Topic: Episode #172

[Evil Eye]

Michael Crichton was a science FICTION writer. Period.

Anyone giving any more thought beyond just enjoying his works for what they were is deluded.

Just because it seemed like science doesn't mean that it was his intention.

Back to the Future used some real science theories and was yet totally useless as well, but because it was "campy" we just let it go and instead attack the guy who writes serious stuff.

I don't know whether had an agenda. He's a writer!

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner has a bigger story to tell, and is full of crap... but the message is clear.

[FlyLikeDaedalus]

I loved Chriton's books when I was an adolescent, and my interest in science was certainly fueled by them; actually learning what the dissapointing facts were behind them was a harsh dissillusionment that has ruined them for me.  Some of this is the same as the way my increasing understanding of science has vastly reduced my ability to suspend disbelief for the sake of science fiction, but it's been more severe in Mr. Chrichton's case due to the way his blending of the possible and the fantastic was seductively believable when I was less informed.

If you don't want to be dissapointed, just don't bother looking up any real information on velociraptors.

Then again, Next is downright unbelievable no matter who you are, so I guess I'd have to agree that his later works have been lacking.

You will be missed, Mr. Chrichton.  The Anti-dinosaur cattle-prod that bolsters my pillow as I reluctantly relinquish the last shreds of my boyhood shall be your legacy.  One could do worse.

[rebecca]

Michael Crichton was a science FICTION writer. Period.

Anyone giving any more thought beyond just enjoying his works for what they were is deluded.

Just because it seemed like science doesn't mean that it was his intention.

Back to the Future used some real science theories and was yet totally useless as well, but because it was "campy" we just let it go and instead attack the guy who writes serious stuff.

I don't know whether had an agenda. He's a writer!

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner has a bigger story to tell, and is full of crap... but the message is clear.

You would have known whether Crichton had an agenda, if you had ever heard him speak in an interview or debate with real scientists, where he was an outspoken critic of research showing that global warming is a fact. You also would have recognized an agenda had you read State of Fear. It's very true that a work of art exists on its own, separate from what we might know about the author's personal life, and succeeds or fails in that regard (and in my opinion and that of most critics, State of Fear was a laughable failure on its own). Crichton's anti-scientific activism was the point of our criticism on the podcast.

I hope that finally helps clear it up.

[Evil Eye]

Michael Crichton was a science FICTION writer. Period.

Anyone giving any more thought beyond just enjoying his works for what they were is deluded.

Just because it seemed like science doesn't mean that it was his intention.

Back to the Future used some real science theories and was yet totally useless as well, but because it was "campy" we just let it go and instead attack the guy who writes serious stuff.

I don't know whether had an agenda. He's a writer!

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner has a bigger story to tell, and is full of crap... but the message is clear.

You would have known whether Crichton had an agenda, if you had ever heard him speak in an interview or debate with real scientists, where he was an outspoken critic of research showing that global warming is a fact. You also would have recognized an agenda had you read State of Fear. It's very true that a work of art exists on its own, separate from what we might know about the author's personal life, and succeeds or fails in that regard (and in my opinion and that of most critics, State of Fear was a laughable failure on its own). Crichton's anti-scientific activism was the point of our criticism on the podcast.

I hope that finally helps clear it up.

Gotcha... but I just don't put much stock in a science fiction writer's opinions to begin with.

In other words...

I like reading him, and don't care if it's shit. And I give less of a shit what he really thinks. And I give less of a shit about what anyone who cares what he thinks thinks.

Now.. If he were a scientist making the same claims? I would give a shit.

(sorry for the words... I'm watching Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back)

[Deadpool]

Michael Crichton was a science FICTION writer. Period.

Anyone giving any more thought beyond just enjoying his works for what they were is deluded.

Just because it seemed like science doesn't mean that it was his intention.

Back to the Future used some real science theories and was yet totally useless as well, but because it was "campy" we just let it go and instead attack the guy who writes serious stuff.

I don't know whether had an agenda. He's a writer!

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner has a bigger story to tell, and is full of crap... but the message is clear.

You would have known whether Crichton had an agenda, if you had ever heard him speak in an interview or debate with real scientists, where he was an outspoken critic of research showing that global warming is a fact. You also would have recognized an agenda had you read State of Fear. It's very true that a work of art exists on its own, separate from what we might know about the author's personal life, and succeeds or fails in that regard (and in my opinion and that of most critics, State of Fear was a laughable failure on its own). Crichton's anti-scientific activism was the point of our criticism on the podcast.

