# Enterprise: Dead Stop 1/1/03 \[Spoilers\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 2, 2003, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enterprise-dead-stop-1-1-03-spoilers/146150 "2003-01-02T04:12:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Linus\_Van\_Pelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ebca7d/32.png) [@Linus\_Van\_Pelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linus_Van_Pelt)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2003, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enterprise-dead-stop-1-1-03-spoilers/146150/101 "2003-06-09T15:23:36Z")
Does anybody ever wonder why we care what these silly tests call us? Who knows who writes them, it’s doubtful if there’s any real psychology involved in creating them, yet we seem to put stock in their results. I know that no one (well, almost no one) is going to really evaluate their life based on an internet “what character are you” test, but I noticed that both Kn\*ckers and I kind of winced when it came up with Spock. Why is that the case for what should be just a silly but fun test? Please note: I have no real answers to the above questions. They’re just sort of random thoughts that are most likely due to too little sleep. But am I the only one that finds our fascination with these things interesting? ---
**Author:** ![Kn\_ckers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/96bed5/32.png) [@Kn\_ckers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kn_ckers)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2003, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enterprise-dead-stop-1-1-03-spoilers/146150/102 "2003-06-09T17:09:37Z")
Um… sorry, I dunno. It’s kinda funny, I guess. Upon further consideration, I see your point (humorously, I initially mistyped that as “pointy,” which MUST have been a Freudian slip). It’s an interesting means of being defined as something we are not (namely, characters in fictional TV series), and - perhaps more importantly - we ourselves are not doing the defining. Which is illogical (damn). If we insist on personifying these characters (or, rather, the traits that identify them) it would make far more sense for us to choose for ourselves which we best resemble. Because we know ourselves far better and far more completely than does a brief, indifferently rendered online quiz (though in my case, I think the quiz was right). But why use a quiz? I mean, yeah, it’s fun, and that’s all well and good, but WHY is it fun? Is this part of the escapist fantaasy that leads us to take refuge in science fiction in the first place, or is there more to it? I think that enjoyment of similar self-exploration activities is not specific to sci-fi geeks. In fact, I expect it’s an integral part of human introspectiveness, and thus of human nature itself. But I’m darned if I can figure out why. So, yeah, **Linus** , I understand what you’re getting at, and I think it’s curious, too. Maybe just our Vulcan sensibilities taking over, though. 🙂 Another question: What’s wrong with being Spock? Don’t know why it perplexed me, since I think it’s spot-on. And Spock’s not a character I dislike, so I can’t imagine why I should find this result unsatisfying. Unless I was hoping the quiz would identify me as having traits I wish I had (spontaneity, sociability, etc.). So, the result just reminded me that I’m an emotionless, cold-hearted alien, which I might prefer to forget. Hmph. Kn(waxing philosophical till it gleams)ckers ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2003, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enterprise-dead-stop-1-1-03-spoilers/146150/103 "2003-06-09T17:34:05Z")
And yet, when one is on the verge of completely identifying their very own Id, Ego, and Superego, one is left with a profound sense of the incompleteness of any such endeavor. For, knowledge of self is only a very smal part of understanding the reality of which we are a part. Take a tree, for instance. Is it self aware? Or aware on any level? All one has to do is ask. Reach out through your mind to feel the tree. Observe life through its awareness. Enjoy the goodness of being rooted, digging your tendrils deep into the Earth, devouring any nutrients that dissolve into your skin. Feel your branches streaching upward and outward, freeing the mundane need for movement. Breathe in the atmospheric gases that surround you while exhaling the very thing that non plants need for mere survival. Worship the Sun with the chloraphyll of your leaves, knowing that it is, in fact, the Sun which feeds the animals feasting on you. So…, Why do we examine and attempt to quantify and qualify our own selves? boredom ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2003, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enterprise-dead-stop-1-1-03-spoilers/146150/104 "2003-06-09T17:39:18Z")
