Proper sf explores the edges of reality and then goes beyond.

Popular “sf” is old tropes and popular ideas rendered in terms of spaceships and robots.

The first is a real live alien. The second is cosplay.

      • infinite_ass@leminal.spaceOP
        112·
        1 month ago

        We already agreed that it’s a big difference.

        2 completely different things that have the same name. Superficially similar but actually not.

        What’s the issue?

          • infinite_ass@leminal.spaceOP
            110·
            1 month ago

            (Semantics really is the smallest possible point.)

            I think that the real point here is legitimacy. Scifi has a big reputation. Popular scifi borrows legitimacy from that reputation.

            Separate popular scifi from that reputation and it loses legitimacy.