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.

  • kadup@lemmy.world
    5·
    3 days ago

    2 completely different things that have the same name.

    That’s how grouping works, yes. You and I are clearly different, yet we are both called “human”. In fact, you and a giant panda are both “mammals” despite being radically different.

    • infinite_ass@leminal.spaceOP
      110·
      3 days 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.