Do you often wish that you were living in Star Trek now?

[T'Girl]

I thought, all this Mirror Universe is an alternate variant of reality. Not "evil and wrong", but where things were not so optimistic and perfect.

I'd said "evil and wrong" would be a correct description. Most everyone had a counterpart who was a twisted bizarro verison of our universe

As I remember, Gene never showed smoking people, despite of cigs popularity. And he was right.

We saw a few people smoking in some of the TOS movies. Kirk did it in TUC.

 

[Vandervecken]

Folks, Mirror, Mirror is not some profound exploration of society developing slightly different. It is very much about the crew's evil twins and nothing more.

But Mirror Spock changes. Unforeseen consequences of his reforms of the Terran Empire suck for humanity, but morally and ethically, he changed. Or he was always less of a thug and more of a pragmatist. But either way, he can't be just an "evil" counterpart.

 

[2takesfrakes]

Spock looking like "The Devil" by Sixties' Television standards, might've been too obvious. Maybe they were afraid for Spock's image, by having him just be evil. That the good Spock would always have that taint because of the make-up and his fan mail would thin out, or something. Before, they could always tease him about looking like "The Devil," but it was always dismissed because he'd never done anything bad. Change that and you might ruin Spock, forever ...

 

[T'Girl]

I pointed out a while ago in another thread about the issue of homosexuality being a catch 22, because Trek has always strongly implied there is no social oppression of any kind anymore.

There's apparently social and legal negatives against people who engage in genetic enhancements.

So we have to assume there is homosexual lifestyles in Trek ...

Well we don't have too. We can observe the culture that's presented to us, and draw our conclusions from that.

It's easy enough for a group of people to verbally state that their society is a "paradise. It harder to actually live up to that claim.

I love all the benefits that the science, medicine, moral and social change that Trek offers. That's where the utopia lies IMO.

They do seem to be comfortable in a material sense. At times on the show it doesn't seem that they are as far ahead in the medical field as they probably should be, ahead of us yes, but in some cases only slightly.

Morally maybe not, their implementation of the prime directive indicates a flaw in their morality.

In terms of social changes, some fans interpret Picard's statements in The Neutral Zone to mean there is no long any private property, that would (IMHO) be a change for the worst.

 

[Herkimer Jitty]

I observe a culture that has not invented the toilet.

I refuse to believe that, however, because it is ridiculous.

 

[Timewalker]

In terms of social changes, some fans interpret Picard's statements in The Neutral Zone to mean there is no long any private property, that would (IMHO) be a change for the worst.

This puts me in mind of the scene in The Naked Now, when Deanna finds Tasha going through her closet, to find something slinky to wear. It just occurred to me that Tasha must have used her security chief's authority to get into Deanna's quarters, since there wasn't anyone to let her in. And since Deanna wouldn't let Tasha make off with her clothes, that would imply an expectation of privacy and private property.

 

[TheSubCommander]

I kind of wish there were a real 24th Century like Star Trek TNG to escape to, but not exactly something I dwell on. That said...

When I was in high school and everyone started with that "what are you going to do after you graduate? What are you going to do with your life" shit, it really bothered me because what I wanted to do was join Starfleet, which of course isn't possible on account of Starfleet's non-existence.

Heh. I kind of felt the same way. I ended up going in the military for 4 years, after high school mostly for college money, but I kind of felt like that was about as close to joining Starfleet one was going to get in the real world.

I might be a redshirt or a victim of a Borg or Dominion attack.

That's simple enough to avoid, just don't join Starfleet. The average civilian lives a luxurious life in complete safety in Trek. Hell, since Earth is a money-less society, you don't really have to work for a living.

Yeah, who says 24th Century must mean joining Starfleet? Like I said, the closest thing there is to Starfleet in the real world, is the military, and it's not all its cracked up to be.

And seriously, why would you need to join Starfleet for the fringe benefits? Everyone on Earth has access to TNG-era technology. Not having to work for money and having access to the technology of TNG: What's the downside? Personally, I would love that!

Right now, I am working full time, as well as going to grad school part time for museum studies and archeology. How I would love to just be able to not worry about working for a living, and just devote 100% of my "professional" time to studying history and archeology and maintaining artifacts and sites, and sharing that knowledge.


