tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10911751.post5030557741387712492..comments2024-03-07T02:00:01.582-05:00Comments on NEI Nuclear Notes: Food for Thought: Belgian Publisher Says Nuclear Industry Should Engage Public on a More Emotional LevelUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10911751.post-29014396828908795952009-09-15T08:50:44.064-04:002009-09-15T08:50:44.064-04:00There already exists a show set in a town with a N...There already exists a show set in a town with a NPP. One of the main characters works there, although his job is mentioned more than just once. They're a very average, but rather dysfunctional, family -- designed to be comic representation of all of the "Joe Sixpack" underachievers out there.<br /><br />This show has been on the air for two decades now.Brian Mayshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13962229896535398120noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10911751.post-43091176235331070592009-09-15T07:58:08.835-04:002009-09-15T07:58:08.835-04:00"The show should be a drama or a comedy where..."The show should be a drama or a comedy where the nuclear power plant is simply the backdrop and it never really the focus. DON'T make it a big deal"<br /><br />Q: if the backdrop doesn't comes in to focus occasionally why permanently set it there in the first place?<br /><br />A: a show about _realistic_ people going about their work at a _realistic_ low-trouble nuclear plant would be to condition/inform the viewers to be more accepting of them in general. But the drama still has to come from somewhere to make those not interested in documentaries watch it...<br /><br />A show about a regulatory inspector would lend itself too easily to tales of cover-ups and bad dealings.<br /><br />How about setting it in a _town_ with a NPP... The main character/s husband/wife/son/daughter works there, mention it once then leave it at that (like GRLCowan said) They're an average family. Maybe in the fourth or fifth episode the NPP is featured as the worker gets told-off for letting his child in to see the pump room or something.distantbodyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07946688031138536683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10911751.post-91884915702024387742009-09-14T10:41:27.506-04:002009-09-14T10:41:27.506-04:00Well, you've all sort of hit on the key points...Well, you've all sort of hit on the key points of entertainment: drama, and how emotional responses play into that. The "best" entertainment (the kind that grips you and holds your interest) contains elements that elicit strong emotional responses, things like fear, danger, self-preservation, love, hate, jealousy, etc. The setting of the action usually lends some supporting background to that (hospital, firefighting, military, etc,). There have been settings in nuclear facilities that elicit such responses, but they generally involve negative, far-fetched scenarios, e.g., the "Atomic Twister", or the China Syndrome, and play to fear and loathing rather than cool and calm. Selling entertainment for the buck probably will not involve boring, mundane activities.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10911751.post-72476194303843099122009-09-14T10:21:14.612-04:002009-09-14T10:21:14.612-04:00Education - yes...
Emotional appeals - no...
Leave...Education - yes...<br />Emotional appeals - no...<br />Leave "change we can believe in" and "yes we can" to those who need them.<br /><br />We're not breaking legs with policy after offering free crutches on the campaign trail.Conan The Libertarianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02284206163308504692noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10911751.post-51437766105168054752009-09-14T09:12:40.091-04:002009-09-14T09:12:40.091-04:00The main point should be that indeed, nuclear ener...The main point should be that indeed, nuclear energy is "boring" - i.e. NOT dangerous. The show should be a drama or a comedy where the nuclear power plant is simply the backdrop and it never really the focus. DON'T make it a big deal or else, as feared, suddenly there's a near meltdown every episode. Just like cop shows are shooting their weapons every episode, whereas in real life, a police officer can easily spend their entire career without ever firing thier pistol.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10911751.post-68395666740119720072009-09-13T10:36:26.856-04:002009-09-13T10:36:26.856-04:00Thanks all of you and first of all to David for in...Thanks all of you and first of all to David for introducing the text and giving some good ideas of possible situations. I agree with Matthew66 and Joffran that there is a risk but already a number of films have been presented with catastrophic nuclear situations. We can't avoid that. But my basic idea is as D. Kosloff said, to get the right scriptwriters interested by giving them the adequate information. I do have already some contacts. I know like Rod that day to day life in a plant is rather boring and does not make a good show. But I am grateful for his other suggestions and I think that's the way we should go. So please continue to bring critics and ideas. And if you want to know more about my research and my previous presentations/papers on nuclear fiction, please send me a message at amesper@skynet.bealain MICHELnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10911751.post-64744043617638319852009-09-12T09:13:47.254-04:002009-09-12T09:13:47.254-04:00Well, Rod, of course the producers would