Sci-Fi: Do you like it human-centric or not?

[Ellri]

Humans are good, but so are aliens... it all depends on how well they are designed to mesh. We rather like it if in a universe with many species that have populations equal to og greater than that of humans for the important characters to be at most a similar distribution across the species. Not a decisively larger human quota than alien. if the aliens are well-made enough, then humans are optional.

At the same time, pure human universes can also work well, though that requires more complex personalities and events to give equal depth.

Because most science fiction writers are human.

So yeah... they like to think they're special.

Its the ones who aren't you really have to look out for... you never know what to expect from them...

[Kestrel]

Basically the question as it says on the tin. I'm writing up a new role play based in an original science fiction universe, and I'm truly curious what RPG tends to like from its Sci-Fi. Do y'all prefer stories centered around humanity exclusively? Or how humanity fits in a galactic scale? Or just having humanity around, or even "fuck humanity I go to sci-fi for the aliens!"

Really, I'd like to know so I can craft the universe appropriately to fit RPG's interests.

I feel this largely depends on what you most feel like doing. When I created the library (not sci-fi but w/e) I made a concious choice not to include other races, as it would invite needless power-squabbles to the table and racism terms I didn't care for. On the other hand, when I created the Alluring (also not sci-fi but w/e) I put in lamias and gargoyles to please a larger audience for an already fairly narrow concept (although most players preferred humans anyway, lamias were used widely) and enable racism themes.

When we're talking sci-fi and talking intergalactic warfare, I'd love using aliens, because when I enter an interstellar warfare it's very interesting to see different cultures and tactics, rather than... Well, everything being within human limits/logic. If I want a space-hive with suicidal bombing drones, human psychology would handicap me more than having giant alien bees to play with.

On the other hand, say we keep this as a post-apocalyptic fight on Earth and we got one corrupt government and one group of heroes, giant alien bees aren't really in the right place. Unless they're the invaders or something.

[Foster]

*Backs away slowly and reaches for the Elephant-Tazer*

I can honestly say, not matter how alien something looks, I have never, ever, wondered how they compare to our genitalia in any way shape or form, let alone TOUCH or feel... And i've played some fairly wacky aliens before. (Including several that violate the laws of physics as we know them.)

If I haven't mentioned it yet, I went into stipulating what spectrums an alien would see, and what colors were NOT visable, and therefore, to what extent a person was 'covered' or not.
-Like, you're dressed in a winter parka and they don't even realize it, thinking you're in some sort of intricate lace nightgown with extensive 'padding'....

This went further to stipulate what materials constituted 'clothing' if at all, since many sci-fi creatures are usually so well-adapted to travel that clothes are barely an afterthought.

[Grif of Hearts]

I've actually had a few roleplay ideas rolling around my head which involve sci-fi settings that don't involve human beings. This is done mostly from a technological view point rather than to avoid putting human beings on the podium so to speak, but the idea was born from a distinct lack of sci-fi settings that don't involve human beings at all. As has been said before, it'd require a lot of non-essential reading to know enough about the alien species to play them properly, something which probably wouldn't work too well in a film or a book (although the latter would certainly have a much better shot at it. Tolkien was known for spending a lot of time describing things). I had hoped to make the alien species unique, and try to pick up on a lot of points that people would fail to think about. Sure, they have green skin and can fly, but why is every alien species trichromatic?

Generally though I don't mind. Sure, it's a lot more interesting when the humans are on equal footing with other species, otherwise it just seems like another attempt to glorify ourselves, but I'm perfectly fine with human beings being the top dog of the universe.

[Catharyn]

Sci-fi works on all those levels. Having said that i probably prefer humans taking the story's focus. Simply because it gives us a good platform to look out into the univerase.

[xbriannova]

The best answer I have is that either way, it is human-centric. In a way, this question has long been anticipated in literary circles all over. Humanism proposes that we are special, and that pretty much, we are the centre of the universe (not a direct quote). Posthumanism however, refutes that, along with the many biaseness of humanism. However, it is not denied that we do see things from the human point of view, but we do accept that we are dependant on animals and machines (aliens by extension in a sci-fi world), and that we aren't human if we do not share a kinship with those two.

So I guess it's alright whether you include humans or not. It's just a matter of how you include them.

[Hagazussa]

I do like aliens allot. Generally though I like science fiction, it can be alien or human centric, both works for me but I want it to focus on the science fiction elements, the technology, or aliens or psychic powers and so on, I am not so fond of just hard science fiction with human drama in space for example, I want paranormal elements, but it do not have to be aliens.

[Tick]

I don't know if my answer completely fits the poll's options. It more depends on the issues the RP/writing would be addressing, or how they'd play with the concepts, than anything else. I can appreciate Firefly and Babylon 5 equally (at least, roughly) yet for different reasons. A lot of Babylon 5 would be arguably impossible, especially on the issues it sometimes deals with, if it weren't for the alien races, but I actually like that Firefly doesn't have any aliens for the sake of it's setting, atmosphere, etc. and they aren't necessary. Though, I will say, sometimes the aliens are dangerously more interesting in fiction.

The one thing I really dislike is a human-centric tone (in serious, unquestioning support of it) when there are alien life forms involved - the idea that humans are more important, more special, more relevant, cooler, etc. than everything else just because we're human. If the reason that justifies human kind's awesomeness is very weak or stupid, that would count, too. It's utterly unavoidable in fiction, it seems, but it nonetheless makes me roll my eyes and increases my level of stress in life. Something dealing with the themes of human-centrism versus biocentrism, or cosmicism, or similarly opposing ideas would be awesome (possibly even if it leaned toward the former, if well done), but the assumption of human superiority bothers me.

[Holeypaladin]

I actually get rid of the humanocentrism in my own sci fi universe by saying it takes place in present day. It's nearly 2013... humans still don't have FTL star travel. But all of the alien races do.

But I also allow people to be human-like alien races. Since they're not human, it's not really humanocentric, but since they're a lot like humans, writers can identify as create human-like characters with thoughts and feelings similar to their own.

Then again, my setting is also designed with the possibility of sandboxy-ish Empire-building RPs in mind. It would be unfair to give any one player control over Humanity in such a setting, as I'm certain more than one person will want it. Because most sci-fi writers are human.

[Freethinker]

I suppose I do have a bias concerning humans, but in universes, stories, and RPs I make up, they're generally more violent, hateful, irrational, and in general more horrible than other species. Humans are usually the klingons of my things.

Concerning humanoids, I always try to find a reason why species so similar to humans would evolve in so many other ecosystems, usually it involved some older species tinkering around.
That said, its still possible for a species to be too similar. Whenever the Enterprise found a species that looked exactly like humans, I found it a little difficult to swallow.

Additionally, I like to have some truly-alien species also wandering around. These species aren't "evil" per se, but are so different from humans that it's difficult to understand them.

I've been working on a fictional universe that I may make into an RP in which an ancient species causing numerous humanoids to evolve is actually pretty central to the plot.

This all being said, sometimes I like a story with only humans, it depends on what's happening.