Philosophy of Star Trek: The Next Generation

[robdawg1]

I am interested to know how many of you fans of Star Trek TNG would like to speak a little on your take on this show, and how it used a "Just because we have the power, doesn't mean we have to use it" philosophy. also feel free to talk about favorite characters and episodes.

I'll let you all start and I'll add my takes a little later

 

[Kakapo Dundee]

My take on it? It reflects the era in which it was first made, the late 80's were all about the warm fuzzy inclusives. The original series reflected the mood of the '60s much better - let's go look aimlessly for stuff, and if it shoots at us, destroy it.

 

[robdawg1]

My take on it? It reflects the era in which it was first made, the late 80's were all about the warm fuzzy inclusives. The original series reflected the mood of the '60s much better - let's go look aimlessly for stuff, and if it shoots at us, destroy it.

Surprisingly, the series didn't start to gain traction until the episode where Picard was assimilated by the Borg, and the build up for future confrontations with the Borg and the Romulans started. It almost echo'd the Cold War sentiment about great powers, who are powerfully armed, facing off against each other.
I do see where the "warm fuzzies" came in as the capitan had to make several decisions to not utilize his weapons, but to negotiate his way out of situations where it didnt matter that he was the greater force.

 

[Joe the meek]

As I child I never realized how STUPID Kirk was to leave the ship being he was the captain of the ship:24:

You would also think that with all the problems the Air Force has right now pertaining to males violating the rights of females per sexual abuse, you would of thought Star Fleet wouldn't let all that fraternization and Kirk would know better.

 

[Kakapo Dundee]

:usa: Was the way things were done back then. Neil Armstrong was Commander of the Apollo 11 mission.

 

[Joe the meek]

:usa: Was the way things were done back then. Neil Armstrong was Commander of the Apollo 11 mission.

Even back in the 60's, the captain of an aircraft carrier didn't go off flying missions.

 

[Kakapo Dundee]

ahem.....Star Trek isn't about aircraft carriers.

 

[Joe the meek]

ahem.....Star Trek isn't about aircraft carriers.

No **** Sherlock.

I would of thought a Navy man like yourself would realize that when serving on a ship with crew that each rank has it's responsibilities and duties.

The second series addressed that issue.

There is a difference between a 3 man mission to the moon whose object is to walk on the moon and being the captain of a ship in space (or sea for that matter) with hundreds or thousands of crew members.

 

[Kakapo Dundee]

As a former Navy man, I am capable of distinguishing between fact and fiction. Star Trek is not real. Trying to impose standard Navy practices on the writings of a former USAF pilot tends to bastardise the work of one of America's best-loved 20th century writers.

 

[Maulds]

I wasn't very interested in any Star Trek back then. I did eventually (only recently) start watching TNG because of my wife. She even liked Voyager. I think 7 of 9 is great but otherwise don't care for the show.

 

[Minor Axis]

I like the portrayal of a utopian socialist society, also called a socialist post scarcityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post_scarcity society: where you are allowed to focus on improving yourself and helping your fellow human beings, not living your life scraping by doing menial tasks to survive.

The economics of the future is somewhat different. You see, money doesn't exist in the 24th century...
The acquisition of wealth is no longer the driving force in our lives. We work to better ourselves and the rest of humanity.
-Captain Picard, "Star Trek: First Contact"

Hey this is science fiction, but as a goal for humanity, I still like the idea of people moving away from "me" to "us".

​

 

[Joe the meek]

As a former Navy man, I am capable of distinguishing between fact and fiction. Star Trek is not real.

I don't have to be a former Navy man to distinguish between fact and fiction:24:

Again, no ******* sherlock.

However, to a young child watching the show when it first came on, it WAS real.

USS Enterprise NC-1701
Class 1 Heavy Cruiser
Constitution Class Starship
Deadweight tonnage (metric) 190,000
Length overall meters 288.6
breadth overall meters 127.1
primary hull diameter meters 127.1
main phasers 3 banks / 2 each
photon torpedos 2 banks
max safe cruising speed W/F 6
emergency speed W/F 8

Std ships complement
Officers (command) 43
Crew (ensign grade) 387

The following Heavy Cruiser Class starships lost in the line of duty

U.S.S Constellation NCC 1017
U.S.S Farragut NCC 1702
U.S.S Intrepid NCC 1708
U.Ss.S Valiant 1709

I've got tons of stuff like this while I was a kid from the 70's LOL



No, never dressed up and went to a convention, but during the holidays, us kids always played Start Trek.

