What would you use the holodeck for?

[at Quark's]

Well, if they ban everything that works then it's no wonder that they often end up in such a mess.

I agree, but is it really that different from the all those other fantastic technologies-of-the-week that could have helped solve a lot of problems, only to never be seen again after that one episode ?

As for the spore drive - I must admit to not having seen Discovery yet so I could be wrong - I understand it is nearly instantaneous but still needs an organic driver. at this point.

So if you employ an attack fleet with it, there's no limit to the amount of surprise attacks they could do. This would make any kind of strategic defense deployment meaningless. Before any alien fleet would even be aware of what was going on and could use their instantaneous drive (they couldn't afford to not acquire that technology themselves in whatever way, legal or not, after all) to come to the rescue-- there could already be millions of deaths. So, without the option to prevent many deaths, that would only leave a revenge surprise raid by those aliens. All in all I could very well see it as the kind of technology that could completely escalate a war that would have been far more 'localized' with conventional warp technology. We wouldn't like them using it; they wouldn't like us using it, so in the end all parties agree on not pursuing the technology any further.

But again, I haven't watched the series yet, so perhaps there's some detail in the spore drive I wouldn't know about that renders the above scenario impossible...

 

[Discofan]

I agree, but is it really that different from the all those other fantastic technologies-of-the-week that could have helped solve a lot of problems, only to never be seen again after that one episode ?

As for the spore drive - I must admit to not having seen Discovery yet so I could be wrong - I understand it is nearly instantaneous but still needs an organic driver. at this point.

So if you employ an attack fleet with it, there's no limit to the amount of surprise attacks they could do. This would make any kind of strategic defense deployment meaningless. Before any alien fleet would even be aware of what was going on and could use their instantaneous drive (they couldn't afford to not acquire that technology themselves in whatever way, legal or not, after all) to come to the rescue-- there could already be millions of deaths. So, without the option to prevent many deaths, that would only leave a revenge surprise raid by those aliens. All in all I could very well see it as the kind of technology that could completely escalate a war that would have been far more 'localized' with conventional warp technology. We wouldn't like them using it; they wouldn't like us using it, so in the end all parties agree on not pursuing the technology any further.

But again, I haven't watched the series yet, so perhaps there's some detail in the spore drive I wouldn't know about that renders the above scenario impossible...

Yet, on season 1 the Admiral talked about equipping every ship of Starfleet with that "magical" technology that allows you to appear instantly not only anywhere in the galaxy, but anywhere in the whole universe, in fact, even the whole multiverse as was said by Stamets once! Because if you equip every single ship of your fleet, you're bound sooner or later to have it stolen by not only your enemies but eventually by every single warp capable species in the galaxy, the universe, and the multiverse! No way that you could bury it after that!

 

[at Quark's]

^Perhaps, perhaps not. As much as 60 years ago, the US army developed nuclear bazookas that could be operated by as few as just 2 soldiers. Yet today, the technology to build nukes is still restricted- only a few countries have the capability (though I think it will become ever harder to prevent 'leaks'). Not saying the 2 scenarios are entirely comparable though.

Anyway, this is moving too far in a specific direction for my taste. All I wanted to do is indicate that it's not absolutely necessary to assume something is inherently very wrong with the drive itself to give an in-universe explanation of why we never see those drives again in Trek depictions of later eras.

 

[Jayson1]

I would use the holodeck for training, exercise, sports, and for testing suggestions and plans. Not for hound-dog activities.

Why do I get the feeling this would be the future's version of "I read Playboy for the articles."


Jason

 

[at Quark's]

Why do I get the feeling this would be the future's version of "I read Playboy for the articles."
Jason

The holodeck is a general purpose technology that also could be used for sexual purposes (and yes, probably it would, a lot). Playboy is a magazine that's mostly aimed at showing naked women. Therefore I think the comparison between the holodeck and Playboy is spurious. Klaa's statement would be more akin to 'I wouldn't use the internet to view porn' - a statement which you may or may not believe coming from someone's mouth, but which isn't outlandish in itself.

