We Would All Watch It, If It Was Good -- New Ideas
on
Should Star Trek Die?
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· Score: 3, Interesting
If Star Trek was good, you would watch it. You know this is true. I wouldn't call any of the later series flat out bad, but clearly none have been on the level of TNG.
TNG and OS both reflected the times and talked about issues in intelligent ways and hey, we still have issues therefore we still need Star Trek.
The problem with Star Trek is their inability to try something new. The universe is so big so why are we always focused on the Captain of a spaceship (minus DS9...to a point, it was practically the same formula just on a spaceship that didn't move).
Supposedly, JMS has pitched something to them for a new series. We all know Babylon 5 was the real followup to TNG. (And supposedly DS9 was stolen from JMS's B5 pitch). I think he could do a lot for them if they accept him.
But I've always wanted to see StarFleet Academy. Berman/Braga won't do it because it's "Dawson's Creek In Space" but so what. Buffy was about teenagers and still managed to be about more. You want new viewership for Star Trek? Well, attract the teens. I want to see supersmart kids duking it out to be the next Jean Luc Picard. You know, something super-competitive like Ender's Game, but in High School. I think this has been the answer for years but they're too closeminded.
The close-mindedness is the problem. Star Trek only needs to go away when we don't need it. We still need it, and we'd all be there to watch it, if only it was good. It can only be good if they get of the myopic path they're stuck on.
I've always thought Starfleet Academy was a great idea. Yeah, so it may have some elements of Dawson's Creek in space but why is that so bad? It would bring a whole new audience to the show. The Star Trek base is continually shrinking. When is the last time they got a new fan? All of us are already Star Trek fans and most have stopped watching, many stopped a long time ago.
I think Star Trek can still have all the elements we like -- science, discovery, adventure, morals -- and be set essentially in a high school. Sure, there will be romantic angles, there are in other Star Trek series anyway. But there would also be intense and fierce competition that would be really neat.
I don't see what's wrong with this idea. It can't be worse than Enterprise. Try something new and different. You might like it.
I think this is not a smart move by Microsoft. Because sometimes there are games you love for one reason or another, and they just don't make a version for your system. I bought a PS2 because it was compatible. Because I went to an arcade and played 'Rival Schools United By Fate' and thought it was the best game I had ever seen. Sure it's just Capcom, but is there really an explanation for games you love? But Rival Schools is only available in PS format. If my PS2 didn't play it, I wouldn't have bought a PS2 and the subsequent games of theirs I wanted.
My boyfriend was thinking about getting any number of systems and just bought a GameBoy Advance so he could play his old school games.
There are no explanations for the games you love, but there is commerce in their nostalgia. This move makes me happier I invested in PlayStation rather than XBox and I will continue to do so because of their mutual respect for me. Even though my PS2 is broken, stupid piece of crap.
My favorite greek tragedy is the Ajax. Never heard of it? That's because it's never been translated into English. Therefore, for those of us who cannot translate ancient Greek we have to go about procuring it in other ways. I have a translation from a graduate student that I received from someone and have subsequently photocopied for other people. Because what am I supposed to do? Not read it? Or just wait for the rest of my life so one day I can give 10 dollars to a publishing company?
There is a major difference, where the copyright on such an ancient piece of work is obvious expired, if one ever existed. But I think the sentiment is the same. I guess I can wait two generations until manga's copyright expires. Maybe I can be cryogenically frozen so I can read the things I want now for free on the internet in the future.
I'll pay for it, if they give it to me, but if it's not in my language, what options do I have?
The creators are not losing money in scanlation. Because people who do not read Japanese would not buy the books anyway. I've never read them, but I've certainly watched fansubs. And as I said, they're not losing money. I wouldn't buy it in raw Japanese because it wouldn't make any sense to me. Further, after watching said show I buy the little bobbles, the posters, the pillows, the nightgowns, etc... So they're making money off me that they wouldn't have made otherwise.
Also, I was under the impression that scanlations and fansubs were not illegal when the material was not licensed for the US. Being not licensed for the US means 'no one has the rights to this material in this country'. It may not be legal, but I don't think it's illegal to do this sort of thing. There is no one to sue you because no one owns it.
Also, as noted, what are you supposed to do? Never read or watch the piece of work because no US distributor wants to pick it up? As others have said, US Distributors often choose what to license from what people are fansubbing. Do you think the creator of Naruto cares that it was Scanlated now that it's on the USA Today Top 150? It never would have been picked up if it was never scanlated.
