A defence of Kirk's 'Why are you talking to me, man?'

[I am not Spock]

I know, I know. I have my doubts about that line, too.

But it's not a deal breaker for me. See, Trek has used contemporary slang before. It's not unprecedented.

Kirk himself uses the term 'screw up' in The Undiscovered Country. And Kirk apparently 'pisses off' Bones in The Final Frontier. Scotty does a fair amount of cursing in 'The Undiscovered Country'. Data even says 'S&#t' in Generations.

So who knows that the word 'man' in its colloquial context, won't survive to the 23rd century?

 

[Captain Pike]

For me it's a non-issue. I don't see what all the fuss is about. I certainly don't object to it at all and if anything it seems natural and injecting a little realism - a cocky adolescent being flippant with older figures of authority is not something unusual or unseen in society - whether we are talking historically, present day or 500 years from now.

 

[JuanBolio]

The fact that 23rd and 24th century english is for all intents and purposes EXACTLY the same as that which we use today renders any colloquial complains about this line null and void.

I really don't see the issue with this line in the first place. It is PERFECTLY in line with who Kirk is supposed to be at that point in that film.

 

[BorgPhil]

I can't see anything negative about it in the slightest. Why not?

 

[-Brett-]

I don't see why it needs to be defended. Seems like a plausible thing to say to a stranger lecturing you.

 

[Tiberius]

What episode was this in?

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

For me it's a non-issue. I don't see what all the fuss is about.

Exactly. It's a ridiculous "controversy."

 

[BillJ]

Non issue. You have to use language that your intended audience can relate too.

 

[M'Sharak]

What episode was this in?

That would be the 30-second ad for the movie which aired during the Super Bowl two weeks ago.

Spoiler: possible spoilers - proceed at your own risk

http://trekmovie.com/2009/02/01/star-trek-super-bowl-commercial-officially-online-trekmovie-shot-by-shot-analysis/

 

[number6]

This needs to be defended?? Seriously??

Let's see.. We've had heated debates about the colour of Kirk's Eyes, Kirk driving a Corvette off a cliff, the shape of the Enterprise's Nacelles, Barcode readers on the Bridge, where the ship was built, what shade of white the walls of the corridors are and now this?????


Good gravy. Is this what fandom has become?? No wonder Paramount wants to attract new fans. The old ones are stark raving mad!!

 

[Aragorn]

^ Don't forget starship registry numbers that start with zero.

 

[The Evil Dead]

The line presumably comes early in the film...He's a young rascal, it's called character development.

 

[number6]

Stark.. Raving..






















Mad!!

 

[Hartzilla2007]

This isn't madness. THIS! IS! THE INTERNET!

 

[James Bond]

^ Don't forget starship registry numbers that start with zero.

Quite possibly the most idiotic thing I've ever heard, quite frankly.

 

[Sharr Khan]

None issue just like the "Romulans don't talk like that stuff".

Sharr

 

[Kirk1980]

I think the more sane people who are nervous about that is that....well, Orci and Kurtzman's writing isn't exactly the most impressive.

You guys have seen Transformers, right? Noble alien leader of the Autobots says, 'my bad'? Believable, right?

 

[trekkerguy]

I think the more sane people who are nervous about that is that....well, Orci and Kurtzman's writing isn't exactly the most impressive.

You guys have seen Transformers, right? Noble alien leader of the Autobots says, 'my bad'? Believable, right?

Missing it's context, no. Just like it is hinted at through the whole
film he simply is trying to use phrases that he thinks adolescent boy
will relate to.

Their writing is very impressive. The more sane people are not nitpicking
and looking at the fact once again, this is a young, drunk Kirk being
lectured by some old dude he doesn't know. There is no need for defense.
The line fits perfectly.

 

[Kirk1980]

Well, if you think it's impressive, more power to you

 

[Plumster]

I cannot for the life of me understand why people can judge a movie on the strength of a second and a half of dialogue seen out of sequence and context.

I'm sick of it actually - this forum is full of halfwits who seemingly only wish to agitate about something they've not seen.

The word 'man' has raped my childhood.

Yeah right - you fucking asked for it - watch it and then complain.