Yeah, in spite of the much vaunted Trek Continuity, there are a ton of lines that just sit there never to followed up on.
It might given an explanation, but it won't be the explanation.
General Trek Questions and Observations
- Thread starter The Old Mixer
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Might give the writers some good ideas.
Unlikely to ever be revisited.
Yes. Like the Borg Baby....
Or a rodeo.
Regarding all the things "we don't have anymore":
My in-universe theory is that among people who believe modern society to not be the promised utopia, it's become a tongue-in-cheek meme joke to say that we don't have (insert annoying, uncivilized, or immature thing here) anymore. Those in the know chuckle to themselves (Federation/, Starfleet, etc), while those who aren't in on the joke (first contacts, ambassadors, etc) find the statement pompous, critical or inspiring.
My in-universe theory is that among people who believe modern society to not be the promised utopia, it's become a tongue-in-cheek meme joke to say that we don't have (insert annoying, uncivilized, or immature thing here) anymore. Those in the know chuckle to themselves (Federation/, Starfleet, etc), while those who aren't in on the joke (first contacts, ambassadors, etc) find the statement pompous, critical or inspiring.
Wasn't it stated that Spock opposed the war and Sarek supported it? Or did I make that up?
As I don't live in an English speaking country (never have), and I therefore don't have a very firm grasp on American/English (entertainment) culture, I have the feeling that the full meaning of many episode titles eludes me. I suspect that many of such titles refer to earlier expressions, or works of fiction or literature. For example The Ensigns of Command seems to refer to the poem 'The Wants of Man' of John Quincy Adams.
Is there some place on the web that 'explains' episode titles?
Is there some place on the web that 'explains' episode titles?
In the poem 'The Wants of Man' ensign refers to a flag and what it represents. I think you are right and that the word ensign in the TNG title refers to the flag (literal or figurative, of the colony) like in the poem, and not the definition of ensign as the lowest commissioned rank.
~ Memory Alpha sometimes has explanations for episode titles within the episode's article. "The Ensigns of Command" to use your example. Or LDS: "Where Pleasant Fountains Lie"
Here's a question... which do you think would be worst?
1. Remaining an ensign for years on end. [Harry]
2. Being an ensign, being offered a promotion... and having it rudely snatched away at the last second. And being an ensign for months, maybe years afterward. [That dude on "Lower Decks"]
3. You're not stuck at ensign... but a person who assaulted you is promoted over you, and you have to serve under them for years. [Carey]
Assume that you do not die in any of these instances.
1. Remaining an ensign for years on end. [Harry]
2. Being an ensign, being offered a promotion... and having it rudely snatched away at the last second. And being an ensign for months, maybe years afterward. [That dude on "Lower Decks"]
3. You're not stuck at ensign... but a person who assaulted you is promoted over you, and you have to serve under them for years. [Carey]
Assume that you do not die in any of these instances.
This one.
But, I do not value promotion or recognition as valuable, so if I'm an ensign I'll be the best damn ensign in the fleet.
Then you're a better man than me, friend.
They all seemed pretty awful to me... as written, I think Harry would be worst... Carey could have jumped ship at Planet 37's, and Lidwick (or whatever) could put in for transfer. Harry didn't know his career was toast until too late.
Personal accolades are something that are hard to give weight too. Yes, they feel good but they also don't change how I do my job.Then you're a better man than me, friend.
They all seemed pretty awful to me... as written, I think Harry would be worst... Carey could have jumped ship at Planet 37's, and Lidwick (or whatever) could put in for transfer. Harry didn't know his career was toast until too late.
Carey's career gets effectively torpedoed after having his nose broken over a disagreement and engaging in a power struggle that Janeway then exacerbates by rewarding negative behavior.
Agreed, that was inexcusable.