And while some fansubs and scanlations are done rather shoddily, so are a lot of the US Distributed stuff. They'll stuff too many episodes on a disc and lose frames. Or they will not translate swears so they can market to kids. So you if you want to actually read, to the best of your ability when you don't know the language, what the creator intended, sometimes this is your only avenue.
And the people who do this stuff are not doing it for money. They simply want to expose people to stuff they love. They mostly do this stuff on their free time and for no money. I think villifying them and the people who patronize them is unfair.
I don't think they are doing anything wrong morally or illegally.
I don't think the home theater thing works for everyone. Going on dates with people who you are just not ready to go to their house nor close enough to hang out with their friends. Or being able to go out and dress like a hobbit. Or just getting out of the house. It's too culturally relavant. Seeing a movie with an audience is an experience. What you do sounds cool, but I don't want to spend anymore time in work or with the people I work with than I have to.
Also, downloading, at least in my experience, is a pain. Anyone you would download from is never on all night and so you get like 1/3 of the movie while your sleeping and then you have to find the same version of the movie to complete downloading and its just a pain. Plus they often come in two parts and for some reason no one ever has the second part and whatever. I'd rather just go. But clearly I'm missing out on the nice download places where one file will completely download when I sleep. And that file doesn't have annoying digital glitches or sound drop outs or whatever that are so annoying on my big screen with my sound system. A lot of people prefer perfection, if they can get it. I'm telling you, moviegoing and dvds will never go out of style.
Movies will never entirely have the same problem as music. Because at the very least, people will always go to the movies. Because if you say, 'hey baby, you want to come watch lotr on my 'home theater'? i downloaded it this morning' - well, that's just not going to get you what you want now is it? Going to the movies is never going to stop so at least they'll always make money. And maybe this mass downloading will inspire them to make better movies. Because I'll go see something in a theater if it's good. I only download stuff I don't want to pay for but I want to see.
Further, when it comes to DVD, it's not a huge problem for the MPAA yet. yet. Because at least in my experience I can't download high resolution dolby 5.1 movies on the internet. And that's what my 40inch tv (which i spent an entire summer saving up for) and sound system deserve. And as others have mentioned, the availability of movies on the internet I think has boosted the extras on dvd. Because there's more to most dvds than the movie. One day, the internet will be fast enough that I can download dvd quality movies and extras but right now I can't.
Further, if poor college students want to download movies because they are poor, I say more power to them. Because I believe they'll give you the money when they have it. When they grow up and get a job and have children are they going to bother to find and download movies. I think it's easier to buy stuff if you're out anyway.
And lastly, DVDs have become collectables. DVDs go out of print. You have that Criterion Hard Boiled? That's worth like $200. Awesome. I know people who literally collect DVDs.
So I don't think they'll ever have the problem music does. A bought cd has nothing to offer us. Cover art? Liner notes which you can read and print out from the internet if you want to. And they take very little time to download at high quality. They're not mixed in 5.1 and cds don't premiere like movies. There are concerts but that's not the same as going to the movies.
People Still Have The Power
on
Homogenized Music
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· Score: 2, Insightful
Radios play what people want to hear. When people don't want to hear it anymore, it will be gone. I don't blame big corporations for the songs on the radio (there are better things to blame them for, pick your battles) - its the people who make and break bands. And personally, I find the songs on the radio these days more listenable than ever before. Evidently all my radio stations are owned by the same people now, but I've hardly even noticed.
Everyone noted there are alternatives. I've even had a hard time finding mainstream music on the internet. It's all like indie and experimental. Then of course there is mp3 sharing as well.
But if you want the songs on the radio to change - go do something about it. Support your favorite bands - go to their shows and give their cds to people. If you want new music go to clubs and find it. Look at Linkin Park, I heard of this band forever ago before they had a record out. People had seen them and everyone in Orange County was talking about them. And I was also pretty suprised to hear the Strokes on the radio, they're a pretty indie sounding band.
But there was techno before its short radio boom and it lives on after in smaller circles. Someone talked about punk, which also had a radio hayday (circa early epitaph) but in general has been able to survive as its own thing. And a lot of punk bands and a ton of punk fans don't want them to be on the radio.
The radio is dependant upon what vocal people and their money like. Whether the radio station is owned by mom and pop or a corporation, if they want to survive, that's what they'll play.
Point being, from the audience standpoint, it doesn't matter who owns it. and eventually Vegas Radio will get played when the corporation realizes they've saturated the market with too many of the same sounding stations. And they'll realize it eventually.
