Why did Dr. Korby commit suicide?

[Timo]

Are you saying women can't fall for bad boys?

Really, it's a separate argument. Even though the androids and caves and guns frighten her, Christine is more or less okay with Roger being a horrible man; it's only when it turns out he's not a man after all that the relationship really goes sour.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[kirkfan]

Do androids dream of electric sheep?

 

[Jedi_Master]

Yes, Korby the android was only misrepresenting himself, kidnapping people, subjecting them to duplication against their will, scheming to take over a government vessel, and planning to introduce android domination to other worlds. Of course, the only possible explanation for Chapel's negative reaction is her narrow-mindedness!

You forgot her obvious racism.

 

[Jedi_Master]

Timo. You are accusing Chapel of being racist. When making such comments, it may be beneficial for you to explain yourself.

 

[kirkfan]

Timo. You are accusing Chapel of being racist. When making such comments, it may be beneficial for you to explain yourself.

She is prejudiced against androids, she doesn't consider them to be real people.

 

[Jedi_Master]

She isn't prejudice against androids, she simply refuses to continue an emotional attachment with one who exhibits some, but not all the qualities of the man she used to love. There is no indication she is prejudiced against androids.

In any case, such prejudice would not qualify as racism.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

It does make one wonder, what would Chapel think of Data?

 

[Jedi_Master]

It does make one wonder, what would Chapel think of Data?

Lwaxana didn't have any issues with him.

 

[Timo]

We certainly have to take into account the suddenness and brutality of the revelation, as well as the emotional baggage, in the Korby case; that would be absent in a more benign meeting with Data, I guess. (Plus, age brings wisdom. Perhaps by the time she took the surgery that made her Betazoid, she was over those issues?)

It's not just Chapel's knee-jerk reaction to Korby's metal (?) innards that calls attention here, though. It's the start of a long line of stories where yielding to machines, one way or another, automatically reduces a character from manhood to the role of an invalid and a villain, these two often being distressingly close to the same thing.

As for womanhood, well, nobody seems to assume much in the first place from those who turn out to be androidettes! One wonders how all those beautiful women became Starfleet scientists and soldiers in a society where being beautiful is such a handicap against being taken seriously...

It's refreshing to see that Spock has no objections to feminine beauty and wisdom in "Cloud Minders", but isn't automatically awestruck with the android Rayna who openly displays both. There's nothing generic or stereotypical about the way Spock views the world; even if he has a somewhat misogynist reputation from the likes of "Enemy Within", his lack of prejudices is in contrast with the other characters. In this context, it's interesting that Spock is a "machine man", too, and a soul-mate of sorts with Korby in ruthlessly pursuing the most logical and most altruist approaches. And, as mentioned, that's how Chapel likes his men...

Timo Saloniemi

 

[kirkfan]

It does make one wonder, what would Chapel think of Data?

Lwaxana didn't have any issues with him.

I don't remember her ever speaking to Data. Don't you think that's strange?

 

[Marsden]

Data never pretended to be a real boy, like Sheldon and Kor-Bot Korby.


It's not prejudice against androids, per say, just androids lying about being your deceased fiance. That's the equation!

 

[CorporalCaptain]

People seem to be forgetting that the Korby android condoned killing, especially of the casual variety, and it had a plan to replace people with android duplicates in order to take over society at large. This was not the Korby that Chapel fell in love with, and this was not an example of the kind of android that people would want around.

 

[Jedi_Master]

You still haven't addressed the accusation of "racist" that you brought against Nurse Chapel, Timo.

 

[kirkfan]

Hey, I don't have anything against androids. As a matter of fact, some of my best friends are androids, or at least they would be, if there was such a thing as an android.

 

[TREK_GOD_1]

I really find it odd that you appear to be blaming a character flaw in Christine Chapel for the breakup of her and Dr. Korby's relationship.

That's basically because Chapel's character flaw is such a despicable one: racist narrowmindedness and disgust.

An android is not a race, it is an artificial replication of something that in the grand scheme--is beyond technology. Further, in the 23rd century, no human commonly has relationships with androids. Chapel cannot be "racist" in rejecting a piece of plastic as a boyfriend.

