From Newsgroup: rec.arts.sf.composition

Fictive flotsam found on the Inet:

They will also get 'It's fiction. Not a scientific paper up
for peer review. Go away.' Basic rule of thumb: unless the
creator ASKS for it, keep your 'critique' to yourself.

I DO agree with 'You don't need to give a number'. Without any
research, how many people out there Just Know how old their
hometown actually is, exactly? How many people Just Know the
exact speed of the space shuttle on re entry off the top of
their heads? How many people Just Know the exact speed of the
current land speed record? 'A few hundred years' or 'fast
enough that the effects of ram air create plasma' or 'over
mach one' are all acceptable answers that don't often need any
more detail. Your characters don't have to know everything or
have a complete understanding of how the world around them
works! That's how things often are in reality, too!

But what if you're writing a character who is actually in on
the science? What if an exact number relates to the plot ? Or
would be really [FORKING] funny, even if it's incorrect? What
if YOU have the PhD?

As a former welder, it GRATES on me when I see an oxyfuel
cutting torch being used to ARC WELD. Or I read about someone
weldIng cast iron to aluminum BECAUSE YOU CAN'T [FORKING] DO
THAT.

You know what I do in those situations? I remind myself that
most people out there aren't professional welders or
metallurgists with a working knowledge of the chemistry behind
the process and the materials. It will be fine. The world will
not end because of one mistake in a movie. And my commenting
on it or calling out the writer won't do anything but make me
look like an [azzhole] and possibly cause someone to stop
writing and sharing their work. My professional knowledge on
the subject was not asked for, nor is it necessary.

You don't NEED exact numbers in your fic. You also don't need
to do the math for [forking] fiction just to prove the writer
is wrong and call out their 'mistake'. You are not doing
anyone any good by giving unsolicited critique. You ARE being
rude.

speculative fiction writers i am going to give you a really
urgent piece of advice: don't say numbers. don't give your
readers any numbers. how heavy is the sword? lots. how old is
that city? plenty. how big is the fort? massive. how fast is
the spaceship? not very, it's secondhand.

the minute you say a number your readers can check your math
and you cannot do math better than your most autistic critic.
i guarantee. don't let your readers do any math. when did
something happen? awhile ago. how many bullets can that gun
fire? trick question, it shoots lasers, and it shoots em HARD.

you are lying to people for fun. if you let them do math at
you the lie collapses and it's no fun anymore.

--
Don.......My cat's )\._.,--....,'``. veritas _|_ telltale tall tail /, _.. \ _\ (`._ ,. liberabit |
tells tall tales.. `._.-(,_..'--(,_..'`-.;.' vos |

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