I hope that finally helps clear it up.

It's funny, I decided to open up the author's notes in State of Fear and the last point in it is "Everyone has an agenda. But me."   

[Evil Eye]

Michael Crichton was a science FICTION writer. Period.

Anyone giving any more thought beyond just enjoying his works for what they were is deluded.

Just because it seemed like science doesn't mean that it was his intention.

Back to the Future used some real science theories and was yet totally useless as well, but because it was "campy" we just let it go and instead attack the guy who writes serious stuff.

I don't know whether had an agenda. He's a writer!

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner has a bigger story to tell, and is full of crap... but the message is clear.

You would have known whether Crichton had an agenda, if you had ever heard him speak in an interview or debate with real scientists, where he was an outspoken critic of research showing that global warming is a fact. You also would have recognized an agenda had you read State of Fear. It's very true that a work of art exists on its own, separate from what we might know about the author's personal life, and succeeds or fails in that regard (and in my opinion and that of most critics, State of Fear was a laughable failure on its own). Crichton's anti-scientific activism was the point of our criticism on the podcast.

I hope that finally helps clear it up.

It's funny, I decided to open up the author's notes in State of Fear and the last point in it is "Everyone has an agenda. But me."   

but I just don't put much stock in a science fiction writer's opinions to begin with.

See what I did there?

[Casz]

Maybe there was sarcasm I missed, but if not I will have to take the roll of "smarty-pants" by saying Giant Pandas ARE bears.

[Kwisatz Haderach]

Maybe there was sarcasm I missed, but if not I will have to take the roll of "smarty-pants" by saying Giant Pandas ARE bears.

Giant Pandas are NOT bears!  Bears are mean and scary, while Giant Pandas are cute!

[filip_]

I'd hate to seam picky, but isn't the saber toothed tiger a cat and not a tiger?
I was just thinking, it might be a bad idea to offend all those tigers out there. 

[Kwisatz Haderach]

I'd hate to seam picky, but isn't the saber toothed tiger a cat and not a tiger?
I was just thinking, it might be a bad idea to offend all those tigers out there. 

No, the Saber Toothed Tiger is a Panda.

[rebecca]

Maybe there was sarcasm I missed, but if not I will have to take the roll of "smarty-pants" by saying Giant Pandas ARE bears.

Heh, it wasn't sarcasm so much as genuine grasping for the thing that everyone calls a bear that isn't a bear. I believe I was going for koala.

[rebecca]

Gotcha... but I just don't put much stock in a science fiction writer's opinions to begin with.

Yep. I feel the same about him, as well as Jenny McCarthy, Jim Carrey, Ben Stein, Tom Cruise, and Madonna. It's my job to put aside my own continued apathy about their opinions in order to highlight their BS for others.

[Three]

I was surprised (shocked) that nobody on the panel said anything about the election of the first African American U.S. President at the opening of the show.  Are you guys paranoid or what?  You even mentioned the election, and said some dribble about how the process repeats every few years.

Did I miss something?

“We have seen this great revolution in public sentiment slowly but surely progressing, so that, when final action came, the opposition was not strong enough to defeat the purpose.  I can now solemnly assert that I have a clear conscience in regard to my action on this momentous question. I have done what no man could have helped doing, standing in my place.”  Abraham Lincoln on signing the “Emancipation Proclamation”

[Evil Eye]

I was surprised (shocked) that nobody on the panel said anything about the election of the first African American U.S. President at the opening of the show.  Are you guys paranoid or what?  You even mentioned the election, and said some dribble about how the process repeats every few years.

Did I miss something?

“We have seen this great revolution in public sentiment slowly but surely progressing, so that, when final action came, the opposition was not strong enough to defeat the purpose.  I can now solemnly assert that I have a clear conscience in regard to my action on this momentous question. I have done what no man could have helped doing, standing in my place.”  Abraham Lincoln on signing the “Emancipation Proclamation”

The show was recorded ON election day. He hadn't won yet.

[CKava]

It's not a political show and if I recall correctly I'm pretty sure Steve or someone did say that whatever side of the political spectrum you are on the election was a very significant event. I also remember Jay talking about how the speeches of Obama and McCain where 'fricking amazing' or something like that.

In regards the Michael Crichton thing, I fully sympathise I think it's a real shame when you have memories (in my case from my childhood) of really enjoying an authors work and then the author turns out to be an outspoken anti-science nut. Yes you can write good books and be a nut just like you can be a good actor and be a nut but its still disappointing when you find out thats the case.