TOS myths and misconceptions...

[T'Girl]

The Vulcan race is intelligent, scientific and logical. The Vulcans are just as shallow, conniving and petty as the rest of us. They send their children into to the desert to see if they'll survive. Their marriage and sexually practices would get them prosecuted in modern day Iran. Their scientific dogma prevent any revision in the face of evidence (time travel). Their racial arrogance is pervasive.

 

[Warped9]

The Vulcan race is intelligent, scientific and logical. The Vulcans are just as shallow, conniving and petty as the rest of us. They send their children into to the desert to see if they'll survive. Their marriage and sexually practices would get them prosecuted in modern day Iran. Their scientific dogma prevent any revision in the face of evidence (time travel). Their racial arrogance is pervasive.

This is based mostly on ENT and not TOS.

 

[Warped9]

The Enterprise Fought The Klingons All The Time
This is one that many non-fans believe, that most every week Kirk made love to a different woman and they fought Klingons.
I'm not sure but the Klingons are only in 4 or 5 episodes.

The Klingons were referenced in about eight episodes.

Present to some extent or other:
"Errand Of Mercy"
"The Trouble With Tribbles"
"A Private Little War"
"Day Of The Dove"
"Elaan Of Troyius"
"The Savage Curtain"
"Friday's Child"

Mentioned:
"Amok Time"
"The Tholian Web"
"The Enterprise Incident"

 

[Michael]

One of the most common misconceptions about The Original Series (at least among Star Trek fans) seems to be that it never contradicted itself and and somehow portrayed a elaborate, coherent future society.

Not that I would care.

 

[Warped9]

One of the most common misconceptions about The Original Series (at least among Star Trek fans) seems to be that it never contradicted itself and and somehow portrayed a elaborate, coherent future society.

Not that I would care.

Perhaps. I myself haven't encountered many people that think this. But it's possible later fans do. That said I don't think TOS' inconsistencies are that bad. I certainly don't think they're as obvious or as blatant as what came along in later films and series (in relation to TOS)

The Eugenics Wars and World War III are separate conflicts. Spock in "Space Seed" mentions the "third world war" to which McCoy replies "the Eugenics Wars." To me this directly contradicts TNG's notion that the conflicts are separate ones. TOS is saying WW3/Eugenics War happens in the 1990s (thankfully Star Trek is an alternate timeline) while TNG asserts WW3 happens in the first half of 21st century. Also in "Return To Tomorrow" Kirk says humanity avoided a nuclear holocaust while TNG references a post atomic horror.

 

[Michael]

That said I don't think TOS' inconsistencies are that bad. I certainly don't think they're as obvious or as blatant as what came along in later films and series (in relation to TOS)

Oh, I wasn't commenting on how grave The Original Series' inconsistencies are compared to later Star Trek series and movies. I'm just saying that TOS had them, too.

The Eugenics Wars and World War III are separate conflicts. Spock in "Space Seed" mentions the "third world war" to which McCoy replies "the Eugenics Wars."

Well, sticking strictly to onscreen dialog, Spock actually mentions "your last so-called World War", which could also be the fourth (or fifth or whatever). I know, it's very unlikely. But he doesn't flat out say it was the third world war either.

 

[Warped9]

^^ In "Bread And Circuses" Spock mentions three world wars. Mind you he also says, "Shall I go on?"

 

[F. King Daniel]

"The Enterprise was the biggest Federation ship ever made"

A sore spot for some, this never even came up before STXI, with it's supersized Kelvin (457m) and Enterprise (725m). There is nothing in TOS to say larger ships couldn't have preceeded the TOS Enterprise, or that the Enterprise couldn't have larger contemporaries while still being the most advanced ship (...another point without supporting evidence beyond viewers' assumptions)

 

[Warped9]

^^ Alternate reality or whatever, I'd say it isn't really relevant.

 

[C.E. Evans]

To me, one the biggest myths is That Kirk was always a rule-breaking maverick. More often than not, Kirk was a by-the-book captain and toed the company line in TOS. He could interpret some regulations differently on occasion, but I think there was really only one time he flat-out disobeyed orders in the series and that was in "Amok Time." The idea that he was a Starfleet Bad Boy who didn't hesitate to break the rules started in TWOK.

