Nitpicking, realism, and the law of non-contradiction

[Tok'Ra Hostess]

Usually, by TV rules, only one guy can wear sunglasses. if everybody does, you don't see the emotion on their face and in their eyes, as so much shows in the eyes.

And it would have been a shame to not see Lorne's face, especially when he suggested that Rodney not procreate, and then later, when he felt tempted to shoot him.

Rule 2: second lead-in types can wear boonie hats, handerchiefs, radiation suits, as they make up for it with their fast talking and gesturing limbs.

Ah! So that's why Teal'c didn't wear a hard hat when he was drilling through solid rock in 100 Days! Thanks for clearing that up for me, prion!

[Qasim]

- Dex hid in a cave because he was probably on the planet for a lot longer than just a few days. In his case, standing around in the sun for as long as he would've stayed on the planet probably would have been harmful to him.

- No one else used McKay's sunscreen because, as Sheppard pointed out, they're on a search and rescue mission for Ford, who might potentially get hostile with them. The element of surprise would've been a great addition to their arsenal in that situation and apparently McKay's sunscreen reeked of coconut oils. Ford's new super-senses would've picked that up a mile away and they probably never would've found him. The team weighed potential exposure to UV radiation during the day against tipping Ford off too quickly to their presence and took a calculated risk in order to better facilitate the achievement of their objective.

Would Dex have known this planet had harmful radiation?

I see what you mean about the sunscreen but werent they the first team to interact with ford the smell may have attracted him

[Tok'Ra Hostess]

Would Dex have known this planet had harmful radiation?

I totally agree with your point about the sunscreen

Dex is a smart guy from an advanced civilisation. He thought that Ford's sickness was sun-related, and he was applying something to his exposed skin, so, yeah, he seemed to know.

[Qasim]

sun-related, and he was applying something to his exposed skin, so, yeah, he seemed to know.

That could just indicate that the planet was hot

[Shonaille]

McKay was worried about the radiation bcse he's already recently been exposed to it twice, both in Siege III and Intruder and he has fair skin. It made sense to me.

[GatetheWay]

Here's an inconsistency for you... McKay specifically said in "Home" how that he hated to wear hazmat suits.

FORD: I thought you hated wearing these suits.
McKAY: I do – I’m incredibly uncomfortable – but these energy readings are amazing.

But then in "Runner" he voluntarily runs around a hot planet wearing one. If he had his sunscreen why bother with a suit that he supposively hated wearing. He could of, at the very least, diched the whole suit when he lost the helmet.

[Furling God]

Here's an inconsistency for you... McKay specifically said in "Home" how that he hated to wear hazmat suits.

I suppose it was the equivalent of a clown costume on stage. So I guess it helped the comical instants in the episode. From that point of view for me it made sense.

[MarshAngel]

That could just indicate that the planet was hot

Well unless they're trying to fool us, the planet was definitely not hot. When Mckay took off the hood of the rubber suit, we could see his breath.

[TheCorpulent1]

Would Dex have known this planet had harmful radiation?

I see what you mean about the sunscreen but werent they the first team to interact with ford the smell may have attracted him

Like someone mentioned, Dex is apparently a pretty smart guy from an advanced civilization. It's very basic reasoning to equate the extreme brightness that that planet exhibited with high levels of ultraviolet radiation--brighter light = higher energy output, including radioactive energy. Plus he knew that being out in the sun too long on that planet could make you sick. I think it's a safe bet to know he knew that being out in the sun wasn't a good idea, even if he didn't necessarily know the extent of the radiation levels.

McKay and Lorne were indeed the first team to run into Ford--and Ford got the drop on them. Why that is wasn't explained, but I suspect the fact that McKay smelled like a giant, humanoid coconut had something to do with it. In all seriousness, we do know from "The Siege III" that Ford has some advanced senses, so maybe his sense of smell is advanced too.

Here's an inconsistency for you... McKay specifically said in "Home" how that he hated to wear hazmat suits.

FORD: I thought you hated wearing these suits.
McKAY: I do – I’m incredibly uncomfortable – but these energy readings are amazing.

