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Author: ErikModi

Apr 17th 2017 at 1:55:31 PM

@zarpaulus:  Yeah, from what it looks like in the Stellaris example, it's about the potential to wipe out less-evolved alien life, not less-evolved versions of your own species, which is what this trope is about.

@rodneyAnonymous:  Yes, that's why the first sentence links to CommonKnowledge, since it's pretty much exactly what I understand CommonKnowledge to be about:  things everyone knows but aren't actually true.  And yes, the trope wouldn't exist without HollywoodEvolution, so I call it out in the end section.

@Theriocephalus:  Neanderthals are more commonly classed as a subspecies of human, though there are holdouts who still insist they're a separate species.  The models are constantly evolving (pun only slightly intended).  And while it's true that writing as we understand and practice it is much more recent, cave paintings are increasingly being linked to neanderthals, and can be considered a root of what would become writing (using symbols to communicate relatively complex ideas).  I admit that assertion isn't exhaustively sourced, so I can jettison it if it's problematic.