To Taboo for you???

[RobertScorpio]

Star Trek has taken on many social issues...anti-war, racial, sexual, enviromental, same sex relations (though, not to the point)..is there an issue they haven't done that you think they never will because it is so politically incorrect?

Rob
Scorpio

 

[Brian]

I don't recall that they've done abortion. The allegory would have to be mighty thin to avoid pissing off a lot of people.

EDIT: But to answer the question in the subject line, no, nothing is too taboo for me to discuss or see treated by Star Trek.

 

[msbae]

I don't recall that they've done abortion.

It was mentioned in The Child (TNG).

There hasn't been very many religious storylines outside of DS9. I'd like to see Trek explore that subject a little more.

 

[Brian]

^ Ah, you're right. Thanks.

As I recall, Worf wanted to abort it, but Troi said it was her decision, or something like that. It doesn't foster much discussion when the mother is against it. :/ But at least they acknowledged that she had the choice.

 

[Dale]

I don't recall that they've done abortion.

It was mentioned in The Child (TNG).

Indeed, and they came down decidedly pro-choice. They were talking about the implications of the pregnancy with Worf taking the "kill it now" tack for security reasons until Troi said "I am keeping this child" or something to that effect, and Picard immediately declared the discussion over. Which decision Troi made wasn't the point of the scene... it was the fact that her decision was the only one that mattered.

As for "where will they not go?"... I'm thinking pedophilia. They've also never explored the bestiality connotations of inter-species relations (though Enterprise made an approach to the issue with the Peter Weller xenophobia episodes).

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

There hasn't been very many religious storylines outside of DS9. I'd like to see Trek explore that subject a little more.

I wouldn't.

When ENT did it ("Chosen Realm"), it came off as preachy and heavy-handed.

 

[RobertScorpio]

I don't recall that they've done abortion.

It was mentioned in The Child (TNG).

Indeed, and they came down decidedly pro-choice. They were talking about the implications of the pregnancy with Worf taking the "kill it now" tack for security reasons until Troi said "I am keeping this child" or something to that effect, and Picard immediately declared the discussion over. Which decision Troi made wasn't the point of the scene... it was the fact that her decision was the only one that mattered.

And it must be said that it is a choice; either keep it or not. Both are equal choices IF you are pro-choice. Some people seem to have a problem with the meaning of pro-choice...

Rob
Scorpio

 

[garamet]

On the other hand, there's "Up the Long Ladder," where Pulaski destroys the clones of herself and Riker without turning a hair. Would that be abortion or murder?

 

[RobertScorpio]

There hasn't been very many religious storylines outside of DS9. I'd like to see Trek explore that subject a little more.

I wouldn't.

When ENT did it ("Chosen Realm"), it came off as preachy and heavy-handed.

Yep..it did. Boston Legal, which is a pretty liberal show, does try to give both sides an argument, though it usually sides with the "left" side. But it does a far better job than TREK ever has at exploring the issue from two different sides..IMO..

Robert Xavier Scorpio

 

[c0rnedfr0g]

Some people seem to have a problem with the meaning of pro-choice

I bet aborted fetuses have a problem with the meaning.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Some people seem to have a problem with the meaning of pro-choice

I bet aborted fetuses have a problem with the meaning.

Among others.

 

[Brian]

It was mentioned in The Child (TNG).

Indeed, and they came down decidedly pro-choice. They were talking about the implications of the pregnancy with Worf taking the "kill it now" tack for security reasons until Troi said "I am keeping this child" or something to that effect, and Picard immediately declared the discussion over. Which decision Troi made wasn't the point of the scene... it was the fact that her decision was the only one that mattered.

And it must be said that it is a choice; either keep it or not. Both are equal choices IF you are pro-choice. Some people seem to have a problem with the meaning of pro-choice...

Rob
Scorpio

But if the choice made is morally aligned with the views of those who are anti-choice, as Troi's was in "The Child", it does not spark thought or discussion of the implications. That was my point. In fact, it did not lead to me even remembering that the choice had been made, until msbae reminded me of it. If they did an episode where the choice made was morally opposite of those would would restrict choice, you can bet that it would have been a memorable dramatic moment, sparking years of discussion.

Take "Half a Life" as an example. By showing a society where euthanasia is the norm, it sparked thought and discussion. Showing a society where euthanasia is not practiced, what is there to discuss?

 

[Lindley]

On the other hand, there's "Up the Long Ladder," where Pulaski destroys the clones of herself and Riker without turning a hair. Would that be abortion or murder?

According to Odo, the latter.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

On the other hand, there's "Up the Long Ladder," where Pulaski destroys the clones of herself and Riker without turning a hair. Would that be abortion or murder?

According to Odo, the latter.

But that was after the clone (of Ibudan) had already matured. Pulaski and Riker's clones were 'inert' and hadn't started living yet. Odo would probably be smart enough to make that distinction. Also, Ibudan *willingly* created his own clone (with the express intent of murdering it) and this obviously did not apply to the latter.

 

[Guartho]

Odo is also presumably going by Bajoran law and not Federation law.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Odo is also presumably going by Bajoran law and not Federation law.

As far as we know, Bajoran law as it relates to murder is the same as anyone else's, Federation included. You willingly kill somebody, you go to prison.

As for the reverse, I doubt what Riker and Pulaski did would be considered a crime - anywhere.

 

[Dale]

Odo is also presumably going by Bajoran law and not Federation law.

As far as we know, Bajoran law as it relates to murder is the same as anyone else's, Federation included. You willingly kill somebody, you go to prison.

As for the reverse, I doubt what Riker and Pulaski did would be considered a crime - anywhere.

Actually, I'd assume Bajoran law would be much more linked to their religion than Federation law would be to any particular religious beliefs. For Bajorans it would be all about the presence or absence of the pagh.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

For Bajorans it would be all about the presence or absence of the pagh.

And I doubt they would consider two inert, nonliving clones to have any.

 

[Navaros]

They've also never explored the bestiality connotations of inter-species relations (though Enterprise made an approach to the issue with the Peter Weller xenophobia episodes).

This issue is kinda/sorta touched on in DS9 when Weyoun makes a hilarious joke about watching Ezri and Worf do it because he loves to observe inter-species mating rituals.

On the other hand, there's "Up the Long Ladder," where Pulaski destroys the clones of herself and Riker without turning a hair. Would that be abortion or murder?

Abortion & murder is the same thing, so it would be both.

And like Odo said in DS9 to the guy who killed his own clone: "Killing your own clone is still murder", then Odo and the Feds put that guy away. They shoulda put Pulaski away for murder too. And Riker for being complicit in the murders.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

I don't recall any time when Star Trek tackled pedophilia, either literally or metaphorically (not sure how to do it metaphorically, either, in a way that would unambiguously communicate what the metaphor was supposed to be.)