But then in "Runner" he voluntarily runs around a hot planet wearing one. If he had his sunscreen why bother with a suit that he supposively hated wearing. He could of, at the very least, diched the whole suit when he lost the helmet.

That doesn't mean anything. I hate going to class every day but I do it. Just because McKay's uncomfortable in hazmat suits, doesn't mean he'd forego one when he believes that exposure to the sun's radiation would be harmful to him. I think it makes sense that he'd suck it up and put on as much protection as possible, including an uncomfortable rubber suit. Hell, even in that instance you quoted, he acknowledges that he hates the hazmats BUT he is wearing one in the scene for practical reasons, isn't he? It was established long ago that McKay's a paranoid weirdo who's interested in his personal safety above all else--including a bit of discomfort.

[Qasim]

It was established long ago that McKay's a paranoid weirdo who's interested in his personal safety above all else

As shown by his reaction to the security escort in siege part 3

McKAY: Whoa, whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa. What is this? This is my security escort?!

WEIR: Well, we *are* spread a little bit thin right now.

McKAY: OK. (To the marines) You need to know that if we come under fire, you're gonna have to put your lives on the line to protect me.

WEIR: Rodney!

McKAY: OK, I mean the ZedPM. You need to protect the ZedPM at all costs ... and me. (He looks back at Elizabeth as the three of them head off.) Am I wrong?

[TheCorpulent1]

Yeah, I was thinking of that scene (among others) when I wrote that.

[KundiSmack]

oh and they do have ancient technology so they could of just attached the life signs detector to see if there were any life signs. Also, I'd much rather have em just say "oh theres nobody there and heres a pic" then them actually go explore and reach the same conclusion wasting precious air time!

[kryon22]

Parrish said he was surprised that things could survive "long-term" exposure. We have no idea what he meant by long-term. Days? Not likely, in my opinion, since most vegetation and animal life take a lot longer than days to grow and thrive. I think he meant more along the lines of months or years. The radiation's higher but I'm pretty sure McKay was just being paranoid and overly cautious. Plus, McKay points out that his skin is very fair. Very fair-skinned people can easily contract skin cancer from being out in the sun on Earth, so it's understandable that he'd be kind of paranoid about protecting himself on a planet with a reduced ozone layer.

Edit: I just checked the episode again and the scientist says that it's unlikely any animal could survive the long-term effects of the radiation, implying that Lorne should ease up and not be so cautious. I think the intent behind what he was saying is that animals couldn't have evolved very far with the level of radiation, which makes sense. Animals evolved on Earth to the extent they did partly because of the ozone layer protecting us from higher levels of UV radiation, but it doesn't mean that all the animals on that planet died simultaneously after a few days' exposure to the higher UV. They more likely died out gradually, after constant exposure for generations. The time frame is a lot longer than a day or two, at least.

That has to do with the accumulated genetic damage UV does to the cells in the body. They would have died from radiation defects, cancerous melanomas and those that survived to procreate would have passed on these defects to their progeny. That said, given that organisms have a natural tendency to evolve to compensate for said conditions, the resulting organisms must have evolved ways to combat such damage, or inherited compensatory characteristics...UV is incredibly damaging in the long term sense, causing thymine dimers in DNA...

[prion]

Well unless they're trying to fool us, the planet was definitely not hot. When Mckay took off the hood of the rubber suit, we could see his breath.

Well, Vancouver is cold.

But anyway, yes, he can build up a lot of heat inside the suit because it's rubber, basically sealed, nothing gets out. Heck, go outside in a snowsuit in the dead of winter and run around and see if you don't get hot

[kryon22]

Well, Vancouver is cold.

But anyway, yes, he can build up a lot of heat inside the suit because it's rubber, basically sealed, nothing gets out. Heck, go outside in a snowsuit in the dead of winter and run around and see if you don't get hot

A region of the planet doesn't have to be hot hot tropical hot to be allowing in a lot of UV....depending on the state of the ozone depletion or thickness (which is an ongoing dynamic flux). Which means, you could be in a nice cool temperate clime but still absorbing a high level of UV damage. Australia's a nice example of that...think Adelaide.