Slashdot Mirror
If Star Trek was good, you would watch it. You know this is true. I wouldn't call any of the later series flat out bad, but clearly none have been on the level of TNG. TNG and OS both reflected the times and talked about issues in intelligent ways and hey, we still have issues therefore we still need Star Trek. The problem with Star Trek is their inability to try something new. The universe is so big so why are we always focused on the Captain of a spaceship (minus DS9...to a point, it was practically the same formula just on a spaceship that didn't move). Supposedly, JMS has pitched something to them for a new series. We all know Babylon 5 was the real followup to TNG. (And supposedly DS9 was stolen from JMS's B5 pitch). I think he could do a lot for them if they accept him. But I've always wanted to see StarFleet Academy. Berman/Braga won't do it because it's "Dawson's Creek In Space" but so what. Buffy was about teenagers and still managed to be about more. You want new viewership for Star Trek? Well, attract the teens. I want to see supersmart kids duking it out to be the next Jean Luc Picard. You know, something super-competitive like Ender's Game, but in High School. I think this has been the answer for years but they're too closeminded. The close-mindedness is the problem. Star Trek only needs to go away when we don't need it. We still need it, and we'd all be there to watch it, if only it was good. It can only be good if they get of the myopic path they're stuck on.
I've always thought Starfleet Academy was a great idea. Yeah, so it may have some elements of Dawson's Creek in space but why is that so bad? It would bring a whole new audience to the show. The Star Trek base is continually shrinking. When is the last time they got a new fan? All of us are already Star Trek fans and most have stopped watching, many stopped a long time ago. I think Star Trek can still have all the elements we like -- science, discovery, adventure, morals -- and be set essentially in a high school. Sure, there will be romantic angles, there are in other Star Trek series anyway. But there would also be intense and fierce competition that would be really neat. I don't see what's wrong with this idea. It can't be worse than Enterprise. Try something new and different. You might like it.
I think this is not a smart move by Microsoft. Because sometimes there are games you love for one reason or another, and they just don't make a version for your system. I bought a PS2 because it was compatible. Because I went to an arcade and played 'Rival Schools United By Fate' and thought it was the best game I had ever seen. Sure it's just Capcom, but is there really an explanation for games you love? But Rival Schools is only available in PS format. If my PS2 didn't play it, I wouldn't have bought a PS2 and the subsequent games of theirs I wanted. My boyfriend was thinking about getting any number of systems and just bought a GameBoy Advance so he could play his old school games. There are no explanations for the games you love, but there is commerce in their nostalgia. This move makes me happier I invested in PlayStation rather than XBox and I will continue to do so because of their mutual respect for me. Even though my PS2 is broken, stupid piece of crap.
My favorite greek tragedy is the Ajax. Never heard of it? That's because it's never been translated into English. Therefore, for those of us who cannot translate ancient Greek we have to go about procuring it in other ways. I have a translation from a graduate student that I received from someone and have subsequently photocopied for other people. Because what am I supposed to do? Not read it? Or just wait for the rest of my life so one day I can give 10 dollars to a publishing company? There is a major difference, where the copyright on such an ancient piece of work is obvious expired, if one ever existed. But I think the sentiment is the same. I guess I can wait two generations until manga's copyright expires. Maybe I can be cryogenically frozen so I can read the things I want now for free on the internet in the future. I'll pay for it, if they give it to me, but if it's not in my language, what options do I have?
The creators are not losing money in scanlation. Because people who do not read Japanese would not buy the books anyway. I've never read them, but I've certainly watched fansubs. And as I said, they're not losing money. I wouldn't buy it in raw Japanese because it wouldn't make any sense to me. Further, after watching said show I buy the little bobbles, the posters, the pillows, the nightgowns, etc... So they're making money off me that they wouldn't have made otherwise.
Also, I was under the impression that scanlations and fansubs were not illegal when the material was not licensed for the US. Being not licensed for the US means 'no one has the rights to this material in this country'. It may not be legal, but I don't think it's illegal to do this sort of thing. There is no one to sue you because no one owns it.
Also, as noted, what are you supposed to do? Never read or watch the piece of work because no US distributor wants to pick it up? As others have said, US Distributors often choose what to license from what people are fansubbing. Do you think the creator of Naruto cares that it was Scanlated now that it's on the USA Today Top 150? It never would have been picked up if it was never scanlated.