have to m...Well, Rod, of course the producers would have to make the reactor interesting to look at -- perhaps something like the engine on Enterprise of the nineties' Star Trek series: big blue pulsating lights. The lights pulsate faster when the reactor is dangerously close to warp core breach ... er ... meltdown, which if the show were like Star Trek, would happen every other week, to be invariably prevented each time by the unusually bright, but frustratingly annoying, high-school intern, who somehow managed to get the NRC's permission to hang out in the control room in the afternoons after school.Brian Mayshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13962229896535398120noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10911751.post-24897462797753817322009-09-12T07:21:35.244-04:002009-09-12T07:21:35.244-04:00I read the original article and share some of the ...I read the original article and share some of the same concerns as previous posters.<br /><br />One of the phrases that I use in my passionate, mostly water cooler type, talks about nuclear energy is "the most boring watch on a submarine is the reactor operator". A well designed plant is sort of like the energizer bunny - it works fine, lasts a long time. It boringly puts out massive quantities of energy.<br /><br />The real dramatic show that might be very useful at this particular time in the technological history would be one that focused on the process of building new plants, going through the competitive process of getting them sited, figuring out the best technology to solve certain issues, and teaching people how to be good contributors within the demanding industry.<br /><br />The human interest part could focus on the back stories of the people, the sacrifices that they make and perhaps even the adjustments that they have to perform in order to fit into the safety culture.Rod Adamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03652375336090790205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10911751.post-63760354745405430782009-09-12T00:13:41.298-04:002009-09-12T00:13:41.298-04:00Joffan,
The key is to get the right scriptwriters....Joffan,<br />The key is to get the right scriptwriters. Like the guys who wrote the scripts for "Major Dad".D. Kosloffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10911751.post-40164709923486356262009-09-11T22:02:29.631-04:002009-09-11T22:02:29.631-04:00Matthew66 may be right. Consider "Gray's ...Matthew66 may be right. Consider "Gray's Anatomy" where, it seems like, everyone is cavorting with anyone else who happens to walk by. Quite unlike how medical staff behave in the real world - not that they couldn't be tempted, but they have more self-control than Hollywierd portrays.<br /><br />On the other hand, a CSI-like program would be interesting to watch. What with the electron microscopic details of atomic fission revealed and rescuing the world from climate change catastrophe. Hi-ho Silver, away!DocForesightnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10911751.post-42092442474280884112009-09-11T19:46:14.028-04:002009-09-11T19:46:14.028-04:00I recall Rhett Butler's character in Grace Und...I recall Rhett Butler's character in <em>Grace Under Fire</em> was supposed to work at an oil refinery. It was occasionally mentioned, but as far as I know never came on-stage. That was probably for the best, and if she had worked at a nuclear plant, it should have been treated similarly.<br /><br />(<em><a href="http://www.eagle.ca/~gcowan/" rel="nofollow">Secrets for sale</a></em>)GRLCowanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03894036301406557803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10911751.post-39001541803263257342009-09-11T19:05:18.648-04:002009-09-11T19:05:18.648-04:00That was similar to my concern Matthew - that the ...That was similar to my concern Matthew - that the scriptwriters, seeking external drama, would start to invent a new imminently dangerous condition every episode. If the drama can focus on the people, against the backdrop of meticulous care in the plant, then I would support it. The idea of following an over-active IAEA inspector around the world might have merit too, especially as it would allow drama outside the plants more readily.Joffanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18025437863119781181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10911751.post-11714286888472455532009-09-11T19:01:54.463-04:002009-09-11T19:01:54.463-04:00I think there's a season of the tv show 24 tha...I think there's a season of the tv show 24 that had terrorists taking over nuclear power plants to force them to meltdown.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10911751.post-56540676119156217112009-09-11T18:51:21.732-04:002009-09-11T18:51:21.732-04:00Ah, hello...? 'The Simpsons'??
~wink~Ah, hello...? <a href="http://www.thesimpsons.com/index.html" rel="nofollow">'The Simpsons'</a>??<br /><br />~wink~Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10911751.post-87005287916922690882009-09-11T15:18:30.002-04:002009-09-11T15:18:30.002-04:00I don't know that this is a great idea. Every ...I don't know that this is a great idea. Every drama show I've seen that was set in a hospital ends up having a catastrophic fire or explosion - usually a cover to revamp the sets. I've never actually heard of a major metropolitan hospital having an explosion or a fire that wasn't rapidly contained, but that's TV land.Matthew66https://www.blogger.com/profile/14300778464353560180noreply@blogger.com