab on why these sort of threads thrive? \*\* Because the Web turns any niche market into a whole marketplace. Much like a con, come to think about it. Any product, discussion or activity that might appeal to only one person in 100,000–which means maybe 5 people in Denver (155 square miles)–can now take place right here on the SDMB with plenty of participants. Or maybe we’re all just a bunch of goofy geeks who really should have better ways to spend our time. ---
**Author:** ![NoCoolUserName](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5fc32e/32.png) [@NoCoolUserName](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoCoolUserName)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2003, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-threads-like-bad-sci-fi-con-panels/185777/13 "2003-07-04T04:35:30Z")
And because sometimes it’s just such a giggle. Pop on over to the Star Trek in Middle Earth thread and tell me you don’t chuckle at some of the ideas/scripts. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Man\_Who](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c2a13f/32.png) [@The\_Man\_Who](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Man_Who)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2003, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-threads-like-bad-sci-fi-con-panels/185777/14 "2003-07-04T05:04:57Z")
Didja ever wonder what it’d be like if some other author had written “Lord of the Rings”? -Myr:)n ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2003, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-threads-like-bad-sci-fi-con-panels/185777/15 "2003-07-04T05:41:54Z")
For whatever reason, SF threads breed like brown mutts on Web-based bulletin boards, regardless of the primary subject matter. There’s SF-related threads on my _urban planning_ related vBulletin site. You’ll see the same thing with anime and first-person shooter computer games. Check out [vbulletin.com](http://vbulletin.com), and you’ll find people who have very new anime or Counter Strike-related Web sites, with bulletin boards that already contain thousands, if not tens of thousands of posts. ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2003, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-threads-like-bad-sci-fi-con-panels/185777/16 "2003-07-04T05:58:58Z")
I agree with NoCoolUserName. I’ll admit that I’m somewhat of a nerd/geek type - and proud of it. Let’s face it, if this board attracted the typical American, about 99% of the posts would be about sports. It’s nerdy to be a computer geek but painting yourself green and yellow and going to a Green Bay Packers football game is “cool”? Geekiness is in the eye of the beholder. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2003, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-threads-like-bad-sci-fi-con-panels/185777/17 "2003-07-04T05:59:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BMalion \* > \*\*you never thought about what would happen if you shot an elf with a phaser? 😉 \*\* Much the same as if you shot a vulcan with one. Think about it. Long life-spans, pointy ears, condescending towards humans… Vulcans are elves in space! ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2003, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-threads-like-bad-sci-fi-con-panels/185777/18 "2003-07-04T06:41:52Z")
Science Fiction and Fantasy have one element in common: They create new rules to fit with the new universes that they seek to create. It’s interesting to see how these new rules stack up against each other (Is “Harry Potter” magic better, worse, or just different than Middle Earth magic? How does it compare to the Force?).