Why is that? I think this is the first time I have seen anyone say anything but praise for the character.
If they had filmed "Hollow Pursuit" today, would Barclay have remained on the Enterprise at the end?
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Why is that? I think this is the first time I have seen anyone say anything but praise for the character.
He isn't a believable character in the universe he inhabits. That someone would be that utterly useless, makes it through the Harvard/Yale/West Point of the 24th century, then ends up with a cream position on the flagship of the Federation? But can't even be mindful enough to show up on time. I don't buy it.
Then the acting is pretty weak.
One can be shy without being a drag on everyone around them.
You mean us watching them make fun of him? I'll pass.
Well if a character like him, autistic, appearred in a show now? Probably root for him/her..
The theory is at the end, in Engame, she is dating Holo Chakotay, not the real Chakotay, and everyone sorta tolerates it, except real Chakotay who stays in his room getting pent up.
I don't think he was autistic. Just shy and lacking in confidence. We did have one guy on "Voyager" who had OCD though.
Common cold cured.
Head aches cured.
Cancer cured.
Kidney failure cured.
Mental illness (mostly) cured.
OCD cured.
Autism cured.
It's a Utopia.
There is nothing wrong with Barclay.
He acts like that because he thinks that it looks cool, or it's a trick to pick up girls.
Bortus had a porn addiction on the Orville.
He was not boffing fabrications of his friends, but given time, and opportunity, he probably would have gone there... Although looking at the giant men that he was into... I'm fairly sure he wouldn't be interested in any one on the crew of the Orville or the Enterprise D.
Worf is a twink.
Head aches cured.
Cancer cured.
Kidney failure cured.
Mental illness (mostly) cured.
OCD cured.
Autism cured.
It's a Utopia.
There is nothing wrong with Barclay.
He acts like that because he thinks that it looks cool, or it's a trick to pick up girls.
Bortus had a porn addiction on the Orville.
He was not boffing fabrications of his friends, but given time, and opportunity, he probably would have gone there... Although looking at the giant men that he was into... I'm fairly sure he wouldn't be interested in any one on the crew of the Orville or the Enterprise D.
Worf is a twink.
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I don't think anyone has a right to barge in on someone else's private holodeck time, whatever the program is about or who is in it. As long as what is going on doesn't interfere with your job (or illegal, like running a black market or being a hired assassin or something), what you do on your time is no one else's business.
Which is exactly what was happening... his holodeck escapades made Barclay constantly late for his shifts and only doing the bare minimum while on the job. Those kinds of things happening at a job like, for example, a cashier, won't do much more than make the work more difficult for those who are on time and doing their best. But on a starship, as a member of probably THE most important department on a vessel with over 1,000 crew and civilians... that kind of behavior not only makes the work for everyone else in Engineering harder, but it puts the entire crew at risk.
While Riker and LaForge might come across as dismissive of Barclay's shyness and personal problems, none of that would have happened if Barclay hadn't allowed his holodeck addiction affect his job.
I love Barclay, and he is very identifiable with so many of us... but there has to come a point where he bears responsibility for his bad work performance. Giving him a pass for that just because he is someone who might be on the spectrum is not doing anyone any favors, including Barclay.
Which is exactly what was happening... his holodeck escapades made Barclay constantly late for his shifts and only doing the bare minimum while on the job. Those kinds of things happening at a job like, for example, a cashier, won't do much more than make the work more difficult for those who are on time and doing their best. But on a starship, as a member of probably THE most important department on a vessel with over 1,000 crew and civilians... that kind of behavior not only makes the work for everyone else in Engineering harder, but it puts the entire crew at risk.
While Riker and LaForge might come across as dismissive of Barclay's shyness and personal problems, none of that would have happened if Barclay hadn't allowed his holodeck addiction affect his job.
I love Barclay, and he is very identifiable with so many of us... but there has to come a point where he bears responsibility for his bad work performance. Giving him a pass for that just because he is someone who might be on the spectrum is not doing anyone any favors, including Barclay.
Maybe Voyager never actually made it back and all of Endgame (plus Nemesis) is just Seven's simulation.
I think obviously everyone is entitled to their fantasies. If in my free time I dream of having orgies with colleagues but during work I treat them with respect and professionalism there is nothing to object to.
