I can't believe she didn't complain about Geordie

[Skipper]

Leah was completely justified in assuming that, by the time she saw the simulation Geordi had been hitting on her since she stepped out of the transporter culminating in him planning a romantic dinner in his quarters where she let him down gently.

And at the end of the episode, Geordi even has the nerve to say that he was only looking for her friendship.

In-Universe, the only explanation for Leah being forced to apologize at the end is that she had a stroke.

IRL, the obvious explanation is that the writers were male; it was the '90s, and any tactic to get into a woman's panties was considered legitimate, and the woman was expected to be pleased with the man's attentions. Indeed, apologize if she didn't appreciate them.

I mean, it had only been 7 years since "Revenge of the Nerds" and still no one had complained about the behavior of the film's protagonists.

 

[Detached Nacelle]

The problem with the "they're both wrong" interpretation is that at the end of the episode, the only one forced to apologize by the (male) writers is Leah. Geordi NEVER admits to having behaved less than appropriately. He lies to her when she asks about the hologram, telling her he was only seeking her friendship. But narratively, he's clearly portrayed as the hag's victim.

If it were true that on some ethical scale they are on the same level, his behavior is worse simply because he refuses to apologize or admit his mistakes.

True a lot of contention could potentially have been avoided if the scene at the end in ten forward started one sentence earlier. They're clearly in the middle of a conversation that clears the air between them.

Of course as Trekkies nothing can fully remove our ability to argue with each other.

 

[Mojochi]

The problem with the "they're both wrong" interpretation is that at the end of the episode, the only one forced to apologize by the (male) writers is Leah. Geordi NEVER admits to having behaved less than appropriately.

Leah: "I really owe you an apology" (she mostly doesn't, except that she came there under the false pretense of commending his work, when that was really just a false narrative to get her on board, to ambush & bully him about unapproved changes to her designs)

Geordi: "No you don't. I should have told you outright" (and admission of guilt about how he should've initially confessed the way he'd already been familiar with her, awkward though that would've also been)

They both had preconceived prejudices about one another, that they acted upon. He let his get FAAAAR more out of hand, so thereby rejects the claim she should apologize & takes responsibility. Could it have been written better? Yeah, but I can barely get thru an episode that couldn't have been, especially by today's standards, hindsight being 20/20 & all.

He lies to her when she asks about the hologram, telling her he was only seeking her friendship.

How'd he lie about the program? As far as is shown, the computer made him one program for Booby Trap, which IT took too far into personal areas of making intimate contact with him. It caused him to develop feelings about her, but nothing is said that it went any further than that. (Though haters sure love their conjecture that more did)

Him telling her he sought friendship was some cope lol. We know he had deeper feelings too, & it was a kneejerk defensive comment, that isn't entirely fair to her, but he had said the same thing to Guinan too. So it's at least possible & even likely, knowing of his usual integrity as we do, that such an outcome was also within his intentions, were the deeper connection not in the cards. So many people do not want to give him the benefit of the doubt on that.

Her jumping to conclusions about his interactions with the holodeck are valid, given how things developed. Her coming there to surprise ambush him, based on how she'd built him up in her head... not as valid. In that way, she was wrong.

Him hiding the truth, & digging his heels in about it, when it gets outted, is wrong of him & in the end, he knows that, & admits it. She also knows she came there with prejudice & admits that... and they get past it & move on from it congenially. We however, apparently never will

 

[DanCPA]

I would gather this is quite common with Holodecks.

Barclay had some fun recreating the entire senior staff, including a, at least in my opinion, more sexualized Troi

 

[Mojochi]

I would gather this is quite common with Holodecks.