 

[robdawg1]

I like the portrayal of a utopian socialist society, also called a socialist post scarcity society: where you are allowed to focus on improving yourself and helping your fellow human beings, not living your life scraping by doing menial tasks to survive.



Hey this is science fiction, but as a goal for humanity, I still like the idea of people moving away from "me" to "us".

​

I agree whole heartedly. I also like the idea of the super power standing up for the little guy, as Picard was known to do often. He used the prime directive on many occasion to preserve what he considered smaller life forms.

I don't have to be a former Navy man to distinguish between fact and fiction:24:

Again, no ******* sherlock.

However, to a young child watching the show when it first came on, it WAS real.

USS Enterprise NC-1701
Class 1 Heavy Cruiser
Constitution Class Starship
Deadweight tonnage (metric) 190,000
Length overall meters 288.6
breadth overall meters 127.1
primary hull diameter meters 127.1
main phasers 3 banks / 2 each
photon torpedos 2 banks
max safe cruising speed W/F 6
emergency speed W/F 8

Std ships complement
Officers (command) 43
Crew (ensign grade) 387

The following Heavy Cruiser Class starships lost in the line of duty

U.S.S Constellation NCC 1017
U.S.S Farragut NCC 1702
U.S.S Intrepid NCC 1708
U.Ss.S Valiant 1709

I've got tons of stuff like this while I was a kid from the 70's LOL



No, never dressed up and went to a convention, but during the holidays, us kids always played Start Trek.

Look up a web site called memory alpha on google. EVERYTHING you want to know about Star Trek from the beginning of the Original series and the animated series to the end of Enterprise! every cast member/technology/ terminology/alien race/ ship design you can imagine is on that site in detail!!

 

[Joe the meek]

Look up a web site called memory alpha on google. EVERYTHING you want to know about Star Trek from the beginning of the Original series and the animated series to the end of Enterprise! every cast member/technology/ terminology/alien race/ ship design you can imagine is on that site in detail!!

I've got the Star Fleet printed material, produced in the early 70's. I'll stick with that LOL

 

[robdawg1]

I've got the Star Fleet printed material, produced in the early 70's. I'll stick with that LOL

No doubt. Great material I am jealous. I was just excited about the amount of information compiled on the Memory Alpha website. It has bio's of each senior officer crewmember from all the series including birth through death timelines(and regenerations in the case of spock and a few others) as well as deeper backgrounds based on interviews with creators and cast members...it is so awesome!!

 

[Dana]

I loved TNG when it first aired looking back it was kind of cheesy...

 

[skyblue]

think about it,everything had its place

the federation,.....european,always right
klingons.....the japanese
ferengii.....jews
the borg...russians
cardasians.....the nazis

etc etc etc..theres always been alot of stereotyping in star trek

 

[robdawg1]

think about it,everything had its place

the federation,.....european,always right
klingons.....the japanese
ferengii.....jews
the borg...russians
cardasians.....the nazis

etc etc etc..theres always been alot of stereotyping in star trek

I kind of thought the Federation was the USA...maybe it is because where you are from is "always right"

This is an interesting way to look at the seperate factions. Do you feel that there may be other comparisons? i.e. Federation represents strength through working together. Klingons represent strength through personal achievment. Ferengi represents that desire for accumulation of wealth makes you less respectable and more of a joke?

 

[Joe the meek]

This is an interesting way to look at the seperate factions. Do you feel that there may be other comparisons? i.e. Federation represents strength through working together. Klingons represent strength through personal achievment. Ferengi represents that desire for accumulation of wealth makes you less respectable and more of a joke?

You guys smoking weed while watching the show? LOL

What I'm forgetting is if the Prime Directive was around when Kirk was captain?

 

[Minor Axis]

You guys smoking weed while watching the show? LOL

What I'm forgetting is if the Prime Directive was around when Kirk was captain?

I don't remember... You don't have to smoke weed to enjoy it. That's best suited for any of those musicals from the 50s-60s.