# How could UPN do this to me??? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 16, 2001, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-upn-do-this-to-me/72675 "2001-07-16T14:13:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2001, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-upn-do-this-to-me/72675/21 "2001-07-16T23:49:48Z")
What if some goy friends decided it would be nice to videotape Star Trek and present it to you as a gift? Since it is a surprise, you wouldn’t be sitting in Shul wondering “is the tape taping?” I’m curious about why videotaping isn’t ok, but watching it in repeats is. In a sense, isn’t some guy in a studio just playing a tape, the way you might be playing a tape some evening in your home? Another thought – the New York dopers could watch it, memorize it, and then act it out for you (possibly with hand puppets) sometime after Yom Kippur. Always up for a challenge, I always say. ---
**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2001, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-upn-do-this-to-me/72675/22 "2001-07-17T01:06:41Z")
I want to thank everyone for thier suggestions. I didn’t really start this thread with an eye toward looking for solutions, since the problem is, for the most part, self-inflicted. I was just looking for a place to vent a bit. Zev Steinhardt ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2001, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-upn-do-this-to-me/72675/23 "2001-07-17T07:55:33Z")
> [@](#): > > Another thought – the New York dopers could watch it, memorize it, and then act it out for you (possibly with hand puppets) sometime after Yom Kippur. Always up for a challenge, I always say. Would it be possible to videotape this performace? Not on Shabbas, of course. ---
**Author:** ![don\_Jaime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b4bc9f/32.png) [@don\_Jaime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_Jaime)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2001, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-upn-do-this-to-me/72675/24 "2001-07-17T14:12:07Z")
Why don’t you call your local Starbase (my local is 21) and see if somebody is taping the network feed for a viewing party? I remember they taped the final season opener of TNG and played it about a week before the broadcast on channel 25. The feed’ll come on well before Yom Kippur and would solve the problem of taping that day. Heck, you could see Enterprise before Yom Kippur, if you’re lucky. Or, you could face facts and realize that given the DS9 and Voyager track record, Enterprise is doomed to suck. ---
**Author:** ![don\_Jaime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b4bc9f/32.png) [@don\_Jaime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_Jaime)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2001, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-upn-do-this-to-me/72675/25 "2001-07-17T14:17:31Z")
Okay, that was stupid. TNG was syndicated and this is network. This ain’t a good day. But UPN isn’t in all parts of the country, so they may have a network feed. And there’s bound to be a viewing party at your local Starbase, so you still might want to call them. ---
**Author:** ![Scylla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2001, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-upn-do-this-to-me/72675/26 "2001-07-17T14:20:47Z")
Well Zev, maybe you can look at it this way: When you pay taxes you are only obligated to pay the taxes you owe. In fact it is your responsiblity to use the laws to minimize what you pay to the fullest extent applicable. I hope you don’t mind my saying so, but your interpretation of this rule seems akin to paying your taxes, but not bothering to file for any deductions that are yours to claim. If you’ve self-inflicted the end point that you will not be able to watch Star Trek on your holy day, then there’s nothing we can really do to help you. But, it seems to me that if it is self-inflicted, and not a requirement or either the letter or the spirit of Jewish Law, than it’s really not a religious objection at all. Just a personal decision. If you personally decide not to watch or allow yourself to watch Star Trek there’s nothing we can do to help you. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2001, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-upn-do-this-to-me/72675/27 "2001-07-17T15:35:13Z")
[QUOTE] \*Originally posted by Kyla \* \*\* > [@](#): > > Would it be possible to videotape this performace? Not on Shabbas, of course. > > \*\* Kyla, try to keep up here. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2001, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-upn-do-this-to-me/72675/28 "2001-07-17T16:17:17Z")
[QUOTE] \*Originally posted by Finagle \* \*\* > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kyla \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > Would it be possible to videotape this performace? Not on Shabbas, of course. > > > > \*\* > > Kyla, try to keep up here. \*\* Hmm?? Her post makes sense to me. Plus, I’d like to see that puppet show on tape too. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![hawthorne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@hawthorne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawthorne)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2001, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-upn-do-this-to-me/72675/29 "2001-07-17T16:50:39Z")
For every question like this, there _will_ be a lame time-travel episode that “deals” with it. Hush now. Ya canna change the laws (or admirable personal interpretations thereof) of Shabbos. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2001, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-upn-do-this-to-me/72675/30 "2001-07-17T21:24:55Z")
[QUOTE] \*Originally posted by gigi \* \*\* > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Finagle \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Kyla \* > > \*\* > > > > > [@](#): > > > > > > Would it be possible to videotape this performace? Not on Shabbas, of course. > > > > > > \*\* > > > > Kyla, try to keep up here. \*\* > > Hmm?? Her post makes sense to me. Plus, I’d like to see that puppet show on tape too. 🙂 \*\* My sincere apologies. I guess I’m the one who is lagging behind here. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2001, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-upn-do-this-to-me/72675/31 "2001-07-18T01:22:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by zev\_steinhardt \* > \*\*You are absolutely correct, **Max Tourque**. The ancients did not prohibit one from setting his/her VCR before the holiday to tape on the holiday. > > However, I, personally, have never done that. I always took it as a sign that if something was on Shabbos, then I was simply not meant to watch it. So, while, there is nothing wrong (letter of the law) against taping it or watching a tape that others provide, it is (strictly IMHO) against the spirit of the law. > > If UPN repeats it on Sunday, however, then all bets are off… 🙂 > > Zev Steinhardt \*\* Hmmm… I don’t even know what days the shows I watch are on, or what times. I have TiVo, so I just tell it the names of the shows I like and whenever they come on, it tapes them (up to 90 hours worth) and I go through the list (usually about 10 days’ worth) whenever I want and choose what to see… if I had to keep track of what day something was on and not watch it, I’d be lost ☹ I’m sure they’ll rerun the crap out of it though. ---