As far as recreation, you pretty much can do whatever you want. You need not limit yourself to watching Shakespearean plays and only listen to classical music like Picard. The 24th century's internet and databases have everything we have, and orders of magnitude more. I am sure if you want to sit around and watch reruns of the Six Million Dollar Man, you can do it. If you want to be in a holodeck/suite and recreate whatever concert of whatever your favorite band or artist, you can do it. If your thing is learning to play guitar, I am sure you can be in a holodeck with a facsimile of Joe Satriani teaching you how to play!

 

[Amaris]

^ That's definitely what I'd use the holodeck for, and not for other... reasons.

 

[Rarewolf]

There's a lot you could use it for. Why visit the universe when you can bring it to you? Why watch a film, read a book when it can play out around you?

 

[The Badger]

There are intelligent, beautiful, catsuited women in Trek. No one in my life meets all three criteria, so I'd happily go there.

 

[Timewalker]

And seriously, why would you need to join Starfleet for the fringe benefits? Everyone on Earth has access to TNG-era technology. Not having to work for money and having access to the technology of TNG: What's the downside? Personally, I would love that!

As far as recreation, you pretty much can do whatever you want. You need not limit yourself to watching Shakespearean plays and only listen to classical music like Picard. The 24th century's internet and databases have everything we have, and orders of magnitude more. I am sure if you want to sit around and watch reruns of the Six Million Dollar Man, you can do it. If you want to be in a holodeck/suite and recreate whatever concert of whatever your favorite band or artist, you can do it. If your thing is learning to play guitar, I am sure you can be in a holodeck with a facsimile of Joe Satriani teaching you how to play!

Uh-huh, everybody totally had 100% access to all the luxuries Earth had. That's why Tasha Yar had such a wonderful childhood/teenage years on her home planet and couldn't figure out why she'd ever want to leave. And that's why the friend O'Brien made when he went undercover in one episode of DS9 was worried about providing for his family; he just did it for kicks, since they were wallowing in the same luxuries and ease that Earth citizens have.

This "no money" thing is utter BS. Not everyone in the Federation lives like the citizens of Earth, Betazed, Vulcan, or the other major planets. Beverly couldn't just waltz off Farpoint Station with that piece of cloth; she had to PAY for it. The crew of DS9 needs CASH to pay for some of the stuff they buy on the station. And what do you do when the replicators go offline and there's no energy and nobody who knows how to fix the things?

There's a lot you could use it for. Why visit the universe when you can bring it to you? Why watch a film, read a book when it can play out around you?

Someone had to program them first.

 

[TheSubCommander]

Uh-huh, everybody totally had 100% access to all the luxuries Earth had. That's why Tasha Yar had such a wonderful childhood/teenage years on her home planet and couldn't figure out why she'd ever want to leave. And that's why the friend O'Brien made when he went undercover in one episode of DS9 was worried about providing for his family; he just did it for kicks, since they were wallowing in the same luxuries and ease that Earth citizens have.

This "no money" thing is utter BS. Not everyone in the Federation lives like the citizens of Earth, Betazed, Vulcan, or the other major planets. Beverly couldn't just waltz off Farpoint Station with that piece of cloth; she had to PAY for it. The crew of DS9 needs CASH to pay for some of the stuff they buy on the station. And what do you do when the replicators go offline and there's no energy and nobody who knows how to fix the things?

I don't even know what your point is, so go roll your eyes elsewhere. I clearly said Earth, didn't I? If I was somehow magically going to be transported to 24th century StarTrekland, why would I be transported to Turkana IV, a break-away Earth colony not part of the Federation, complete with anarchy and rape gangs? Or DS9, for that matter. That would be kind of retarded, right? The whole point would be to go to an idealized place, better than the present, otherwise why go at all?

 

[WillsBabe]

I don't often wish that I was living in Star Trek now. In the past I've certainly fantasised about it. Growing up as a kid I would have jumped at the chance to be on the Enterprise. Now I think I might find the change too much, but back in the day I'd have been there, given the chance!

 

[JarodRussell]

I don't know if this is just me, but modern life seems to be kind of boring. In Star Trek everything is much more interesting and there are lot of things going on over there than here.

I saw people saying stuff like that when the Avatar movie came out. And my response back then was the same as it is now: you need to get out more. Your life is what you make of it, and you only have one. Waste it wisely. If you think your life is boring because there's no warp drive and no aliens, then you're definitely on the wrong track.

 

[2takesfrakes]

You'd never get me out the Holodeck

>>SNORT!!!<<

 

[Nightdiamond]

I love all the benefits that the science, medicine, moral and social change that Trek offers. That's where the utopia lies IMO.

