I have read a ton of SF over a huge range. Everything from the genre's most literary (Olaf Stapledon and Phillip K Dick) to the really fun but maybe not so deep (Alastair Reynolds and Ben Bova) and from way back in the 19th century (Wells, god I love The Time Machine) to stuff published within the last couple of years. I can't even begin to estimate how many hundreds of novels and thousands of short stories I've read since I was 11 or so and discovered Arthur C Clarke (the author who got me started down my geeky path).
But, for the life of me I cannot understand the appeal of Heinlein. I've tried s few of his novels (Stranger in a Strange Land, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress and The Number of the Beast [that's the right title I think, anyway it was so bad I actually tore it in half before i used the pages to get the kindling going in my fireplace]) as well as a number of short stories in various collections. Where he's not ridiculous he's offensive, and I'm usually very difficult to offend. And his politics strike me as something that would come out of a bright but not terribly nice 14 year old.
So can anybody clue me in? What am I missing?
Does anybody else agree with me or am I the lone voice of geek dissent out here?
I am really tired of this argument. Of course its geek thinking the people who thought of it are geeks, so they're using the expertise they have to help out. If your a doctor than stop bitching and use your expertise to help out in some different way.
Some college teachers make you take a quiz sometime during the first week of class that's bases on the class curriculum. It's usually fairly short and covers things like the prof's office number, how many tests there will be, what the late work assignment is etc. The whole point is to make your read the damn thing so they don't have to spend time explaining it or so if you whine about something later they can say "You read the syllabus right?"
Anyway, perhaps instead of just clicking through there could just be a little quiz at the bottom of the EULA and if you don't score high enough it won't install until you do it again.
Why do they keep stratifying their products? Different versions of the 360, different versions of live accounts, like 6 different versions of Vista and now 3 different Halos. I find the whole thing very annoying.
Most people (me included) look pretty foolish when they're speaking on a cell phone. So you're standing there looking blankly off into space, with your hand against your ear blabbing away for all to hear (again, I do it too) yet your worried the the object in your hand, that can only be seen by others if they're standing right next to you, doesn't look cool?
Nintendo used to make playing cards, now they make video games. It is possible for a company to change their main focus and still be profitable. I know that the clone market nearly killed Apple in the 90's but even that doesn't prove that it couldn't be done. I'm not saying that it should be done or that it's going to be done I'm just tired of people saying exactly what you did every time this subject comes up, if you really think there's a reason it wouldn't work why don't you tell us the rather than just "They're a hardware company"?
I usually go the other way. Nerd is a title given to people like us in a non-demeaning way. Geek is a person who bites the head off chickens in a circus.
Here in America we always hear how lucky we are to be native English speakers because it's such a difficult language, but I've talked to numerous people from Russia, China, the Netherlands, Mexico, Germany and France and they all told me it was fairly easy.
I used to be in the Navy you n00b don't presume to tell me how to drink. I've tried various mixes with various vodkas, they all taste like shit. I prefer my booze to taste like booze and not like candy.
What's even better is that this guy is a comm major. At my university the communications building looks like a set out of 24. Shiny new Sony desktops, high res video projectors, the climate control actually works. Even the lighting in the bathrooms is a nice rosy color that miakes your skin and hair look nice. And then when you walk by the classroom they're all in there browsing the web and talking.
The physics building on the other hand, where millions of dollars in research is being conducted every day looks like shit and is full of old, decrepit technology. The electronics lab looks like it hasn't been refurbished since the first time Jobs worked for Apple.
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Nope, I'm a dude.
I agree absolutely. What I'm wondering is what is it about this particular art that people find so attractive because it's utterly lost on me.
That's true but I like a lot of other stuff from the same period.
But, for the life of me I cannot understand the appeal of Heinlein. I've tried s few of his novels (Stranger in a Strange Land, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress and The Number of the Beast [that's the right title I think, anyway it was so bad I actually tore it in half before i used the pages to get the kindling going in my fireplace]) as well as a number of short stories in various collections. Where he's not ridiculous he's offensive, and I'm usually very difficult to offend. And his politics strike me as something that would come out of a bright but not terribly nice 14 year old.
So can anybody clue me in? What am I missing?
Does anybody else agree with me or am I the lone voice of geek dissent out here?
I am really tired of this argument. Of course its geek thinking the people who thought of it are geeks, so they're using the expertise they have to help out. If your a doctor than stop bitching and use your expertise to help out in some different way.
I second your sig.
It was built by the government.
Anyway, perhaps instead of just clicking through there could just be a little quiz at the bottom of the EULA and if you don't score high enough it won't install until you do it again.
My body temp is usually a little high, around 99 f. Nice knowing you guys.
Or P.T Anderson, then there would be torrents of nudity and profanity.
The reason you're paranoid is that I'm out to get you. See you soon.
Why do they keep stratifying their products? Different versions of the 360, different versions of live accounts, like 6 different versions of Vista and now 3 different Halos. I find the whole thing very annoying.
Most people (me included) look pretty foolish when they're speaking on a cell phone. So you're standing there looking blankly off into space, with your hand against your ear blabbing away for all to hear (again, I do it too) yet your worried the the object in your hand, that can only be seen by others if they're standing right next to you, doesn't look cool?
No, the market is people who just want to talk on the damn phone.
Really? They seem to be working OK for the Iraqis.
Nintendo used to make playing cards, now they make video games. It is possible for a company to change their main focus and still be profitable. I know that the clone market nearly killed Apple in the 90's but even that doesn't prove that it couldn't be done. I'm not saying that it should be done or that it's going to be done I'm just tired of people saying exactly what you did every time this subject comes up, if you really think there's a reason it wouldn't work why don't you tell us the rather than just "They're a hardware company"?
Well played
I usually go the other way. Nerd is a title given to people like us in a non-demeaning way. Geek is a person who bites the head off chickens in a circus.
I'm not sure why you would consider putting hardened oyster snot in your mouth wierd.
Here in America we always hear how lucky we are to be native English speakers because it's such a difficult language, but I've talked to numerous people from Russia, China, the Netherlands, Mexico, Germany and France and they all told me it was fairly easy.
If you rub a real pearl against your front teeth it feels rough. This is way less wierd than walking into a jewelry store with a glass of vinegar.
I used to be in the Navy you n00b don't presume to tell me how to drink. I've tried various mixes with various vodkas, they all taste like shit. I prefer my booze to taste like booze and not like candy.
Red Bull and vodka tastes worse than gasoline.
The physics building on the other hand, where millions of dollars in research is being conducted every day looks like shit and is full of old, decrepit technology. The electronics lab looks like it hasn't been refurbished since the first time Jobs worked for Apple.
Disclaimer: I know calculus but I havn't the slightest idea how the gameplay mechanics of D&D operate.