Not sure if Carey's career would have been in as much trouble as Harry's, though... higher rank, plus no unwarranted reprimand. The latter, combined with 7y st the lowest rank available, could easily ensure that Harry spends the rest of his career on a Federation garbage scow. Carey, had he lived, might have done a little better, but it would have depended on his performance reports, which would come from B'Elanna. As for Livik (that's his name), there's no way to know. In a realistic universe, they just find a LTJG billet on another ship... but Star Trek is not a realistic universe, and Lower Decks doubles down on that.
Would I mind not getting promoted?
Not necessarily, no. Not when promotion would mean I would have to assume responsibilities I wouldn't want to assume (e.g. having to assume more of managerial responsibilities than I'd like to, rather than being allowed to concentrate upon expanding upon domain specific expertise). Then it's better left to those who want to build their career in that direction.
But it depends upon the (cultural) context. In a culture where promotion is seen as a sign of appreciation (based on what I'm reading here and there, this seems to be more the case in USA company culture than the job culture I'm used to), or in an organization where promotion through certain ranks is fairly par for the course (e.g. the army), I probably would mind not getting promoted 'in time'. Because then it would be a sign of my work either not being appreciated enough, or my work standard not being up to specs, both of which would be bad news.
Not necessarily, no. Not when promotion would mean I would have to assume responsibilities I wouldn't want to assume (e.g. having to assume more of managerial responsibilities than I'd like to, rather than being allowed to concentrate upon expanding upon domain specific expertise). Then it's better left to those who want to build their career in that direction.
But it depends upon the (cultural) context. In a culture where promotion is seen as a sign of appreciation (based on what I'm reading here and there, this seems to be more the case in USA company culture than the job culture I'm used to), or in an organization where promotion through certain ranks is fairly par for the course (e.g. the army), I probably would mind not getting promoted 'in time'. Because then it would be a sign of my work either not being appreciated enough, or my work standard not being up to specs, both of which would be bad news.
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Honestly, I expect I would not have tolerated any of the situations those officers were in.
As Carey, I would have jumped ship on Planet 37's. I think it's unrealistic that VOY didn't lose at least a few crew there, given that they were facing a 70-year journey with very low chances of survival.
As Livik, the solution is the simplest: I would have taken advantage of not being trapped in the Delta Quadrant by requesting a transfer to another ship. Preferably to the LTJG billet that I had obviously earned.
And as Harry, it would have taken me a lot less than 6 years to ask either Janeway or Chakotay why in the Vault of Eternal Destitution I was still an ensign. And I would have told them that if I was so bad at my
-ing job that I didn't even rate a hollow pip on my collar, to kindly start being honest on my performance reports, so I could fix what was wrong.
As Carey, I would have jumped ship on Planet 37's. I think it's unrealistic that VOY didn't lose at least a few crew there, given that they were facing a 70-year journey with very low chances of survival.
As Livik, the solution is the simplest: I would have taken advantage of not being trapped in the Delta Quadrant by requesting a transfer to another ship. Preferably to the LTJG billet that I had obviously earned.
And as Harry, it would have taken me a lot less than 6 years to ask either Janeway or Chakotay why in the Vault of Eternal Destitution I was still an ensign. And I would have told them that if I was so bad at my
-ing job that I didn't even rate a hollow pip on my collar, to kindly start being honest on my performance reports, so I could fix what was wrong.
It's not like Harry can be promoted vertically to another position horizontally - so a position where lieutenant or its equivalent comes with very different roles, such as overseeing a team on a colony world vs being a higher rank of whatever he does on Voyager. Since he's a lieutenant on a lost ship from which you can't transfer to another position on another Starfleet posting, he's stuck unless he quits the service. And unless Voyager takes on more Delta Quadrant-sourced crew, post Seven, being higher ranked means nothing, jobwise, if you have no more people to directly rank over.
Funny how, like the rule against banging alien women, that principle only seemed to apply to Harry. Tuvok and Tom both got promoted without changing jobs. As did Geordi, Worf, Troi, Ogawa, Bashir, Dax, Sisko, and Kira.
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