"Why is any object we don't understand always called a thing?"

xvicente · May 3 2013, 01:19 PM

Well, what else should we call it then, Bones?

Maurice · May 3 2013, 05:32 PM

An object. A cloud. A force. Etc.

Next question.

Angry Fanboy · May 3 2013, 10:37 PM

Just can't beat a friendly reply can you?

OneBuckFilms · May 4 2013, 12:33 AM

Data: Ah, an Object, Cloud, Item, UFO, Unkown, Projectile, Anoma..

Picard: data ...

Data: ...ly.

sbk1234 · May 4 2013, 05:30 AM

McCoy sure sounds extra cantankerous in that scene. But given the fact that he was in a really bad mood when he beamed aboard, essentially being impressed into service by Kirk and Starfleet, I figure he was just looking for ANYTHING to complain about.

MikeS · May 4 2013, 03:25 PM

sbk1234 wrote:

McCoy sure sounds extra cantankerous in that scene. But given the fact that he was in a really bad mood when he beamed aboard, essentially being impressed into service by Kirk and Starfleet, I figure he was just looking for ANYTHING to complain about.

Impressed? I think he was far from impressed if I read that scene correctly.

sbk1234 · May 4 2013, 03:48 PM

He THOUGHT he was impressed, although that was a bit of intended exaggeration of the word.
"Your revered Admiral Nogura invoked a little-known, seldom-used reserve activation clause. In simple language, they drafted me!"

R. Star · May 4 2013, 03:54 PM

"Why is it you don't ever do anything useful on the bridge but bitch about the situation we're in?"

inflatabledalek · May 4 2013, 05:09 PM

I'd guess McCoy was just a bit sick of people going "What is that thing on your face?"

CorporalCaptain · May 4 2013, 05:24 PM

Using the word thing could suggest a belief that the referred-to object might cause problems. I always thought that that prejudice was what McCoy was objecting to.

Also, cf The Thing from Another World.

Greg Cox · May 4 2013, 06:31 PM

xvicente wrote:

Well, what else should we call it then, Bones?

He's a doctor, not a thesaurus, damnit!

Grant · May 4 2013, 07:14 PM

sbk1234 wrote:

McCoy sure sounds extra cantankerous in that scene. But given the fact that he was in a really bad mood when he beamed aboard, essentially being impressed into service by Kirk and Starfleet, I figure he was just looking for ANYTHING to complain about.

Agree

Melakon · May 4 2013, 07:44 PM

"Bones, there's a cosmic muffin out there."

"Why is anything we don't understand always called an edible foodstuff?"

T'Girl · May 5 2013, 03:43 AM

CorporalCaptain wrote:

Using the word thing could suggest a belief that the referred-to object might cause problems. I always thought that that prejudice was what McCoy was objecting to.

Ben Grimm from the fantastic four was really a sweet guy.

Maurice · May 5 2013, 05:22 AM

One sense of "thing" is to express disapproval or contempt for something: "it's some Vulcan thing", the tone of which is what I suspect Bones was referring to.

May 3 2013, 01:19 PM	#1
xvicente Lieutenant Commander	"Why is any object we don't understand always called a thing?" Well, what else should we call it then, Bones? __________________ ----------------------------------------------------------- I am here to talk about Star Trek and chew bubble gum. and I'm all outta bubble gum. Last edited by xvicente; May 3 2013 at 01:20 PM. Reason: typo

May 3 2013, 05:32 PM	#2
Maurice Rear Admiral Location: Maurice in San Francisco	Re: "Why is any object we don't understand always called a thing?" An object. A cloud. A force. Etc. Next question. __________________ * * * "Star Trek…at times sparkled with true ingenuity, and pure science fiction approaches, and at other times was more carnival like, and very much more the creature of television than the creature of a legitimate literary form." —Rod Serling, 1970"

May 3 2013, 10:37 PM	#3
Angry Fanboy Lieutenant Commander	Angry Fanboy Just can't beat a friendly reply can you? __________________ Angry Fanboy "Majestic" "Home"

May 4 2013, 12:33 AM	#4
OneBuckFilms Fleet Captain	Re: "Why is any object we don't understand always called a thing?" Data: Ah, an Object, Cloud, Item, UFO, Unkown, Projectile, Anoma.. Picard: data ... Data: ...ly.

May 4 2013, 05:30 AM	#5
sbk1234 Rear Admiral Location: Los Angeles	Re: "Why is any object we don't understand always called a thing?" McCoy sure sounds extra cantankerous in that scene. But given the fact that he was in a really bad mood when he beamed aboard, essentially being impressed into service by Kirk and Starfleet, I figure he was just looking for ANYTHING to complain about. __________________ In all the history of the world, a riot has NEVER broken out at a Sci-Fi convention. "It's a fucking TV show!" - Gary Lockwood

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May 4 2013, 03:48 PM	#7
sbk1234 Rear Admiral Location: Los Angeles	Re: "Why is any object we don't understand always called a thing?" He THOUGHT he was impressed, although that was a bit of intended exaggeration of the word. "Your revered Admiral Nogura invoked a little-known, seldom-used reserve activation clause. In simple language, they drafted me!" __________________ In all the history of the world, a riot has NEVER broken out at a Sci-Fi convention. "It's a fucking TV show!" - Gary Lockwood

May 4 2013, 03:54 PM	#8
R. Star Commodore Location: Terra 3	Re: "Why is any object we don't understand always called a thing?" "Why is it you don't ever do anything useful on the bridge but bitch about the situation we're in?" __________________ "I was never a Star Trek fan." J.J. Abrams

May 4 2013, 05:09 PM	#9
inflatabledalek Captain	Re: "Why is any object we don't understand always called a thing?" I'd guess McCoy was just a bit sick of people going "What is that thing on your face?" __________________ TRANSFORMATION: CRAFTY [mind] BANKERS Meet the five new Autobots in my look at Rock and Roll Out! Part 1

May 4 2013, 05:24 PM	#10
CorporalCaptain Vice Admiral Location: In pre-production	Re: "Why is any object we don't understand always called a thing?" Using the word thing could suggest a belief that the referred-to object might cause problems. I always thought that that prejudice was what McCoy was objecting to. Also, cf The Thing* from Another World.* __________________ John

May 4 2013, 07:44 PM	#13
Melakon Commodore Location: Unmarked grave, Ekos	Re: "Why is any object we don't understand always called a thing?" "Bones, there's a cosmic muffin out there." "Why is anything we don't understand always called an edible foodstuff?" __________________ "Every time you think, you weaken the nation." --Moe Howard

May 5 2013, 05:22 AM	#15
Maurice Rear Admiral Location: Maurice in San Francisco	Re: "Why is any object we don't understand always called a thing?" One sense of "thing" is to express disapproval or contempt for something: "it's some Vulcan thing", the tone of which is what I suspect Bones was referring to. __________________ * * * "Star Trek…at times sparkled with true ingenuity, and pure science fiction approaches, and at other times was more carnival like, and very much more the creature of television than the creature of a legitimate literary form." —Rod Serling, 1970"