Read on Twitter
This is one of those places where words obscure their own meaning in the desire to create a dramatic effect. 1/n https://twitter.com/WIRED/status/1292010457755156480
Let’s just rephrase that:
“Interstellar Space exploration is a trope of future fiction fiction which extrapolates from present theory and capability, envisaging capability decades ahead - where ‘present’ denotes a sliding instant from the mid-20th Century to now…[->]”
“Interstellar Space exploration is a trope of future fiction fiction which extrapolates from present theory and capability, envisaging capability decades ahead - where ‘present’ denotes a sliding instant from the mid-20th Century to now…[->]”
“[->]… but as some of those original extrapolations were relatively sensible, premised on a respectable if not complete understanding of the laws of physics, we have inevitably drawn close to the point where the present touches the notional future state.”
Why does this matter? Because the implication of the original phrasing is that “science fiction” equals “wild batshit”, and that is not really true in 2020. More, it’s a formulation used in the media to soften the impact of radical reality: it sounds like science fiction, but”.
I think that has consequences - including making genuine science communication harder.
“We’re going to see radical weather events and sea level rises from the climate crisis -“
“Sounds like science fiction! And now: MP for Dumfries says weather is perfect for growing wine!”
“We’re going to see radical weather events and sea level rises from the climate crisis -“
“Sounds like science fiction! And now: MP for Dumfries says weather is perfect for growing wine!”
I was going to mention COVID-19 but the prof nailed it :) https://twitter.com/ProfDaveAndress/status/1292014120183750656
The point is that our present and likely future do sound like science fiction from a 20th Century perspective, and that is not surprising, it’s inevitable.
But we live in the 21st Century, and holding a C-20th understanding of what’s plausible isn’t some folksy normalness.
But we live in the 21st Century, and holding a C-20th understanding of what’s plausible isn’t some folksy normalness.
It’s either a failure to recognise the real or a determination to reject it, and we can afford neither.
“It sounds like science fiction, but” isn’t just a wry nod to the strange. It’s a validation of the retreat from the real.
And we really need to not do that any more.
End/n
“It sounds like science fiction, but” isn’t just a wry nod to the strange. It’s a validation of the retreat from the real.
And we really need to not do that any more.
End/n