Picard and Wesley

[Orphalesion]

Surely by the 24th century, birth control would be 100% reliable? So there would be no more "love children" as such. Unplanned pregnancies would no longer exist.

As said above, love children do still exist, plus if the show were to follow that idea, I always assumed a situation where Beverly slept with Picard and...uh...her husband (forgot his name) shortly after one another, making Wesley's parentage ambiguous.

The bigger problem is that they'd probably learn of Wesley's true parentage as soon as they check his DNA, which they probably do as a standard examination for newborns to see whether anything needs to be repaired or harmful mutations need to be removed or some such.

Was the first season of TNG before parentage tests became a thing?

 

[Oddish]

Insane as it may sound, it is actually popular to feel a connection and obligation for the child of a friend you lost... even if you have no biological relation to the child.

I don't get to have kids of my own because no sane woman would have me, but there have been kids in my life whom I cared very much for.

 

[gakelly]

They could have had multiple possible fathers...could have had a space Maury show. "You are not the father...."

 

[Oddish]

That probably gets picked up the first time the Doc scans the newborn. Or maybe when they scan the mom's belly. "The fetus is four weeks along, coming along nicely... oh, by the way, you're not the dad."

 

[Ragitsu]

Judging by a conversation in "The Child", abortions certainly exist in the Trek universe.

 

[Orphalesion]

Judging by a conversation in "The Child", abortions certainly exist in the Trek universe.

But that doesn't mean Beverly would have aborted Wesley if he had been sired by Picard.

 

[Ragitsu]

But that doesn't mean Beverly would have aborted Wesley if he had been sired by Picard.

Oh, I wasn't trying to imply anything; I was merely pointing out a canon example of birth control/abortion access in the Star Trek universe.

 

[Oddish]

My head canon is that it's rare, because one, birth control is safe and reliable, including "morning after" hyposprays. If your night of passion gets a little too passionate, just self-administer and conception is blocked. And two, prenatal development is well understood, and that life begins at conception is the prevailing belief.

However, as seen in "The Child", the mother's right to choose is respected. When Deanna made her decision, the discussion ended.

 

[Ragitsu]

life begins at conception is the prevailing belief.

I'm going to regret this, but...

...?

 

[Oddish]

If you want to dispute me on when life begins, let's do it in the appropriate forum (I'm sure it's in TNZ somewhere). Here's what's relevant.

In "The Child", Worf considers Troi's pregnancy a threat, and advocates termination.
Data considers it an emergent life and opposes it.
Riker focuses on Troi's safety.
Troi makes her own choice. Picard declares the discussion over.
This suggests that under 24th century law, the women's right to choose carries the day.

 

[Ragitsu]

If you want to dispute me on when life begins, let's do it in the appropriate forum (I'm sure it's in TNZ somewhere).

There are worthier pursuits. I was curious about your assertion in the context of Star Trek.

 

[Legate Duhmar]

As said above, love children do still exist, plus if the show were to follow that idea, I always assumed a situation where Beverly slept with Picard and...uh...her husband (forgot his name) shortly after one another, making Wesley's parentage ambiguous.

The bigger problem is that they'd probably learn of Wesley's true parentage as soon as they check his DNA, which they probably do as a standard examination for newborns to see whether anything needs to be repaired or harmful mutations need to be removed or some such.

Was the first season of TNG before parentage tests became a thing?

The whole theory is ludicrous partly for the resons you outlined. First of all Picard is way to honorable to have engaged in such behavior with his friends wife. It does seem possible they may have hooked up shortly after Jack's death leading to some tension and regret as the release was probably just due to shared trauma and closeness. Secondly, as you pointed out the genetics would be noticed easily in such a society and also Picard would have been much more of a hands on mentor if Wesley was his son and Beverley would surely revealed this to him after Jacks death, if only to give Wes a shot at knowing his "real dad".

I really enjoy non canon theories and have my own I cling to but the Picard-Wesley father-son scenario is not one of them. Picard just seems to be a sometime mentor and example to Wesley and in my opinion he did a subpar job sheparding the young kid along and Wes sort of got lost in the shuffle and eloped with the Traveler....

 

[danellis]

If he and Beverly grew close, it was well after Jack's death. Now of course there wouldn't be anything wrong with that - Beverly isn't supposed to be alone for the rest of her life. But while Jack was alive, Picard never said or did a thing.

I may be misremembering, but I thought Picard *introduced* Jack and Beverley, suggesting that he was close to her before Jack, rather than after (close as in friends, not romantic).

dJE

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I may be misremembering, but I thought Picard *introduced* Jack and Beverley

No, Picard's friend Walker Keel introduced them.

 

[danellis]

No, Picard's friend Walker Keel introduced them.

I stand corrected, thank you

dJE