Why would Starfleet have such scant knowledge on Vulcan concepts like mind melds, pon farr, etc?

[Hunter Zolomon]

Vulcan isn't a free society, though - it's apparently forbidden to speak of pon farr. This would no doubt be a condition placed upon all those living on Vulcan, too. One doesn't get all that far in the US by insisting that kids are valid sex partners or cocaine is good for your brain - there are certain limits to freedom that a multicultural entity like the UFP would be constantly banging its head against, and by definition many of those would appear absurd to parties other than the one involved.

makes sense and if the federation is more like the EU than the United states then maybe they are not as involved the in the internal politics and cultures of member states, just as long as they meet certain aspects of laws that are considered universal for membership into the federation. Maybe democracy, separation of state and religion etc.
Or it could just be that as a founding member vulcan had special exemptions because the federation was not strong enough at the time to force certain idealogies on vulcans, unlike now that it seems very powerful and wont permit new members from carrying on certain customs that they might have overlooked when they where first starting.

 

[Timo]

One wonders how much change the Vulcan society underwent before, during and after TOS. The melding issue in ENT did not appear to touch upon pon farr much - indeed, basically everything seen in "Amok Time" was said to be highly atypical, and the average pon farr might go essentially unnoticed and involve very little public acknowledgement of the fact that touch telepathy is a key element in Vulcan sexuality. So whatever changes there were in Vulcan attitudes towards telepathy-sex after the Syrranite revolution, these need not have made much of a difference to the Federation as regards pon farr awareness.

On the other hand, Vulcan telepathic sexuality isn't the shameful secret in TOS - the illogically animalistic process of choosing the mate is. This may well have been the case back in ENT and back in the mists of early Surakism alike. But we could just as well argue that there was a backlash to the Syrranite upheaval, and pon farr and melding both became even more taboo in the 23rd century than they had been before the 22nd.

In the end, while melding and pon farr should be decoupled for most part, both establish the Vulcan tendency towards secrecy over their basic nature. And probably for a good reason: while pon farr may just make them look like freaks, melding may appear outright frightening to most, and revealing its existence may also be a tactical loss.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Tenacity]

Or it could just be that as a founding member vulcan had special exemptions

As a founding member, Vulcan would be in position to see that the federation wouldn't be able to possess any universal standards and not have a single legal code, either of which that might in the future interfere with Vulcan institutions like arranged child betrothals, the kali-fee and the kaz-wan (sending little children into the wilderness to "weed them out").

Maybe democracy, separation of state and religion etc.

The federation council likely operates on democratic procedures, but I don't know that being a democracy would be a requirement for membership.

And having (or not) a separation of religion and state would be a internal matter.

 

[WARLOCK1965]

Logic aside, there had been over 200 years of interaction between Vulcan and humans by that point in Voyager. Sarek had married 2 humans. Dr M'Benga studied or interned on Vulcan. It stands to reason there had been numerous non Vulcans visiting and living on Vulcan in that time period. 2017 years of cultural exchange. If Vulcan is a society with freedom of speech, press, etc... then there really is no reason so much of Vulcan is still unknown or secret to human or Starfleet databases.

We are not talking allies. We are talking full partners or members of the Federation and Starfleet. The Intrepid had over 400 Vulcans. We have seen several other Vulcans in Starfleet. It's not credible basic biological functions would be unknown or secret.

Vulcans are group of people who are secretive about their own natural ways so it is possible that Vulcans have kept information out of the Federation data base or it kept in a highly classified files

 

[UssGlenn]

The only iron clad rules for Federation membership seems to be a one world government, and I assume it can't be a dictatorship. As long as you've settled your internal differences and don't want to force your way of life on other planets, welcome aboard.

 

[Tenacity]

The only iron clad rules for Federation membership seems to be a one world government

Which is never directly spoken of, although some form of "the people are unified" is spoken of

and I assume it can't be a dictatorship.

Given the example of Cloud Minders, even that is unclear.

and don't want to force your way of life on other planets

Hopefully that's the Federation's position towards the Members.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Vulcans are group of people who are secretive about their own natural ways so it is possible that Vulcans have kept information out of the Federation data base or it kept in a highly classified files

I think they are so secretive even Vulcans don't know everything about Vulcans.

 

[Prax]

There are some really funny Pon Farr related moments.

