Magic vs. technology (was: Musings on Alignment)

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On 7 Jul 2005 16:43:30 -0700, pesterfield@river-valley.net wrote:

>
>
>Bruce Grubb wrote:
>> THe idea is stupid is what it is. Basicly what the Antiquities Act of 1906
>> reinforece the idea is that a body is the PROPERTY of the deceased's family
>> and by the Constitution the state would have to cough up just compensation.
>> Makes the whole effort less cost effective.
>
>It might be an interesting industry, people selling or renting bodies
>of relatives for zombie labor.
>
>Just what is a zombie smart enough to do?

Any repetitious task requiring no improvisation, no education and no
dealing with the customers.

 

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"David Johnston" <rgorman@telusplanet.net> wrote in message
news:42cd68e2.368159@news.telusplanet.net...
> On 7 Jul 2005 16:43:30 -0700, pesterfield@river-valley.net wrote:
>
> >
> >Just what is a zombie smart enough to do?
>
> Any repetitious task requiring no improvisation, no education and no
> dealing with the customers.
>

So, say, salt miners, garbage collectors, or middle management . . .

I've got this horrible picture of Chinese restaraunt placemat astrology.
"Those who died in the year of the monkey do well as migrant farm works
or Unix system operators."

--
Rob

 

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In article <fQLye.62047$%Z2.25998@lakeread08> on Wed, 06 Jul 2005 03:38:45
-0400, sophist@brown.edu (The Sophist) wrote:

> It's something of a genre convention that worlds with alternate
> histories still have lots of weird similarities to our actual history.

There is some alternate history that tries for more realism than that, but
the less-plausible stuff is what tends to get printed.

--
Richard Gadsden
"I disagree with what you say, but I will defend to the death
your right to say it" - Attributed to Voltaire

 

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On Sun, 10 Jul 2005 00:01 +0100 (BST), richard@gadsden.name (Richard
Gadsden) wrote:

>In article <fQLye.62047$%Z2.25998@lakeread08> on Wed, 06 Jul 2005 03:38:45
>-0400, sophist@brown.edu (The Sophist) wrote:
>
>> It's something of a genre convention that worlds with alternate
>> histories still have lots of weird similarities to our actual history.
>
>There is some alternate history that tries for more realism than that, but
>the less-plausible stuff is what tends to get printed.

Primarily because it is more amusing.

 

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David Johnston wrote:
> On Sun, 10 Jul 2005 00:01 +0100 (BST), richard@gadsden.name (Richard
> Gadsden) wrote:
>
>> In article <fQLye.62047$%Z2.25998@lakeread08> on Wed, 06 Jul 2005
>> 03:38:45 -0400, sophist@brown.edu (The Sophist) wrote:
>>
>>> It's something of a genre convention that worlds with alternate
>>> histories still have lots of weird similarities to our actual
>>> history.
>>
>> There is some alternate history that tries for more realism than
>> that, but the less-plausible stuff is what tends to get printed.
>
> Primarily because it is more amusing.

It's also easier for the audience to grasp - Sliders took this approach for
the first couple seasons. It's also a favorite of short stories because it
takes less explenation.
"President Clinton is about to speak - President Hillary Clinton."

--
Eric B. Smith http://home.stny.rr.com/gurpsland
GURPS Data File Coordinator http://www.geocities.com/ericbsmith

"Love is the triumph of imagination over intelligence." - H. L. Mencken

 

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Richard Gadsden wrote:
> In article <fQLye.62047$%Z2.25998@lakeread08> on Wed, 06 Jul 2005 03:38:45
> -0400, sophist@brown.edu (The Sophist) wrote:
>
> > It's something of a genre convention that worlds with alternate
> > histories still have lots of weird similarities to our actual history.
>
> There is some alternate history that tries for more realism than that, but
> the less-plausible stuff is what tends to get printed.

Less plausible stuff tends to be (1) more fun and (2) more gameable.

Brandon