 

[Klaa2]

The holodeck is a general purpose technology that also could be used for sexual purposes (and yes, probably it would, a lot). Playboy is a magazine that's mostly aimed at showing naked women. Therefore I think the comparison between the holodeck and Playboy is spurious. Klaa's statement would be more akin to 'I wouldn't use the internet to view porn' - a statement which you may or may not believe coming from someone's mouth, but which isn't outlandish in itself.

Which is what I was driving at. Thanks Hound-doggery has no place on a holodeck, a starship facility which is presumably intended for purposes other than being a hound-dog. (Lt.-Com. Riker, please note.)

 

[Discofan]

Just like the Internet is today, I am pretty sure the Holodeck will/would be used a lot for sexual activities whether people admit to it or not. If porn is so omnipresent on the Internet, it's because it's very lucrative.

 

[Defiler-Of-Redshirts]

As someone who has spent quite a few years occasionally traveling to rural, quiet, tropical Pacific paradises, I would use the holodeck to create a sparkling, pristine beach with swaying palm trees, glaringly colorful giant flowers, and a calm, snorkeling coral lagoon of crystal-clear turquoise water and rather gonzo-looking coral reefs. While I lounge on the beach in the baking sun with one of those tall, tropical drinks of mixed pineapple juice, starfruit juice and a good dose of alcohol. Just soaking up the technicolor beach scenery without a care in the world.

I've spent enough years vacationing in Hawaii, Tahiti and the Cook Islands that I often joke with the locals, "I'm secretly a Polynesian inside a white man's physical body." (which always makes them laugh). Pacific Island paradises are something on which I would certainly binge on the holodeck. It's a setting I find most agreeable (as a Vulcan would probably say in my place).

 

[Klaa2]

As someone who has spent quite a few years occasionally traveling to rural, quiet, tropical Pacific paradises, I would use the holodeck to create a sparkling, pristine beach with swaying palm trees, glaringly colorful giant flowers, and a calm, snorkeling coral lagoon of crystal-clear turquoise water and rather gonzo-looking coral reefs. While I lounge on the beach in the baking sun with one of those tall, tropical drinks of mixed pineapple juice, starfruit juice and a good dose of alcohol. Just soaking up the technicolor beach scenery without a care in the world.

I've spent enough years vacationing in Hawaii, Tahiti and the Cook Islands that I often joke with the locals, "I'm secretly a Polynesian inside a white man's physical body." (which always makes them laugh). Pacific Island paradises are something on which I would certainly binge on the holodeck. It's a setting I find most agreeable (as a Vulcan would probably say in my place).

An enormous library would be my holodeck.

 

[Discofan]

I wonder if the holodeck would be made to indulge deviant behavior or if there would be legal limitations to what someone could do, even in a virtual world.

 

[Doctor Bombay]

I wonder if the holodeck would be made to indulge deviant behavior or if there would be legal limitations to what someone could do, even in a virtual world.

You mean like serial murdering? I'd like to think those impulses have been treated by then.

Most of these people really are pollyanna, when you get down to it.

I'd use the holodeck for sexual purposes because there's nothing wrong with sex and it's really no different than playing Robin Hood. Now... combining the two would be a little kinky but who am I to judge?

 

[Jayson1]

I wonder if the holodeck would be made to indulge deviant behavior or if there would be legal limitations to what someone could do, even in a virtual world.

I doubt it because you can't really tell people what kind of fantasies they are allowed to have. I think you would see restrictions on shared programs though. Like if two or more want to run the same program. Unless you have some kind of legal consent. Also some stuff would be off limits for kids though I am not sure they wouldn't through the book at some teenagers of they were doing sex stuff on the holodeck just like nobody really cares I think about teenagers watching porn once they get to a certain age. Would only be a issue like mentioned above if you have more than one person indulging in the program.

Jason

 

[at Quark's]

Just curious -- what is the policy today, in , say, the US navy? What kind of internet "services" can sailors access, using Navy equipment, in their off hours?

 

[Discofan]

I pretty sure that you'd have to have a damn good reason to break in someone's holodeck program or the penalty would be pretty severe Fact that is not reflected by the series.