Star Trek episodes with an anti technology theme

[The Overlord]

It seemed like in the mid to late 90s there were episodes like DS9's Paradise and even one of the TNG movies Star Trek Insurrection, seemed to explore the idea that getting rid of technology creates a paradise. This seems like a really contradictory Star Trek, because Star Trek has traditionally said that paradise can be achieved through the proper use of technology.

I would say the Federation is more of a utopia then say the community from Paradise where they used torture to keep people in line. The fact that the Baku or the community leaders from Paradise are not very sympathetic and extremely self righteous doesn't help their case.

So do you think the Star Trek episodes and movie that explored this theme were misguided or did they have a good meassage?

[Greg Cox]

Star Trek has always been more ambivalent about technology than some people may realize. Look at episodes like "The Ultimate Computer" or "Court-Martial." Samuel Cogley has a couple of impassioned speeches pitting man vs. machine and about he prefers old-fashioned books to computers. And Lenore Karidian in "Conscience of the King" laments about how the Federation's high-tech society is making people less human. (Granted, she's crazy, but . . . .)

And let's not forget all those classic episodes where out-of-control computers have taken over the planet: "Return of the Archons," "The Apple," "For the World is Hollow . . ." and so on.

TOS was pretty leery about the concept of "paradise" in general. Every time Kirk ran into a "perfect" society, there usually turned out to be a fly in the ointment. As he says in "The Apple," maybe humanity isn't meant for paradise, but to struggle instead . . .

For all that TOS glorified science and space travel, there was also a certain unease running just below the surface.

[SchwEnt]

TOS also featured several eps where "paradise" was a return to simpler times and/or less technology. "This Side of Paradise" and "The Paradise Syndrome" and "The Apple", among others.

Is it anti-technology? Your call.

[T'Girl]

Star Trek was about people who lived inside of big machines (starships and spacestation), when these people wanted to play, it was often in simple settings. Kirk's idea of a good shore leave (with the occasional Cabaret) was basically a walk in a park like glen, fresh air and trees.

When Picard went to visit his family, it was shown to be very pastoral. One of the few times we saw Riker and Troi off-duty and off the ship, they went on a simple pick-nick.

In addition to his detective adventures, Picard rode a horse on the holodeck, enough that he owns a physical saddle.

On Voyager, a high ol' time would consist of spending time in a small Irish village.

[Greg Cox]

T'Girl wrote:

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Star Trek was about people who lived inside of big machines (starships and spacestation), when these people wanted to play, it was often in simple settings. Kirk's idea of a good shore leave (with the occasional Cabaret) was basically a walk in a park like glen, fresh air and trees.

Ditto for Pike, who fantasized about an outdoor picnic in a grassy field, with a pretty girl and his favorite horse!

And in "The Naked Time," Kirk pines for a beach to walk on . . . .

[MacLeod]

^Which sane male wouldn't want a pretty girl to take on a picninc?

[CorporalCaptain]

Greg Cox wrote:

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Ditto for Pike, who fantasized about an outdoor picnic in a grassy field, with a pretty girl and his favorite horse!

And in "The Naked Time," Kirk pines for a beach to walk on . . . .

Plus, when they arrived at the Shore Leave Planet, that's exactly the kind of planet that had been prepared for them. It's almost as if something read their minds....

[sbk1234]

I think it was more about balance, and not letting the technology control the people. In the Ultimate Computer, Spock mentions something to the effect that computers make excellent servants, but he wouldn't want to serve under one. I think that sums up Trek's attitude toward the tech.

[Tiberius]

In "The Quickening" Bashir discovers that the EM fields from all his gadgets are accelerating the disease and killing his patients.

[robau]

Tiberius wrote:

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In "The Quickening" Bashir discovers that the EM fields from all his gadgets are accelerating the disease and killing his patients.

Just like cellphones !

[The Overlord]

T'Girl wrote:

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Star Trek was about people who lived inside of big machines (starships and spacestation), when these people wanted to play, it was often in simple settings. Kirk's idea of a good shore leave (with the occasional Cabaret) was basically a walk in a park like glen, fresh air and trees.

When Picard went to visit his family, it was shown to be very pastoral. One of the few times we saw Riker and Troi off-duty and off the ship, they went on a simple pick-nick.

In addition to his detective adventures, Picard rode a horse on the holodeck, enough that he owns a physical saddle.

On Voyager, a high ol' time would consist of spending time in a small Irish village.

Except Picard and the Voyager crew are using holograms to create their supposed rustic retreats.

Besides well Star Trek may be wary of some aspects of technology, I don't think any of the TOS episodes mentioned suggested becoming Luddites was solution to these problems, like the Baku and the community from Paradise have become.

[Green Shirt]

MacLeod wrote:

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^Which sane male wouldn't want a pretty girl to take on a picninc?

Or even a horse, for that matter!

[plynch]

The Way to Eden is all about people rejecting the technoenvironment, and iirc, the disease Sevin carries is a result of it somehow.

[jayrath]

Just about every Borg episode is anti-technology. And if TNG were made today, the Borg would all be on cell phones or texting.

[Nerys Myk]

U WIL B ASML8ED