Cool with Q, but not the spore drive? Interesting...

[Longinus]

I will always argue for real science as well. While the spore drive has its problems in terms of extrapolation from current scientific understanding, I see Q as far, far, more problematic than the spore drive.

Personally I prefer no explanation over a really stupid explanation.

Presumably Q operates in some manner which is scientifically logical, we just never get that explanation and it would probably be something that humans literally would not be cognitively equipped to understand. Q is to humans like humans are to dogs. Whilst I can communicate with my dogs there is a wast universe of things my dogs could never understand, or even imagine. Even the smartest of my dogs couldn't ever understand how a combustion engine works or that Moon revolves around Earth. I find it fascinating that there could be beings that would cognitively be in similar manner beyond humans.

 

[NewHeavensNewEarth]

Personally I prefer no explanation over a really stupid explanation.

Presumably Q operates in some manner which is scientifically logical, we just never get that explanation and it would probably be something that humans literally would not be cognitively equipped to understand. Q is to humans like humans are to dogs. Whilst I can communicate with my dogs there is a wast universe of things my dogs could never understand, or even imagine. Even the smartest of my dogs couldn't ever understand how a combustion engine works or that Moon revolves around Earth. I find it fascinating that there could be beings that would cognitively be in similar manner beyond humans.

Given that Q was a product of Season 1 TNG, there is zero chance that there was an elaborate backstory behind his character. However, I'm sure the writers would be elated to hear your kind words about him.

After the fact, we fill in the blanks with our wildest imaginations, creating backstories and concepts that were never there to begin with. This has happened with other random things, too, giving fuel for a great many novels covering all kinds of ST topics. After the fact.

It's always fascinated me how people (including myself) fill in the blanks when there's a stark lack of information. Suddenly a shallow character can become one of the most complex ones, simply by virtue of the viewer's imagination, not the content of what's actually seen & heard. Part of me wants to applaud such things that fuel the imagination, and part of me wants to slam lazy writing. Hard to pick.

In politics, people say it's sometimes better to not have a voting record. That way, it's easier for voters to imagine you as the very best of their ideals. They "fill in the blanks" based on those hopes. When there's a voting record, it gives people something to throw stones at. Instead, with a lack of information, you could be the maverick, the challenger to the system, the unifier, etc., and the otherness of it is exciting to some folks.

As I said early on in the thread, I love mystery - like the mystery of who the Red Angel could be - but eventually we expect there to be answers. Some people embrace the mystery of Q while also demanding immediate answers to the spore drive questions. Use your imagination and also strap in for answers that won't be nearly as cryptic as Q.

 

[fireproof78]

Personally I prefer no explanation over a really stupid explanation.

Presumably Q operates in some manner which is scientifically logical, we just never get that explanation and it would probably be something that humans literally would not be cognitively equipped to understand. Q is to humans like humans are to dogs. Whilst I can communicate with my dogs there is a wast universe of things my dogs could never understand, or even imagine. Even the smartest of my dogs couldn't ever understand how a combustion engine works or that Moon revolves around Earth. I find it fascinating that there could be beings that would cognitively be in similar manner beyond humans.

I too find it similarly fascinating. I love all kinds of gods and monsters and mythos. But, in Star Trek, I see no harm in having something like the mycelial network as part of building upon the concepts of the Q, Thasians, Trelane, Organians, and on and on.

Now, this will all depend upon how the wrap up is handled. But, I'll not dismiss it out of hand either. It works as well for me as the aliens from Equinox, and makes as much sense.

 

[Longinus]

I too find it similarly fascinating. I love all kinds of gods and monsters and mythos. But, in Star Trek, I see no harm in having something like the mycelial network as part of building upon the concepts of the Q, Thasians, Trelane, Organians, and on and on.

Yes, I guess. I think I would handle it better if it was describe just utilising some mysterious particles that are quantum entangled through the fifth dimension or something like that instead of literal spores. It being a literal fungal network is what makes it just utterly ludicrous to me; like it might as well be an actual spontaneously appearing wardrobe that teleports you through Narnia, it is jut so blatantly absurd.

 

[Longinus]

As I said early on in the thread, I love mystery - like the mystery of who the Red Angel could be - but eventually we expect there to be answers. Some people embrace the mystery of Q while also demanding immediate answers to the spore drive questions. Use your imagination and also strap in for answers that won't be nearly as cryptic as Q.

The spore drive is something that is supposed to be understandable to the characters and also to a certain extent to the viewers. Q explicitly is not. That's a big difference to me.

 

[NewHeavensNewEarth]

The spore drive is something that is supposed to be understandable to the characters and also to a certain extent to the viewers. Q explicitly is not. That's a big difference to me.

As long as you're admitting that you're holding those 2 things to 2 different standards, ok. In my personal life, I'm all about the incomprehensible, the mysterious, the bigger-than-me. It's vital to my faith walk. But people in sci-fi throw an absolute fit about anything divine, so if we're cutting that out, allow for some sci. Q can stick around, but so can the mycelial network.

 

[fireproof78]

Yes, I guess. I think I would handle it better if it was describe just utilising some mysterious particles that are quantum entangled through the fifth dimension or something like that instead of literal spores. It being a literal fungal network is what makes it just utterly ludicrous to me; like it might as well be an actual spontaneously appearing wardrobe that teleports you through Narnia, it is jut so blatantly absurd.

As opposed to aliens evolving to produce viable offspring on different worlds? O_o Star Trek is blatantly absurd.

