# A Stupid Thing in Star Trek That Has Annoyed Me For Years (Add Your Own!) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 14, 2008, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-stupid-thing-in-star-trek-that-has-annoyed-me-for-years-add-your-own/456414 "2008-07-14T09:53:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 24
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-stupid-thing-in-star-trek-that-has-annoyed-me-for-years-add-your-own/456414/461 "2008-10-07T19:28:18Z")
> [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#): > > How many years has it been since they aired that TNG episode about the crew de-evolving into animals? I have _never_ stopped being pissed off about that one. Maybe it’s because I was a bio major, while most people complain about the illogical physics of Star Trek, but this was the stupidest…pseudoscience…_ **ever** _. Well, it does fit into the I.D. origin of the humanoid species in the show. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-stupid-thing-in-star-trek-that-has-annoyed-me-for-years-add-your-own/456414/462 "2008-10-07T19:47:02Z")
> [@Jolly\_Roger](#): > > Families aboard starships always bugged the hell out of me. Even if you could make room for all of those people on a modern day air craft carrier it would be a bad idea. Oh, I forgot…starfleet isn’t military. :rolleyes: You said it. What especially stands out for me is the NG episode, fairly early one, when one of their sister Galaxy class ships blows up IN FRONT OF THEM, killing all the civilians, and Picard then takes the Enterprise on the same mission. How that didn’t result in every single parent on the ship requesting a transfer, or resigning, I don’t know. But no way they’d keep going on just because Enterprise wasn’t a "military’ vessel. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-stupid-thing-in-star-trek-that-has-annoyed-me-for-years-add-your-own/456414/463 "2008-10-07T20:25:03Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > I’m sure that after all the trouble with the tribbles that Kirk enforced a “no pets” policy. Picard, on the other hand, apparently allowed pets. Data had his cat, “Spot.” And there was mention of other pets aboard Enterprise-D, which would only have been natural, given that the families on board would desire them. I think dogs got the boot after capt. Kirk stepped in a steaming pile on his way to the bridge.:smack: ---
**Author:** ![Find\_Friends](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@Find\_Friends](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Find_Friends)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-stupid-thing-in-star-trek-that-has-annoyed-me-for-years-add-your-own/456414/464 "2008-10-07T21:34:44Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > The example given is a surprised crew member saying “It’s a mile wide” about some large ship. > > I’d have to rewatch Corbomite Maneuver, which I think has an example of this very thing - and might be the source of the instruction, since it was the first regular episode filmed. What I recall about the warning buoy cube in _Maneuver_ is that the proportion of size to mass was actually quite huge, both given in metric or not. (And ISTR that it _ **was** _ both in metric.) Or, to put it another way, the mass was quite tiny compared to the size. IOW, extremely low overall density. All of which might not have been a problem with a hollow cube, especially one with fairly thin walls. By that I mean a cube filled with “air” or some kind of native atmosphere, or else a vacuum. But no. It was quite clearly described as SOLID. * * * Well, okay, only someone like me would have thought to make the calculation. :o But I say IT STILL SUCKS! :mad: - “Jack” ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2008, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-stupid-thing-in-star-trek-that-has-annoyed-me-for-years-add-your-own/456414/465 "2008-10-08T03:13:44Z")
> [@acsenray](#): > > Well, it does fit into the I.D. origin of the humanoid species in the show. Absolutely nothing could justify (a) the fundamental misunderstanding of what genes _do_, and the notion that if you altered the DNA expression of an already fully developed organism, it would magically transform into the shape it would have had if it had developed with that DNA from the gamete stage; (b) the idea that humans are somehow descended from fucking _spiders_; or (c) Patrick Stewart’s ludicrous performance as a marmoset-man. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2008, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-stupid-thing-in-star-trek-that-has-annoyed-me-for-years-add-your-own/456414/466 "2008-10-08T04:32:11Z")
> [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#): > > (c) Patrick Stewart’s ludicrous performance as a marmoset-man. Jean-Luc of the Lemurs? ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2008, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-stupid-thing-in-star-trek-that-has-annoyed-me-for-years-add-your-own/456414/467 "2008-10-08T04:50:46Z")