The problem, rightly so, is when my fantasies interfere with my work. The other problem is that Barckley did nothing to try to keep his fantasies private. Using a modern analogy: there is an important work meeting and this colleague doesn't show up. They try to contact him but can't. Then they go to his workstation and found him intently watching Deep Throat 12 starring his coworkers.
How long do you think he would keep his current job?
The problem, rightly so, is when my fantasies interfere with my work. The other problem is that Barckley did nothing to try to keep his fantasies private. Using a modern analogy: there is an important work meeting and this colleague doesn't show up. They try to contact him but can't. Then they go to his workstation and found him intently watching Deep Throat 12 starring his coworkers.
How long do you think he would keep his current job?
I think "Hollow Pursuits" is painful to watch as an episode. It is a product of its time, but... is that enough to say it gets a pass? This is a show that is meant to be BETTER than a product of its time because it's set in a far future. They could - and should - have done better than to show everyone picking on Barclay for being on the spectrum. They always claim they're so evolved as a species and yet the first thing they do when someone who isn't like them comes aboard is to pick on him and call him Broccoli, just because he's clearly extremly socially awkward and having an incredibly difficult time. SOME evolved humanity right there, thanks but no thanks.
And Barclay should not even have been ABLE to create a program like that where he gets to use the likeness of fellow officers to play around with. Even in the 80s/90s when this episode was made it should have been clear that this is a no no. So I guess my answer is "the entire episode should have been tossed".
What I find interesting is that Hollow Pursuits was actually written by a woman, not by - what I'd expect - a dude who wanted to write a story about "a fellow awkward nerd dude who uses the holodeck to get laid". I would love to hear her thoughts on this entire process and what made her write things that way.
And Barclay should not even have been ABLE to create a program like that where he gets to use the likeness of fellow officers to play around with. Even in the 80s/90s when this episode was made it should have been clear that this is a no no. So I guess my answer is "the entire episode should have been tossed".
What I find interesting is that Hollow Pursuits was actually written by a woman, not by - what I'd expect - a dude who wanted to write a story about "a fellow awkward nerd dude who uses the holodeck to get laid". I would love to hear her thoughts on this entire process and what made her write things that way.
Why is it surprising that Sally Caves, a woman, wrote "Hollow Pursuits"?
You think women don't have fantasies, too?
You think women don't have fantasies, too?
No. Of course they have fantasies. Why wouldn't they. It's surprising that she would write a story where a dude uses an actual woman's likeness without her consent to pleasure himself on the holodeck, in essence using her as an object in his sexual fantasy. That's what I find surprising.
How did Barclay get so much holodeck time?
Wait?
Google!
A fair divvy means that everyone is allowed 2 or 3 x 1 hour shifts of holo fun per week. Although children, sad sacks and anyone with something better to do, would not use the holodeck time, but that's still one hour per day...
It's possible that ten people can use the same holodeck at the same time, having completely different adventures, and never notice one another.
Actually if you're in a holodeck and you're standing maybe three feet away from maybe children, that you can't see, its not cool to paint every surface with your sweat or bare buttocks prints, so that should be enough to encourage good behaviour.
Wait?
Google!
A fair divvy means that everyone is allowed 2 or 3 x 1 hour shifts of holo fun per week. Although children, sad sacks and anyone with something better to do, would not use the holodeck time, but that's still one hour per day...
It's possible that ten people can use the same holodeck at the same time, having completely different adventures, and never notice one another.
Actually if you're in a holodeck and you're standing maybe three feet away from maybe children, that you can't see, its not cool to paint every surface with your sweat or bare buttocks prints, so that should be enough to encourage good behaviour.
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I would keep it exactly the same, especially the G-rating nature of his interactions with the fake crew, and just have Barclay show more remorse about his actions and that the crew accept it even if they won't forget it, and show that people can make steps to be rehabilitated. I like Barclay and I like that he messed up and I like that with the crew's help he took steps to make himself better.
I'm putting on my sexist 80s cap.
Women don't dream of fantasy and escape, they dream of gruesome crushing reality.
Men want to be James Bond.
Woman want marriage, kids and a house to clean.
A woman who accidentally finds a life of adventure is a failure.
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