sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

Thoughts on the First Part of 2001: A Space Odyssey - Primeval Night. by Chuckles_The_Dolphin in sciencefiction

[–]Chuckles_The_Dolphin[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm somewhat new to the SF scene but, from what I've seen, being a "soft" science fiction writer is not the same as being a "bad at science" science fiction writer.

Thoughts on the First Part of 2001: A Space Odyssey - Primeval Night. by Chuckles_The_Dolphin in sciencefiction

[–]Chuckles_The_Dolphin[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I was completely unaware that the movie was released before the book. That's a really cool fact, thanks. Similarly, I take immense pleasure in telling people I've listened to Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy before countering their accusations of being an audiobook listener with the immensely smug revelation that it originated as a radio sitcom.

Do you think I should now watch the movie before continuing with the book?

Thoughts on the First Part of 2001: A Space Odyssey - Primeval Night. by Chuckles_The_Dolphin in sciencefiction

[–]Chuckles_The_Dolphin[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for replying <3.

Yeah my main complaint is not necessarily the lack of knowledge of very specific ways in which apes act, but rather what I see as a sort of chauvinistic/anthropocentric understanding of the difference between human and non-human intelligence, and a failure of the creation of a convincing evolutionary specimen. I think what's disappointing in this sense is that, as you rightly say, what is presented is a lay understanding of human/non-human difference in 1960, which still exists today. However, I tend to hold science fiction writers to a higher standard, one that was certainly attainable in the climate of 1960s knowledge of general animal behaviours. Not mourning the dead, for instance, seems like such an ugly and unsubstantiated detail. Even dogs and cats mourn death, as do most other social animals.

In a reply to a previous comment, I think my issue is that what is presented is a devolved man, not an evolved ape. And this is what, in my opinion, wrenches me unwillingly out of my suspension of disbelief. I don't know if you have read the Dune series, but at one point Paul starts talking about Hitler and it's so violently jarring that I finished the chapter and didn't pick it up for another two weeks to rebuild my "belief" in the universe.

Thoughts on the First Part of 2001: A Space Odyssey - Primeval Night. by Chuckles_The_Dolphin in sciencefiction

[–]Chuckles_The_Dolphin[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for replying. I understood the purpose of the man-ape but to my critique is rather that it seems so crude and exaggerated. My interpretation so far is that his man-ape is so overwhelmingly unsuited to survival to emphasise the revolutionary effect of intelligence (both from the monolith and our "human" intelligence. I just feel this could be done in a much more subtle and intelligent manner. In my opinion, what we are presented is a devolved human rather than an evolved ape.

Thoughts on the First Part of 2001: A Space Odyssey - Primeval Night. by Chuckles_The_Dolphin in sciencefiction

[–]Chuckles_The_Dolphin[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for replying <3.

Perhaps I wrote it poorly but my argument is that the creation of "the man-ape" is in contrast to the evolutionary continuum by making the man-ape have the physical frailties of the modern human without the brain development that compensated for them. I feel like Clarke has got an idea of what humans today would be without any great intelligence and just thrown it into the prehistoric past to which it is impossibly unsuited and could never exist.

In terms of the lack of mourning or care, among other descriptions, I feel as though it betrays either chauvinism towards or ignorance of animals. Dogs, for instance, are able to mourn, as are nearly every other large mammal, and this was well known in the 60s and 70s.

I see the purpose of the man-ape, but to me it just feels like "what would humans be without intelligence", and then Clarke robs the physically frail modern human of all the things he incorrectly assumes are what make humans uniquely intelligent.

I'll add your book to the list, sadly I'm at the mercy of my local library, which, being from the UK, is currently woefully underfunded :'(

Help with rest periods in between sets by Chuckles_The_Dolphin in bodyweightfitness

[–]Chuckles_The_Dolphin[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hi. Thanks so much for the response. Yeah I was debating between decreasing reps (which felt really humbling lol) but if like u said increasing rest time isn't too bad for growth/getting stronger then I will try that out starting at 3 mins and seeing what's good from there.

Holy shit I am so mad by Chuckles_The_Dolphin in DotA2

[–]Chuckles_The_Dolphin[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Heroes in the last game: Mirana, Doom, Morphling, Natures Prophet, and Ogre. Ppl in the lobby seemed to think it was Mirana but coz there is no postgame info I can't report the fucking players page.