As long as you're admitting that you're holding those 2 things to 2 different standards, ok. In my personal life, I'm all about the incomprehensible, the mysterious, the bigger-than-me. It's vital to my faith walk. But people in sci-fi throw an absolute fit about anything divine, so if we're cutting that out, allow for some sci. Q can stick around, but so can the mycelial network.

Well put!

 

[Longinus]

As long as you're admitting that you're holding those 2 things to 2 different standards, ok. In my personal life, I'm all about the incomprehensible, the mysterious, the bigger-than-me. It's vital to my faith walk. But people in sci-fi throw an absolute fit about anything divine, so if we're cutting that out, allow for some sci. Q can stick around, but so can the mycelial network.

Q is 'divine' in the same way than I'm 'divine' to my dogs. I mean I have understanding and powers way beyond their comprehension, and I can think things they can never even imagine. But am actually not magical, you know.

And yes, I hold them to different standards as their narrative purpose is different.

 

[fireproof78]

Q is 'divine' in the same way than I'm 'divine' to my dogs. I mean I have understanding and powers way beyond their comprehension, and I can think things they can never even imagine. But am actually not magical, you know.

That we know of...

 

[Longinus]

As opposed to aliens evolving to produce viable offspring on different worlds? O_o Star Trek is blatantly absurd.

That indeed is absurd and I never liked it. I was really thrilled when in TNG it was revealed that genetic engineering was required for a human and Klingon to have an offspring. I have since assumed that this is case for all such unions, and I am massively annoyed by any plots where there are 'accidental' hybrid babies.

But about the spore drive and super aliens, I want to return to something you said earlier. You said mycelial network could build on concepts of Q etc. Considering that we have already seen the network to be inhabited buy the sentient beings, I would really love if the whole thing would be revealed to be an artificial construct by some super aliens. (I thought earlier that it, as well as the Red Angel could be connected to the Iconians, but this doesn't seem to be the case.) Like it would be their method of travel. Then it wouldn't even need to encompass the WHOLE MULTIVERSE, merely the areas those aliens had explored. Then these aliens could somehow shut the access to the network. This all still seems painfully stupid, but still, it would be better than naturally occurring mushrooms that cover entire multiverse and allow travel to anywhere instantly, except somehow only for couple of years and only for this ones ship...

(Yes CBS, you can freely steal this.)

 

[fireproof78]

But about the spore drive and super aliens, I want to return to something you said earlier. You said mycelial network could build on concepts of Q etc. Considering that we have already seen the network to be inhabited buy the sentient beings, I would really love if the whole thing would be revealed to be an artificial construct by some super aliens. (I thought earlier that it, as well as the Red Angel could be connected to the Iconians, but this doesn't seem to be the case.) Like it would be their method of travel. Then it wouldn't even need to encompass the WHOLE MULTIVERSE, merely the areas those aliens had explored. Then these aliens could somehow shut the access to the network. This all still seems painfully stupid, but still, it would be better than naturally occurring mushrooms that cover entire multiverse and allow travel to anywhere instantly, except somehow only for couple of years and only for this ones ship...

Now this is what I'm talking about. This is the kind of thought experiment and exploration that I want to see. I get it, the spore drive is stupid. So are many other things in Star Trek, equivalent or not (looking at you Ocampa!) But, what past Trek gets is this level of thought experiment, even among its detractors. I don't care if you like the spore drive or not (I don't but I can't change that) but at least have fun with it!

 

[NewHeavensNewEarth]

Then these aliens could somehow shut the access to the network.

Definitely sounds like a task tailor-made for a Q. Somebody's becoming a fan. (nudge nudge)

 

[Gingerbread Demon]

I like the spore drive.

 

[Hythlodeus]

I like the spore drive.

I like the daffodils

 

[Succubint]

I think the spore drive is awesome. I love the rotating ship parts, the 'Black Alert', the spinning visual effect, the crazy traveling cam POV, the mycelial forest, the glowing spores...all of it!

 

[Gingerbread Demon]

I think the spore drive is awesome. I love the rotating ship parts, the 'Black Alert', the spinning visual effect, the crazy traveling cam POV, the mycelial forest, the glowing spores...all of it!

It's something different Trek hasn't done before...... Maybe in the future there is some kind of reset that stops it functioning whether by nature or by some other means. Maybe the network breaks down of its own accord rendering the drive useless.

Also why haven't we seen the ships warp core? Where is it?

 

[Succubint]

I thought this was it, but maybe this is a secondary core connected to the DASH drive instead? Maybe we saw it in Mudd's ep last season? Or at least the main engineering room.

ETA: Went back and rewatched a few scenes in 1x07, and the only engineering room we see is the same room in the link above, where the spore stuff is also located. When the drive is about to blow, the explosion comes from the area where the glow is in the picture, but the red trimmed protective panels are closed at the time.

 

[Gingerbread Demon]

I thought this was it, but maybe this is a secondary core connected to the DASH drive instead? Maybe we saw it in Mudd's ep last season? Or at least the main engineering room.

I don't know maybe the red area is the core or something related to that. The whole set though looks amazing. BTW cool name

 

[Spot261]

Now this is what I'm talking about. This is the kind of thought experiment and exploration that I want to see. I get it, the spore drive is stupid. So are many other things in Star Trek, equivalent or not (looking at you Ocampa!) But, what past Trek gets is this level of thought experiment, even among its detractors. I don't care if you like the spore drive or not (I don't but I can't change that) but at least have fun with it!

Have fun with mushrooms which take you to outer space?

 

[Succubint]

I don't know maybe the red area is the core or something related to that. The whole set though looks amazing. BTW cool name

Thanks! Yours is pretty cool too.