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.