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FAVORITE SPOCK QUOTES FROM TOS

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"Sir, there is a multi-legged creature crawling on your shoulder."

Thanks, I just realised I can add that to my list of examples of when Spock (who is apparently incapable of lying) tells an outright lie :devil:

Is it an outright lie?

There are certainly lots of single celled orgnisms on every person's shoulders, and there are probably still lots of single celled organisms on people's shoulders even in highly advanced societies like the Federation or Eminiar VII.

So are there any microscopic multi celled creatures which might have multiple legs crawling over human skin?

Dust mite feed on dead human skin cells, for example, but as far as I know don't live on humans. Skin mites often might crawl on humans to suck blood, but I don't know whether every human always has some skin mites on them.

Demodex is a genus of tiny mites that live in or near hair follicles of mammals. Around 65 species of Demodex are known.[2] Two species live on humans: Demodex folliculorum and Demodex brevis, both frequently referred to as eyelash mites.

Older people are much more likely to carry the mites; about a third of children and young adults, half of adults, and two-thirds of elderly people carry them.[8] The lower rate in children may be because children produce less sebum. A 2014 study of n = 29 people in North Carolina, USA, found that all the adults (n = 19, over 18 years of age) carried mites, and that 70% of those under 18 years of age carried mites.[9] This study (using a DNA-detection method, more sensitive than traditional sampling and observation by microscope), along with several studies of cadavers, suggests that previous work might have underestimated the mites' prevalence. The small sample size and small geographical area involved prevent drawing broad conclusions from these data.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demodex

Thus Spock might possibly be aware that most or all Earth Humans have multi-legged microscopic creatures crawling on them, numerous enough that every human shoulder is likely to have some at any one time. Note that the inhabitants of Eminiar VII look very much like Earth humans and could thus have their equivalent of skin mites on them. And possibly tricorder scans of Eminians have established that they do have skin mites.

So possibly, instead of an outright lie, Spock's statement could have been a gross understatement of the true number of multilegged creatures crawling on the Eminian's shoulder at that moment.
 
So possibly, instead of an outright lie, Spock's statement could have been a gross understatement of the true number of multilegged creatures crawling on the Eminian's shoulder at that moment.
That is some splendid next level reasoning! :techman:

However, if Spock said something that was technically true but said in such a way that he knew without doubt that his statement would be misinterpreted, would that count as a lie? Or just intentional deception? And where is the line?
How far down the Clinton-esque path do we want to go? :whistle:

Of course, much of this is academic since the only episode in which Spock seems to confirm the rumour that Vulcans cannot tell a lie (The Enterprise Incident) he spends much of the time lying! :devil:
 
Vulcans “do not lie” is a convenient myth they’re in no hurry to contradict. It’s a sometimes useful myth.
 
"I see no reason to insult me, Sir! I believe I've been completely logical about the whole affair!" Is Spock's reply to Kirk after being accused of flagrant emotionalism by his friend and Captain. And who seems only too happy the adventure is finally over! :vulcan:
JB
 
I like in This Side of Paradise when Kirk questions Spock about not responding and Spock's answer is "I didn't want too, Jim" Makes me chuckle every time.

I also like in Amok Time when Spock comments says to Stonn, "Stonn. She is yours. After a time, you may find that having is not so pleasing a thing after all as wanting. It is not logical, but it is often true." because it rings true for me personally.
 
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