Deep Thought
I just saw a commercial for V. Which reminded me of a criticism I always had about science fiction. Do you ever notice that the alien species always was named after their home planet. The visitors in V are Sirians from Sirius. Vulcans are from Vulcans. Cardassians are from Cardassia. Romulans are from Romulus. So why are we humans called Humans? Because we are not from the planet Hum or Human or Humana. Yes, some science fiction genres refer to humans as Earthlings, but most don’t.
(Give me a break, I am trying to pass the time until the Phillies game).
I’ve seen us referred to as Terrans.
Yes, Star Trek: TNG did that, because Earth is properly called Terra.
Um, Earthleens.
Also, why is our satellite called Moon, and other planets satellites are moons as well as have their own name.
The short answer is — because all the science fiction you have read was written by humans. In the Trek example, bear in mind that (I believe)(suppossedly) all the alien dialogue you heard was filtered through the Universal Translator. Therefore, we don’t really know what the other species called us in their own language, we heard it as “human” because that’s what it is in our language. Conversely, I assume “Cardassian”, “Vulcan”, “Ferengi” or whatever was translated for them into whatever they use to refer to themselves.
And that fulfills my Geek quota for the week. Did that damn game start yet?
We are prejudiced against the rest of the universe.
perhaps by the time we start meeting the denizens of other worlds, “earth” will simply mean “home planet” and we will refer to this sphere as “Humana”…
By the way nemski our moon does have a name: Luna
I love it when you speak Italian, amore!
I always liked Stargate’s use of the word Tahree for humans.
the latin name for our moon is Luna
So is the Italian. Stop ruining my fantasy, RICO!
V?
Is this in reruns or is this a remake?
On Babylon 5 (probably one of the best Sci-Fi series ever made), the aliens refer to us as Earthers.
Cassandra – it’s a remake with Scott Wolf (hottie from Party of 5) in the hero-TV reporter role.