Hi folks, fan here since the first episode. I joined, like so many others, specifically to complain about SmashLab but while I'm finally here I thought I'd post in this forum too.

I've avoided it for years because, although Mythbusters is by far my favorite show on television, it also makes me tear my hair out, and I didn't want to log on just to rant. But here I am, and I'll try not to make it too much of a rant.

First the good: Fantastic concept, great stars, and the production company is keeping it alive very nicely.

Now the bad. First of all, there's this thing known as "high school physics" that would drastically enhance the "smartness" level of the show.

An example that recurs over and over: Adam, (hi if you're reading this, huge fan bla bla bla) you're a smart guy, so why to you over and over misunderstand the concept of a center of gravity? It isn't a two-diminsional spot; it's a THREE dimensional spot. And if you're going to apply force to something without torquing it, you must apply force to that exact spot. THAT is why rockets on the top of a car are dumb, dumb, dumb. It could never possibly work. You MUST apply force at the center of balance or guess what, it ain't gonna go straight.

By the way, the rockets on top of the car in the first episode probably kept the car from flipping over due to the air buildup under the front.

Nevertheless, I wouldn't want Adam's persona to change a bit. It's the interplay between him and Jamie that makes the show work.

Now to my real gripe: "the build team".

The good: Kari is cute.

The bad: Everything else. These guys may be wizards at special effects but whatever Adam and Jamie have is totally missing in the Build Team. Kari and Tori are just, well, not terribly smart people, and Grant isn't much better. He too appears to know electronics and nothing else. You test fired a nitrogen cannon without securing it to the table? Interesting testing protocol. "Dude, where's my cannon?"

Another build team rant, might as well get them all out at once: the boat hitting a buoy myth. This one cost me a good deal of hair as the whole section was just dumb, but what really got me was the "smart wheels" that at the last second plowed the boat into the buoy. They did no such thing (watch the tape: does the background shift when the wheels engage? Nope) and couldn't possibly have.

The idea that the build team could think that a last-second alteration of two tiny wheels was going to change the path of a massive boat is yet another example of just how thoroughly the crew misunderstands basic eighth grade physics.

In short, I love the show, but I very often skip past the build team segments. It just reminds me of the doofuses I knew in high school blowing stuff up in their garage after school.

And just for the record... QUIT IT with the dead pigs! I'm no vegetarian but geez, do we have to show such disrespect for something that was once alive?

Don't think I'm a sorehead, these are just things that I've wanted to say for years...

bravo on the well thought out post. i was glad it wasnt just rambling with a bunch of "dude!"s thrown in. im sure you are not the only one thinking this

you really shouldnt hold in this much feeling, sundog. it cant be healthy.

I will just say this -

Kari, Tory, Grant, Adam and Jamie are some of the smartest people I know. They got where they are by their talent and intelligence.

You see what the editors want you to see - nothing more, nothing less. You do not see the fact that the experts they consulted are the ones who suggested that bifurcated boat be tested the way it was. There isn't one body of water that would allow them to sink a marker where it shouldn't be just to run a boat into it. There is also the other variables that were negated by testing it out of water. The conditions of the body of water, wind, weather, etc. This was also the most cost effective way to test this particular show idea.

Now, until you know everything that goes on in the planning and execution of each show segment, how much ends up on the cutting room floor and other decisions that are made in the production - you can not judge the people you see on the screen.

As for the dead pigs - name a better human analog that works as well and is cost effective. "MythBusters" does not have an unlimited budget.

MythMod

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I joined, like so many others, specifically to complain about SmashLab

Why would you joint the Mythbusters forum to complain about SmashLab? Why didn't you joint the Smashlab forum?

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there's this thing known as "high school physics"

The MB knowlege (and use) of physics is quite good, and certainly well above many of the posters here on the forum. While I personally would like to see the science stressed a bit more, much of the audience just wants to be entertained and the producers have to make the tradeoff they feel brings them the largest audience.

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concept of a center of gravity

While the center of gravity is a point in three dimensions, sometime it is only necessary to know the plane that includes the center of gravity. And I'm quite sure Adam knows exactly what a center of gravity is.

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THAT is why rockets on the top of a car are dumb, dumb, dumb. It could never possibly work

The rockets where on the top of the car because that is where the myth stated they were placed. And after all, they are trying to replicate the myth and show whether it is busted, plausible, or confirmed. If they test a set of conditions different than what is stated in the myth, they can come to no such conclusions.

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Now to my real gripe: "the build team".
The bad: Everything else.

Guess we just have to disgree on the this. I think the build team does an excellent job - and they each have their own personality that works well for each and for the group and show as a whole.

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doofuses I knew in high school blowing stuff up

I personally agree there is too much emphasis on blowing things up. But that is exactly what a large part of their audience wants.

