It is true that the Trek history of Earth differs from ours, sometimes subtly, sometimes grossly. However, it seems statistically justified to assume similarity unless dissimilarity is explicated. After all, any dissimilarity is by writer effort (or more commonly writer error), whereas the writing as such assumes similarity as default. That is, a writer may have been told not to worry about history because in Trek it is allowed to be different, but the writer still won't bother to create a difference unless specifically paid to do that.
It is only from the opposite angle that the difference kicks in: if we do spot a discrepancy, it is automatically not a mistake and we can breathe freely. But constructing more extensive interpretations on an assumption of difference is no more sound than constructing them on assumed equivalence.
If anything, we should assume a difference was never intended, and therefore (regardless of it now being a feature of Trek pseudohistory) a "sequel" to the error is unlikely and absence of said likely. Unless, of course, the writers see dramatic serendipity in the accidental difference, and choose to perpetuate it for that (which is true for most of the TOS divergences that transformed from pseudofuture to pseudohistory as the show aged - especially to wit, Khan, but also to wit, the early space exploits).
As for Spock not erring, he often does, on matters human. He is just smug about it, often dodging by referring to "your" this-and-that, in rhis case outsourcing any error or illogic to "your", "so-called", terminology on past wars. On which the Vulcans rather assuredly have their own ideas and a deep disrespect for the native human interpretation of said human folly.
"Space Seed" specifically has every character in the teaser make explicit errors that cause subtle mirth in their colleagues. McCoy's reaction to Spock's esoteric take on World Wars involves a little smile and a gentle correction, that is, the stating of the correct answer "The Eugenics Wars" in place of Spock's alien version. In all other cases, the errors are made explicit by the events, but the dialogue can be taken as equally explicating. (That is, when it serves the purposes of internal consistency of the fiction, as it does here.)
Oh, and Colonel Kira apparently had her promotion delayed by several seasons because the audiences would have been hearing the alliterative comical character name, or so the producers feared. Much like reading taxes into Romulan designations, or diseases into the abbreviation of the new show. Producers worry about the strangest of things.
Timo Saloniemi
It is only from the opposite angle that the difference kicks in: if we do spot a discrepancy, it is automatically not a mistake and we can breathe freely. But constructing more extensive interpretations on an assumption of difference is no more sound than constructing them on assumed equivalence.
If anything, we should assume a difference was never intended, and therefore (regardless of it now being a feature of Trek pseudohistory) a "sequel" to the error is unlikely and absence of said likely. Unless, of course, the writers see dramatic serendipity in the accidental difference, and choose to perpetuate it for that (which is true for most of the TOS divergences that transformed from pseudofuture to pseudohistory as the show aged - especially to wit, Khan, but also to wit, the early space exploits).
As for Spock not erring, he often does, on matters human. He is just smug about it, often dodging by referring to "your" this-and-that, in rhis case outsourcing any error or illogic to "your", "so-called", terminology on past wars. On which the Vulcans rather assuredly have their own ideas and a deep disrespect for the native human interpretation of said human folly.
"Space Seed" specifically has every character in the teaser make explicit errors that cause subtle mirth in their colleagues. McCoy's reaction to Spock's esoteric take on World Wars involves a little smile and a gentle correction, that is, the stating of the correct answer "The Eugenics Wars" in place of Spock's alien version. In all other cases, the errors are made explicit by the events, but the dialogue can be taken as equally explicating. (That is, when it serves the purposes of internal consistency of the fiction, as it does here.)
Oh, and Colonel Kira apparently had her promotion delayed by several seasons because the audiences would have been hearing the alliterative comical character name, or so the producers feared. Much like reading taxes into Romulan designations, or diseases into the abbreviation of the new show. Producers worry about the strangest of things.
Timo Saloniemi
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