"Redemption, Part II": What we can learn from Data

[Ragitsu]

Good morning.

If you were in a position similar to Data* and given a similar explanation by a co-worker close enough in temperament to Hobson, would you too essentially have them suck it up ("Tough luck.") or would you instead reach out to HR (or whatever comparable department exists in your organization)?

* Perhaps in a situation that isn't quite so life-and-death!

 

[Finn]

What?

 

[Ragitsu]

What?

Christopher Hobson behaves in a bigoted manner towards Data (asking for a transfer because he doesn't believe an android makes for an effective commanding officer) and Data - in return - basically tells him "I understand. Request denied."

 

[Ottens]

Under the circumstances, I'd imagine there was no time to put his transfer request through regular channels and Data had to deny it on the spot?

 

[Farscape One]

That was one of my favorite Data moments. And I think he handled it correctly.

Hobson signed up to serve in Starfleet, a multispecies organization. There is no place for bigotry for a fellow officer on a Starfleet ship. Data was perfectly correct in making Hobson suck it up.

 

[maneth]

That was one of my favorite Data moments. And I think he handled it correctly.

Hobson signed up to serve in Starfleet, a multispecies organization. There is no place for bigotry for a fellow officer on a Starfleet ship. Data was perfectly correct in making Hobson suck it up.

Yeah, I agree. And in the end Data won Hobson's respect by proving that he was a good commanding officer. I'm sure that Data's inability to understand emotions or take offence helped a lot here. I suspect that many humanoid captains, if faced with a similar dilemma, would have granted that request just to get rid of Hobson, with a scathing note in his personnel file about his inability to work with officers of X species.

 

[at Quark's]

I think in this particular situation, there was no time to waste (by involving HR or its Starfleet equivalent), so I think he took the correct route.

More in general, there would be several approaches to this.

 

[Ragitsu]

Well, I am curious as to how members here have handled close enough interpersonal conflicts. Nowadays, I'd wager most folks harboring those discriminatory beliefs hold them close to the chest...they're not typically as brazen as people were three plus decades ago. Anyhow, being a jerk to an android who possesses a built-in recording apparatus isn't particularly smart.

 

[Oddish]

Being emotionless at the time, Data had no issue with working with someone who didn't like him. Hobson was intelligent, capable, and he knew the ship, and that's what Data needed. And yes, he objected to some of Data's actions, but to some extent, that was his job as first officer. Remember that Data himself submitted himself for disciplinary action after it was over.

I like to think that after Hobson was done licking his mental wounds after being shown up by an android, he had a more open mind.

 

[Mojochi]

Nowadays, I'd wager most folks harboring those discriminatory beliefs hold them close to the chest...they're not typically as brazen as people were three plus decades ago.

I don't think you have to go that far back for some occupations & the potentiality of similar prejudice where gender is concerned. We still haven't had a woman president in my country, & a show like Rescue Me had sexist remarks existing to a similar degree in their fire dept. within the last decade or so.

But as far as Data is concerned, he handled it optimally for the circumstance imho. There was a personnel shortage in that crisis, such that a transfer on such grounds was a really inappropriate request to make. Had it been under normal circumstances, I'd think some kind of written remark about that bigotry should've been entered into the official record, but in this case, doing so would've further deteriorated the command dynamic & made it less functional than it already was. Data did all he could to make that command work & mission succeed, in the face of many obstacles. A douche to keep in check was but one of them to be dealt with as simply as possible. Thumbs up.

 

[somebuddyX]

Guys at my work: "Hey Hobson, shut the fuck up and get back to work. Stop being a bitch."

 

[Ragitsu]

What?

Now that you've been sufficiently enlightened...care to share ?

 

[Finn]

 

[Qonundrum]

Given that this was an emergency situation with a hard deadline (emphasis on "dead", too) where there's no time to explain any number of specific details (and to the point where Picard would sigh and say "Shut up Thank you Data"), Hobson should have been relieved. His only presence in the story is to whip up melodrama anyway.

Data would be good at "method acting", or rote. Or he's written grossly out of character as he certainly knows where and when to put in stereotypical emotional responses all while otherwise claiming he has no emotions.

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And now, I'm going to get Siri to get angry at me. Won't happen unless there's an algorithm that reacts to cadence, tone, and verbiage uttered in a specific sequence, of course...

 

[Qonundrum]

I don't think you have to go that far back for some occupations & the potentiality of similar prejudice where gender is concerned. We still haven't had a woman president in my country, & a show like Rescue Me had sexist remarks existing to a similar degree in their fire dept. within the last decade or so.

But as far as Data is concerned, he handled it optimally for the circumstance imho. There was a personnel shortage in that crisis, such that a transfer on such grounds was a really inappropriate request to make. Had it been under normal circumstances, I'd think some kind of written remark about that bigotry should've been entered into the official record, but in this case, doing so would've further deteriorated the command dynamic & made it less functional than it already was. Data did all he could to make that command work & mission succeed, in the face of many obstacles. A douche to keep in check was but one of them to be dealt with as simply as possible. Thumbs up.

The bigotry is not too far off from what was done "Balance of Terror" (TOS), except the situation felt authentic in that episode. In Startrekland, of course, Data was deemed a sentient being. If Data really was one, he'd think beyond what he was programmed to do. Without external influence, not even alcohol swabs to clean the contacts with...

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

What always gets me about this episode is how easily Hobson falls for Data's "emotional" outburst.

Hobson should have just gone "Sir, you're an android, so obviously you just faked it."

 

[Mojochi]

What always gets me about this episode is how easily Hobson falls for Data's "emotional" outburst.

Hobson should have just gone "Sir, you're an android, so obviously you just faked it."

I don't buy that. The stark tone with which Data presents his directive was surely artificially manufactured, but the intent? I have no doubt Data was about to legitimately relieve that dipstick, if he didn't STFU, & under the circumstances, I really doubt anyone there was about to mount a mutiny against him if he did. Hell, those guys probably already know Hobson is a douche lol

Dude probably thought he was Jim Kirk or something, & all he had to do was keep jabbering in Data's ear, until he short circuited or his head exploded or something, like Nomad or Landru or whatever, but when Data stood his ground, phony attitude or otherwise, it sealed the deal regardless

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

^ Well, yeah, of course Data intended to relieve Hobson, but the apparent intent of the SHOW was to imply that Hobson was such a schmuck that he immediately caved when Data yelled at him.

And honestly, I'm having a hard time blaming Hobson for what he said. Data was about to give an order that would flood three decks with radiation. Hobson was probably afraid that Data (being an android) wouldn't care about that radiation's effect on the Sutherland's living crew.

Yeah, WE know that fear isn't particularly realistic - Data may be an android, but he's not an uncaring robot - but how is Hobson supposed to know that? He'd never served with an android before, he has no idea how Data thinks. I'm surprised there weren't more Sutherland crewmembers who spoke up.

 

[Ragitsu]

What are the chances Hobson was keeping up with android development in general...much less Data's own personal growth?

 

[Mojochi]

Data may be an android, but he's not an uncaring robot - but how is Hobson supposed to know that?

Because he's 3rd in command of the Enterprise? He's commanded that crew as its captain or 1st officer in numerous situations... history making situations. While it's true Hobson doesn't know anything about serving with an android, or what Soong androids are like etc... he should know about Data. I mean Admiral Jarok says their are enemy Romulan scientists who know about him. Data is hardly an X factor in Starfleet by this point. He's decorated, proven, & noted.

I wouldn't necessarily expect him to know who LaForge is, but Data is bloody infamous. He damn near single-handedly prevented the Borg from conquering Hobson's entire species. Word like that gets out.