Does it matter if other species are stronger than humans?

[desfem79]

People often cite how Vulcan may have different gravity to Earth, which in likelihood is true I guess.

but then, er... isn't it because they're different species with a different evolutionary path, and due to natural selection they evolved different capacities? Gravity is not needed to explain that, right?

Take in the real world, humans and gorillas evidently live under the same gravitational conditions, but estimates state that gorillas are 27 times stronger than the average human. Why? Well they needed to be per their evolution, to control rival males, protect females and protect themselves from predators. As we became hunter-gatherers post-homo erectus, we didn't and still don't need excess strength.

it's like people who say "why do Klingons have redundant organs?" Maybe on Q'onos the near ancestors of modern Klingons needed to develop this due to environmental pressures. Maybe they were a predator species, and needed somehow to develop means to stay on their feet as it were for as long as possible.

 

[C.E. Evans]

I don't think it truly matters at all, because ultimately technology has a means of equaling things out, IMO (do you really need to be super strong when you can move things around with a transporter or an antigrav?). Even the physically superior Khan can be brought low by a mere Human with the right tool (either with a spanner or by blackmail).

 

[USS Triumphant]

Oh. You mean stronger as in actually physically stronger. In which case I agree with C.E. Evans, and as you already pointed out, we're not even the strongest on our own planet, so why would it matter if that is extended to the galaxy at large?

I thought from just the thread title that you might be asking whether it matters if humans are the predominate species of the Federation or not. THAT would make a pretty big difference in the way stories play out.

 

[LMFAOschwarz]

Take in the real world, humans and gorillas evidently live under the same gravitational conditions, but estimates state that gorillas are 27 times stronger than the average human. Why? Well they needed to be per their evolution, to control rival males, protect females and protect themselves from predators. As we became hunter-gatherers post-homo erectus, we didn't and still don't need excess strength.

We don't need to climb trees and swing from vines to evade predators and travel, and gorillas aren't using their dextrous digits to build Volvos and frost cakes, so I would think that each is an adaptation to environment based upon basic, raw abilities.

I have wondered on occasion, though, why it seems that humans more than anything else, seem to have no "super powers"? We don't have great strength, we can't fly, we can't see in the dark, we can't stay underwater for great lengths of time, we can't scale smooth surfaces, we don't store electricity for defense...

Makes me wonder that if we did, that our comic book spinner racks would have been full of Normal Man, The Ordinary Four, Coward: The Man Without Courage, etc.

 

[The Old Mixer]

If you mean compared to other species on this planet...our brain is our super-power.

 

[Finn]

^and we can do marathons. Most animals can't compete with us in a marathon.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

It only seems that way because we judge alien races in terms of how they differ from humans.

In Star Trek logic, the human super-power is variety, willpower, adaptability, contradiction. The ability to kick ass while desiring not to have to. Humans are the only race in Star Trek capable of disputing their nature. That's why the aliens all need super powers to serve on the same ship as us amazing creatures.

 

[Armored Saint]

The ability to kick ass while desiring not to have to. Humans are the only race in Star Trek capable of disputing their nature.

Indeed, Star Trek sings the glory of human race. Despite the McCoy/Spock feud, I think it was less worse in TOS. In Errand of Mercy, Klingons are introduced as not so far from Humans. Organians don't agree with Kirk's claims about human moral superiority.

Later stuff depicts Klingons as physiologically advantaged...but in facts, it makes Humans superior because they're use to kick their ass. Klingon society is now a monolithic caste, so it's makes human society superior.

Despite all their advantages, Vulcans are incomplete being compared to humans. Their evil twins, Romulans are in a moral inferiority situation similar to Klingons.

Ferengi...no in TNG they don't have qualities, the're only a Harry Mudd nation and it seems to be okay to despites this race.

 

[C.E. Evans]

It's never okay to despise any race. As it is, the Ferengi are more like current-day Humans than any other in Trek ("A moneyless society? You work and don't expect to get paid for it? Get out of here, hew-mon!").

 

[JirinPanthosa]

Don't forget Suspicions, we do see some variety in Farengi in TNG.

And modern day humans are nothing like Farengi. We're MUCH more sneaky about our greed.

