Cyberbetics

SWM wrote:"Now showing in Theatre Eight: Planet of the Steampunk Goths. PG13."

Only PG13?

You see a lot tamer version of Steampunk than I do -- it would be at least NC17, even without any Goth kinkiness!

Weird Harold wrote:<snip>...with the added fillip that somewhere there is an entire planet or two full of steampunkers and/or goths.

Every example of "theme" colonies we have seen so far have mostly shed those themes far in the past - Rembrant was originally a artist colony for free thinkers (who soon learned that in a new colony, somebody needs to be the one doing, not just thinking), Grayson was completely anti-technology and the corrupting aspects thereof, Pontifex/Basilica as a religious haven - whose population is now completely atheist.

This is not to say that they don't exist, but after 1000 years, a planet colonized by Goths could be the home of the "New Way Sunny Day" Philosophical school while conversely a planet colonized by Hippies could now consider KISS' costumes from the 70s to be the basis of formal dress.

Theemile wrote:Every example of "theme" colonies we have seen so far have mostly shed those themes far in the past - Rembrant was originally a artist colony for free thinkers (who soon learned that in a new colony, somebody needs to be the one doing, not just thinking), Grayson was completely anti-technology and the corrupting aspects thereof, Pontifex/Basilica as a religious haven - whose population is now completely atheist.

Why couldn't events lead a colony to adopt Goth or Steampunk as opposed to driftng away from Goth and Steampunk origins?

It also depends on what you consider a "theme colony." Montana was a "theme colony" based on cowboy independence, and Erewhon was a colony of gangsters and money launderers. Both still retain a strong element of the original colony ideals. Rather more in Montana's case than Erewhon's, but still basically true to their origins.

Weird Harold wrote:

Theemile wrote:Every example of "theme" colonies we have seen so far have mostly shed those themes far in the past - Rembrant was originally a artist colony for free thinkers (who soon learned that in a new colony, somebody needs to be the one doing, not just thinking), Grayson was completely anti-technology and the corrupting aspects thereof, Pontifex/Basilica as a religious haven - whose population is now completely atheist.

Why couldn't events lead a colony to adopt Goth or Steampunk as opposed to driftng away from Goth and Steampunk origins?

It also depends on what you consider a "theme colony." Montana was a "theme colony" based on cowboy independence, and Erewhon was a colony of gangsters and money launderers. Both still retain a strong element of the original colony ideals. Rather more in Montana's case than Erewhon's, but still basically true to their origins.

I had forgotten about Montana, the geographic makeup of the planet probably helps reinforce the cowboy independence idea (as well as the more recent beef trade)....

But, You're quite correct, Goth or Steampunk overtones could have been a societal progression in any culture, as well as any other theme. I merely ment to point out that the norm has been showing colonies "maturing" and societal norms shifting from those that existed at colonization.

From an American viewpoint, this seems normal, since we seem to have different leading cultural aspects every generation or so, with major re-definitions of our society at multiple points in our country's short life.

Theemile wrote:

Weird Harold wrote:<snip>...with the added fillip that somewhere there is an entire planet or two full of steampunkers and/or goths.

Every example of "theme" colonies we have seen so far have mostly shed those themes far in the past - Rembrant was originally a artist colony for free thinkers (who soon learned that in a new colony, somebody needs to be the one doing, not just thinking), Grayson was completely anti-technology and the corrupting aspects thereof, Pontifex/Basilica as a religious haven - whose population is now completely atheist.

This is not to say that they don't exist, but after 1000 years, a planet colonized by Goths could be the home of the "New Way Sunny Day" Philosophical school while conversely a planet colonized by Hippies could now consider KISS' costumes from the 70s to be the basis of formal dress.

The idea wasn't that the planet was colonized specifically to spread the Word of Goth, but that the planet drifted into technologies and/or fashions which are strikingly similar.