Light years vs. light years

[JustKate]

In older sci-fi novels, the term light years is sometimes used in such a way that it's clear that it is referring to a unit of time rather than a unit of distance, e.g., "It took us light years to get there." I could probably find an actual example if necessary, but I'm hoping I don't have to because what I really want to know is, does anybody know why this might be? Did the term used to mean something different than "the distance that light travels in a year"? Or were some of those old sci-fi writers simply a little confused?

 

[AdAstra]

They're still using the term light years as a measure of time in some movies and cartoons and stuff. Probably because it sounds "cool" and like a really long time, rather than actually making sense.
I just blame it on ignorance.

 

[Mister_Atoz]

It's because in the olden days, hack writers could't just log onto wikipedia to do their fact checking

Incidentally, I think it's a delicious touch in "Elaan of Troyus" when the Dolhman locks herself in the closet and says she would rather stay in there for ten light years then let Kirk humiliate her any further.

 

[JustKate]

Oh, I remember that now! It's one thing for some poor old guy in 1951 to make that error, but for a Trek writer to...man, that is so funny!

So...in assuming that there must be some logic to the shift in meaning, I was giving more credit than was due? Oh, well.

 

[Zachary Smith]

I hear the Millenium Falcon made the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs . . .

She's fast enough for ya, Old Man . . .

 

[Nedersong]

Well, maybe because it does take light a year of time to travel a year of distance, which can be confusing to some.

And it gets kind of complicated when light years in space is realtive to planetary time, and that planetary time is based on earth measurements.

 

[Steve Roby]

So...in assuming that there must be some logic to the shift in meaning

It's not a shift in meaning. A light year is a measure of distance, and always has been. Using it as a measure of time is just a mistake.

 

[FalTorPan]

Less informed writers probably think that the term "light year" is a sci-fi-esque variation of "year." It's like the "spaceophone" from Space Patrol.

 

[SFRabid]

I always considered it "nerd slang". Other forms of fiction use slang, why not science fiction? And I believe the slang use of "light year" as time refers to the impossible length of time it would take at currently available speed to travel a light year.

 

[Timewalker]

It isn't slang, nerd or otherwise. It's the distance light travels in a year. I've also seen/heard references to light-seconds and light-minutes.

 

[JoeZhang]

But it's is used to signify time in some slang as indicated above.

"my new phone is light years ahead of my old one!"

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

I'd need to see an example. I don't recall ever encountering "light years" as a measure of time in a published science fiction story, and I've read stuff as old as Gernsback's "scientifiction" pulps.

 

[FalTorPan]

I don't recall any Star Trek episode or film misusing the term "light year."

 

[Timelord79 (he/him)]

I don't recall any Star Trek episode or film misusing the term "light year."

You have not seen what is trying to pass as German dubbed TOS, haven't you?

 

[Kolrad]

But it's is used to signify time in some slang as indicated above.

"my new phone is light years ahead of my old one!"

Actually, that expression can still make sense if you use "light years" correctly. Just as you can be miles ahead of something, you can be light years ahead.

 

[Green Shirt]

It's because in the olden days, hack writers could't just log onto wikipedia to do their fact checking

Lazy bastards.

Incidentally, I think it's a delicious touch in "Elaan of Troyus" when the Dolhman locks herself in the closet and says she would rather stay in there for ten light years then let Kirk humiliate her any further.

Well, she did put the accent on years, not light.

 

[C.E. Evans]

Or we could interpret it that Elaan was referring to how long it takes a Troyian ship to travel ten light-years. Either way, the meaning would be clear--a pretty long time to be locked up in a closet...

 

[A beaker full of death]

What "old time" writers used it as a measure of time? Examples, please.

 

[JustKate]

I'm sorry, but I'm going to have get back to you. This particular question has been on my mind for a while -- it's one of those things I have been meaning to ask sci-fi fans, but I don't actually know many here in my real life -- so although I know for a fact that I've run into it at least a few times, I can no longer pull up a specific reference. Mr. Atoz remembered that one from TOS, so there's one example right there, but if that isn't enough to convince you that it does happen, I'll have to look around a bit sometime in the next couple of days and see if I can find some other specific examples.

 

[Steve Roby]

if that isn't enough to convince you that it does happen

Everyone's seen "light years" used as a time measure. And every time it happens, it's a mistake, not an alternate usage of the term. It really is that simple.