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Sine Wave
Liquid Emperor
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Originally posted by gaschief: Actually I don't think he is dumb, I think he is too damn lazy too use the brains he has...that is funny and incredibly annoying and is probably the reason that most of us relate too him for best or for worst! That's a large part of it, especially early on, but later I think it starts to show that not only is his mind 'superior-but-inferior', a.k.a. he's dimmer than average biologically, he also really doesn't know how to think, or use common sense, probably from the lifelong apathy of himself and those around him to develop it. When he does overcome it, it's more than stopping being lazy, he's bettering himself even if inadvertently, and triumphing over his defects, which is what makes it so rewarding to watch.
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coldangel
DOOP Secretary
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Originally posted by IamBender: wow ca's a superdork.. Wow, IamBender's an annoying little spammer slut who doesn't know how to properly conduct herself on a forum. Grow up you dumb bitch.
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gaschief
Professor
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« Reply #88 on: 10-17-2007 09:51 »
« Last Edit on: 10-17-2007 09:51 »
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Originally posted by IamBender: he discovered the fry hole. how can u h8 him? There was never any mention anywhere of hating Fry. If you look back through the thread, you will see the argument centre's around the relative merits of Fry's personality as a central character. Coldangel 1 and Any1else Please Do Not have a domestic on my thread, take this to off topic or email!
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Ralph Snart
Agent Provocateur
Near Death Star Inhabitant
DOOP Secretary
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Wow, this is only the second time I've known Kryten to use the banstick...
As for Fry is weak/dumb, he's not consistant in the intellect department.
Fry was the first to state that anybody else on the bridge of the Nimbus could have made Kif pregnant.
He was the one to state there were different ways to fight Zoidberg's race.
He knew enough to go back to the orphanarium and investigate Leela's past when Leela went nuts and was terrorizing the mutants in the sewers.
So maybe it's sporatic, but he does show some signs of intelligence.
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gaschief
Professor
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I agree Ralph, That's wht I reckon it's a motivation problem rather than that he IS stupid as such. Given enough motivation he will use his brain, but its not something that comes readily to him in day to day experience. Perhaps his increased motivation in season 4 comes from the fact that Leela is starting to show more interest in him as a person, and also the fact that characters in Futurama grow unlike in the Simpsons, where they appear to stay the same age forever!
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coldangel
DOOP Secretary
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There are different kinds of intelligence.
Fry's mind seems to work a lot like Homer Simpson's - general ineptitude interspersed by brief glimmering moments of genius. Like when Homer was running the bootleg business through the bowling alley.
Fry's 'stupid' because he lacks the Delta wave, and his mind functions by a 'cobbled-together' arrangement of other brainwaves. This alternate mental structure, although generally detrimental, could lead to a fair degree of rather unique parallel thinking compared to people with normal minds.
Kind of like that apophrycal story of the billion-dollar American space pen versus the simple Russian pencil. It didn't take a lot of research or know-how, but it was a stroke of simple parallel brilliance nonetheless.
After having just done nearly six years of caring for people who have intellectual disabilities, I can say that it would be folly not to expect them to come out with the occassional stroke of genius. Oh, I could tell you some stories...
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Ralph Snart
Agent Provocateur
Near Death Star Inhabitant
DOOP Secretary
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Originally posted by 1futuramafan1: Have any of you ever read that book? (ralph rasies hand) I read that book in high school - 30 years ago. At the end, Charly loses his intellect and goes back to being a simpleton. the problem was, he realized what he was losing and knew the eventual reality. Kind of a heart-breaking story.
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KurtPikachu2001
Urban Legend
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« Reply #107 on: 12-25-2010 19:55 »
« Last Edit on: 12-25-2010 19:58 »
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Another reason why I think Fry is weak is because he can't handle certain situations. Like if he and the crew were to go on an Indiana Jones kind of adventure, he'd be so scared he'd crap in his Levis. Also, Fry can't take on a super villain or anything like that. So, that's why I think Bender is more of a hero type. Bender is smart, clever, strong, and tough, and Fry is none of those things.
Of course some people don't see it that way. It's like some think and wish he were this 'Walker Texas Ranger' kind of a hero who saves everybody. I see Fry as more of a bumbling sidekick. I think the show would benefit better if Bender were the hero, and Fry was Bender's second banana. So, that's why I'm hoping in this new episode 'Law and Oracle' Fry is just a Barney Fife type of cop, and Bender and Zoidberg join the force, too.
Bender: Look, Fry! We're overrun by enemy combatants!
Fry: What'll we do, boss!
Bender: Kick their asses!
Fry: I'm staying out of this!
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Svip
Administrator
DOOP Secretary
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How does his inability to be a toughguy make him a weak character? A weak character is a character without depth. Given the immense amount of back history, his motivations and whatnot, I would almost argue that he is the strongest character on the show. While Bender is funny, he is hardly as nuanced a character as Fry.
Fry is not supposed to be a hero, not all main characters are. Not all shows or writings are about heroes. And Futurama certainly isn't. Futurama is about an everyman stuck in a strange place.
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futurefreak
salutatory committee member
Moderator
DOOP Secretary
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Plus Bender is a robot. Fry naturally puts himself in more risky situations than a robot could (The Sting) and that's what makes him noble. Bender could never be the hero archetype because he doesn't struggle and lacks a moral compass. Fry does many stupid things, but every once in a while you get that glimmer of nobility that makes the character worth rooting for (Bender's Big Score?).
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