And while some fansubs and scanlations are done rather shoddily, so are a lot of the US Distributed stuff. They'll stuff too many episodes on a disc and lose frames. Or they will not translate swears so they can market to kids. So you if you want to actually read, to the best of your ability when you don't know the language, what the creator intended, sometimes this is your only avenue.
And the people who do this stuff are not doing it for money. They simply want to expose people to stuff they love. They mostly do this stuff on their free time and for no money. I think villifying them and the people who patronize them is unfair.
I don't think they are doing anything wrong morally or illegally.
I don't think the home theater thing works for everyone. Going on dates with people who you are just not ready to go to their house nor close enough to hang out with their friends. Or being able to go out and dress like a hobbit. Or just getting out of the house. It's too culturally relavant. Seeing a movie with an audience is an experience. What you do sounds cool, but I don't want to spend anymore time in work or with the people I work with than I have to. Also, downloading, at least in my experience, is a pain. Anyone you would download from is never on all night and so you get like 1/3 of the movie while your sleeping and then you have to find the same version of the movie to complete downloading and its just a pain. Plus they often come in two parts and for some reason no one ever has the second part and whatever. I'd rather just go. But clearly I'm missing out on the nice download places where one file will completely download when I sleep. And that file doesn't have annoying digital glitches or sound drop outs or whatever that are so annoying on my big screen with my sound system. A lot of people prefer perfection, if they can get it. I'm telling you, moviegoing and dvds will never go out of style.
Movies will never entirely have the same problem as music. Because at the very least, people will always go to the movies. Because if you say, 'hey baby, you want to come watch lotr on my 'home theater'? i downloaded it this morning' - well, that's just not going to get you what you want now is it? Going to the movies is never going to stop so at least they'll always make money. And maybe this mass downloading will inspire them to make better movies. Because I'll go see something in a theater if it's good. I only download stuff I don't want to pay for but I want to see.
Further, when it comes to DVD, it's not a huge problem for the MPAA yet. yet. Because at least in my experience I can't download high resolution dolby 5.1 movies on the internet. And that's what my 40inch tv (which i spent an entire summer saving up for) and sound system deserve. And as others have mentioned, the availability of movies on the internet I think has boosted the extras on dvd. Because there's more to most dvds than the movie. One day, the internet will be fast enough that I can download dvd quality movies and extras but right now I can't.
Further, if poor college students want to download movies because they are poor, I say more power to them. Because I believe they'll give you the money when they have it. When they grow up and get a job and have children are they going to bother to find and download movies. I think it's easier to buy stuff if you're out anyway.
And lastly, DVDs have become collectables. DVDs go out of print. You have that Criterion Hard Boiled? That's worth like $200. Awesome. I know people who literally collect DVDs.
So I don't think they'll ever have the problem music does. A bought cd has nothing to offer us. Cover art? Liner notes which you can read and print out from the internet if you want to. And they take very little time to download at high quality. They're not mixed in 5.1 and cds don't premiere like movies. There are concerts but that's not the same as going to the movies.
in deciding to live off-campus this year. anyway, this is the first i'm hearing of this and i go to USC =)
when are they going to phase out divx?
Radios play what people want to hear. When people don't want to hear it anymore, it will be gone. I don't blame big corporations for the songs on the radio (there are better things to blame them for, pick your battles) - its the people who make and break bands. And personally, I find the songs on the radio these days more listenable than ever before. Evidently all my radio stations are owned by the same people now, but I've hardly even noticed.
Everyone noted there are alternatives. I've even had a hard time finding mainstream music on the internet. It's all like indie and experimental. Then of course there is mp3 sharing as well.
But if you want the songs on the radio to change - go do something about it. Support your favorite bands - go to their shows and give their cds to people. If you want new music go to clubs and find it. Look at Linkin Park, I heard of this band forever ago before they had a record out. People had seen them and everyone in Orange County was talking about them. And I was also pretty suprised to hear the Strokes on the radio, they're a pretty indie sounding band. But there was techno before its short radio boom and it lives on after in smaller circles. Someone talked about punk, which also had a radio hayday (circa early epitaph) but in general has been able to survive as its own thing. And a lot of punk bands and a ton of punk fans don't want them to be on the radio. The radio is dependant upon what vocal people and their money like. Whether the radio station is owned by mom and pop or a corporation, if they want to survive, that's what they'll play. Point being, from the audience standpoint, it doesn't matter who owns it. and eventually Vegas Radio will get played when the corporation realizes they've saturated the market with too many of the same sounding stations. And they'll realize it eventually.