How?
One thing I especially hate in "In Theory" ...
- Thread starter Skipper
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Because she's the ship's counselor and a crew member wants to pursue a relationship with the romantic equivalent of a replicator. A chat with Jenna would have been in order.
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Indeed. And a no-waffling "this is a bad idea" to Data as well.
Yep. Imagine if a psychologist on an aircraft carrier (I found out they exist) learned that a crew member wanted to start a relationship with a soda machine. Would they shrug and offer some generic advice, and only if specifically asked?
The way I was going to play it was kinda unromantic, i don't know if that's the right word, but still something more than friends, in the sense of it being like a companionship, where she enjoys Data as just being the best android he can be, quest for humanity and all. i can see a logic in it since his creator was human and he aspires to be more like him and his role models. but i just liked the idea of not having to try to impress someone, his eccentricities being what draws her in. I hope it would have made sense in context for the story I was going to tell.
A soda machine doesn't closely emulate a human. Data does. He's just not capable of genuine human emotion.
Data might do well in an intimate relationship, with a person who knew who he was and what to expect from him. And with the understanding that no "special romance program" was needed.
In the wide, wide galaxy of Star Trek, there have got to be plenty of intelligent organic species that experience (lack of) emotion very similar to Data, and not just a philosophy of emotional suppression like the Vulcans. There must be whole academic tomes on the psychology of such species, comparative psychology with more human-like species, inter-species dealings and personal relationships, etc., that Troi could have drawn from.
But then again, Trek is rather unimaginative when it comes to extraterrestrials, at least compared to literary science fiction.
Kor
But then again, Trek is rather unimaginative when it comes to extraterrestrials, at least compared to literary science fiction.
Kor
How much of that literature is about the unemotional species attempting to become more like another species, as opposed to being who they are?
So she was looking for something that was impossible to have. And the possibility of having it was the same from Data and from the soda machine .
I'm sure of it. But it's been said repeatedly in the episode (and the author confirmed it) that Data is completely incapable of offering a romantic relationship. And he can't even fake a decent one.
So that's why the whole episode is so bizarre. We're told (and repeatedly shown) that Data just doesn't have that aspect of humanity. Okay. Aromantics exist among humans, too. It's not a secret among the other characters. But everyone gives him (cheesy) advice on how to handle a relationship. If a totally aromantic friend of mine asked me for advice on the subject, the first thing I'd say would be "Are you sure? Are you sure you have the right emotional tools to handle a relationship?", not "Remember to compliment her when she gets a new hairdo."
I'm pretty much aro, but I think it's more reaction to circumstance than inherent.
Someone should have asked Data that.
And yet, despite all of this, Data is easily the most popular TNG character when it comes to "I have a crush on this guy". So there IS something about him that makes people go "yup, I'd marry this one".
Why don't you point out Vulcans then?
And... Sorry, I can't take you seriously now. You sound like a troll that just does not like Data. And if you want to model her character off of your thinking than she deserves everything she gets. You might as well call Data a toaster then like from a "Measure of a Man." Don't project your feelings ontothis character ok? She won't be prejudiced. Also, you said yourself you did not think it would be something he would do. But yeah, i think you were just trying to not be a troll and used this as cover. Or I did not notice a joke. I am starting to wonder if you are a fan and as well as some others from other posts. It was the way you had presented the original post that gave off warning bells. But I decided to give you the benefit of the doubt. Go on be a champion of women maybe you'll get some points. But don't speak for others, kay? Saw "soda machine" too. And you should not even be a part of the trek fandom since you cannot understand the FUCKING (swearing's fine) message. You know what I am really upset about the most? I said this was important to you. But I now I know I see this was just a big joke to you. And you made a joke of sexism.
I am really am starting to hate this fandom, at least here. The homophobia over Garashir which no one cared about. Having the nerve to call the south racist in the 60's. Cheap shots. WTF? Mods bullying posters and swearing at them. I don't know what happened to this place. But i should not judge the entire fanbase as forums don't seem to bring out the best in people. I know there are some good posters here, but it seems I am running into too many rude ones lately. I know this will get a ton of backlash but IDGAF.
Yeah, probably Worf second as far as just characters go. Data is very popular in fic. This may scandalize others but not the non-binaries I am sure, but Data/Geordi is super popular among ficcers and Data/Tasha. Most who are women writers. So, they seem to think Data is fine and not offensive or enough to care. But I am certain the OP would not like to hear this. This sounds like what "Measure of man" warned against. Maybe the OP knows this. Thats why he brought in the "Nice guy trope" to gain some sort feminist points. I know the type. Plus, Data fans that care about the metaphor may feel uncomfortable, sadly.
I will get a word salad comment maybe to shut me down because they don't know what to say. At a geek forum, lol. This place is word salad central.
Troi is not prejudiced, though. Thank gosh. Why are you even into Trek? Usually, the Toi is useless trope is rooted in sexism anyway. And only think she is useful as a sex object. I just want to educate you there because you are so concerned. And it may come off that way to some ladies.
I wish this place had in an informative smilie.
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Double post.
Because she gives very generic commentary on situations rather than specific help like counselors are trained to do. There's no reflection on Data's own history of being friends with humans and how that could help him. It's "be more than your programming." It undersells Data while ignoring what Jenna might need.
And it's played very poorly in my opinion.
Hard to take this seriously. Fans come in different shapes and sizes.
amongst all the other.. things, there's something very Pulaskian about vocally and repeatedly insisting that Data is nothing more than an unfeeling machine, nothing more than a soda machine that talks. and even Pulaski mellowed out a lot on it, even if she never fully accepted him as "alive", instead of becoming more entrenched as time went on.
anyone who watched the series should be able to see that he does have emotions, even without the chip, even if Data says otherwise, they're just... different. whether the situation in the episode was handled correctly... idk. it was somehwat cringeworthy, i don't think it was going to be different the way it's set up, but i also don't think it was done with malicious intent. it probably should have been revisited, but...
(i think it was a missed opportunity not to include Pulaski in Picard, as well as do more with
)
anyone who watched the series should be able to see that he does have emotions, even without the chip, even if Data says otherwise, they're just... different. whether the situation in the episode was handled correctly... idk. it was somehwat cringeworthy, i don't think it was going to be different the way it's set up, but i also don't think it was done with malicious intent. it probably should have been revisited, but...
(i think it was a missed opportunity not to include Pulaski in Picard, as well as do more with
Moriarty
He does have emotions and relationships. That's why In Theory is nonsensical.
So, people think sexism is funny? And scapegoating characters with low brow pot shots is ok too? This is not helping my impression of this place any. Sorry.
But thanks for not jumping down my throat.
Not sure how you got that from my post.So, people think sexism is funny? And scapegoating characters with low brow pot shots is ok too? This is not helping my impression of this place any. Sorry.
I don't think sexism is funny. I think Troi is a poor counselor. I think pot shots at characters are par for the course in my experience across several fandoms, and twenty plus years of being maligned for my favorite character.
Regardless, there's no standard for "true fan" in my experience.
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