In Star Trek's future on earth, could you just be lazy all day if you wanted to?

[eschaton]

To me, the weirdest thing - by far - was the waitstaff in Joseph Sisko's restaurant.

I can understand why someone in a post-scarcity utopia would still want to run their own small restaurant - especially if cooking was a family tradition. I can't for the life of me figure out why anyone would want to be a waiter for Joseph Sisko without being paid, betterment of mankind bedamned.

Maybe they're just doing it for a spell in hopes of becoming an apprentice chef and learning his secrets?

 

[Vger23]

To me, the weirdest thing - by far - was the waitstaff in Joseph Sisko's restaurant.

I can understand why someone in a post-scarcity utopia would still want to run their own small restaurant - especially if cooking was a family tradition. I can't for the life of me figure out why anyone would want to be a waiter for Joseph Sisko without being paid, betterment of mankind bedamned.

Maybe they're just doing it for a spell in hopes of becoming an apprentice chef and learning his secrets?

Maybe they are synths.



And now we know why they rose up.


But seriously, we all know the reason why. Because people in the Federation still need jobs, regardless of the propaganda we hear from time-to-time about how wonderful everything is.

 

[NewHeavensNewEarth]

Obviously utopian Trek is sustained by taking lazy people and turning them into the base proteins for food replicators.

 

[NCC-73515]

Obesity is prevented by simply beaming any initial fat out of the belly. Doesn't even have to materialize again and can be used as energy. The more people eat, the more they charge up the power supply, giving back to society.

 

[eschaton]

Obesity is prevented by simply beaming any initial fat out of the belly. Doesn't even have to materialize again and can be used as energy. The more people eat, the more they charge up the power supply, giving back to society.

I've thought before that Trek missed out by not doing an eating disorder episode. I mean, a transporter could be used to facilitate bulimia. Eat a big meal, and then immediately get it beamed out before it's digested.

There are plenty of moderately overweight people in Trek, so it's hard to believe the fat itself is beamed out.

 

[The Wormhole]

To me, the weirdest thing - by far - was the waitstaff in Joseph Sisko's restaurant.

I can understand why someone in a post-scarcity utopia would still want to run their own small restaurant - especially if cooking was a family tradition. I can't for the life of me figure out why anyone would want to be a waiter for Joseph Sisko without being paid, betterment of mankind bedamned.

Maybe they're just doing it for a spell in hopes of becoming an apprentice chef and learning his secrets?

Or they plan to someday run their own restaurant and are learning all the various facets of how one works. Even in Utopia you need experience in order to lead. Contrary to what a certain movie wants us to think with a third year cadet instantly jumping to starship captain.

 

[Longinus]

I'm sure there would be some people that are just lazy and do nothing. But why would that be a problem? Though I think most people would want to contribute some way, people want to feel accomplished and useful.

 

[thribs]

Probably but you would get bored.

 

[The Rock]

Or they plan to someday run their own restaurant and are learning all the various facets of how one works. Even in Utopia you need experience in order to lead. Contrary to what a certain movie wants us to think with a third year cadet instantly jumping to starship captain.

Couldn't you just learn all that stuff in a holodeck/holosuite? Hologram AI is so advanced in that time that they are basically indistinguishable from people.

 

[at Quark's]

Obviously utopian Trek is sustained by taking lazy people and turning them into the base proteins for food replicators.

Now I'm picturing a campy "Raktajino is people!!!!" episode in DS9

 

[Boris Skrbic]

Remember that Jake Sisko figured in “Explorers” his father would’ve used up a month’s worth of transporter credits beaming home for dinner as a cadet. Life in the Federation would be somewhat like working for benefits but no salary. The goal may be self-actualization, but that doesn’t mean greater effort wouldn’t be rewarded with more “credits” — no capital, though, only the equivalent of targeted pocket money if you travel outside the Federation (you can buy X but not Y and only this much of Z).

 

[JirinPanthosa]

I figure the reason people do menial jobs on Earth is that having a resume is the only way to get jobs you want later.

