Star Trek was my moral compass growing up- was it yours?

[Chrisisall]

Kirk was my Dad; Spock was my brother; Uhura was my sister (that I would've lusted for if I were old enough).
Was Trek your thing growing up? Did it teach you right from wrong? Was Kirk your mentor in any way, like he was mine?

Am I old?

Are you young?

And, is the Enterprise ( Original, Refit or New) the most beautiful ship you've ever seen?

 

[Orac]

I probably picked up more core beliefs from Picard, but I learned how to give girls the glad-eye as a teen from studying Kirk's technique.

 

[Vance]

I think the original Star Trek was far better about teaching people to seek their morals than simply expressing what to have. (As much as a TV show could, mind you). Unlike even the later shows, Trek had the characters approach a situation from a variety of viewpoints, and struggle for solutions which worked, even if they weren't easy or elegant, and to take responsibility in them.

TNG, for its part, seemed to have the pat solutions in a pre-made playbook which Picard quoted, and resonsibility for actions was something that you never, ever, had.

 

[Chrisisall]

TNG, for its part, seemed to have the pat solutions in a pre-made playbook which Picard quoted, and resonsibility for actions was something that you never, ever, had.

Things are so easy when you've evolved beyond them.

 

[Gary7]

Moral compass?

You're kidding, right?

 

[Braindeer]

I loved Trek growing up, but Buffy was my moral compass between the ages of 12 and...well, now

Buffy good, vampires bad.

Actually, I think that's a pretty good moral distinction...

 

[Deckerd]

What is a moral compass?

 

[erastus25]

Moral compass?

You're kidding, right?

Like the OP it was mine too. To clarify, I don't mean I consciously thought "WWKD?" (what would Kirk do?), but as I began to examine my own views on right and wrong in 8/9th grade I found that there was a distinct humanist influence, along with some Christianity. I guess I was exposed to enough Star Trek that I started to believe in the message. And, really, there are far worse messages to believe in.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

No.

It was a television series - I found it exciting and inspiring in many ways, mainly as it seemed unusually imaginative and well-thought out for this kind of show (better than anything I'd seen before and better than just about every similar show that's followed).

I was living in a world full of examples, good and bad, of morality and right and wrong behavior. There were real heroes. doing real things, to admire and to try to emulate.

 

[Shieldsdown]

It taught me NEVER to trust Klingons !

 

[Hambone]

My moral compass came from my family; specifically, my father's work ethic, which I still find amazing.

When I was growing up, it was a full-time job hiding my love for Star Trek. As soon as your classmates found out you were a fan, you were subject to around-the-clock attacks including Wet Willies, Wedgies, Atomic Wedgies, Greasers, and the dreaded Rear Admiral.

 

[Shatmandu]

It taught me to be sexually attracted to robots.

Joe, with tetanus

 

[Chrisisall]

No.

I was living in a world full of examples, good and bad, of morality and right and wrong behavior. There were real heroes. doing real things, to admire and to try to emulate.

I guess I wasn't part of that world...
Trek had peeps for me to look up to that never let me down. Fictional role models are great when no others are around.

When I was growing up, it was a full-time job hiding my love for Star Trek. As soon as your classmates found out you were a fan, you were subject to around-the-clock attacks including Wet Willies, Wedgies, Atomic Wedgies, Greasers, and the dreaded Rear Admiral.

Being a Bruce Lee fan ALSO served me very well.
I was their worst f****ng nightmare- a geek with a sidekick which meant I had the ability to kick their ass whenever I felt like it!!!
I don't know how many times I said, "It's MISTER Spock, stupid."
Ahhhh, the joys of a mis-spent youth...

 

[Scarpad]

Kirk was my Dad; Spock was my brother; Uhura was my sister (that I would've lusted for if I were old enough).
Was Trek your thing growing up? Did it teach you right from wrong? Was Kirk your mentor in any way, like he was mine?

Am I old?

Are you young?

And, is the Enterprise ( Original, Refit or New) the most beautiful ship you've ever seen?

I think it was, I think the first episode I saw I was about 7, of course that age it's all about the cool stuff, but over the next 5-7 years I started to pick up on the other stuff, the non-interference directive, IDIC, etc and yes it did shape the person I am now.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

Trek had peeps for me to look up to that never let me down.

That's not really preparation for life. All human beings are limited creatures, after all.

 

[Lynx]

In a way, yes.

Star Trek gave me many of the values I have today.

 

[Chrisisall]

Trek had peeps for me to look up to that never let me down.

That's not really preparation for life.

We learn by doing.

Trek gave me role models to AIM FOR, not actually reach the level of- JFK & Martin Luthur King, JR cheated on their wives, for gosh sakes!!!
It doesn't matter HOW you formulate your values, all that matters is that you have them & that they are sound.

Some people can read the ingredients on a chewing gum wrapper, and unlock the secrets of the universe, you know.

 

[Lucky Charms]

I think it was one of the many things that influenced me as a child. I think I learned that the right thing is always the right thing to do no matter the cost. Also the concept of IDIC I think is very relevent in the day and age we live.

 

[Ops_was_a_truck]

Yeah, TNG was certainly mine.

PS: Hai, I'm new.

 

[DiSiLLUSiON]

Moral compass?

You're kidding, right?

I second this. I got my moral values from my parents and life itself, not a TV show, no matter how great Trek is.