What works of sci fi and fantasy would you recommend non fans?

[Mordar]

I know a guy who believes violent video games create killers and DnD leads to interest in the occult. They also wish there was no violence in TV. This person grew up in the 80s go figure.

They also enjoy reality shows and sitcoms.

Would you hand them DVDs of Babylon 5 and/or LOTR?

Wait, what?!?

How is it "go figure" when the artistic creators/adaptors of both those DVD sets both grew up before the 80s? As did the creators of Star Trek, Star Wars, D&D, Mario...virtually every Sci Fi or Fantasy franchise that we revere in the US. As a child of the 70s/80s I faced the perceptions that you mention in the first line, but they were far more tightly tied to affiliations and demographics other than age.

So...yeah. Get off my lawn, kid

Now, for the person in question...why would you want to? Are you hoping to change their perceptions? If so, is it because you want to share something important to you with them, or just to prove they are wrong? Do they read at all, or just watch TV? I think those answers can be pretty insightful and could help guide advice.

- M

[Silfir]

I think it's pretty optimistic to expect any sort of further contribution to the thread from the person who started it. Looks like a drive-by.

[rooster707]

I feel like at this point I should probably mention that the OP has started several threads along these lines before, and the general consensus seems to be that they’re some kind of bot.

[Mordar]

I feel like at this point I should probably mention that the OP has started several threads along these lines before, and the general consensus seems to be that they’re some kind of bot.

Very strange. To what end would such a bot be created and tasked?

- M

[Anonymouswizard]

Very strange. To what end would such a bot be created and tasked?

- M

I can think of a couple, one is being used as a test to make sure the basic idea of the bot is working, another is a legitimate attempt to make a functional non-disruptive bot.

[2D8HP]

I feel like at this point I should probably mention that the OP has started several threads along these lines before, and the general consensus seems to be that they’re some kind of bot.

.
I'd be suprised, but I know little about 'bots.

The OP has done 28 posts in the last year and a half, and they all seem to be on a pro video games and Space Opera theme, and defending them from what he perceives as attacks.

My guess is that what is meant by "I know a guy who believes violent video games create killers and DnD leads to interest in the occult", is that there's someone he's seen on-line or on television, who talked some smack about his favorite genre and/or hobby, and he's considering sending that person Space Opera DVD's as a "that'll show him" gesture.

If you look at some of his previous threads, you'll see him name some anti-video games/space opera folk.

I suspect that the OP either makes the rounds of different Forums before getting back to this one, or this is just something that he gets bugged about every 80 days or so.

It's a big world with all kinds in it.

[Tvtyrant]

Star Trek NG is very anti-violence and pro-discussion, with long ethical arguments and multiple viewpoints represented.

[lunaticfringe]

.

I suspect that the OP either makes the rounds of different Forums before getting back to this one, or this is just something that he gets bugged about every 80 days or so.

Or that's how often they check the Comic. I started reading when the PCs were being lead around by teen goblins. I only check the Comic every few months now. Time has taught me to expect sporadic updates. My bookmark takes me directly to the forums.

[2D8HP]

Or that's how often they check the Comic...

.
Oh! That's a good alternative to 'bot theory!

Makes sense.

[Manga Shoggoth]

.
Oh! That's a good alternative to 'bot theory!

Makes sense.

It makes sense for reading the comic.

However, one would think that if a person explicitly starts a thread in a forum they might be expected to read and respond to that thread a little more than the OP does.

[lunaticfringe]

It makes sense for reading the comic.

However, one would think that if a person explicitly starts a thread in a forum they might be expected to read and respond to that thread a little more than the OP does.

Eh. Sometimes I forget to say thanks! in a thread I start. This type of thread is a simple question and answer thing, no response required. Just look up what people suggest. Pretty weird thread for a bot if you ask me, but it's possible.

Also Playgrounders really can come across as smug, argumentative, pricks sometimes. I include myself in that description.

[2D8HP]

It makes sense for reading the comic.

However, one would think that if a person explicitly starts a thread in a forum they might be expected to read and respond to that thread a little more than the OP does.

.
The OP, responded more to their What happened to this genre? thread.

I think that he/she just doesn't "live" here like some of us do.

.. Pretty weird thread for a bot if you ask me, but it's possible...

.
I really don't think 'bot, but I don't know much about them

..Also Playgrounders really can come across as smug, argumentative, pricks sometimes. I include myself in that description.

