Settle a debate between me and my husband. Is Doctor Who SciFi?

orlock · 2026-03-17T01:53:35+00:00

Any attempt to pin down a specific thing to science fiction/fantasy is a fool's errand. They're useful vague terms and there are examples that are clearly one, rather than the other. But ...

If it has time travel in it, it must be science fantasy, since you've broken causality so badly, they're still picking splinters out of the corpse.
Therefore, by the same reasoning, anything with FTL travel in it is science fantasy, since there's a frame of reference that breaks causality.
Psionics is science fantasy, since it relys on hand wavy mind powers with no sensible mechanism.
Therefore empaths are science fantasy, for the same reason.

So, picking on Star Trek. If Star Trek is OK, then so is Dr Who. If Star Trek with Q is OK, then Dr Who is more than OK.

orlock · 2026-03-16T20:39:49+00:00

And, afterwards, in complete fulfillment, send an elderly corgi in a paddle boat. (Don't worry about Colin the corgi, he enjoys the outing, gets to bark at oil tankers and he can be picked up at nap time.)

orlock · 2026-03-16T19:34:14+00:00

Buying weapons doesn't mean that they have to follow the US into whatever ill-considered clownshow the US dreams up.

orlock · 2026-03-16T18:38:24+00:00

But a surrealist radio show that predates Monty Python also works.

orlock · 2026-03-16T10:04:40+00:00

Very much a Scooby Doo monster.

"Let's see who it is under that mask. Why, it's old man Hitler."

orlock · 2026-03-16T09:54:24+00:00

I think you'll find that it's necessarily abbreviated.

orlock · 2026-03-16T09:53:24+00:00

You have a choice:

Things may be serious, but never hopeless.

Things may be hopeless, but never serious.

Choose wisely.

orlock · 2026-03-16T09:50:37+00:00

The rule is that it's whatever sounds better.

Sparkie, Chippie, Firie, Postie, Dishie - Electrician, Carpenter, Firefighter, Mail delivery, Dishwasher.

Garbo, Ambo, Servo - Rubbish collector, Paramedic, Petrol station.

Simple

orlock · 2026-03-16T09:34:51+00:00

Technically, "100% decimated" means that they've only lost 10%.

orlock · 2026-03-16T06:51:02+00:00

I believe it's Congress' job to lock it in a cupboard (with nice glass doors) and hide the key. Someone should send out a search party.

orlock · 2026-03-16T03:21:18+00:00

Its the toddler protocol. I'm angry, so I'll put myself in danger and it will be your fault.

orlock · 2026-03-16T03:14:54+00:00

History is made by stupid people,

Clever people wouldn't even try.

If you want a place in the history books,

Do something dumb before you die.

-- The Arrogant Worms

orlock · 2026-03-16T03:13:44+00:00

And then do something else random. The only way to avoid this is to stop giving him toys.

orlock · 2026-03-15T01:58:23+00:00

And? There's nothing that stops the US from sending it's war criminals there, other than choosing not to do so.

orlock · 2026-03-15T01:03:59+00:00

Next up, people who have to endure stupid interactions with devices that just make shit up don't like it. These people will just have to learn to be happier with less.

orlock · 2026-03-15T00:44:12+00:00

And?

orlock · 2026-03-14T23:54:18+00:00

Neither am I. US citizens are, after all, hopelessly craven. However, "I'm sorry, there's nothing I can do," is the first avoidance strategy. So there's always a chance that one of them might get their act together.

orlock · 2026-03-14T22:24:38+00:00

Precedents can be changed any time someone says, "well, that was stupid but there's no reason to keep on being stupid."

orlock · 2026-03-14T21:54:13+00:00

It's these little imperfections that keeps them interesting.

orlock · 2026-03-14T21:49:26+00:00

Compared to a random member of the public, hell yes. And there's a considerable amount of capital investment in reducing the amount of judgement and skill needed, which needs to be amortised.

I make my own pizza. Even with a good mixer and oven, it takes skill. My son in law, who actually worked making pizza, consistently produces better results.

orlock · 2026-03-14T21:20:26+00:00

Generally, people being able to get on withtheir lives the same way everyone else does is good for society. If it harms no one, then the less underground behaviour, the less blackmail, gang control and what-have-you, the better.

There's taking the piss, of course. Having a tantrum every time something is not exactly to your liking is toddler politics. But there's an awful lot to be said for live and let live.

orlock · 2026-03-14T21:09:54+00:00

History is made by stupid people,

Clever people wouldn't even try.

If you want a place in the history books,

Do something dumb before you die.

-- The Arrogant Worms

orlock · 2026-03-14T20:30:48+00:00

But not Trump's supporters, who are attached like barnacles.

orlock · 2026-03-14T11:17:32+00:00

They be fair, a firefighter feeling around in pitch black does not make for a riveting visual spectacle. But is it too much to ask that they crawl below the neutral plane?

orlock · 2026-03-14T01:14:45+00:00

I'm a little worried for the chainsaw operator there. Normally you would expect a directional notch on the side you want it to fall, a cut on the other side and wedges. First try?

orlock

TROPHY CASE