When the EMH creates a holographic vulcan maiden for Vorik-the Doc comes back(to the holodeck) after a while to check on him, and Vorik is just chilling on a beach chair smokin a cigarette all relaxed. The Doctor is super pleased that it worked. Vorik pretends everything is fine but really has a devious scheme in the works to get to B'elanna. I find that hilarious.

Another time is when Paris and Kim are trying to guess Tuvok's age. Paris loudly says "So then your 7th Ponfarr something something" in front of everyone. It's a good scene.

Then the last one is when Tuvok gets the blood fever. The EMH is out, so Paris offers his "Expertise." Tuvok objects, saying he's been faithful to his wife since forever. Tom says "It's the holllllodeckk, Tuvoook. It doesn't count."
Tuvok replies "Is that what you tell your wife?"
Tom "Of course not! My days of rescuing damsels from planet Ten are long over."

And then after this is all done, Tom really really wants to know how it went. Tuvok says it was good but objects that his holowife's ears were too large. Tom replies "artistic license" as if he actually made her ears larger and pointier so she would be more exotic/erotic. Hahaha...He would.

 

[Tenacity]

I think they are so secretive even Vulcans don't know everything about Vulcans.

That would actually make sense.

Vulcans are so uncomfortable and stifled when it comes to the subject of Pon Farr that they are psychologically incapable of examining it.

 

[bookworm8571]

I have come to the conclusion that Spock (and Spock's family) are pretty screwed up and they may not be representative of Vulcan as a whole. Sarek was determined to turn his son into a perfect Vulcan, despite having a thing for human women himself, and Amanda was willing to let him, for whatever reason. Maybe Sarek's first marriage and son Sybok had something to do with it. Maybe pon farr is not discussed because SPOCK, the neurotic, private, somewhat immature half human, half Vulcan hybrid just didn't want it to be and it was very rare for Vulcans to serve aboard a predominantly human ship.

If you take the later novels as canon, I have the impression that T'Pol and Trip Tucker managed to have a successful relationship (with children and probably female pon Farr) 100 years earlier than Sarek and Amanda. I don't think anything in canon says Spock was the first Vulcan-human hybrid.

 

[Tyberius]

True. However, that alternative would mean that there probably is such a night club in San Fransisco advertising with it. So at least some of the knowledge about Pon Farr would be in the public domain.

I think there is a nightclub called "The Vulcan" which has several nights, one of which being "Pon Farr". Then you have IDIC night, mind-meld night, the forge night, etc.

 

[Shaka Zulu]

Now, consider the possibility that the Romulans experience pon farr. Only for them, being a race which does not repress emotions it isn't really noticeable at all. If anything, Alidar Roklem likely just seems to be having a bad day to his peers. After a hard day's work snapping at his co-workers and hiding uncomfortable boners around the attractive Romulans at the office, Mr. Roklem hits a night club, scores some tail, and gets laid. The next day he's in a much better mood, all is normal, there's no serious disruption to anyone's lives.

I hate to say it, but the Romulans certainly handle this matter a lot more logically than the Vulcans do.

Or Mr. Roklem goes to a public holosuite similar to the ones Quark has on Deep Space Nine, pays up, bangs his brains out with whatever holographic Romulan women it provides, and then goes home with a smile on his face.

 

[Prax]

"Vulcan Love Slave" is actually a Romulan holonovel. Romulan pornography is illegal in the Federation, and as a result is in high demand.

A perfect product for Quark to offer...

 

[WARLOCK1965]

I have come to the conclusion that Spock (and Spock's family) are pretty screwed up and they may not be representative of Vulcan as a whole. Sarek was determined to turn his son into a perfect Vulcan, despite having a thing for human women himself, and Amanda was willing to let him, for whatever reason. Maybe Sarek's first marriage and son Sybok had something to do with it. Maybe pon farr is not discussed because SPOCK, the neurotic, private, somewhat immature half human, half Vulcan hybrid just didn't want it to be and it was very rare for Vulcans to serve aboard a predominantly human ship.

If you take the later novels as canon, I have the impression that T'Pol and Trip Tucker managed to have a successful relationship (with children and probably female pon Farr) 100 years earlier than Sarek and Amanda. I don't think anything in canon says Spock was the first Vulcan-human hybrid.

IN Vulcans Glory I think was the book it has Spock meeting with a hybrid that tells Spock he not the first