If I didn’t have to work I wouldn’t spend all my time on my sofa. I’d travel, train more, start writing.

 

[The Wormhole]

Couldn't you just learn all that stuff in a holodeck/holosuite? Hologram AI is so advanced in that time that they are basically indistinguishable from people.

I would think real world, on the spot hands on experience would still be preferable and a better teacher than a holodeck, regardless how realistic it is. After all, replicated food is still vastly inferior compared to the real stuff, simulated work experience is likely just as inferior compared to the real stuff. Contrary to what a certain TNG episode would have us think that a therapist automatically qualifies for starship command just because she ran a holodeck program and told holographic Geordi to kill himself.

 

[Ronald Held]

I assume in the 24th century Earth, food shelter sanitation is free. If you want more than just existing, you need to work.

 

[Herbert]

Theoretically, I'm sure one could get away with being lazy and lounging around for a living in Gene's Utopia. There's probably propaganda to combat this, convince people they want to work their asses off for no money or compensation of any kind. This may even go so far as the lazy being shunned and ostracized by their neighbours, but they'd face no official consequence or reprimand from the government.

It may be difficult for us to imagine how anyone would work their asses for no money but I'm reminded of what Picard says to Offenhaus in the episode, The Neutral Zone. To paraphrase, there is no material want or need. Humanity has evolved beyond the need to accumulate wealth or things. TNG at times in the beginning of the series certainly wants to give you the impression that 24th century humans are much more mature and evolved than those silly, backward 20th century humans.

Now, whether you buy into that or not is a totally different thing. And we know that what humans do on planets other than Earth may indeed involve a more capitalist focus and definitely involves the acquisition of material wealth. However, if you buy into what Picard says, then people are free to pursue whatever in their lives because they don't have to worry about being homeless, or starving, or not having money. I interpret that to mean if someone wants to be a slacker and spend their days in holodeck fantasies then so be it.

 

[Doom Shepherd]

Listen, I'm the laziest laze who ever lazed. Left to my own devices, I compare unfavorably with a cat with his own personal sunbeam, or a koala.

But even I get bored. Eventually, I'd have to do SOMETHING. Ideally, I'd be something like a bouncer/armed recovery specialist for a public library. Libraries NEED a Brute Squad for the people who abuse the service. Also it would be FUN.

 

[ALF]

It's just hard for us to imagine since the world of Star Trek is such a stark contrast to our own world, currently.
In Star Trek's future on Earth... you wouldn't want to be lazy all day. Too much awesome stuff to do. Limitless potential.

I was just remembering in Lower Decks TNG, when the server from 10-forward that the ensigns were hanging out with was envied for the fact that he doesn't feel the intimidation from Riker that they do. I always wondered what it was that the servers/bartenders are motivated by. Even if you weren't being paid traditionally, I guess post-scarcity you'd want to build up your skill set.

But as others have mentioned, yeah maybe work = credits for travel, etc. We've speculated in other Money-in-Federation threads that those that play by all the Federation rules get perks: free board, replicator credits and transporter credits. Those who don't abide by Federation law get nothing... but they are allowed to live freely on Federation worlds.

 

[Unimatrix Q]

Maybe you get credits which can be used for travel (including the use of transporters) and/or for buying nonreplicated goods and real estate, if you have a job.

Housing, Replicators, replicated goods and the use of Holodecks may be free.

 

[Boris Skrbic]

… though overuse of holodecks would also trigger the aforementioned appointments with a counselor.

 

[XCV330]

That robot cop in Star Trek 2009 always creeped me out. I mean damn, they looked like they were meant to instill fear in the average citizen rather than making them feel safe. Who the hell wants to live in a society where they are afraid of the people that are supposed to protect them?

The guy's riding on a flying motorcycle that can probably turn him into pulp if he falls off. That plus living in a universe where any smart person can probably build a ray gun from stuff at the local Home Depot might require some body and face protection.