In terms of social changes, some fans interpret Picard's statements in The Neutral Zone to mean there is no long any private property, that would (IMHO) be a change for the worst.

Out of curiosity, what part of his speech implied that humans didn't believe in private property? I thought he meant that poverty was eliminated and people wanted less (courtesy of replicators).


I would rate some of drawbacks of trek's Utopia from boring to odd to pretty annoying, but bad enough to turn it down?--I can't see it just yet.

I'll bet a lot of Trek fans think of replicators every time they have to add up what they can afford to get at a supermarket.

And every time they release some article about evolutionary psychology that 'reveals' why we really think the way we do, Trek's future seems to looks just that much better.

 

[Timewalker]

Uh-huh, everybody totally had 100% access to all the luxuries Earth had. That's why Tasha Yar had such a wonderful childhood/teenage years on her home planet and couldn't figure out why she'd ever want to leave. And that's why the friend O'Brien made when he went undercover in one episode of DS9 was worried about providing for his family; he just did it for kicks, since they were wallowing in the same luxuries and ease that Earth citizens have.

This "no money" thing is utter BS. Not everyone in the Federation lives like the citizens of Earth, Betazed, Vulcan, or the other major planets. Beverly couldn't just waltz off Farpoint Station with that piece of cloth; she had to PAY for it. The crew of DS9 needs CASH to pay for some of the stuff they buy on the station. And what do you do when the replicators go offline and there's no energy and nobody who knows how to fix the things?

I don't even know what your point is, so go roll your eyes elsewhere. I clearly said Earth, didn't I? If I was somehow magically going to be transported to 24th century StarTrekland, why would I be transported to Turkana IV, a break-away Earth colony not part of the Federation, complete with anarchy and rape gangs? Or DS9, for that matter. That would be kind of retarded, right? The whole point would be to go to an idealized place, better than the present, otherwise why go at all?

Since this forum lacks a smiley that conveys the proper degree of annoyance I feel sometimes, I use the next closest one. If you don't want me to use the smiley, feel free to ask the admins to install my preferred one.

So you want to limit yourself to 24th century Earth? Okay, so sorry for not having noticed that. You don't want to go anywhere else, nor do you care that the thread title does not limit "Star Trek" to just Earth.

I've made my point quite clearly. If you don't understand it, I suggest you might consider re-reading it. Basically, only parts of the Federation can be considered this "moneyless paradise" where nobody needs to work because everything they could ever want is handed to them by the magical replicator that nobody ever has to pay for.

That's nonsense. Nothing in this universe comes without some kind of price or trade-off. And outside of starships, Earth, and some other major planets, I very much doubt it's as much of a "paradise" as the TNG crew like to smugly proclaim.

I'll bet a lot of Trek fans think of replicators every time they have to add up what they can afford to get at a supermarket.

Every time I have to worry about buying cat litter or paper towels or other such stuff, yes, a replicator would be really handy. Thank goodness I was finally able to order in bulk and have it delivered. The cats have everything they'll need now for food and litter supplies for the next several months. I wouldn't mind a holographic cleaning person, though, to do the housework.

For most foods that are pretty generic, a replicator would be fine. But I'd defy any replicator to get special things just right. There are some dishes that only a person's grandmother can get just right.

 

[T'Girl]

Out of curiosity, what part of his speech implied that humans didn't believe in private property?

Picard: "We've eliminated ... the need for possessions.

 

[PhoenixClass]

So you want to limit yourself to 24th century Earth? Okay, so sorry for not having noticed that. You don't want to go anywhere else, nor do you care that the thread title does not limit "Star Trek" to just Earth.

Errrr, in TheSubCommander's defense, the OP did limit it to 24th century Earth in the first post.

 

[Timewalker]

Out of curiosity, what part of his speech implied that humans didn't believe in private property?

Picard: "We've eliminated ... the need for possessions.

"Need" does not equal "want."

Did Beverly need that ugly piece of cloth from Farpoint Station? No, she did not, and we never saw her actually use it for anything. Did she want it? Apparently so, since she bought it.

So you want to limit yourself to 24th century Earth? Okay, so sorry for not having noticed that. You don't want to go anywhere else, nor do you care that the thread title does not limit "Star Trek" to just Earth.

Errrr, in TheSubCommander's defense, the OP did limit it to 24th century Earth in the first post.

No, he didn't. Please re-read:

And if you did live there say 24th century Earth.

The word "say" is another way of writing "for example." Therefore, the thread is not limited to 24th-century Earth.