 

[T'Girl]

STXI, with it's supersized Kelvin (457m) and Enterprise (725m).

Your correct. Nothing ever stated that the Enterprise the biggest or the most advanced, if anything the Enterprise was said to be a somewhat older ship with a extended period under Pike (maybe others too).

I'd like to think that in the Star Trek Eleven universe the connies still exist, the Enterprise hull with a different name.

 

[Maurice]

How about the hoary cliche that Kirk liked green women? There was only one he encountered ("Whom Gods Destroy") and he was not exactly putting the moves on her.

 

[RandyS]

How about the hoary cliche that Kirk liked green women? There was only one he encountered ("Whom Gods Destroy") and he was not exactly putting the moves on her.

He didn't get the chance. She was too busy putting the moves on him.

 

[Warped9]

How about the hoary cliche that Kirk liked green women? There was only one he encountered ("Whom Gods Destroy") and he was not exactly putting the moves on her.

He didn't get the chance. She was too busy putting the moves on him.

And he certainly wasn't interested in her sticking anything of hers in him.

 

[SpyOne]

I think racism, by our Earth-bound standards (i.e. between humans), was what was done away with. Species-ism, on the other hand, is a different story. It's just that species-ism was used as an analogue for racism.

My brother (who is quite the literalist) is fond of saying things like: "I have no idea if I am racist: as far as I know, we have yet to contact another race." or "I guess I am opposed to inter-racial marriages. Until we find another sentient race, I really think you should stick to humans."

He would say that ethnicity is more analogous to "breeds", but as we are all the same species, we are all the same race.

 

[SpyOne]

That TOS featured the first interracial kiss on TV: debateable on many levels, not least of which because a white-black kiss was on "Emergency Ward 10" on ITV in Britain years earlier (1964)...not to mention a Nancy Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr. kiss in 1967's in the 1967 TV special Movin' With Nancy.

Usually said as the first on American television.

Still, Shatner insists it wasn't: he says the take they used is one where they didn't actually kiss, and anyway the back of his head is blocking the view.
Which I think is mighty fine hair-splitting.

 

[Warped9]

Gene had a vision for humanity.

Personally I think this a huge bogus assumption. GR imagined the basic concept and framework and a lot of very talented people came in and worked out the nuts and bolts to make it work. Along the way they all contributed to the fabric and tapestry that was TOS. And being produced when it was it was almost inevitable that Star Trek depicted humanity's future the way it did. Now throw in fans projecting their own ideas and assumptions onto the show and GR picking up on it, basking in it and retconning that he'd had those ideas all along and you have the mythologizing of Gene Roddenberry.

 

[Nerys Myk]

The Vulcan race is intelligent, scientific and logical. The Vulcans are just as shallow, conniving and petty as the rest of us. They send their children into to the desert to see if they'll survive. Their marriage and sexually practices would get them prosecuted in modern day Iran. Their scientific dogma prevent any revision in the face of evidence (time travel). Their racial arrogance is pervasive.

This is based mostly on ENT and not TOS.

[chandler bing] Have you met T'Pring?[/chandler bing]

 

[Nerys Myk]

Vulcans are pacifists Dont think so. As Spock explains:

SPOCK: Vulcans do not approve of violence.
KIRK: You're saying he couldn't have done it?
SPOCK: No, Captain. I'm merely saying it would be illogical to kill without reason.
KIRK: But if he had a reason, could he have done it?
SPOCK: If there were a reason, my father is quite capable of killing. Logically and efficiently.

So while they dont approve of violence, they will use it if there is reason enough.

Vulcans don't lie: I love this one because the episodes this statement occurs in are buildt around a Vulcan lying. Context is everything.

 

[Saquist]

The Vulcan race is intelligent, scientific and logical. The Vulcans are just as shallow, conniving and petty as the rest of us. They send their children into to the desert to see if they'll survive. Their marriage and sexually practices would get them prosecuted in modern day Iran. Their scientific dogma prevent any revision in the face of evidence (time travel). Their racial arrogance is pervasive.

This is based mostly on ENT and not TOS.

Correct.
Later writers wanted to paint more dirt on the vulcans.

However I don't think the shuttle were warp capable.