 

[Darkwing]

Gorillas are streonger than us, and developed in our gravity, yes. But they also have longer limbs, with better leverage. Vulcans have a human shape and proportion, so YES, higher gravity is a valid explanation for their higher strength, as is the "controlled-hysterical strength" mental discipline - an emotion-controlled species able to volitionally trigger adrenaline without emotional side effects. Both together show how much stronger Vulcans and Romulans are than us, but that usually only matters when we are deprived of tools.

 

[Nerys Myk]

^and we can do marathons. Most animals can't compete with us in a marathon.

But some can kick our ass in a sprint.

 

[Armored Saint]

It's never okay to despise any race.

Say that to this old aristocratic bitch who acts as diplomat into the Federation. Aaagh! [..]Delegates? Last time I saw something like that, it was being served on a plate. Darling.
She's not really more tender with Ferengis.

When I see Klingons in TOS, I see a different civilisation, with a different ideology, with differentes values. When I see Ferengis in their earlier appearances, I see gangs of Shylock, the Shakespeare's character and condescending Starfleet officer.

In the Last Outpost, they acts as gremlins on drug, so it's hard to relativise about the fact that both humans and Ferengis are repulsing for eachother.

In The Price, they send Harry Mudd and Cyrano Jones to prospect a wormhole.

 

[Dale Sams]

If you mean compared to other species on this planet...our brain is our super-power.

And compared to other ST species, it's adaptability, a need to explore and better ourselves, a need for freedom and excelling in diplomacy.

all IMHO of course. Not hard-headed like 90% of species seen. Create engineers who can turn water into warp ships. Seemingly more interested in exploring and advancing our tech than Vulcans. And also more open to possibilities.

 

[USS Triumphant]

Seemingly more interested in exploring and advancing our tech than Vulcans. And also more open to possibilities.

I always took the Vulcan way to be to move one step forward, and then spend every bit of time necessary to explore and introspect on what effect that step had before taking the next. It would seem to us to slow development, but I'm certain (because several said so) that a Vulcan would think us reckless for the way we rush forward *without* fully examining the situation. And there is validity in both perspectives.

Also, if you're talking about that whole "the Vulcan Science Directorate has determined that time travel is impossible" spiel, I don't believe that it was that they were closed to the possibility. I think they already KNEW that it WAS possible, from Cochrane and Sloan if from nowhere else, and were (quite logically?) lying to try to slow or halt the prolifereation of research into the matter.

 

[C.E. Evans]

It's never okay to despise any race.

Say that to this old aristocratic bitch who acts as diplomat into the Federation. Aaagh! [..]Delegates? Last time I saw something like that, it was being served on a plate. Darling.
She's not really more tender with Ferengis.

When I see Klingons in TOS, I see a different civilisation, with a different ideology, with differentes values. When I see Ferengis in their earlier appearances, I see gangs of Shylock, the Shakespeare's character and condescending Starfleet officer.

In the Last Outpost, they acts as gremlins on drug, so it's hard to relativise about the fact that both humans and Ferengis are repulsing for eachother.

In The Price, they send Harry Mudd and Cyrano Jones to prospect a wormhole.

Um...okay. Still never okay to despise any race.

 

[Brolan]

The only reason non-humans are stronger in Trek is so the writers can make the story more challenging for the main characters. It's the same reason the Enterprise is the only ship in the sector and the alien ship/probe/monster/whatever is hugely larger than the Enterprise.

 

[Edit_XYZ]

If you mean compared to other species on this planet...our brain is our super-power.

And compared to other ST species, it's adaptability, a need to explore and better ourselves, a need for freedom and excelling in diplomacy.

all IMHO of course. Not hard-headed like 90% of species seen. Create engineers who can turn water into warp ships. Seemingly more interested in exploring and advancing our tech than Vulcans. And also more open to possibilities.

Feel good verbiage and the pioneering spirit is no match for smarter/stronger.
In star trek, humanity's advantage over other species is luck. The writers/scenarists, to be exact.

If stronger/smarter were not only informed attributes of aliens, humanity would not enjoy its elevated position in star trek. On the contrary.
As it is, the bad guys (or the competitors) are dumber/weaker when it matters. The federation ship is able to withstand whatever is thrown at it when it matters. The vulcan/android comes up with a solution. etc

 

[Xzpezer]

In my opinion it does not matter.

 

[bbjeg]

What did Kirk say to the Gorn?

...

BOOM!

^and we can do marathons. Most animals can't compete with us in a marathon.

I'm sure someone can train a dog to beat a human in a marathon.