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Bad writing about good science
Jul. 4th, 2007 12:57 amI've sometimes noticed pop science writers trying to relate current research on a particular subject with science fiction, usually Star Trek but sometimes other SF series or stories, even if the comparison is rather stretched.
For example, this article discusses research into drugs that remove stress reactions from traumatic memories. That would be of immense use to, oh, about 97% of everyone I know, including me. But the dumbass writer has to relate it to Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, in which the actual memories are removed, to Philip K. Dick (of course), and inevitably to Spock and his mind meld. I mean, props for mentioning Requiem for Methuselah, one of the lesser-known TOS episodes, but the comparison really isn't valid. People won't understand the basic concept if they don't have a skiffy pop culture hook to hang it on?
You know, it reminds me of the Futurama episode where someone is trying to explain the concept of the Democratic Order Of Planets (DOOP) to Fry, and he doesn't understand the comparison with the United Nations, but gets it when it's compared to the United Federation of Planets...
...damn, now they've got me doing it.
For example, this article discusses research into drugs that remove stress reactions from traumatic memories. That would be of immense use to, oh, about 97% of everyone I know, including me. But the dumbass writer has to relate it to Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, in which the actual memories are removed, to Philip K. Dick (of course), and inevitably to Spock and his mind meld. I mean, props for mentioning Requiem for Methuselah, one of the lesser-known TOS episodes, but the comparison really isn't valid. People won't understand the basic concept if they don't have a skiffy pop culture hook to hang it on?
You know, it reminds me of the Futurama episode where someone is trying to explain the concept of the Democratic Order Of Planets (DOOP) to Fry, and he doesn't understand the comparison with the United Nations, but gets it when it's compared to the United Federation of Planets...
...damn, now they've got me doing it.
