[ExI] emotional deficits in sci-fi

[William Flynn Wallace]

I sure would like to read some modern scifi in which people act more like
people.  In meeting aliens some people would have heart attacks.

 Know any good new books?   bill w

On Thu, Mar 24, 2022 at 10:33 AM Giulio Prisco via extropy-chat <
extropy-chat at lists.extropy.org> wrote:

> This was a flaw of classical “golden age” science fiction, but
> contemporary science fiction is not always like that.
>
> On 2022. Mar 24., Thu at 15:55, William Flynn Wallace via extropy-chat <
> extropy-chat at lists.extropy.org> wrote:
>
>> I have been reading sci-fi for nearly 70 years (first book Farmer in the
>> Sky).  I have finally noticed something:
>>
>> The characters in the books are on the other end of the scale from
>> hypersensitivity.  They are dullards.
>>
>> When contact is made with aliens or alien technology or artifacts, there
>> is some surprise, but very soon it's all matter of fact - highly
>> interested, still, but not afraid.
>>
>> Fear is our strongest emotion and it is tailor made for reacting to
>> aliens - which means strong fear and strong suspicions and so on.
>>
>> When did you ever read of a character fainting?  Having a panic attack?
>> Running away?  Or any other sign of great fear?
>>
>> Apparently nearly all of the characters are heroes of some sort who just
>> don't show fear.  They do say it sometimes.  But don't act that way.
>> People in intense fear make mistakes, are clumsy, make poor decisions.
>>
>> In other words:  the main problem with scifi is that it is unrealistic!
>>
>> Thought for the day:  twin sisters 100 years old, on how they have lived
>> so long.  One - "Well, we just have never died."     Cymbal crash
>>
>> bill w
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