Soygen
The Dirty Dozen For the Price of One
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This. The scenes they do show with CGI are very high quality, so I'd rather have it like it is than have more abundant CGI that looks cheesy.
Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey
- Thread starter Brahma
- Start date
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Guest, it's time once again for the massively important and exciting FoH Asshat Tournament!
Go here and give us your nominations!Who's been the biggest Asshat in the last year? Give us your worst ones!
Void
BAU BAU
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Was I the only one screaming at the TV in Lumie's voice, "I've never seen a wolf give birth to a dog!"
I love this show, and while it might be a little bit slow for those of us really into this stuff, you have to remember that a huge percentage of the population are not only idiots, but don't have much interest in this sort of thing. If they have to dumb it down a bit or slow it down in order for those people to keep watching, I'll take it, because every one of them that gets even a little bit of education is a success. This is an introductory course, so to speak, whereas we would be taking higher level classes simply because we're interested in this sort of thing and seek it out. If it were too in-depth, the show would fail immediately because no one but us would care what was being said. Sure I'd like a little more hard-hitting show, but I'll take it as-is, simply because I know this is the audience they are trying to grab.
I love this show, and while it might be a little bit slow for those of us really into this stuff, you have to remember that a huge percentage of the population are not only idiots, but don't have much interest in this sort of thing. If they have to dumb it down a bit or slow it down in order for those people to keep watching, I'll take it, because every one of them that gets even a little bit of education is a success. This is an introductory course, so to speak, whereas we would be taking higher level classes simply because we're interested in this sort of thing and seek it out. If it were too in-depth, the show would fail immediately because no one but us would care what was being said. Sure I'd like a little more hard-hitting show, but I'll take it as-is, simply because I know this is the audience they are trying to grab.
Lumie definitely crossed my mind while watching the 2nd episode (along with all the other evolution deniers who must have been outraged throughout the episode).
I thought this episode was fantastic. The evolution explanations were great and very simple to understand.
I evaluate this show according to its ability to make science understandable to the general public, especially doubters. I think NDT would say that's the purpose as well. By that standard, this episode was incredible. Have you ever seen a more compelling explanation of evolution that preemptively addressed any challenge that could be raised?
I evaluate this show according to its ability to make science understandable to the general public, especially doubters. I think NDT would say that's the purpose as well. By that standard, this episode was incredible. Have you ever seen a more compelling explanation of evolution that preemptively addressed any challenge that could be raised?
BoldW
Molten Core Raider
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Someone involved went into the Fox thing. Fox has many branches. Fox channel had always been known for putting out things against the grain. They have their movie arm their studio arm and the like. Fox news is but one of those branches.
spinnaker
reformed lurker
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Yeah, I'm not sure why people keep equating Fox with Fox News. Just today I saw a reddit post about Fox News threatening to sue Fox to stop The Simpsons from parodying them. As ridiculous as it would be to sue a sister company, it does highlight how different their agendas are.
Also going to echo episode two was fantastic. Nothing ground breaking but I'm glad he didn't back down. He basically said "This happened. It is fact. Deal with it." in very subtle terms. All the analogies and explanations were very accessible and easy to understand.
I've had the conversation with people before similar to the topic of Titan. Just because life as we know it relies upon water doesn't mean life that has evolved on other planets is forced to rely on the same stuff. Also really puts it into perspective just how lucky Earth got to evolve such complicated life forms. Like if there weren't waves of mass extinction would super intelligent life such as humans ever thrive? What if Earth was still nothing more than trilobites because they could live everywhere so well w/o mass extinction.
I've had the conversation with people before similar to the topic of Titan. Just because life as we know it relies upon water doesn't mean life that has evolved on other planets is forced to rely on the same stuff. Also really puts it into perspective just how lucky Earth got to evolve such complicated life forms. Like if there weren't waves of mass extinction would super intelligent life such as humans ever thrive? What if Earth was still nothing more than trilobites because they could live everywhere so well w/o mass extinction.
One step further, earth's circumstances are likely incredibly rare.
Right place in the galaxy, right place in the solar system, right sized planet with a super sized core and relatively huge, close stable moon (all from an impact with a very specific set of circumstances) are some key circumstances likely to be fairly rare in the universe.
Those massive tidal forces from the large / close moon were key in evolution at just the right time. One look at the dark side of the moon shows it likely took more than a few shots meant for earth at some point. The core is huge for a planet our size and the magnetic field is clutch for many things including keeping our atmosphere and exposure to solar radiation down. Add to that the mass extinctions where life already had a pretty firm foothold on the planet and was nearly wiped out several times and its pretty crazy we are even here. Also solid proof that life is tenacious once it gets it foot in the door.
Mist
REEEEeyore
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It doesn't really matter how unlikely the conditions were, and how perfect they needed to be to create life as we know it. In all the other possible permutations where such conditions didn't occur, either no life evolved to bear witness, or different life evolved that was 'perfect' for the conditions that were present.
Basically, the whole reason Earth seems so perfectly suited to us, is because if it wasn't exactly the way it is, if it was different in any way, we wouldn't be here to bitch about how unsuitable for life it was.
Basically, the whole reason Earth seems so perfectly suited to us, is because if it wasn't exactly the way it is, if it was different in any way, we wouldn't be here to bitch about how unsuitable for life it was.
BrutulTM
Good, bad, I'm the guy with the gun.
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This show isn't really doing it for me. I think a lot of people are excusing the way that he talks down to the audience because they thing he's talking to "those other people, who aren't as smart as I am". Unless the target audience are 5th graders and below, I don't think that him talking to the audience like they are children is going to appeal to too many people. Maybe children are who he's going for, but between that and the cheesy graphics this show is hard for me to take seriously.
Azrayne
Irenicus did nothing wrong
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You've obviously never seen NDT speak outside of a produced series. He talks fast, and he gets excited really easy. He's passionate about the shit he does, so when he's on a talk show or the like he tends to ramble at light speed, sometimes having trouble getting coherent words to come out of his mouth. I actually prefer that Neil over the one we see in Nova and Cosmos, but he can't be a babbling scientist and convey any sort of meaningful message.
So yeah, his "I'm on a nationally syndicated television series about science" voice is different than his "I'm just talking to a few hundred people about science" voice. I used to think it sounded condescending. Then I started checking out one of his podcasts (Startalk Live, his radio series) and I get it: His producers have taught him to talk like that.
BrutulTM
Good, bad, I'm the guy with the gun.
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His voice doesn't bother me, it's more the writing. I think he's trying to copy Sagan in his delivery, but whole show seems like it's going for wide eyed wonder and super simplistic explanations of everything which comes across as child-like.
khalid
Unelected Mod
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I don't get the feeling he is talking down to anyone. Instead, he is sharing his own wonder at the crazy shit science has learned.
I think the problem may be with your perception and not his delivery. Maybe you are overly sensitive to feeling like people are talking down to you? The explanations are "simplistic", but that is because it is to a general audience.
I think the problem may be with your perception and not his delivery. Maybe you are overly sensitive to feeling like people are talking down to you? The explanations are "simplistic", but that is because it is to a general audience.