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QUIT IT with the dead pigs

A pig is a fairly good human analog. If they stop using pigs, then they might as well stop trying to test most of the myths that involve injury or avoidance of injury to humans.

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Sundog originally posted: Kari and Tori are just, well, not terribly smart people, and Grant isn't much better.

You know, Sundog, with that one sentence you sank your entire post for me. No matter what merit your other comments may have had, there's no place in any valid criticism for personal attacks like that. Your backhanded reference to the female cast member as "cute" is hardly a compliment, either.

Next time you may notice that the members of the build team are credited individually, by name, in the title sequence. Why struggle to endure a program when you hold a visceral dislike for three-fifths of the title cast (the "stars", if you will)? Since watching television is a leisure-time activity and should thus be enjoyable, perhaps you need to consider other programming if "Mythbusters" causes you this much pain.

I totally and completely disagree with your assessment of the gang. I agree that you are entitled to your opinion but when you personally attack each of the build team members and even suggests that they be removed all at once, that goes beyond an opinion.

How can you say that Kari, Tory and Grant are not terribly smart people. These three know more than a majority of the people posting here (myself included). Everyone, from Adam and Jamie to Kari, Grant and Tory work hard and are good at what they do. What you may not know is that they go through extensive preparations for each expirement that may not be shown on screen due to time constraints.

I think it is not fair to judge Kari, Grant and Tory the way that you have. In addition, I have had the honor and the priviledge to meet all of the Mythbusters and believe me, they are the most smartest, kindest bunch of people you would ever want to meet.

All of the Mythbusters deserve the credit for being able to provide the most comprehensive and entertaining program on television today.

If the members of the build team gives you this much grief, then I agree with the other posters here, you should just change your viewing habits to not include Mythbusters in your schedule or just simply turn off your televsion.

I will always be a devoted Mythbusters fan, no matter how much criticism the gang receives.

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Why would you joint the Mythbusters forum to complain about SmashLab? Why didn't you joint the Smashlab forum?

It's all part of the whole "my discovery" package or whatever they call it now

Smash Lab forum HERE.

Sundog, although you are entitled to your opinion, I respecfully disagree with nearly everything you state as "venting".

Regarding the build team comments, each of them have proven their intelligence and ingenuity more times than I can count. Heck, Grant's even written an excellent text book on building battlebots that, by the way, teaches the reader about things like gear ratios and solid mechanical design principles. Oh, and it does cover electronics too. Not many people can claim that.

The one thing to consider when watching the Mythbusters TV show is that is is a TV show and that a lot of the things you don't like about the people could be a result of the incompatibility of the editing and directing associated with making the TV show.

Finally, keep it in mind that this is a fan site which, by its very nature, means we have an affinity for the show, the cast and generally something about it. "Venting" like this is likely to cause negative reactions among a lot of the fans, something that I, for one, would not wish to do. Yeah, express an opinion, even a strong one but to "shotgun" vent... not so much.

That's my $0.02. Keep or discard.

Since you bring up physics, let's discuss the rocket car. Putting the rockets on top of the car will result in asymmetric thrust about the pitch axis of the vehicle. Unfortunately you seem to forget your Newtonian Laws. The Wheels will exert that force on the ground, and the ground will push back negating the force. The suspension will give a bit and the nose will pitch down the extent the suspension will allow, but the car will not rotate about the pitch axis due to the asymmetric thrust unless your rocket is large enough to overcome gravity pulling down on the rear of the car.

Everyone seems to be forgetting that they also have to follow the myth as closely as possible.

The rocket car myth actualy stated that the rockets were strapped to the roof of the car.

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Everyone seems to be forgetting that they also have to follow the myth as closely as possible.

The rocket car myth actualy stated that the rockets were strapped to the roof of the car.

That's the biggest factor in the "you did it wrong" posts... "You tested the *actual* myth you said you were going to test, not what *I* wanted to see tested, or what *I* think might have worked..."

Sundog you have your opinion I have mine yadda yadda yadda...

I know you have said you don’t like the build team because they make mistakes. but you have to understand they are the younger team. Adam and Jamie are the experienced ones. If you saw Adam and Jamie doing the same thing that the Build team does if they were the same age at there experience level I'm sure you will see that they might have made the same mistakes as well.

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fan here since the first episode.

Then you should know on some of the other shows Adam and Jamie have made mistakes.

Famous Quotes
Adam "Am I missing an eyebrow?"
Jamie "Whoops!"

I’m sure NASA did the trial and error thing as well. Nobody is perfect. The cast of the show learns with the audience.

Come on now this show is entertaining television it's not brain surgery or rocket science (well... not all the time).

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Dam Im God:



I’m sure NASA did the trial and error thing as well. Nobody is perfect. The cast of the show learns with the audience.

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Yep, even NASA makes mistakes. SOme of the best minds in the world forgot what might happen in a pressurized 100% O2 environment.

They didn't really forget... they chose to dismiss the warnings.