And yet, when one is on the verge of completely identifying their very own Id, Ego, and Superego, one is left with a profound sense of the incompleteness of any such endeavor. For, knowledge of self is only a very smal part of understanding the reality of which we are a part. Take a tree, for instance. Is it self aware? Or aware on any level? All one has to do is ask. Reach out through your mind to feel the tree. Observe life through its awareness. Enjoy the goodness of being rooted, digging your tendrils deep into the Earth, devouring any nutrients that dissolve into your skin. Feel your branches streaching upward and outward, freeing the mundane need for movement. Breathe in the atmospheric gases that surround you while exhaling the very thing that non plants need for mere survival. Worship the Sun with the chloraphyll of your leaves, knowing that it is, in fact, the Sun which feeds the animals feasting on you. So…, Why do we examine and attempt to quantify and qualify our own selves? boredom ---
**Author:** ![Kn\_ckers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/96bed5/32.png) [@Kn\_ckers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kn_ckers)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2003, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enterprise-dead-stop-1-1-03-spoilers/146150/105 "2003-06-09T18:10:58Z")
You can say that again. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2003, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enterprise-dead-stop-1-1-03-spoilers/146150/106 "2003-06-09T19:43:28Z")
I just got home from work. I go back in three hours. I’ve had maybe five hours of sleep and had to get those from sleeping pills which have left me groggy all day. _ **QUIT WITH THE PHILOSPHICAL MUMBOJUMBO!** _ My poor head. ---
**Author:** ![Kn\_ckers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/96bed5/32.png) [@Kn\_ckers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kn_ckers)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2003, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enterprise-dead-stop-1-1-03-spoilers/146150/107 "2003-06-09T20:05:05Z")
There, there. Have yourself some dinner, dear, and relax. No need to get all het up. Look, I made some… meat and vegetables… in a …stew…thing… Or a goulash… maybe it’s goulash, I dunno. Hell, just eat it. Hope you get some rest. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2003, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enterprise-dead-stop-1-1-03-spoilers/146150/108 "2003-06-09T20:27:35Z")
I tried this last night but it didn’t work. This wouldn’t necessarily make anyone feel better or satisfy their hunger (except maybe **Kn\*ckers’** ), 🙂 but they finally put my South Park Expanse Trip up at House of Tucker: [Here.](http://trip.houseoftucker.com/sopark.html) Gotta have something to while on this hiatus… NCB: Are you medicated or was that “regular you”? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2003, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enterprise-dead-stop-1-1-03-spoilers/146150/109 "2003-06-09T20:36:37Z")
Whatever became of this thread’s starter? **Saltire??** Haven’t seen 'em/It since. ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2003, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enterprise-dead-stop-1-1-03-spoilers/146150/110 "2003-06-09T23:27:04Z")
As long as there’s psychological stuff going on…Let’s have some fun with it: Recommended Self-Help books for Archer: Stop Being Co-Dependent, Vol. 1: You and Your Dog Stop Being Co-Dependent, Vol. 2: You and Your Chief Engineer It’s Time to Move On: No More Incessant Yakking About Daddy or Water Polo Be a Leader, Not a Pal You’re Wrong More Often Than You Think, So Just Admit It Already Stop Whining in 12 Steps or One Week, Whichever Comes First * * * Add to the list if you like. * * * NCB-style non-sequitur: A PPO agent asked me on the phone today, “And what is your current age?” I told him. But then I thought, What does he mean, my “current” age? As opposed to what? My future age? Some age I was years ago? Maybe he should check with Future Guy. :rolleyes: ---
**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:** [June 9, 2003, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enterprise-dead-stop-1-1-03-spoilers/146150/111 "2003-06-09T23:39:13Z")
It would be funnier to go on a field trip(1) to the book store or library and come up with real titles. 🙂 (1) It’s that dang South Park stuff…kiddies. ---
**Author:** ![Tars\_Tarkas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tars\_Tarkas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tars_Tarkas)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2003, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enterprise-dead-stop-1-1-03-spoilers/146150/112 "2003-06-09T23:45:07Z")
T’Pol: _Hairstyles of the 22nd century Insense and covering nasty smells Painting Ear Points, the New Vulcan Logical Fad! A Logical Hypothesis on The Whereabouts of My Cheese and Who was the Culprit in Moving said Cheese_ by Surak Reed: _Things That Go Boom! Sacrificing Yourself For the Greater Good Sacrificing Yourself For no real reason The Big Book of British Smiles_ Tucker: _Anger Management More Anger Management How to Count to Ten Instead of Turning Red and Smashing Aliens Fighting Big Eared Aliens in your Underwear for Fun and Profit_ _Catfish Recipies_ by C. T. fish Mayweather: _Be Noticed!