I read Asimov, Heinlein, Clarke, etc.
I watch Star Trek, Star Wars, blah, blah.
So, I’m always getting:
“Did you watch X-Files last night?”
“No, I didn’t.”
“Why not? It should be right up your alley. It’s sci-fi, isn’t it?”
No, I like stories where we go out there and meet them . I’m not into alien abductions or anal probes or crop circles or any crap like that. But any time it comes up that I’m into SF, some people look at me like they’re measuring me for a tinfoil hat!
Why not UFOs? there is plenty of stuff that is unidentified in the sky at any given time. Granted, they are usually small planes or swamp gas reflecting off of venus. but UFOs are real. Alien spacecraft, on the other hand, are a different beast.
Flaastik, this human must be probed!
Okay, this is really confusing. I’m not sure exactly what you’re ranting against. Is it The X-Files? Are you saying that The X-Files aren’t science fiction? Are you accusing fans of the X-Files of actually believing in alien abductions and so forth? Or are you just meeting a lot of people who think that anyone who likes science fiction believes in crop circles, and this pisses you off? If so, what does the X-Files have to do with anything? Why do you have such a bias against sf stories where the aliens get here before we get there? Are you saying those types of stories aren’t “real” sf? Sorry, I just didn’t follow your OP at all.
Okay, for the pedants out there, strike “UFO” and replace it with “Flying Saucer” instead, like most people mean when they say UFO.
mutter crap on my rant, why don’t you…grumble
PROBE HIM!
Sorry, I thought I made it clear. I’m constantly running into people that think that I believe, or should believe in certain phenomena (i.e., flying saucers, alien abdcutions, crop circles, etc.) because I like SF. I was using X-Files as an example of what “believers” were supposed to watch. It just so happens that the subjects covered by the show don’t interest me, an I don’t watch, which astounds those who think that because I like SF, I should.
About my biases, I just happen to like stories where humanity meets extraterrestrials as equals, and are not treated as lab rats, cattle or yokels by them. I have no interest as seeing us as victims, as UFO stories commonly portray us.
AtomicDog, what’s your take on SF stories that don’t involve humanity at all?
I see your point, though. I have encountered people who equate watching Star Trek with believing in Star Trek, that is believeing that Star Trek is real. I just ignore them.
I watched the X-Files as well. I just enjoy science fiction, good and mediocre.
I concur with the OP. I like Star Trek, but I’ve also read a physics book. Heck, I’ve read The Physics of Star Trek, which shows how pretty much every single piece of gadgetry on that show is physically impossible regardless of any technological development. Tell those people you can enjoy the stories without buying into the bunk.
Of course, I did like X-Files because of my love for ridiculously overcomplicated and obscured continuing storylines.
I actually saw one once. I have no explanation for it. It passed overhead at a height (wild ass guess) of about three-four hundred feet. It was entirely silent, didn’t make a sound, no props, no jet noise, not even a hum. At that time, I hadn’t heard anything about “probes” (this was about twenty years ago) or I might very well have hidden or something rather than just stare with my jaw gaping.
Having no more believable explanation, I believe I was either the victim of a total hallucination or I saw something not of this Earth. I can certainly understand why someone would believe the first explanation, so I don’t tell this story a lot. Or at all, for that matter. I’ve seen some amazing stuff. But nothing like this.
There are several types of aircraft that could fit that description…
I can certainly identify. I’m a big fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but I’m also the type of person who would cheerfully go out onto my front porch and yell, “Any vampires within earshot, you’re all invited in.”
That was obviously a Stealth Shuttle from the Klingon Empire, come to steal humanity supply of blood wine. You should have pulled out your phaser pistol, set it to level 16, and blasted that damned sucker out of the sky. But NO-O-O-O-O-O, you’ve doomed us all, due solely to your incompetence. Starfleet should have you court-martialed.
Oooh, I dunno if that’s such a good idea. Ever seen The Lost Boys? Inviting them in is the worst mistake you can make. Then you’ll never know if they’re vampires until it’s too late!
Don’t be silly, Ender. The Lost Boys taught us that vampires will invariably have '80s hair.
AtomicDog, I’m with you. Not only do I like SF, I wound up close friends with a writer. I’m not into crop circles except as a particularly effective hoax, flying saucers, etc. I’m not even all that much into Star Trek, and The X-Files gives me nightmares. Heinlein, Asimov, and William H. Keith, Jr. (hey, I had to mention his name for form’s sake!), however, give me goosebumps!
CJ
Yep, I’m a geek.
PROBE HIM! PROBE HIM AT ONCE!!
Was it just a light, or could you see a shape? If the former, that sounds possibly like a satellite in Low Earth Orbit, 100-something miles up. Seeing one pass silently in a straight line across the night sky can be an eerie experience.
I find “The X-Files” annoying because, in my view, it’s half-baked science fiction, and presents an alternate world that just isn’t believable. Also, I don’t think the writers have ever decided what the “true” reality of the show is supposed to be (involving the overarching moronic “mythology” of aliens).
Well, yeah, could have been a satellite if it was as big as a house and orbiting about 300-500 ft. I suppose that would be pretty quiet, too.
But they all had '80s hair! How does that solve anything? We’d be killing innocents like Corey Haim and Corey Feldman and…
whoa. That’s a really good point you have there SPOOFE.