i'm watching TNG right now, the episode where Barclay has transporter phobia, and for the first time it occurred to me -- with all his psychological problems, why wasn't he ever prescribed medication? don't they have anti-anxiety meds in the future? it seems odd, doesn't it?
Why didn't Barclay take drugs?
- Thread starter Freakness
- Start date
He's with Starfleet, they don't take drugs ...
... or lie.
Well, medication would have ended the episode before the second commercial break. Common sense should never get in the way of a good long drawn out plot.
... or lie.
Well, medication would have ended the episode before the second commercial break. Common sense should never get in the way of a good long drawn out plot.
Eh, there are a lot of people who argue that perscription drugs don't solve problems, or cause more problems, ect... And that for better, lasting help, you have to work through it with the aide of a psychologist and not a physchiatrist.
Look, the guy's a frickin' engineer. We don't need him drowsy because of his pills.
Look, the guy's a frickin' engineer. We don't need him drowsy because of his pills.
We are dealing with inexact sciences... Isn't "not knowing" part of his transporter phobia anyway?
Twenty-fourth century medication seems a bit "better" and more perfect than what we do today.
I'd reason that any anti-anxiety medication they could've given him would've removed his anxiety and still left him very capable.
It's probably simply possible Barclay simply didn't want to take them.
There might also be a higher standard for psychological profiles on Starfleet vessels. If you need medication just to keep your shit together, you don't get to be an officer on the flagship of the fleet. (Sorry, Dr. McCoy)
Also, I really don't think they will be using medication for psychology like they do today. For one, there wouldn't be an economic incentive to invent, and then treat perpetually, mental illness.
Nothing an hour or so with the Goddess of Empathy can't fix.
Besides, aside from his personal quirks and phobias Barclay showed himself to be a fairly capable Engineer who probably just needed the right "nuturing" enviroment that he -more or less- got on the Enterprise.
Yeah, he was neurotic and nervous but Geordi was an introvert who couldn't score with women, Riker swaggered around head-forward flirting with everything in a skirt to the point of being called Stink-nuts, Wesley was a tool, Beverly was an overly-protective mother, Deanna was a shameless cock-tease, Picard didn't like children, Worf was a Klingon. The whole crew is filled with people who have their problems in one way or another. Barclay's was more severe and noticable, sure. But they didn't seem to overly effect his work -aside from showing up late for his shift.
Yeah, he was neurotic and nervous but Geordi was an introvert who couldn't score with women, Riker swaggered around head-forward flirting with everything in a skirt to the point of being called Stink-nuts, Wesley was a tool, Beverly was an overly-protective mother, Deanna was a shameless cock-tease, Picard didn't like children, Worf was a Klingon. The whole crew is filled with people who have their problems in one way or another. Barclay's was more severe and noticable, sure. But they didn't seem to overly effect his work -aside from showing up late for his shift.
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Geordi did have a few too many "special programs".
So that's why they DC'd the male skants!
He could totally kick your ass at Super Mario Brothers.
Never trust a redhead in a redhead wig. (Or a duck in a raincoat)
Don't make me challenge you to a geek-duel.
They're short! And often sticky!
Actually, Worf was on Prozac. You don't want to see him off his meds.
does Troi do anything, ever?
But...she senses things...
How do we know he didn't? Maybe he was a complete basketcase without them, and just extremely nervous and awkward but capable of functioning with them. We can't really know.
Barclay was conscious and moving around grabbing worm people in the transporter beam, and this is the thing about the episode that bothers you? Just ignore the whole thing. It's silly.
You can't take a pill that makes specific fears go away. Then anti-depressants and anti-anxiety stuff is only half of the battle; it relieves the symptoms enough so that you're able to see a psychologist and break out of the negative cycles your depression gets you stuck in. The thing with Barclay, though, is I don't think he's depressed. He might have some social anxiety but I think he's just a somewhat eccentric fellow who's deeply introverted and involved in his work.
For that matter, couldn't a Vilcan mindmeld with him and give his confidence and other aspects a little bit of a "propping up." A mental tune-up if you will.
