Can someone explain this phrase to me? Maybe one of the old timers can tell me? I know it was a phrase that goes back to the early Trek fandom days. I know there were bumper stickers with that phrase during the Roddenberry orchestrated heist on NBC HQ, with fans plastering them over cars. But where does that phrase originate? I've been a lifelong fan of the series, (over 35 years), and the phrase mystifies me a bit.
"Grok" is a Martian term for "deep understanding" from Robert Heinlein's novel STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND. The novel was so popular that the term entered common lexicon and can now be found in many dictionaries.
Oh! Interesting. See, I have the book but have not gotten around to reading it. Thanks for that. This sounds familiar. Can someone shed light?
I believe it is a means to possibly save your life. If someone puts a gun to your head and says: "you have thirty seconds to convince me that you're a geek or I'll shoot you." saying "I grok Spock" could be your best bet.
Not in the TAS episode though, for one thing, their BEM didn't have big eyes or bug eyes, as both are used.
I believe BEM was written for the live series for a hopeful season 4. Ari wasn't specifically supposed to have bug-eyes, it was just a term thrown around whenever an alien was planned for a show. Same holds true for Doctor Who when the Daleks were planned. Producers didn't want "bug-eyed monsters" and Daleks are anything but.
Correct me if I am wrong but the only Bug Eyed Monster we see on TNG is the one in Future Imperfect, and we only get to see him for like thirty seconds.