Quote:
Originally Posted by DMcCunney
I suspect part of it might be the safety of distance: we know fantasy can't happen, so even the most terrifying stories are safely on the other side of a wall separating real life from the story. The throngs of girls getting vicarious thrills from Twilight can keep the imaginings safely in the realm of fantasy, where they can be enjoyed without risk.
Fiction based on advances in science and technology doesn't have that remove. At least the nearer term stuff could happen, and might even be happening.
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I don't think it is that at all-- I think it is that the average person has a disdain for technical learning and poorly developed critical thinking skills (not that they are
stupid-- critical thinking is something that must be
learned.) In the real world, the majority of people base their lives on magical thinking, not critical thinking. The world is teeming with uncritical acceptance of every type of superstition imaginable-- fantasy is mainstream in
life, so of course it is mainstream in fiction.