.
That's part of the fun!

[Manga Shoggoth]

.
The OP, responded more to their What happened to this genre? thread.

I think that he/she just doesn't "live" here like some of us do.

There have been other instances as well (there's one thread where the OP links to what appears to be an entire movie), but none of the responses are really replies to the thread - the OP don't appear to be engaging with the thread at all.

On the plus side, the original posts usually trigger an interesting discussion so I can't complain too much.

[Kantaki]

I feel like at this point I should probably mention that the OP has started several threads along these lines before, and the general consensus seems to be that they’re some kind of bot.

I can think of a couple, one is being used as a test to make sure the basic idea of the bot is working, another is a legitimate attempt to make a functional non-disruptive bot.

So the thread opener is an emergent A.I.?
And they're learning from the Playground?

Great.
We're doomed.
No seriously, when the machines inevitably win everyone will blame us Playgrounders.
Because we started it.

[Anonymouswizard]

So the thread opener is an emergent A.I.?
And they're learning from the Playground?

Great.
We're doomed.
No seriously, when the machines inevitably win everyone will blame us Playgrounders.
Because we started it.

Could be worse, imagining if this was happening to 4chan.

[Kantaki]

Could be worse, imagining if this was happening to 4chan.

True enough.
I always forget this place is relatively tame, in comparison.
Still, all that means is that our (hypothetical) A.I. has time to actually learn before going insane.
So ultimately we would cause more damage.

Well, either that or the A.I. discovers Worm.
Then we might get Dragon instead.

[2D8HP]

So the thread opener is an emergent A.I.?

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Someone has to say it:

I for one welcome our new Space Opera loving robot overlord!

[lunaticfringe]

Bah! Monkeys rule, toasters drool. Or they will once they build that upgrade.

Now taking Apps for the Resistance!

[Kantaki]

Bah! Monkeys rule, toasters drool. Or they will once they build that upgrade.

Now taking Apps for the Resistance!

Either way we're doomed.
I think I'd rather take the machines.
At least I wouldn't have to clean up after them.

[Bohandas]

Star Trek NG is very anti-violence and pro-discussion, with long ethical arguments and multiple viewpoints represented.

Plus the entire first episode consists of Capt.Picard refusing to be goaded into a fight. And the OP may enjoy the bits with Lt.Cmd.Data

[Olinser]

Eh. Sometimes I forget to say thanks! in a thread I start. This type of thread is a simple question and answer thing, no response required. Just look up what people suggest. Pretty weird thread for a bot if you ask me, but it's possible.

Also Playgrounders people on the internet really can come across as smug, argumentative, pricks sometimes. I include myself in that description.

Fixed it for you.

[BeerMug Paladin]

On the topic of the OP being a bot: if he/she wasn't, then one might expect an eventual reply in one of their threads to be something like:

"Hi! Thank you all for your lively speculative discussion of my person-hood. As you can see, by acknowledging that you have been debating the exact nature of my existence, I have satisfactorily proven a level of self-awareness that is impossible for modern AI to achieve."

[Kitten Champion]

Whether it's a bot or not, it fulfills roughly the same function. There's no intent to read responses or engage with anybody, it's just filling space in a way that tries to fly under the radar of moderators and while the wording and focus shifts slightly it's really been doing the same post over and over again.

- Do you like space operas? Not including popular ones like Star Wars or Guardians of the Galaxy!
- People who don't like space operas or are critical of speculative fiction and/or gaming media are lesser beings who gobble down inferior works of other genre and we - presumably you or I here in this forum - must ridicule and patronize them.
- It's because of these cretins that we're denied the space operas we so richly deserve, damn them all!

It's taking your specific taste in media, presuming it somehow denotes your superiority, and then uses it as a basis of an aggressive persecution complex.

This is radioactive material in a forum like this.

[Kantaki]

"Hi! Thank you all for your lively speculative discussion of my person-hood. As you can see, by acknowledging that you have been debating the exact nature of my existence, I have satisfactorily proven a level of self-awareness that is impossible for modern AI to achieve."

Wouldn't a reply like that be even more more reason to suspect they're a artificial intelligence?
I mean that's exactly what a selfaware AI would say.

Edit:
Besides, just because they're a AI doesn't make them less of a person.

[Grey_Wolf_c]

Very strange. To what end would such a bot be created and tasked?

- M

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