unfettered ready room access

Discussion in 'Star Trek: The Next Generation' started by Nathan, Jan 5, 2017.

  1. Tenacity

    Tenacity Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

    Joined:
    Jul 14, 2016
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    Tenacity
    If you weren't already on the "visitors list" would Picard's doorbell even make a sound?
     
    Idran and Shikarnov like this.
  2. tharpdevenport

    tharpdevenport Admiral Admiral

    Not unless it scans your finger print, which by the 24th century would be a far out-of-date method of proving one's identity, that would so easily be defeated you'd think Wesley had aged to a kid again and once again showed up older more experienced officers.
     
  3. Idran

    Idran Commodore Commodore

    Joined:
    Apr 17, 2011
    That almost sounds like a koan. :D
     
  4. Greysun

    Greysun Lieutenant Commander Red Shirt

    Joined:
    Nov 30, 2016
    That was actually my point. I don't think it is a non sequitur. The OP postulates unfettered access to Picard. In fact, people had unfettered access to Kirk. You have to ring the bell or deal with a locked door (or Riker) when it comes to Picard, you can just walk in and wake Kirk up in the middle of the night if you feel like it.
    Also, as Riker informed Shelby, it is out of line to take issues directly to the Captain. Riker told her she needed to go through him and if she didn't there would be consequences. I don't recall Spock ever making that distinction with a crewman. There's also occasions where characters asked to see Picard and Riker told them he was busy (the two that come immediately to mind are the Romulan defectors).
    I think that if Picard is in a meeting, it's quite plausible for someone to come to the ready room door, ring the bell and not be granted access. The whole bridge crew is right there, I think someone would say "He's in a meeting with Admiral So-and-So. You'll have to come back later." Picard could also ask not to be disturbed because he was busy which would result in someone being turned around by bridge personnel if they came up there to bug him. :)