Diversity in reading is not a thing any of us here probably disagrees with. I think we should have a discussion about any book more then five people agree to talk about. The fact that anyone would be against discussing a book is bizzare to me (even if it was Goodkind or Twilight) if there are people interested in it then it should go on.

The problem with your post is something else. It's the assumptions you make to prove your point. Science Fiction (and Fantasy) is not a label that defines the quality of stories that are told. It's the definition of setting they take place in. It's a setting that is neither better or worse the planet Earth now (contemporary literature) or in the past (historical novels) and has nothing to do with quality and resonance of stories told. Telling meaningful stories about human experience is not something a setting has much to do with. Of course much of the works that are labeled SF or Fantasy are about action, adventure and cool ideas. They are pleasure reading. But the same can be told about the stories taking place in present or past. As Theodore Strugeon said "90% of everything is crap". This does not allows you to define SF as only action story with a gadgets and all that goes beyond it as not SF.

This is what I think irritates most people about your post is your insistence that if anything is more then just dumb entertainment it stops being Science Fiction. After all the discussions on this subject in the SF community as well as this board and all the crap mainstream critics and authors like Margaret Atwood caught for it I'm surprised you chose this argument. I'm not surprised by the reaction to it that so many here have. I can get why people who know nothing of SF have it. This is the reason we can't have nice things. This is especially grating, like so many people before me noticed, with the example you yourself used. Stanis?aw Lem once defined science fiction work as something that will be irrevocably changed if the SF elements were removed. The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is a science fiction movie. It's plot doesn't make sense without the SF element. BTW by this definition Star Wars doesn't qualify for SF (could be as well told with cowboys or samurais).

Science Fiction can be powerful tool to show both psychological and sociological truth about human existence. I happen to come from a country where it was used as a one of main venues to describe and criticize oppressive system we lived in as it was considered unimportant and therefore was not censored (as much). This was not a diversion but a commentary on reality. Possible thanks to a people who though it's SF and therefore crap. I tend to find more true reflection of human nature in Discworld books then in most winners of Nike awards (most prominent Polish literary award which BTW recently went to Jacek Dukaj for his historical fantasy book Lód (Ice)). I also find many SF books more relevant to my experience as a scientist dealing with the rapidly changing technology then a book that tells a story about the hard life of male prostitutes in Thailand even if it was based on real story (the example is made up to avoid the discussion on the literary merit of the example - see I learned from your example ). The themes of using and misusing technology and it's implications on society is something that is very relevant to my life. And nothing does it as well as SF does.

And last but not least is that the way you present your point makes one feel that you consider your point of view on what is worthy everyones attention more valid then others. And the assumption that all we all read is SF/F and “diversions”. This is what we talk about here but that doesn't mean it's all we read. I for example tend to feel more need to discuss SF and Fantasy books/tv shows/movies I liked then those of other genres. It doesn't mean I don't read/ watch anything else. This place spawned of a MB dedicated to a fantasy series. This means the people who come here are a group with specific interests. People interested mostly in discussing fantasy. Less in SF. Even less in something else. I often wish there was more discussion on SF and less fantasy but that doesn't mean I feel the need to enforce my views on others. If they don't want to have a Book Club on what you like it's no reason to insinuate that all they like to read is worthless, meaningless crap. Nothing stops you from starting your own thread to discuss a book you want to discuss. If enough people is interested to talk about it with you I'm sure the Book Club post can be made to accommodate you.