Data also got drunk once, so... nah.
Did Data just crush that guy's clavicle instead? I'm not in a place to verify at the moment.
Tardigrade Mind Meld?
- Thread starter _Roger_
- Start date
Data also got drunk once, so... nah.
Did Data just crush that guy's clavicle instead? I'm not in a place to verify at the moment.
Again, I wouldn't call a "out a total of 30 seconds" application of the VNP a successful application - IE No Burnham CAN'T do a Vulcan Neck Pinch. She knows the mechanics of how to apply it, but lacks either the physical strength (or if there is a psychic component lacks that as well) to fully pull it off properly.
If they do have a character do a mind meld with the creature, it won't be Burnham -- my guess would be Sarek, or just some other Vulcan they get to volunteer.
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I'm telling you right now...
And of course this was repeated when Spock mind-melded with V'Ger in The Motion Picture.
In-universe, any suitably complex computer circuitry is considered to have a soul/consciousness.
As much as Trek is classified as hard-sci-fi, there is a bit of woo-woo in it.
But is Trek really considered hard sf? I've certainly never thought of it that way.
Look at the writers Roddenberry recruited to write for TOS back in the day: Harlan Ellison, Norman Spinrad, Richard Matheson, Theodore Sturgeon, Robert Bloch . . . none of whom were exactly known for their rigorous hard-sf.
Plus, as I recall, he actively courted Ray Bradbury, who was also not a hard-sf guy.
Star Trek has NEVER been classified as 'Hard' science fiction. If fact many literary science fiction fans in the late 1960ies and early 1970ies disliked Star trek fans (and the term 'Trekkies' was born) because Star Trek became a big draw for Science Fiction conventions of the time that prior to Star trek were mostly literary events.And of course this was repeated when Spock mind-melded with V'Ger in The Motion Picture.
In-universe, any suitably complex computer circuitry is considered to have a soul/consciousness.
As much as Trek is classified as hard-sci-fi, there is a bit of woo-woo in it.
No reason in principle, why Burnham cannot learn to do a Nerve pinch. Unless you subscribe to the Katra fragment gives Burngam some mental Vulcan abilities, I do not see how she can mind meld with a non telepathic being.
I don't know how many threads there are here on that issue but I think you'll find there's considerable difference of opinion on this classification, largely depending on what your reference-point is. Compared to Star Wars, for instance, it's hard. Compared to 2001, not so much, but even 2001 had a positively Trek-like godlike alien race.
Great posts everyone! Regarding Burnham's possibly limited mind meld capability, it is also possible that the mega tardigrade might initiate/facilitate a mind meld. We have already seen in Burnham's tricorder scan of the tardigrade interacting with the spores that there was communication / energy transfer / symbiotic networking between the tardigrade and the spore lifeforms. Thus, many communication possibilities exist here!
...What do the spores do with humans, anyway? That is, what did they do with Burnham when Lorca showered her in those and she began seeing things? Was that communication for navigational purposes, the same the water bear does with the spores?
The spores might well act as a universal medium, then, transferring imagery from any random critter A to B, considering they seem to work on critters as different as humans and super-tardigrades.
Timo Saloniemi
The spores might well act as a universal medium, then, transferring imagery from any random critter A to B, considering they seem to work on critters as different as humans and super-tardigrades.
Timo Saloniemi
CRM-114, I agree with you. When the tardigrade puts its tendril/antenna on her shoulder and she says "Hello" - the tardigrade's reaction was clearly one of appreciation, recognition, and gentleness. So they have already established a degree of rapport, a good precursor for a mind meld. It seem the tardigrade can sense intentions, and its reactions are based on these perceptions.
Well we didn't see a Burnham-tardigrade mind meld after all, as I had speculated at the beginning of this discussion. Instead, we saw a Stamets - tardigrade/mycelium DNA "meld". Burnham's mind meld initiation capabilities thus remain completely unknown. Stamets is now partially united, on a DNA level, with his beloved fungi, not to mention he also now incorporates part of the tardigeade DNA. Stamet's jump facilitation success now means that other humans can be injected with the "Tardigrade DNA and replication catalysts that will initiate rapid horizontal gene transfer in a host." And thus, Starfleet now has the ability to create tardigrade jump substitutes both for the USS Discovery, as well as other new ships. I wonder if Klingons are a compatible species, even if they eventually get info on the spore drive? Also, there are now infinite story lines on potential positive, and negative effects on Stamets and others who undergo this DNA treatment. Also, since the tardigrade could physically traverse the mycelial network without instrumentality, could a human? The Traveler in TNG had the ability to traverse lightyears without instrumentality - though his travel mode may be different, involving advanced understandings thought energy.
Wow, in S01E06 "Lethe" we got a Burnham mind meld after all, but with Sarek, not the tardigrade, and without physical contact, and through presumably light-years of space-time. Cool! OK, Burnham didn't initiate, and she apparently has part of Sarek's katra, so there was a boost factor over conventional mind melding. Also, since she got Sarek's SOS in near real time across again presumably light years, that would imply that the mind-to-mind (soul-to-soul?) speed of communication is faster than light, possibly as fast as subspace communications, or even instantaneous. I'm guessing instantaneous, in the manner of quantum-entanglement. Burnham and Sarek are macroscopically quantum-entangled, I would speculate.