_ _How to Speak_ _Attracting Attention to Yourself_ _Why Boomers are Pimps_ by Lando Calrissian Phlox: _Ugly Animals Uglier Animals Really Uglier Animals Eye of Newt Weekly Grinding Up Denebulan Slime Devil Toenails…for Dummies Where the Wild Things Are_ Hoshi: _Keeping your Clothes on, a Beginners Guide Keeping your Clothes on, an advanced guide How to Staple your Clothes on Fine, Run around Naked, Your Father is too Stupid to Understand What you are doing anyway_, fifth Ed. _How to Avoid Creepy Internet Martian Stalkers @%#$TEGeG3q$y4q5yqhg’q34y’q3YHQ$"35y’q5y"Q$%G"q35g’q3’Gq34"gq3’gQ#$GQ#%G45g’45q_ by 4 v#v3@c34%346fg$7hfgkMfgmgHnBbvs, in the original %@#6veGVvgj hjfgJfgJdFSHs-ian _Harry Potter_, entire set. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enterprise-dead-stop-1-1-03-spoilers/146150/113 "2003-06-10T00:56:39Z")
Porthos: _Bark Woof Woof Arf Bark Bark Howl Growl Bark Bite I Speak Human Now - Be My Bitch_ ---
**Author:** ![Linus\_Van\_Pelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ebca7d/32.png) [@Linus\_Van\_Pelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linus_Van_Pelt)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enterprise-dead-stop-1-1-03-spoilers/146150/114 "2003-06-10T00:58:37Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Kn_ckers \* > \*\*\ > So, yeah, **Linus** , I understand what you’re getting at, and I think it’s curious, too. Maybe just our Vulcan sensibilities taking over, though. 🙂 \ > Kn(waxing philosophical till it gleams)ckers \*\* Amusingly enough, the first thing I thought after posting that was, “Dang. I _am_ Spock.” I get about 2 of these tests a month sent to me by e-mail and the vast majority of them are science fiction or fantasy related. I guess there were a couple of reasons why I posted what I did: Reason # one I posted it: I noticed Kn\*ckers having the same reaction that I did. “Spock. Eh.” And it got me thinking. We do things like internet personality tests because its fun, or we’re bored, and we really don’t care about them, or so we say. Yet we care at least enough to be disappointed if we get a less than flattering result. So, why is that? I think that one of the reasons is the same reason that we’re all fans of SF - we like to lose ourselves, however temporarily in a world of imagination. Let’s face it: if we can suspend our disbelief for some of the Trek episodes, temporarily believing a stupid little quiz is a piece of cake. And, while we’re in that moment, we want the results to tell us what we want to believe about ourselves - that we’re smart, funny, and cool. Reason # two I posted it: I didn’t get nearly enought sleep last night, was a little loopy this morning, and was posting the random thoughts as they hit. I hope my ramblings didn’t bore anyone too much. ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enterprise-dead-stop-1-1-03-spoilers/146150/115 "2003-06-10T01:03:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Linus Van Pelt \* > \*\*SNIP > > I hope my ramblings didn’t bore anyone too much. \*\* Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…snoooooooooorrrrrrre… Huh? (It’s a joke, son.) 😉 * * * Love those titles. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enterprise-dead-stop-1-1-03-spoilers/146150/116 "2003-06-10T01:22:43Z")
You said # 2 heh heh heh heh heh heh ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enterprise-dead-stop-1-1-03-spoilers/146150/117 "2003-06-10T01:28:21Z")
[Play with this](http://slava.podolsk.ru/flash/go.swf) ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enterprise-dead-stop-1-1-03-spoilers/146150/118 "2003-06-10T03:29:38Z")
Back from work and I feel like **NCB** probably did while he was all doped up on medication. I’ve been working nothing but four hour shifts for about a year now (I’m a slacker) and this thirteen hour split shift has turned my brain into mush. And going back a bit, after thinking it over, I _am_ Odo. Not so likeable, sorta stoic, a loner, and all that stuff but a big ol’ softie and romantic at heart. Yep… that’s me. Plus, with his abilities, I can get any woman I want. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enterprise-dead-stop-1-1-03-spoilers/146150/119 "2003-06-10T04:21:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by NoClueBoy \* > \*\*[Play with this](http://slava.podolsk.ru/flash/go.swf) \*\* Very funny, bunny. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Linus\_Van\_Pelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ebca7d/32.png) [@Linus\_Van\_Pelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linus_Van_Pelt)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enterprise-dead-stop-1-1-03-spoilers/146150/120 "2003-06-10T06:09:43Z")
Where did I put my spear and magic helmet… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enterprise-dead-stop-1-1-03-spoilers/146150.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enterprise-dead-stop-1-1-03-spoilers/146150.md?page=7)