[QUOTE=John DiFool] Anyone else completely underwhelmed by the personal weaponry that Star Trek provides to its valued personnel? [/QUOTE] I am—'s why I came in here. One of the pretty bad examples was on that “Red Badge of Courage” ep of DS9 with Jake & Bashir caught in the crossfire during a Fed/Klingon skirmish. A starfleet infantryman that Jake runs across isn’t wearing body armor or a helmet (in an area where the Klingons are actually using mortars)…or even carrying a canteen. I’ve started to rationalize it all as “peaceful, non-military” starfleet simply being woefully unprepared for stand-up ground combat thanks to politics and flawed, untested combat doctrine, and acting like the equivilant of an early WWI army. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2008, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-stupid-thing-in-star-trek-that-has-annoyed-me-for-years-add-your-own/456414/468 "2008-10-08T05:00:19Z")
Yeah, I always figured that if I suddenly found myself in the Star Trek Universe, I’d pack myself an Emergency Bag that contained; Short Sword Large Knife Small Axe Mechanical Lighter Blanket Towel Good Old Fashioned Pistol with 200 rounds Ammo Possibly a Shotgun with 50 rounds ammo Flashlight 3-5 (chemical explosive) Grenades Sewing kit Canteen Whatever else I could fit in the bag that would aid survival. Then screw “dampening fields” or crashing on a habitable planet, I’m well prepared to deal with the loss of any high tech support system and/or technology. C’mon Klingons, run at my shotgun with your Batleths! _Who’s your daddy?_ ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2008, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-stupid-thing-in-star-trek-that-has-annoyed-me-for-years-add-your-own/456414/469 "2008-10-08T05:14:54Z")
> [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#): > > (c) Patrick Stewart’s ludicrous performance as a marmoset-man. It was a lousy episode, but Stewart’s twitchy performance was somewhat amusing. I remember one of the Nitpickers’ Guides calling into question why this would make Picard increasingly timid, when lemurs are actually quite aggressive. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2008, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-stupid-thing-in-star-trek-that-has-annoyed-me-for-years-add-your-own/456414/470 "2008-10-08T05:27:10Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > Yeah, I always figured that if I suddenly found myself in the Star Trek Universe, I’d pack myself an Emergency Bag that contained; > > \ > > Then screw “dampening fields” or crashing on a habitable planet, I’m well prepared to deal with the loss of any high tech support system and/or technology. C’mon Klingons, run at my shotgun with your Batleths! _Who’s your daddy?_ A coworker a few years ago told me what he liked about _Enterprise_ was that when those guys went down to a planet, _they went freakin’ prepared_. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2008, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-stupid-thing-in-star-trek-that-has-annoyed-me-for-years-add-your-own/456414/471 "2008-10-08T05:29:28Z")
> [@Mister\_Rik](#): > > A coworker a few years ago told me what he liked about _Enterprise_ was that when those guys went down to a planet, _they went freakin’ prepared_. When facing Bat’leths, you’d better be prepared. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2008, 8:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-stupid-thing-in-star-trek-that-has-annoyed-me-for-years-add-your-own/456414/472 "2008-10-08T08:53:41Z")
The fact that Khan _marooned_ the crew of the _Reliant_ on Ceti Alpha V. Whatsamatter? Khan suddenly lose his stomach for killing? (He slaughtered a bunch of people on Earth before he left, IIRC.) And before someone says, “Well, it _wasn’t_ necessary to kill them.” I’m just going to point out that getting the entire crew of the ship (had to be around 100+ people) _without_ killing them isn’t going to be exactly what one would call “easy” even if you do have control of the captain. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2008, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-stupid-thing-in-star-trek-that-has-annoyed-me-for-years-add-your-own/456414/473 "2008-10-08T12:51:45Z")
