As soon as Wesley was given a acting ensign they placed him as the pilot of the ship, why? the kid had never even set foot in the academy, never mentioned he had piloted anything before and from what we saw to that point he was more of a science or engineering type person. Why would you give someone like that the "wheel" of the federation flagship?
Why was Wesley staioned at the Conn
- Thread starter apollo1984
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It's probably the easiest job. Punch in some numbers and off you go. I think if there was a need for manual piloting someone would take over.
Still pretty dumb but we all know Gene Roddenberry wanted wesley to be the main character :P
Still pretty dumb but we all know Gene Roddenberry wanted wesley to be the main character :P
Technically Wesley was an Acting Ensign from, what, "Where None Have Gone Before"? Apart from being seen at Conn a couple times in season one, it still wasn't his 'regular' job until season two (Geordi was Flight Control in S1). I gather in 'verse Wes was moved around a lot, we saw him hanging around in engineering quite a bit too, but we did see him at Conn. Maybe he did a lot of other stuff off-screen too, however, and had no 'real' position within the crew.
I guess my point is that he wasn't really a Conn officer. It was just one of the many places Picard put him, informally, to help him learn about ship operations. The real life answer is like Melakon says, putting him at Conn meant Wil Weaton got lots of screen time.
I never liked the Wesley Whil Wheaton's time on the series was book-ended with. He was too smarmy and awkward and lame. Frankly, those two two times (season 1, part of season 2, and Journey's End) I wished Picard was his father so he'd slap him in the back of his head.
"I'm with Starfleet. We don't lie."
-or-
"I'm going to ignore the chain of command and whine that Data was replaced by Lore."
-or-
"I'm leaving the show due to the fact Rick Berman is an asshole so they're writing me out in this lame way to avoid killing me off."
I preferred 'one of the guys' Wesley. Where he was dressed in uniform and did not save the day through his 'I AM Roddenberry's Marty Stu' powers.
"I'm with Starfleet. We don't lie."
-or-
"I'm going to ignore the chain of command and whine that Data was replaced by Lore."
-or-
"I'm leaving the show due to the fact Rick Berman is an asshole so they're writing me out in this lame way to avoid killing me off."
I preferred 'one of the guys' Wesley. Where he was dressed in uniform and did not save the day through his 'I AM Roddenberry's Marty Stu' powers.
I even liked it that Wesley found out that Starfleet isn't his cup of tea. But turning him into a Superbeing was more than enough. Not Wesley's fault this time, but this made him more unlikeable.
On top of that Beverly Crusher whining in the Genesis Wave novels about his constant absence as if he were a little child? Unbearable.
That was freakin' hilarious. I literally laughed out loud at that nonsense, of switching to what's-his-name (Haskell) mid-episode.
I'm not a Wesley-hater, more like a Wesley-really-disliker
However, to be fair it was mentioned by Beverly (during one of her many whiney rants about how Wesley was being treated like a teenager) that he had studied the bridge manuals and knew how they operated.
Then Beverly whined about another thing or twelve and presto: ACTING-ENSIGN!!!
My first TNG personal face-palm was the scene when Wesley stood in the lift and Bev commented that (words to the effect) he "technically wasn't on the bridge" per Picard's order.
However, to be fair it was mentioned by Beverly (during one of her many whiney rants about how Wesley was being treated like a teenager) that he had studied the bridge manuals and knew how they operated.
Then Beverly whined about another thing or twelve and presto: ACTING-ENSIGN!!!
My first TNG personal face-palm was the scene when Wesley stood in the lift and Bev commented that (words to the effect) he "technically wasn't on the bridge" per Picard's order.
Sure Wesley was special as The Traveler said but would Starfleet even had approve of a minor assigned to the bridge like that? I don't hate Wesley at all, I actually like him and honestly didn't find him irritating. He did help the TNG crew in some situations after all.
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Ha, yeah, but this is accurate. Picard does relieve Wes in "Booby Trap" to do some fancy manual piloting out of that asteroid field.
Wes can't be at tactical, he might be able to work at a science station depending on what's happening, but manning the conn is an easy job that allows him to see how a starship functions from the Bridge. Push this button and that button and that button, and the ship goes there.
I think he's a more natural fit for running odd jobs in engineering.
Wesley on the bridge was an insult to every hard working officer who strives in their careers to be there. It's madness!
If I was an officer who got assigned to the Enterprise and was stymied by the Doctors kid getting all the good shifts when all the action happens, and I had to go to Starfleet Academy while this kid gets handed the job because of nepotism, I'd be in Tenforward complaining to my peers every chance I got and looking for a transfer.
On top of it, the kid IS swarmy, akward, and lame. Obviously this Captain plays favorites, and I'm not gonna be on a ship with that kid at the controls, thank you! I want a transfer.
If I was an officer who got assigned to the Enterprise and was stymied by the Doctors kid getting all the good shifts when all the action happens, and I had to go to Starfleet Academy while this kid gets handed the job because of nepotism, I'd be in Tenforward complaining to my peers every chance I got and looking for a transfer.
On top of it, the kid IS swarmy, akward, and lame. Obviously this Captain plays favorites, and I'm not gonna be on a ship with that kid at the controls, thank you! I want a transfer.
Fortunately, others in the crew understand that it is a meritocracy and that careers hinge not on how others get promoted, but by your own merits, no matter how young or old, and that there are plenty of opportunities for anyone who wants to risk their life in space. They are further motivated by the chance given to Wesley for having gotten his opportunity to grow and experience a "pattern of success," as Picard puts it. Petty jealously and bickering (except for Mrs. Troi) is a thing of the past, or so they say. The first thing those who hear your complaint might think is "why is he wasting time talking to me about this instead of doing something more motivational." I think you'd find yourself alone in the negativity.
Maybe Picard found out Haskell (or whatever Ensign Dead Guy' name is) was making a formal complaint so Picard moved Haskell to conn in a hazardous situation to hopefully kill two birds with one stone.
He got his learner's permit and had a really cool, connect, parent.
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