Space travel on TV infuriates me

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the portrayal of space travel in television and film, contrasting it with the complexities and realities of actual space travel. Participants express frustration with the unrealistic depictions of spacecraft and the simplification of interstellar challenges in sci-fi narratives.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant critiques the depiction of spacecraft in sci-fi shows as overly simplistic, made from materials that seem unrealistic compared to actual space travel technology.
  • Another participant expresses agreement, highlighting the lack of exploration of the societal and psychological impacts of advanced space travel technologies in media.
  • Concerns are raised about the unrealistic portrayal of spacecraft making aerodynamic sounds in the vacuum of space.
  • Some participants note that TV shows often rely on generic plots rather than addressing the significant challenges of interstellar travel, such as propulsion efficiency and ecological needs.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the frustration with the unrealistic portrayal of space travel in media, but there are varying opinions on specific aspects of these portrayals and their implications.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention various challenges related to space travel, such as the need for advanced propulsion systems, ecological considerations, and the societal changes that would accompany such technologies, but do not resolve these complexities.

Pengwuino
Gold Member
Messages
5,112
Reaction score
20
So when humans talk of space travel, we imagine these horribly complex and sanitized capsules or small spacecraft with people in big spacesuits. The vehicles are made of super lightweight material with extraordinarily high-tech components and if the slightest thing goes wrong, the thing could explode. Of course, to top it off, if you ever want to put something in space, it takes days just to put the stupid vehicle on the launchpad.

Then comes space travel on television. In between drooling all over myself fantasizing about that summer gaul chick on firefly or whatever, I become infuriated how all the spacecraft in sci-fi shows are like, made of **** metal that you can find in a junkyard. They also can hop between planets in no time with flight control systems full of nobs and cranks you'd find in a 19th century train.

Also, people who ride around on horses can also fly spaceships. RAWR.

Thus concludes my 4:30am rant about television. Time to go to bed and have happy dreams about http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1132359/" . Hawt.

DISCUSS!
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Astronomy news on Phys.org
One seems to be hot and bothered.

I recommend a cold shower. :biggrin:
 
Pengwuino said:
So when humans talk of space travel, we imagine these horribly complex and sanitized capsules or small spacecraft with people in big spacesuits. The vehicles are made of super lightweight material with extraordinarily high-tech components and if the slightest thing goes wrong, the thing could explode. Of course, to top it off, if you ever want to put something in space, it takes days just to put the stupid vehicle on the launchpad.

Then comes space travel on television. In between drooling all over myself fantasizing about that summer gaul chick on firefly or whatever, I become infuriated how all the spacecraft in sci-fi shows are like, made of **** metal that you can find in a junkyard. They also can hop between planets in no time with flight control systems full of nobs and cranks you'd find in a 19th century train.

Also, people who ride around on horses can also fly spaceships. RAWR.

Thus concludes my 4:30am rant about television. Time to go to bed and have happy dreams about http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1132359/" . Hawt.

DISCUSS!

I completely agree, rather than making an interesting show featuring the gargantuan challenges to interstellar space travel
  • STL
  • propulsion efficiency
  • lack of gravity
  • radiation
  • need for ecology
  • need for industrial complex
  • need for large population
  • social/political/economic issues
  • etc etc etc
TV shows take generic plots and bolt them into a "sci-fi" setting. I have never seen a TV show or film that has properly explored how the technology they employ would change society and psychology. Instead they just take some sort of idealogical western civilisation (or if they are trying to be avant-garde something typically far eastern) and give it lasers :rolleyes: big woop.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I'd be impressed if the space ships just stopped making whooshing sounds and "flying" through space [aerodynamically].

I found it quite amusing to read a UFO website that debunked this video almost immediately based on the argument that "real UFOs don't fly aerodynamically!" :smile:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAqfOgbxHXs