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Science Fiction's Harms
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Maybe it isn't science fiction's fault. Maybe it's the popularization of science fiction amongst the unwashed masses. But here's my take on it:

Science fiction's computers are intelligent, even self-aware, even to the cyborgs and other human/computer hybrids being granted full recognition as citizens.

In the science fiction world, humans and non-human sentients learn to communicate, learn to live together, explore what it means to be alive in an inhospitable universe.

Science fiction stories have shuttles to the moon, exploration of the solar system, warp speed, wormholes to other galaxies, adventures and trading systems and far-flung Space Services.

In reality, computers are as dumb as a stump, still tied to 1's and 0's. We can't communicate with other humans, let alone with aliens. We haven't set foot on the moon in 40 years or so and space is farther out than ever in our world view.

But we act as if the marvels exist and, taking them as a given, no longer strive for the stars, nor are we entranced by the possibilites of the universe around us, and obviously are mostly interested in suppressing or eliminating those who don't resemble us on our own planet. Our assumptions about science, fueled by science fiction, have undercut our drive to explore and our sense of wonder.

It's ho-hum to many to see the Hubble picures of nebulae and galaxies and black holes. And go out at night to gaze in awe at the stars and greet Orion by name? We're much too sophisticated for that. It's old hat and we would rather retreat into our world of fiction, glued to the tube.

Science fiction's success has been our civilization's failure.


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