• Welcome! The TrekBBS is the number one place to chat about Star Trek with like-minded fans.
    If you are not already a member then please register an account and join in the discussion!

Speculation: What if the Ferengi are the most compassionate and generous race in the galaxy?

It's a pretty cool idea that the Ferengi used to be the most generous race, to a fault. The episode with the prophets and the Grand Nagus clearly indicated the Ferengi's ancestors were more generous. As for the females, it is extremely clear that the writers' intent that they're oppressed. Maybe this wasn't always the case.
 
Here found on reddit : @Peter Quinn , @oberth

From what I've seen, young male Ferengi receive a basic education at home, from tutors, or at private grammar schools. Later education is very clearly a leap into apprenticeship and entrepreneurial efforts (CTRL+F "Education") with no formal schooling--as you'd see in the Federation.

Here again from reddit: @Worf factor9

Although I agree that capitalism works best with competition, remember that Ferengi society is not centered around capitalism. It is centered around greed, with a pseudo-capitalistic idealism built around objectivism and scripture. Nothing is level or fair on Ferenginar, but that's the point; you can't become truly wealthy on a level playing field, you can't be a despot without paupers. Their society is, technically, a mercantile theocracy that exists to perpetuate an endless cycle of selfishness.

Maybe Reddit not a primary source, But?


So it seems like you are in favor of fair capitalism but against unfair capitalism.

Why do you think Ferengi capitalism is unfair?

quotes from cannon sources would be the most likely thing to change my mind.
 
I think this topic belongs under the "Controversial Star Trek Opinions" thread, because that's all it is. The OP has already said this is straight from his head-canon and that it's okay to make things up as needed.

There is a "Controversial Star Trek Opinions" thread!

Great! Where is it!
 
Here found on reddit : @Peter Quinn , @oberth

From what I've seen, young male Ferengi receive a basic education at home, from tutors, or at private grammar schools. Later education is very clearly a leap into apprenticeship and entrepreneurial efforts (CTRL+F "Education") with no formal schooling--as you'd see in the Federation.

Here again from reddit: @Worf factor9

Although I agree that capitalism works best with competition, remember that Ferengi society is not centered around capitalism. It is centered around greed, with a pseudo-capitalistic idealism built around objectivism and scripture. Nothing is level or fair on Ferenginar, but that's the point; you can't become truly wealthy on a level playing field, you can't be a despot without paupers. Their society is, technically, a mercantile theocracy that exists to perpetuate an endless cycle of selfishness.

Maybe Reddit not a primary source, But?
So women do educate their children and are not just glorified housekeepers.
This does not indicate that the tutors or teachers are women! I'm going to stick with at least male ferengi getting all their education past potty training and basic language from male teachers.

As for what happens to impoverished Ferengi males, from the behavior of Quark and Rom, it looks like they are at the mercy of their father if he is living, or a better off brother.
 
This does not indicate that the tutors or teachers are women! I'm going to stick with at least male ferengi getting all their education past potty training and basic language from male teachers.

As for what happens to impoverished Ferengi males, from the behavior of Quark and Rom, it looks like they are at the mercy of their father if he is living, or a better off brother.

You can believe whatever you like. Everyone’s head cannon is different. That’s ok.

the only thing we can do is point out when someone’s head cannon is contradicted by actual cannon.

I think your comment about the mercy of fathers and brothers contradicts cannon as Ferengi males are not allowed to show mercy.
 
The only thing we can do is point out that your use of the word "cannon" is incorrect. The word you want is spelled "canon" with no double letter.

A "canon" is a body of work. A "cannon" shoots holes in things.
 
Quark's father Keldar was a man of mercy according to Ishka. A kind-hearted Ferengi who loved his family and never had the guts to do more than just vocally complain about his wife wearing clothes or not chewing her children's food for them.

He sounds like a remarkably tolerant and compassionate Ferengi male. He could have divorced her or forced her to go around naked but didn't.
 
Hoooooooold up. They're "not allowed to show mercy," but they're the most compassionate race in the galaxy? :shrug: In my head canon, this whole thread never existed.

Quarks family is full of deviants.


If you read the post you would see why these
Quark's father Keldar was a man of mercy according to Ishka. A kind-hearted Ferengi who loved his family and never had the guts to do more than just vocally complain about his wife wearing clothes or not chewing her children's food for them.

He sounds like a remarkably tolerant and compassionate Ferengi male. He could have divorced her or forced her to go around naked but didn't.
 
Quark's father Keldar was a man of mercy according to Ishka. A kind-hearted Ferengi who loved his family and never had the guts to do more than just vocally complain about his wife wearing clothes or not chewing her children's food for them.

He sounds like a remarkably tolerant and compassionate Ferengi male. He could have divorced her or forced her to go around naked but didn't.
Quarks family is full of deviants.
 
Ferengi woman were clearly treated badly by their society but it's interesting that despite this you still don't really have much of a left/right dynamic in their society. Even when it comes to mistreated Ferengi women for example you aren't going to find many socialist. Quark's mom and Pell and even Nog's mom who tricked Rom out of all his money are still big time into cutthroat capitalism. Even beloved Rom still thinks along those lines and only became more liberal oriented due to influence working with Starfleet types . Whether your male or female in Ferengi society it seems like everyone still worships greed above all else.

Jason
 
Ferengi woman were clearly treated badly by their society but it's interesting that despite this you still don't really have much of a left/right dynamic in their society. Even when it comes to mistreated Ferengi women for example you aren't going to find many socialist. Quark's mom and Pell and even Nog's mom who tricked Rom out of all his money are still big time into cutthroat capitalism. Even beloved Rom still thinks along those lines and only became more liberal oriented due to influence working with Starfleet types . Whether your male or female in Ferengi society it seems like everyone still worships greed above all else.

Jason

Yes, Ferengi workers don't want to stop the exploitation. We want to find a way to become the exploiters. (Paulo Freire via Rom)
 
Yes, Ferengi workers don't want to stop the exploitation. We want to find a way to become the exploiters. (Paulo Freire via Rom)
So long as everyone has a decent chance of becoming an exploiter, then Ferengi society can work.
 
  • Like
Reactions: kkt
If you are not already a member then please register an account and join in the discussion!

Sign up / Register


Back
Top