> [@Tuckerfan](#): > > The fact that Khan _marooned_ the crew of the _Reliant_ on Ceti Alpha V. Perhaps it was more fun that way. The crew suffering as his people did. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Call\_Me\_Shirley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Don\_t\_Call\_Me\_Shirley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Call_Me_Shirley)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2008, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-stupid-thing-in-star-trek-that-has-annoyed-me-for-years-add-your-own/456414/474 "2008-10-08T16:32:56Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Perhaps it was more fun that way. The crew suffering as his people did. Doesn’t Khan state this explicitly? When Kirk asks about the crew of the Reliant, he says “I left them as you left me,” or something to that effect, IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2008, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-stupid-thing-in-star-trek-that-has-annoyed-me-for-years-add-your-own/456414/475 "2008-10-08T16:51:46Z")
> [@Don\_t\_Call\_Me\_Shirley](#): > > Doesn’t Khan state this explicitly? When Kirk asks about the crew of the Reliant, he says “I left them as you left me,” or something to that effect, IIRC. Kirk doesn’t ask Khan about the crew of the reliant - Chekov/Captian person tells him when they are rescued. (and IIRC, they were answering Saavik) Khan’s line is “I shall leave you as you left me - stranded for all eternity…” - it was after Kirk was challenging Khan to come down to the cave and face him. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2008, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-stupid-thing-in-star-trek-that-has-annoyed-me-for-years-add-your-own/456414/476 "2008-10-08T17:37:26Z")
_KHAAAAAAAN!_ Sorry, couldn’t resist ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2008, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-stupid-thing-in-star-trek-that-has-annoyed-me-for-years-add-your-own/456414/477 "2008-10-08T18:15:16Z")
The things that have _really_ annoyed me about Star Trek is the fact that neither Seven of Nine or T’Pol have got their tits out, ever!. Apart from that I’m OK with all the rest of the rubbish ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Call\_Me\_Shirley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Don\_t\_Call\_Me\_Shirley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Call_Me_Shirley)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2008, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-stupid-thing-in-star-trek-that-has-annoyed-me-for-years-add-your-own/456414/478 "2008-10-08T19:23:10Z")
> [@simster](#): > > Kirk doesn’t ask Khan about the crew of the reliant - Chekov/Captian person tells him when they are rescued. (and IIRC, they were answering Saavik) > > Khan’s line is “I shall leave you as you left me - stranded for all eternity…” - it was after Kirk was challenging Khan to come down to the cave and face him. Yep, that was it. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2008, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-stupid-thing-in-star-trek-that-has-annoyed-me-for-years-add-your-own/456414/479 "2008-10-08T20:06:47Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Perhaps it was more fun that way. The crew suffering as his people did. Yes, but that’s the kind of sloppy thinking that can get you killed. Hasn’t Khan read [the Evil Overlord List](http://www.eviloverlord.com/lists/overlord.html)? Specifically items four, six, seven, and eleven? > [@Evil Overlord List](#): > > 1. Shooting is not too good for my enemies. > > 2. I will not gloat over my enemies’ predicament before killing them. > > 3. When I’ve captured my adversary and he says, “Look, before you kill me, will you at least tell me what this is all about?” I’ll say, “No.” and shoot him. No, on second thought I’ll shoot him then say “No.” > > 4. I will be secure in my superiority. Therefore, I will feel no need to prove it by leaving clues in the form of riddles or leaving my weaker enemies alive to show they pose no threat. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2008, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-stupid-thing-in-star-trek-that-has-annoyed-me-for-years-add-your-own/456414/480 "2008-10-08T20:12:46Z")
> [@Tuckerfan](#): > > The fact that Khan _marooned_ the crew of the _Reliant_ on Ceti Alpha V. Whatsamatter? Khan suddenly lose his stomach for killing? (He slaughtered a bunch of people on Earth before he left, IIRC.) And before someone says, “Well, it _wasn’t_ necessary to kill them.” I’m just going to point out that getting the entire crew of the ship (had to be around 100+ people) _without_ killing them isn’t going to be exactly what one would call “easy” even if you do have control of the captain. He was marooning them to be a jackass. He wanted them to suffer the same way he had suffered. Plus he saw himself as the good guy in this scenario. As it was not NECESSARY for his revenge on Kirk, or getting Genesis, to kill the Reliant’s crew, he chose not to, as otherwise he would not have had (in his own twisted mind) the moral high ground. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-stupid-thing-in-star-trek-that-has-annoyed-me-for-years-add-your-own/456414.md?page=23) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-stupid-thing-in-star-trek-that-has-annoyed-me-for-years-add-your-own/456414.md?page=25)