The mere idea of her engaging in some "relationship" with artificial Korby is as abhorrent as the acts of the real life people who purchase those robot "love dolls."

From the viewpoint of that future, though, the writers must be considered racist assholes, the same way they are sexist assholes as viewed from our current vantage point. It's not their fault: they couldn't have known, and shouldn't have minded even if told. Times change. But writing all this anti-cyborg prejudice as being part of the character of the heroes turns them into villains in the modern view. Which is also for the better, as villains make for good protagonists in modern TV drama...

Timo Saloniemi

Again, androids are not a race. They are a lifeless product.

 

[kirkfan]

...
Again, androids are not a race. They are a lifeless product.

Tell that to Data.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

It does make one wonder, what would Chapel think of Data?

Lwaxana didn't have any issues with him.

Well, yeah, but we are talking about different characters of course.

Chapel reacted with revulsion not because of androids in general. She did it because real human beings were being killed and replaced WITH androids. That's the kicker. I was just putting forth a little thought experiment, what would Chapel think of a life form - and yes, Data is a life form - who she knew all along was an android. Her problem was only with people she knew, like Korby, being REPLACED. That's the only thing she's prejudiced against.

Then again, I'm also relatively certain that Data is a more sophisticated android than these ones in this episode were, although I guess that's not proven...

@TrekGod: Data has been proven, in a court of law, to be a sentient life form. Indeed, he wouldn't have been allowed to enter Starfleet if he wasn't one. So the thought that no android can be a life form has already been debunked.

 

[kirkfan]

It does make one wonder, what would Chapel think of Data?

Lwaxana didn't have any issues with him.

Well, yeah, but we are talking about different characters of course.

Chapel reacted with revulsion not because of androids in general. She did it because real human beings were being killed and replaced WITH androids. That's the kicker. I was just putting forth a little thought experiment, what would Chapel think of a life form - and yes, Data is a life form - who she knew all along was an android. Her problem was only with people she knew, like Korby, being REPLACED. That's the only thing she's prejudiced against.

Then again, I'm also relatively certain that Data is a more sophisticated android than these ones in this episode were, although I guess that's not proven...

@TrekGod: Data has been proven, in a court of law, to be a sentient life form. Indeed, he wouldn't have been allowed to enter Starfleet if he wasn't one. So the thought that no android can be a life form has already been debunked.

I don't understand Starfleet. First they give Data a rank and a bunch of decorations for valor, over the years. And after all that they start disputing his SENTIENCE!

What the hell? Have you ever heard of a toaster being awarded the purple heart? Or being entrusted with the high responsibilities that go with high ranks in the Army/navy? It looks like they're a bunch of idiots that have no idea what they are doing.

 

[Noname Given]

...
Again, androids are not a race. They are a lifeless product.

Tell that to Data.

^^^
Again, to be honest, Data (and other full androids) are not life; they are in fact machines. That TNG had an episode discussing the 'rights' of extremely high A.I. entities doesn't change that fact. In fact It was a fair point that all Federation starship computer interfaces were also A.I.s; but the Federation didn't give that level of A.I. any rights (eg to refuse an upgrade/refit/wipe.)

The Korby android was a highly sophisticated device. It realized that it in fact wasn't holding the original organic Korby's consciousness; it was just a copy; and for whatever reason it decided it didn't want to exist in that state.

 

[kirkfan]

...
Again, androids are not a race. They are a lifeless product.

Tell that to Data.

^^^
Again, to be honest, Data (and other full androids) are not life; they are in fact machines. That TNG had an episode discussing the 'rights' of extremely high A.I. entities doesn't change that fact. In fact It was a fair point that all Federation starship computer interfaces were also A.I.s; but the Federation didn't give that level of A.I. any rights (eg to refuse an upgrade/refit/wipe.)

The Korby android was a highly sophisticated device. It realized that it in fact wasn't holding the original organic Korby's consciousness; it was just a copy; and for whatever reason it decided it didn't want to exist in that state.

I am sorry but Data is repeatedly referred to as a lifeform throughout the series. So from the shows point of view, that's not even in dispute. So if we stick to the Sts standards of proof, Data, The Moriarty hologram and the exocomps are all lifeforms. It's not making a big leap to assume that korby also qualifies as one.