XPost: alt.tv.star-trek, rec.arts.sf.tv, rec.arts.startrek.misc   
   XPost: rec.arts.tv   
   From: ldo@nz.invalid   
      
   On Thu, 26 Feb 2026 23:38:03 -0000 (UTC), BTR1701 wrote:   
      
   > This is a long-running gag here on RAT in reference to a past   
   > regular here, the profoundly stupid Cloud Dreamer, aka Clod Reamer,   
   > (one of your fellow Canadidians) who, in response to people   
   > wondering why the electricity-eating nanobots on the show REVOLUTION   
   > didn't also absorb the electricity that runs the human nervous   
   > system, or the electricity in thunderstorms, declared that they must   
   > only be programmed to consume 'artificial electricity', not 'natural   
   > electricity'.   
      
   There are endless variations on that trope.   
      
   Like for example humans encounter some advanced alien civilization   
   (either we visit them, or they come to us), and they have the power to   
   stop all our technology (particularly advanced technology) from   
   working. And yet somehow living beings remain unharmed. And maybe some   
   old relic machine from a museum still functions -- obviously not   
   “technological” enough for the aliens’ weapon to affect it ...   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)