I don't think saying that their organization is made up of multiple alien species instead of just being a Human Empire, or that Spock is not the only alien in Starfleet qualify as "Minor details".
But when shows like Enterprise showed that T'Pol was an official member of Starfleet there were fan uproars about how "Spock was the first!". If it wasn't blatantly clear that he WASN'T the only alien in Starfleet, that wouldn't have happened.
It wouldn't have hurt for, say, a Klingon to mention that the Federation military "contains numerous aliens" or something.
The Romulan Commander in "Enterprise Incident" seemed to hold him in high regard, and T'Pring said that the Vulcans considered him a legend. These all seem to imply that he's an oddity in Starfleet.
I agree wholeheartedly; it's preposterously dumb. Imposing an information blackout on a civilization of billions, who exist in a free society, for, what, a century?--it's just ludicrous.What I found strange was that no one on the Enterprise knew what was happening to Spock in "Amok Time", at all. The Vulcans were founding members of the Federation and they had a Vulcan Specialist Doctor onboard (M'Benga)! You'd think that even if McCoy didn't know (which is bizarre in and of itself) the Specialist would have or it would be in the database.
The Vulcans couldn't be SO conservative and xenophobic they'd withhold vital information on their biology like that, or they'd never help form the Federation to begin with!
Um... why isn't Spock's ear design consistent from episode to episode and from film to film :P
Um... why isn't Spock's ear design consistent from episode to episode and from film to film :P
Two words:
Worf's. Forehead.
The first Human/Vulcan hybrid was Elizabeth, the child of T'Pol and Tucker. Although she didn't live long.I'm not familiar with Enterprise ...
Spock [snip] the first hybrid between a Human woman and a Vulcan male.
It occurs to me that Spock may be exaggerating the secrecy surrounding pon farr.
<fanwank>
To Vulcans, it t is generally taboo (but not absolutely forbidden) to discuss it. It is not generally known to non-Vulcans, but the information is out there for those who care to research it.
When Spock undergoes pon farr it messes with his mind and he feels extreme shame. He can’t bear for anyone to know. He deletes the information from the ship computer and refuses to discuss it.
The information is not in the computer, M’Benga is not on the ship yet, and Spock won’t talk, so McCoy is unable to diagnose. When he discovers that Spock’s life is in imminent danger he may consider arranging a medical consultation by subspace with a Vulcan doctor, but that becomes unnecessary when Kirk is able to elicit an explanation from Spock.
</fanwank>
For Spock to be held in high regard and considered a legend doesn't necessarily make him an oddity; he could simply be well-known for his high achievements as a Starfleet science officer, much as Kirk is renowned and respected for his accomplishments as a starship captain.. . . The Romulan Commander in "Enterprise Incident" seemed to hold him in high regard, and T'Pring said that the Vulcans considered him a legend. These all seem to imply that he's an oddity in Starfleet.
On the topic of Spock's mixed parentage, TMOST says:Spock contains notoriety because of his blood. Son of an Ambassador, a genius in his own right, successful in his career with Starfleet and also the first hybrid between a Human woman and a Vulcan male. The whole mysticism behind Spock was not that he was Vulcan but because he was a hybrid.
It says nothing about Spock being the first human-Vulcan hybrid.Spock is the product of an interplanetary marriage between his mother, a native of Earth, and his father, a native of the planet Vulcan. While such marriages are not unknown, they are nonetheless quite rare, as the personalities of Vulcans and Terrans are not normally compatible.
Yeah, it's like if Dr. Zoidberg showed up. "It's been years since medical school, so remind me. Disemboweling in your species, fatal or non-fatal?"Exactly, McCoy is a doctor for an organization that is comprised of multiple alien lifeforms. Pon Farr should've been something Starfleet Medical was aware of.
CorporalCaptain said:The fact that some continuity issue of the universe might be strained was subordinated to the perceived dramatic effectiveness of what was then a trope, but which is now considered a cliché.
Furthermore, the trope may have been thought to help the average viewer understand what was going on, as the average viewer just tuning in had not a clue what was happening on many levels. From this point of view, the trope may have actually assisted in the suspension of disbelief, at least for the average viewer.
It occurs to me that Spock may be exaggerating the secrecy surrounding pon farr.
<fanwank>
To Vulcans, it t is generally taboo (but not absolutely forbidden) to discuss it. It is not generally known to non-Vulcans, but the information is out there for those who care to research it.
When Spock undergoes pon farr it messes with his mind and he feels extreme shame. He can’t bear for anyone to know. He deletes the information from the ship computer and refuses to discuss it.
The information is not in the computer, M’Benga is not on the ship yet, and Spock won’t talk, so McCoy is unable to diagnose. When he discovers that Spock’s life is in imminent danger he may consider arranging a medical consultation by subspace with a Vulcan doctor, but that becomes unnecessary when Kirk is able to elicit an explanation from Spock.
</fanwank>
I mean, that helps, but why is McCoy so ignorant? Why do even Kirk and everyone else come off as clueless? I mean, I know the general mechanics and social norms under which my friends' sexual activities operate. If I didn't feel comfortable asking him, I'd google it.
Certainly there's gigabytes of data in the medical library about human glands and gonads; their mission is to seek out new life, and, well, there it sits, and has been sitting for years; why would the Vulcan section be a stub, requesting that you please help by expanding it?
Usually.. Unfortunately this thread has taken a turn from things that actually suspend disbelief to what X doesn't like about episode Y....again!!You probably write a book about what McCoy doesnt know about Vulcans.
One thing about TOS is that much of it "continuity" was created on the fly. When something didn't work ( UESPA for example) it was tossed aside and ignored. If you watch TOS randomly in can look inconsistent. But usally when they make a change it stuck.
We use essential cookies to make this site work, and optional cookies to enhance your experience.