I'm new here, and I don't expect to post another thread, because at heart, I just don't like Trek. I watched all of TOS and a good chunk of TNG, and while I like so much of it, the core theme of the franchise is just irredeemable to me. I liked the characters, I like sci-fi in general, I liked the villains and I liked a lot of the individual plots. Q was great.
The problem I have is probably best summed up in how utopian the whole society is, and specifically the prime directive. I hate the prime directive because it shows how little the Federation cares about its own interests. So, so many world have the Federation stumbled upon that could be conquered and integrated, exterminated and recolonized with humans, or even just studied through abductions and stuff. And yet they do none of those things. They see some vast mineral reserve on a planet occupied by barbarians by their standards or ours, and they're just like "Oh no, we could never harm these innocent beings". Why not? It is obvious they could completely crush them in days, and either enslave the people or kill them, and doing so would definitely help them somehow, whether it be new technology or improve their security against their foes. Why do they think every god-forsaken wasteland they come across is somehow equal to the society they've built, with spaceships and industry and replicators. They're humans, and it is only natural for humans to look after human interests. So instead of Kirk or Picard exploring primitive civilizations, he should be leading an armada to conquer them. Instead of arguing with Q, he should spit on him like the narcasissitc freak that he is and simply refuse to speak to him. Picard doesn't have to prove anything to Q, Humans are good, and Q is actively trying to thwart humans, making him bad. Picard and Kirk shouldn't be so reluctant to kill their enemies when need be, they should do what must be done to preserve human life and increase human power.
I also dislike how detached the philosophy is from reality, partly for the reasons above and partly because people aren't perfect. There are so, so many cases when an episode was clearly asking, "should we let them be or should we show them the error of their ways?" and I was like 'Who CARES whether their culture is upheld, or whether they are happy or sad, enlightened or savage? If they don't have anything you want and they don't pose a threat, let them wallow in their ignorance. They don't matter. You don't have some moral duty to spread your ideals everywhere, you have a moral duty to ensure the peace and prosperity of humanity, at the expense or benefit of other species and individuals.' I really hate the replicator too. Material wealth for individuals, as well as material strength or societies has been a driving force of human history and taking it away throws so much stuff out of wack. Not to mention, the show often makes it seem like without material wealth, humans little reason to be selfish, and not only is that not true, it also takes away a lot of conflicts. The crew is so often united in its goals, and simply disagree about the right way to achieve them, rather than someone or a group behaving selfishly. Not that it has to become a hopeless show where the theme is "everyone only cares about himself", but there should be characters that are either somewhat ambitious, greedy or cruel, but still 'good guys' because their good traits counterbalance all that.
To conclude, it feels like Star Trek gets bogged down in what should happen in a perfect world, and ignores what would and must happen in the real world. In the real world, not only can you not save everyone, in order to save someone you sometimes have to screw someone else. You have to do bad to do good. People do the right things for the wrong reasons. A friend to all is a friend to none. The road to peace is paved with war, the road to freedom is paved with slavery, and the road to prosperity is paved with poverty.
It's a tragedy, really. The franchise has so much potential. I really, really want to like it. Maybe one day the point of view will change from pro-humanism and pacifism to pro-nationalism and imperialism, or maybe that will just be a different franchise altogether. If you have any suggestions for other shows or books I might like, they would be greatly appreciated.
The problem I have is probably best summed up in how utopian the whole society is, and specifically the prime directive. I hate the prime directive because it shows how little the Federation cares about its own interests. So, so many world have the Federation stumbled upon that could be conquered and integrated, exterminated and recolonized with humans, or even just studied through abductions and stuff. And yet they do none of those things. They see some vast mineral reserve on a planet occupied by barbarians by their standards or ours, and they're just like "Oh no, we could never harm these innocent beings". Why not? It is obvious they could completely crush them in days, and either enslave the people or kill them, and doing so would definitely help them somehow, whether it be new technology or improve their security against their foes. Why do they think every god-forsaken wasteland they come across is somehow equal to the society they've built, with spaceships and industry and replicators. They're humans, and it is only natural for humans to look after human interests. So instead of Kirk or Picard exploring primitive civilizations, he should be leading an armada to conquer them. Instead of arguing with Q, he should spit on him like the narcasissitc freak that he is and simply refuse to speak to him. Picard doesn't have to prove anything to Q, Humans are good, and Q is actively trying to thwart humans, making him bad. Picard and Kirk shouldn't be so reluctant to kill their enemies when need be, they should do what must be done to preserve human life and increase human power.
I also dislike how detached the philosophy is from reality, partly for the reasons above and partly because people aren't perfect. There are so, so many cases when an episode was clearly asking, "should we let them be or should we show them the error of their ways?" and I was like 'Who CARES whether their culture is upheld, or whether they are happy or sad, enlightened or savage? If they don't have anything you want and they don't pose a threat, let them wallow in their ignorance. They don't matter. You don't have some moral duty to spread your ideals everywhere, you have a moral duty to ensure the peace and prosperity of humanity, at the expense or benefit of other species and individuals.' I really hate the replicator too. Material wealth for individuals, as well as material strength or societies has been a driving force of human history and taking it away throws so much stuff out of wack. Not to mention, the show often makes it seem like without material wealth, humans little reason to be selfish, and not only is that not true, it also takes away a lot of conflicts. The crew is so often united in its goals, and simply disagree about the right way to achieve them, rather than someone or a group behaving selfishly. Not that it has to become a hopeless show where the theme is "everyone only cares about himself", but there should be characters that are either somewhat ambitious, greedy or cruel, but still 'good guys' because their good traits counterbalance all that.
To conclude, it feels like Star Trek gets bogged down in what should happen in a perfect world, and ignores what would and must happen in the real world. In the real world, not only can you not save everyone, in order to save someone you sometimes have to screw someone else. You have to do bad to do good. People do the right things for the wrong reasons. A friend to all is a friend to none. The road to peace is paved with war, the road to freedom is paved with slavery, and the road to prosperity is paved with poverty.
It's a tragedy, really. The franchise has so much potential. I really, really want to like it. Maybe one day the point of view will change from pro-humanism and pacifism to pro-nationalism and imperialism, or maybe that will just be a different franchise altogether. If you have any suggestions for other shows or books I might like, they would be greatly appreciated.
