Pon Farr

[Believer Bob]

First time poster, long time viewer...

Wondering if the fact that there are now only (give or take) ten thousand Vulcans left in existence, if this is going to make Pon Farr somewhat more than just a bothersome Vulcan biological affect, and more of a debilitating problem? Surely there are countless Vulcan refugees that have lost the mates that they were bonded to...?

As a related note, I think that one of the things I loved the most about the film, is the anticipation of reading the novels that will be written in its wake---particularly any involving Spock's efforts to rebuild the Vulcan culture...

 

[cubbie]

I was sort of wondering the same. Since Spock has a girlfriend, I'm assuming it's not because of Pon Farr and that they've done the deed.

Perhaps Pon Farr means that you have to mate every 7 years at a minimum. Meaning you can do it more often if you want.

 

[Nick Ryder]

Well maybe Old Spock's dream of Unification will come true far earlier, since Vulcans and Romulans might have to work together.

 

[Believer Bob]

I always assumed that Vulcan's could mate as often as they wanted, but that once every 7 years a biological machanism necessitated it...

Question: (not sure if this has ever been addressed in the boooks) Does Vulcan experiencing Pon Farr need to mate with the person he's bonded with? (Do female Vulcans experience Pon Farr?) Or can they mate with anyone? I seem to recal that Savik was able to help young Spock through his first Pon Farr on the Genesis planet (and this was elaborated a bit more in the novelization).

I would assume that pre-Apocalypse Vulcan society would have some sort of social/medical solution set up for Vulcan who've lost their mates to tragedy... However, it remains to be seen if this could be carried over with the remnants of Vulcan society, and if so, if it could be implemented on a catostrophic scale...

 

[Believer Bob]

Well maybe Old Spock's dream of Unification will come true far earlier, since Vulcans and Romulans might have to work together.

That's a REALLY fascinating idea! I wouldn't be at all surprised to see this concept touched upon in the forthcoming novels...

 

[nx1701g]

^ There aren't any novels based on the new film coming from what I've recently read. The novels will continue the Trek Prime universe.

I always assumed that Vulcan's could mate as often as they wanted, but that once every 7 years a biological machanism necessitated it...

Question: (not sure if this has ever been addressed in the boooks) Does Vulcan experiencing Pon Farr need to mate with the person he's bonded with? (Do female Vulcans experience Pon Farr?) Or can they mate with anyone? I seem to recal that Savik was able to help young Spock through his first Pon Farr on the Genesis planet (and this was elaborated a bit more in the novelization).

I would assume that pre-Apocalypse Vulcan society would have some sort of social/medical solution set up for Vulcan who've lost their mates to tragedy... However, it remains to be seen if this could be carried over with the remnants of Vulcan society, and if so, if it could be implemented on a catostrophic scale...

In Voyager during Tuvok's Pon Farr didn't Paris mention that he could bond with one of the Vulcans on the ship?

 

[CommanderRaytas]

I always saw it that way. I mean, what's the point of a human marrying a Vulcan if you're only going to get some every seven years?

 

[RevdKathy]

I can think of some women who would consider once every seven years would be a relief.

On the other hand, there's a 150 year life expectancy. Assuming adulthood at, say, 30 and a successful mating every seven years, that'd allow each couple time for 17 offspring. Repopulation might not be swift, but it's far from impossible.

 

[CommanderRaytas]

Sounds frightening to me. The Victorian ideal of the passionless woman. Hey, the old hysteria diagnoses and treatments would be back in a heartbeat.

 

[Believer Bob]

^ There aren't any novels based on the new film coming from what I've recently read. The novels will continue the Trek Prime universe.

I know there haven't been any announced yet, but I guarantee that there will be...

I can think of some women who would consider once every seven years would be a relief.

Yikes!

 

[CommanderRaytas]

Yikes indeed.

 

[MisterPL]

Vulcans are now an endangered species. They're going to need to mate more than once every seven years if they want to propagate.

My question is: Do Vulcans NEED to return to Vulcan in order to mate? If so...

 

[Brent]

Perhaps Vulcans will start mating with other species now, and the galaxy will be very very blended.

 

[iguana_tonante]

I was sort of wondering the same. Since Spock has a girlfriend, I'm assuming it's not because of Pon Farr and that they've done the deed.

Perhaps Pon Farr means that you have to mate every 7 years at a minimum. Meaning you can do it more often if you want.

Yeah, that's how I always understood it.

From various episodes (and some novels), sounds like both male and female Vulcan experience pon-farr, and that some kind touch-telepathy/mind-meld with a Vulcan experiencing pon-farr will trigger the same condition on another. But it's far from canon.

 

[CommanderRaytas]

I think they can mate whenever they want, but have to every seven years. One could argue that it's the same with humans, but I'm not going to open that can of worms.

 

[nx1701g]

I know there haven't been any announced yet, but I guarantee that there will be...

Don't be so sure. They may want to leave it in the hands of the movie writers for a time.

 

[Tralah]

If there are truly about 10,000 Vulcans left, then I wonder if Sarek, and Spock (even Spock Prime) will go on to have children, or more children in Sarek's case. I would think there would be a lot of pressure to ensure genetic diversity for the surviving members of this race to have a lot of children.

I still doesn't make sense to me that there would only be 10,000 Vulcans left. Vulcans had access to space travel for centuries, so I would assume there would be plenty of colonies populated with Vulcans out there. I guess the writers are choosing to ignore that for dramatic purposes though.

 

[Brent]

the 10,000 include those colonies, vulcans probably choose to live on their home planet, i would imagine they don't actually have a lot of colonies out there, they don't have that exploration gene like we have, that desire to expand and colonize other worlds

 

[DiSiLLUSiON]

I always assumed that Vulcan's could mate as often as they wanted, but that once every 7 years a biological machanism necessitated it...

To be honest, I read somewhere that Humans have a biological mechanism that necessitates a regular level of sex as well, or some of the chemicals in the brain become way too high.

Seeing as sex alleviates stress, that's not all that unbelievable.

 

[SalvorHardin]

If there are truly about 10,000 Vulcans left, then I wonder if Sarek, and Spock (even Spock Prime) will go on to have children, or more children in Sarek's case. I would think there would be a lot of pressure to ensure genetic diversity for the surviving members of this race to have a lot of children.

I still doesn't make sense to me that there would only be 10,000 Vulcans left. Vulcans had access to space travel for centuries, so I would assume there would be plenty of colonies populated with Vulcans out there. I guess the writers are choosing to ignore that for dramatic purposes though.

Or they were just referring to the survivors from the homeworld. 10000 evacuated out of 6 billion.