**Author:** ![jab1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ee7513/32.png) [@jab1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jab1)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2001, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-upn-do-this-to-me/72675/32 "2001-07-18T01:38:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by wring \* > **I guess I don’t understand UPN. Are they planning on only putting the premier on Saturdays or is that to be the regular showing of the show?** It is scheduled to be shown on Wednesdays, according to UPN’s own [website.](http://www.upn.com/previewFrameset.html) ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2001, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-upn-do-this-to-me/72675/33 "2001-07-18T02:30:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by wring \* > **I guess I don’t understand UPN. Are they planning on only putting the premier on Saturdays or is that to be the regular showing of the show?** The premier is going to be on Wednesday too. It’s just that that Wednesday will be Yom Kippur. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2001, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-upn-do-this-to-me/72675/34 "2001-07-18T02:54:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Max Torque \* > \*\*Forgive my ignorance, but…did the ancients prohibit one from setting one’s VCR timer so that it operates on Yom Kippur? \*\* Dude, the Ancients are from Farscape, not Star Trek. Get it right, man! 🙂 By the way, if you understand what I just said, you passed the Geek Test!! ---
**Author:** ![Seraphim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ad7895/32.png) [@Seraphim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seraphim)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2001, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-upn-do-this-to-me/72675/35 "2001-07-18T04:55:50Z")
No problem, here’s a solution that lets you keep your religious beliefs **AND** watch Enterprise when it first premieres too! I note from your profile Zev that you’re headquartered in Brooklyn, which is on Eastern time. In all likelihood, that means the show will premiere there at 9:00pm. So, just follow these simple steps: 1. Invest in some heavy-duty satellite equipment. A drag, sure, but you got the bux to spend, right? 2. Travel with gear in tow at least 3 time zones to the east. Eastern time is GMT -05:00, so you’ll need to make it to at least GMT -02:00. Unfortunately, that puts you smack dab in the middle of the Atlantic. You’ll probably want to make the extra jump to Cape Verde Is. (GMT -01:00) or heck, even London (GMT -00:00). You can say hello to those saucy Brits. 3. Celebrate Yom Kippur there. 4. Now, when the show debues on Wed., Sept. 26 9:00pm **HERE** , it’ll be Thurs., Sept 27 where you are! Just tune in with your new equipment and watch guilt-free! ---
**Author:** ![Redboss](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8baadc/32.png) [@Redboss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Redboss)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2001, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-upn-do-this-to-me/72675/36 "2001-07-18T06:22:01Z")
Zev, your thread title says, misleadingly _How could UPN do this to me_, so of course you are going to get suggestions for solutions. Consider atheism. Advantages? 1 works well for me 2 you can watch any TV any time (even nude cable channels) Disadvantages? If you’ve made a decision and go on the Boards complaining about the consequences of it, people tend to say “well it was YOUR decision so shut up”. Which of course no-one in this thread has said to you so far. Good luck Redboss PS On that night, I will have the TV tuned into that station, but will be loudly talking all through the show, and not paying attention. Then I will immediately post a thread with a spoiler in the title (ie “Enterprise Sucks and all other life forms in the universe speak English”, or “Rosebud was Captain Kirk’s first starfleet command” or something), for Zev to see first thing. Atheism. It’s so much simpler. ---
**Author:** ![kabbes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e99b99/32.png) [@kabbes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kabbes)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2001, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-upn-do-this-to-me/72675/37 "2001-07-18T09:53:53Z")
Am I the only one who read the OP and simply thought: “‘Yom Kippur’? Now _that_ is a cool collection of syllables” ? Yes, clearly I am. pan ---
**Author:** ![don\_Jaime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b4bc9f/32.png) [@don\_Jaime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_Jaime)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2001, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-upn-do-this-to-me/72675/38 "2001-07-18T12:37:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Redboss \* > **Unimportant stuff you really don’t care about.** I’d invite you to eat my shit, but you sound like the sort of moron who’d enjoy doing that. So just piss off instead, atheist scum, and let us know when you find the “on” switch to your brain. ---
**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2001, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-upn-do-this-to-me/72675/39 "2001-07-18T12:58:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Seraphim \* > \*\*but you got the bux to spend, right? > \*\* [jewish grandmother voice] From your mouth to God’s ears… [/jewish grandmother voice] Zev Steinhardt ---
**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2001, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-upn-do-this-to-me/72675/40 "2001-07-18T13:01:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Redboss \* > \*\*Zev, your thread title says, misleadingly _How could UPN do this to me_, so of course you are going to get suggestions for solutions. > > Consider atheism. > \*\* Hmmmm. An all-encompasing lifestyle that bring meaning and purpose to my life, or an hour of Star Trek? Tough choice there, **Redboss** … Zev Steinhardt [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-upn-do-this-to-me/72675.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-upn-do-this-to-me/72675.md?page=3)