Barclay had some fun recreating the entire senior staff, including a, at least in my opinion, more sexualized Troi

Honestly, I imagine for training/testing purposes recreating the ship/crew is necessary, as in Troi's Command exam. They have skills & protocols that need maintaining, testing, updating etc... & it's inevitably going to involve fabricating the crew. I don't think it's commonplace for them to be doing so recreationally with people they know though. Thats rather sociopathic lol

 

[DanCPA]

Honestly, I imagine for training/testing purposes recreating the ship/crew is necessary, as in Troi's Command exam. They have skills & protocols that need maintaining, testing, updating etc... & it's inevitably going to involve fabricating the crew. I don't think it's commonplace for them to be doing so recreationally with people they know though. Thats rather sociopathic lol

We saw both Geordi and Barclay do it
Are they sociopathic?
We also saw the man on DS9 who wanted a Kira plaything and later in the series a holoprogram of dominion leaders

 

[Mojochi]

We saw both Geordi and Barclay do it
Are they sociopathic?
We also saw the man on DS9 who wanted a Kira plaything and later in the series a holoprogram of dominion leaders

When did Geordi do it other than with Leah, who he mostly didn't know & it wasn't intentionally to be used as recreation?

However, yes... Barclay had social issues

 

[DanCPA]

When did Geordi do it other than with Leah, who he mostly didn't know & it wasn't intentionally to be used as recreation?

Geordi did it with Leah.
And im not sure if it's more disturbing to lust over a somewhat stranger or someone who is closer to you... either way, it's strange

 

[weeping_willow]

I think it was an innocent fascination with Leah so he tried to recreate her in his world of fantasy. I don't say it's right, but it's understandable to me. Many times in classic literature for example characters take fantasy for an ideal to a next level, Geordi didn't. Why she should complain for him when they understood each other at the end of the episode?

 

[Mojochi]

Geordi did it with Leah.
And im not sure if it's more disturbing to lust over a somewhat stranger or someone who is closer to you... either way, it's strange

He didn't fashion the Leah hologram for recreation. It was a design simulation, with the designer

 

[korblborp]

Per my original statement, not even complaining to Picard or somethin
It's just unthinkable

Oh hey so you have a hologram of me to hug and kiss and play with thats cool and totally not weird I was angry for a hot minute but I'm over it now

this is her misunderstanding, yes. and you know it wasn't made for that, so...

 

[DanCPA]

I think it was an innocent fascination with Leah so he tried to recreate her in his world of fantasy. I don't say it's right, but it's understandable to me. Many times in classic literature for example characters take fantasy for an ideal to a next level, Geordi didn't. Why she should complain for him when they understood each other at the end of the episode?

I believe Geordi didn't push the envelope because of the "PG" limits Star Trek has generally had, especially where sex is concerned

 

[DanCPA]

this is her misunderstanding, yes. and you know it wasn't made for that, so...

His reasoning for creating the hologram wasn't hanky panky, but it got there.

 

[korblborp]

it got itself there

 

[weeping_willow]

I believe Geordi didn't push the envelope because of the "PG" limits Star Trek has generally had, especially where sex is concerned

Maybe he wouldn't go that far with the ideal of a woman which was Leah to him. I am not saying that he is like a character from the classics where admiring is enough, but maybe in this case admiring and conversation is enough. Let's not forget he is kinda nerdy and didn't knew how to act around women so creating an enviroment where he is appreciated and open to someone is not strange to me at all.

 

[weeping_willow]

Also guys, don't you think if he really wanted to be naughty with the program he would be already before Leah arrived? We don't see any evidence of that. About the PG rating... they could;ve made evident that they had intimacy, and not in an explicit way - they chose to not do that. So I think Geordi's intentions were far from sleeping with the hologram. He is an engeneer, he knows it's fantasy well enough but is a person of ethics too, I just can't see him pushing thru to the fullfillment of erotic deeds.

 

[DanCPA]

Maybe he wouldn't go that far with the ideal of a woman which was Leah to him. I am not saying that he is like a character from the classics where admiring is enough, but maybe in this case admiring and conversation is enough. Let's not forget he is kinda nerdy and didn't knew how to act around women so creating an enviroment where he is appreciated and open to someone is not strange to me at all.

Perhaps

But it would also be nice to have someone with the characteristics that he would like at his beck and call

 

[hbquikcomjamesl]

Discussions of this subject always generate far more heat than light.

 

[DanCPA]

Discussions of this subject always generate far more heat than light.

So does my $100 candle

Doesn't mean we can't enjoy it

 

[Guy Gardener]

I like the idea that ship was trying to #### Geordi with a Leah Hologram.

The ship is a deceitful pervert, and Geordi is just another victim of a malevolent intelligence.