I'm a bit afraid to ask, and I'll hopefuly get to keep my geek card, but what is Soylent? Why was it so relevant? I understand it's a kind of food, but why is it so memorable?
(Score: 3, Informative) by GungnirSniper on Friday February 21 2014, @03:55AM
Soylent Green is people! [wikipedia.org] and is the origin of the name SoylentNews, because Dice Holdings simply didn't understand that what made Slashdot wasn't them, or solely the editors and staff there, but the posters. On a community-driven site, the posters are what make the site survive and thrive, not just the owners or editors.
Think of planting a garden, you may prep the ground and plant the initial seeds, and water them, but the plants themselves do the bulk of the work.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 21 2014, @09:12PM
by Anonymous Coward
on Friday February 21 2014, @09:12PM (#4547)
I just posted this above -- I find the name really off-putting precisely because of its cannibalistic meaning (eating human smoothie gruel). Is it really the permanent name?
Any chance of changing it to something not inherently revolting?
(Score: 2, Informative) by SMI on Saturday February 22 2014, @11:50AM
by SMI (333) on Saturday February 22 2014, @11:50AM (#4788)
Maybe you aren't looking at it in the right light. Our common benefactor, Okian Warrior [soylentnews.org], chose the name because the "product" is "people". This site is about the same thing, people. It's us people that give value to a site like this, hence the "Soylent News...is people!". While that last part might seem confusing to someone who is unfamiliar with the original film, I do think that he had exactly the right idea. I hope this gives you a different perspective (and feel free to check out the original film, while a bit dated these days, it is still worth watching).
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday February 24 2014, @04:20PM
by Anonymous Coward
on Monday February 24 2014, @04:20PM (#5924)
Thank you for the response... Yes, I understand the intended double entendre and the tagline, but the whole point is that if you DO understand it, you're still reminded of the original meaning. It's unavoidable. It's just a pretty gross name, to me.
So for some of those who DO understand the meaning, it connotes something disgusting.
And for those who do NOT understand the meaning, their reaction is "wha? what does Soylent mean and what's it have to do with tech?"
The youngest of all might have only heard of the nutritionally suspect food replacement/kickstarter.
I wish this altslashdot site nothing but success and was all on board with Fuck Beta. I just think the name is a poor choice.
Ah, to be young again. Soylent Green was a sci-fi movie from the 1960s that revolved around a future dystopia with shortages of food. Soylent Green was the most sought after food. Phere people were forced to suicide by society at a certain age (think Asimov's "The Sixty" or Running Man, same meme) to keep the population down. I have the tape, but alas my VCR died quite a while ago. I wonder where I can get a new one?
At the end of the movie it's revealed that soylent green is people.
-- "Nobody knows everything about anything." — Dr Jerry Morton, Journey to Madness
(Score: 1) by el_isma on Friday February 21 2014, @02:19AM
I'm a bit afraid to ask, and I'll hopefuly get to keep my geek card, but what is Soylent? Why was it so relevant?
I understand it's a kind of food, but why is it so memorable?
(Score: 3, Informative) by GungnirSniper on Friday February 21 2014, @03:55AM
Soylent Green is people! [wikipedia.org] and is the origin of the name SoylentNews, because Dice Holdings simply didn't understand that what made Slashdot wasn't them, or solely the editors and staff there, but the posters. On a community-driven site, the posters are what make the site survive and thrive, not just the owners or editors.
Think of planting a garden, you may prep the ground and plant the initial seeds, and water them, but the plants themselves do the bulk of the work.
Tips for better submissions to help our site grow. [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 1) by medgooroo on Friday February 21 2014, @03:38PM
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soylent_Green/ [wikipedia.org]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 21 2014, @09:12PM
I just posted this above -- I find the name really off-putting precisely because of its cannibalistic meaning (eating human smoothie gruel). Is it really the permanent name?
Any chance of changing it to something not inherently revolting?
(Score: 2, Informative) by SMI on Saturday February 22 2014, @11:50AM
Maybe you aren't looking at it in the right light. Our common benefactor, Okian Warrior [soylentnews.org], chose the name because the "product" is "people". This site is about the same thing, people. It's us people that give value to a site like this, hence the "Soylent News ...is people!". While that last part might seem confusing to someone who is unfamiliar with the original film, I do think that he had exactly the right idea. I hope this gives you a different perspective (and feel free to check out the original film, while a bit dated these days, it is still worth watching).
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday February 24 2014, @04:20PM
Thank you for the response... Yes, I understand the intended double entendre and the tagline, but the whole point is that if you DO understand it, you're still reminded of the original meaning. It's unavoidable. It's just a pretty gross name, to me.
So for some of those who DO understand the meaning, it connotes something disgusting.
And for those who do NOT understand the meaning, their reaction is "wha? what does Soylent mean and what's it have to do with tech?"
The youngest of all might have only heard of the nutritionally suspect food replacement/kickstarter.
I wish this altslashdot site nothing but success and was all on board with Fuck Beta. I just think the name is a poor choice.
(Score: 3, Informative) by mcgrew on Friday February 21 2014, @09:40PM
Ah, to be young again. Soylent Green was a sci-fi movie from the 1960s that revolved around a future dystopia with shortages of food. Soylent Green was the most sought after food. Phere people were forced to suicide by society at a certain age (think Asimov's "The Sixty" or Running Man, same meme) to keep the population down. I have the tape, but alas my VCR died quite a while ago. I wonder where I can get a new one?
At the end of the movie it's revealed that soylent green is people.
"Nobody knows everything about anything." — Dr Jerry Morton, Journey to Madness
(Score: 1) by randmcnatt on Saturday February 22 2014, @04:09AM
I don't know where you are, but if you can, try WalMart. Some of them still have tape-to-and-from-DVD player/recorders available.
The Wright brothers were not the first to fly: they were the first to land.
(Score: 1) by Acabatag on Monday February 24 2014, @12:15AM
Thrift stores! You can get really great VHS machines at thrift stores for under $10.
(Score: 1) by StarFall on Monday February 24 2014, @07:51AM
I hear it's available on DVD and Blu-ray these days, or if your a Prime member just stream it for free.
(Score: 1) by StarFall on Monday February 24 2014, @07:53AM
and the URL ;) http://www.amazon.com/Soylent-Green-Charlton-Hesto n/dp/B0016I0AJG/ [amazon.com]