Random Trek "Problems" That Bug You (and that you can't let go!)

[JoseNoodles]

To switch to something else, it always bugged in the TNG intros how the starfield between Saturn's rings was different from the starfield shown during the transition shot to the Enterprise-D. It's even more noticeable in the TNG Remaster. Also, why couldn't they fix James R. Kirk?

 

[CoveTom]

Birth control in Starfleet was discussed as early as The Making of Star Trek in 1968.

First off, what was said in that book is not what happened on screen. There has never been any indication in any Trek series that birth control was somehow mandated.

Second, the book says "the consensus is that birth control would closely parallel the military practices of today" and then goes on to say that it would be mandatory for unmarried females. The US military has never required women, married or unmarried, to use birth control, so I'm not certain how such a policy would parallel the military practices of today.

 

[fireproof78]

So Picard knocks up Crusher at some point, and he never finds out until his son is grown up.

What other crew members unknowingly knocked women while out in space? Why hasn't this problem been solved? You'd think birth control would be far more advanced by then, especially with folks in space.

All of them.

 

[The Salt Umpire]

You know Kirk's got ten thousand little beige-green (or olive drab?) babies out there. Him and his green fetish.

 

[fireproof78]

You know Kirk's got ten thousand little beige-green (or olive drab?) babies out there. Him and his green fetish.

:vulcan


Um, he was never with a green woman in TOS.

 

[Tosk]

To switch to something else, it always bugged in the TNG intros how the starfield between Saturn's rings was different from the starfield shown during the transition shot to the Enterprise-D.

Same, but it's not meant to be one continuous shot. It's an intentional wipe from one shot to another.

 

[CoveTom]

:vulcan


Um, he was never with a green woman in TOS.

Not that Marta didn't try.

 

[mb22]

First off, what was said in that book is not what happened on screen. There has never been any indication in any Trek series that birth control was somehow mandated.

Second, the book says "the consensus is that birth control would closely parallel the military practices of today" and then goes on to say that it would be mandatory for unmarried females. The US military has never required women, married or unmarried, to use birth control, so I'm not certain how such a policy would parallel the military practices of today.

The pages I uploaded are from the book The Making of Star Trek, written and published while the series was still in production. Gene Roddenberry co-wrote the book (or at least contributed to it) so it would at least indicate what the producers were thinking on the subject. As for appearing 'on screen', the book clearly states: "The point has never been discussed in the series since the censors won't allow it."

You may be right that the US military hasn't mandated women to use birth control (I have no idea), but it should be noted that "practices of today" in this book mean 1968, not the present.

 

[CoveTom]

The pages I uploaded are from the book The Making of Star Trek, written and published while the series was still in production. Gene Roddenberry co-wrote the book (or at least contributed to it) so it would at least indicate what the producers were thinking on the subject. As for appearing 'on screen', the book clearly states: "The point has never been discussed in the series since the censors won't allow it."

You may be right that the US military hasn't mandated women to use birth control (I have no idea), but it should be noted that "practices of today" in this book mean 1968, not the present.

Gene Roddenberry was well known to be (a) full of shit and (b) obsessed with sex. I'm sure he would have loved the idea of women on mandatory birth control. It would allow him to be even less responsible in his sexual escapades.

More importantly to this discussion, though, he was a notoriously bad source of information for anything related to Trek. In fact, despite being its creator, he may have been the single least reliable source, given that he was just making stories up from day one and feeding it to fans as truth.

Regardless, many things are debated in the writers room that never come to pass, and those discussions do not change what is actually presented on-screen. Nowhere was it ever indicated that there existed such a policy, and it would seem quite contrary to the Federation's belief in personal liberty.

And the United States military has never mandated contraception, not now and not in 1968. It has never occurred and would likely not be permitted should they ever attempt it.

 

[Mudd]

Same, but it's not meant to be one continuous shot. It's an intentional wipe from one shot to another.

Which makes no visual sense.

 

[Shawnster]

???

Birth control only works if people remember to use it.

You'd think it would be mandatory like a vaccine for Star Fleet.

Mandatory? No. But it should be easier and nearly foolproof. With replicator technology birth control should be like fluoride in drinking water. Just program your replicator to your birth control preference and have it automatically incorporate it into your food once a month. Get a regular notification when you use the replicator asking if you want to continue or change the regimentation.

Or it's like Norplant and something implanted and lasts until removed.

 

[Nyotarules]

Mandatory? No. But it should be easier and nearly foolproof. With replicator technology birth control should be like fluoride in drinking water. Just program your replicator to your birth control preference and have it automatically incorporate it into your food once a month. Get a regular notification when you use the replicator asking if you want to continue or change the regimentation.

Or it's like Norplant and something implanted and lasts until removed.

Well in 200 years in the Trek universe there is still no cure for the common cold and headaches, so maybe birth control perfection is still a WIP for the human anatomy.

 

[Rowdy Roddy McDowall]

Picard’s Borg-powered sperm overcame the birth control.

I'm certain original Picard would have considerable trouble in this liquid regard.

 

[camdudetenger2018]

i still wonder what happened to some of the characters from star trek strange new world like erica laan joseph and una during the original series and the star trek original series movies

like i do not think they were ever mentioned and or shown on screen in the original series and the movies

unlese lol they did show up and were mentioned but only in the off screen verisons like in the comic books audiobooks paperbacks books and hardcover books

 

[Farscape One]

i still wonder what happened to some of the characters from star trek strange new world like erica laan joseph and una during the original series and the star trek original series movies

like i do not think they were ever mentioned and or shown on screen in the original series and the movies

unlese lol they did show up and were mentioned but only in the off screen verisons like in the comic books audiobooks paperbacks books and hardcover books

M'Benga was in two episodes of TOS.

 

[Nyotarules]

i still wonder what happened to some of the characters from star trek strange new world like erica laan joseph and una during the original series and the star trek original series movies

like i do not think they were ever mentioned and or shown on screen in the original series and the movies

unlese lol they did show up and were mentioned but only in the off screen verisons like in the comic books audiobooks paperbacks books and hardcover books

Probably the same thing that happened to characters on TOS who were never seen again in the movies. e.g Dr. M'Benga, Charlene Masters, Kevin Riley

 

[CoveTom]

Probably the same thing that happened to characters on TOS who were never seen again in the movies. e.g Dr. M'Benga, Charlene Masters, Kevin Riley

In the typical Trek series, I think it actually makes *more* sense that we see characters come and go all the time, instead of it always being the same. Officers are going to be shuffled around regularly. The crew of the ship is not going to be static.

Except for Voyager. There's really no getting around the fact that this ship stranded in the Delta Quadrant has a constantly changing Starfleet crew in the background, instead of seeing the same people all the time.

 

[DonIago]

Probably the same thing that happened to characters on TOS who were never seen again in the movies. e.g Dr. M'Benga, Charlene Masters, Kevin Riley

...spaced for insubordination?

 

[Farscape One]

...spaced for insubordination?

Riley was probably spaced for his rendition of "Kathleen"...

 

[BillJ]

Riley was probably spaced for his rendition of "Kathleen"...

One more time!