^^At which point, Picard would assign Data the astrophysics lab thereby rendering disgruntled personnel obsolete.
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Starfleet's View on Its Sciences Division and the Star Trek Symbol
- Thread starter Baxten
- Start date
Yes... Picard held such contempt for scientists that he only fell in love with three of them.
You'll note those relationships didn't last.
No, but it does feel like Starfleet values command officers over other departments.
Or that might be a storytelling conceit.
Or that might be a storytelling conceit.
Actually, scratch that... We have seen a Sciences Division Captain before:
http://memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Krasnovsky
http://memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Krasnovsky
I think that a big part of the problem is that while Data effectively did the same things that Spock used to do, they made him a goldshirt because it looked better on him...resulting in: the lack of a main bridge position manned by a blueshirt; the main science guy on the ship not being a blueshirt; and science blueshirts being relegated to guest roles in TNG and VGR.
What took you so long?!
Here we go again…!
Here we go again…!
TOS did show captains and flag officers in all three colours. Of course, this does not mean they have command experience, as evidenced with Commodore Stocker in The Deadly Years.
In the 24th century, everyone Captain and above was command department, the one exception being Admiral Toddman on DS9. In the 22nd century, flag officers seem to have their own unique colour, a red and white stripe.
No one said it did. Earlier we pointed out an indication Picard has contempt for scientists, not Starfleet.
I don't think that Picard has a contempt for scientists. The whole thing with "Tapestry" is that Picard is frustrated and trying to get his life back. He's not frustrated that he's in a blue uniform. He's frustrated because he's only got two pips on his collar. The story would have proceeded exactly as it did on TNG "Tapestry" if Picard were wearing a red uniform with two pips, or a gold uniform with two pips.
Pay attention to the end of the episode:
Picard tells Riker what happened in detail and Riker states he wishes he had a chance to know that Picard. It's clear that Picard's views are not limited to him alone. Combined with David Marcus' statement about scientists always being pawns of Starfleet, we have a clear picture that it's Starfleet's general view on scientists.
Pay attention to the dialogue in Ten Forward:
Pretty clear that it's not just about pips but the division too.
RIKER: I was just trying to imagine a hell-bent for leather young officer insulting a Nausicaan twice his size. I wish I'd had a chance to know that Jean-Luc Picard.
Picard tells Riker what happened in detail and Riker states he wishes he had a chance to know that Picard. It's clear that Picard's views are not limited to him alone. Combined with David Marcus' statement about scientists always being pawns of Starfleet, we have a clear picture that it's Starfleet's general view on scientists.
Pay attention to the dialogue in Ten Forward:
PICARD: I would appreciate it if we could discuss it now. You see, I feel that I would like to move beyond astrophysics to Engineering or Security, something that might even lead to Command.
RIKER: Frankly, Lieutenant, I don't think that's realistic.
PICARD: Why?
TROI: I really don't think this is the place to be discussing this.
PICARD: Please. This is important to me. I believe that I can do more.
TROI: Hasn't that been the problem all along? Throughout your career you've had lofty goals, but you've never been willing to do what's necessary to attain them.
RIKER: Frankly, Lieutenant, I don't think that's realistic.
PICARD: Why?
TROI: I really don't think this is the place to be discussing this.
PICARD: Please. This is important to me. I believe that I can do more.
TROI: Hasn't that been the problem all along? Throughout your career you've had lofty goals, but you've never been willing to do what's necessary to attain them.
Pretty clear that it's not just about pips but the division too.
^ That comment had strictly to do with Picard wishing he'd known Picard when he was younger and wilder...it had nothing to do Picard's alternate not-so-wonderful life as a blueshirt.
Except that Riker never contests the part of the story where Picard requests to move to Engineering and Security to do "more", which clearly has to do with division and not just a physical location.
Moreover, Picard is the captain of the Enterprise, someone the audience is expected to root for.
After Riker hears Picard's detailed story:
RIKER: [. . .] It sounds like he [Q] put you through hell.
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Picard was given command of the Enterprise-D, the Federation flagship at the time. He is supposed to be an exemplary or a model representative of Starfleet. His views would reflect the general views of Starfleet or he would not be commanding a flagship.
That's the quote you should have used in the first place, then.
Then reconcile his supposed contempt of science with his statement "Starfleet is not a military organization; its purpose is exploration"
