# I have an extremely important Star Trek: TNG question **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 20, 2012, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-an-extremely-important-star-trek-tng-question/632109 "2012-08-20T22:55:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![newsbunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@newsbunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/newsbunny)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-an-extremely-important-star-trek-tng-question/632109/1 "2012-08-20T22:55:16Z")
I know Lt. Commander Data is fully functional in every way. However… is he WATERPROOF? _returns to Netflix marathon_ ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-an-extremely-important-star-trek-tng-question/632109/2 "2012-08-20T22:56:30Z")
He does walk underwater without any special gear in Insurrection. ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-an-extremely-important-star-trek-tng-question/632109/3 "2012-08-20T22:58:09Z")
He specifically says that he can be used as a flotation device, in that movie IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-an-extremely-important-star-trek-tng-question/632109/4 "2012-08-20T23:04:09Z")
> [@Dendarii\_Dame](#): > > He specifically says that he can be used as a flotation device, in that movie IIRC. So, the mechanism behind his full functionality is pneumatic? ---
**Author:** ![newsbunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@newsbunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/newsbunny)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-an-extremely-important-star-trek-tng-question/632109/5 "2012-08-20T23:06:16Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > He does walk underwater without any special gear in Insurrection. I didn’t know that! ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-an-extremely-important-star-trek-tng-question/632109/6 "2012-08-20T23:32:25Z")
_Insurrection_ isn’t as bad as people say. I mean, it isn’t _good_, but it’s definitely worth seeing if you’re a TNG fan. The one after that is total balls, though. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2012, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-an-extremely-important-star-trek-tng-question/632109/7 "2012-08-21T01:18:14Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > _Insurrection_ isn’t as bad as people say. I mean, it isn’t _good_, but it’s definitely worth seeing if you’re a TNG fan. > > The one after that is total balls, though. It was better than the first one. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2012, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-an-extremely-important-star-trek-tng-question/632109/8 "2012-08-21T01:29:17Z")
There was an episode where Geordi was reminiscing and mentioned that he and Data were on leave in a lake or something somewhere when Data decided to go for a swim from the boat. Data sank like a stone and had to walk to shore along the bottom. I think it was somewhere in the 6th or 7th season, and he had learned to swim since. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2012, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-an-extremely-important-star-trek-tng-question/632109/9 "2012-08-21T03:13:41Z")
Moved MPSIMS --\> Cafe Society. ---
**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:** [August 21, 2012, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-an-extremely-important-star-trek-tng-question/632109/10 "2012-08-21T03:46:48Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > _Insurrection_ isn’t as bad as people say. I view this as unlikely, on the scale of “There’s a hippo in my soapdish.” ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2012, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-an-extremely-important-star-trek-tng-question/632109/11 "2012-08-21T03:46:50Z")
I’ve often wondered if “fully functional” meant he could actually ejaculate (& if so _what_) or just that he could get an erection. ---
**Author:** ![a35362](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2012, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-an-extremely-important-star-trek-tng-question/632109/12 "2012-08-21T03:52:12Z")
I can’t imagine how he could possibly float or swim. He’s built like a machine, not a human! He’s all machine parts and wiring and computer chips. He weighs 100 kg. (which is 220 lbs., which is pretty solid for someone with his height and build). I can’t believe I’m getting dragged into this conversation. ---
**Author:** ![a35362](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2012, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-an-extremely-important-star-trek-tng-question/632109/13 "2012-08-21T03:53:18Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > I’ve often wondered if “fully functional” meant he could actually ejaculate (& if so _what_) or just that he could get an erection. Ahem: mineral oil? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2012, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-an-extremely-important-star-trek-tng-question/632109/14 "2012-08-21T03:56:46Z")
I think the secret died with Tasha. ---
**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:** [August 21, 2012, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-an-extremely-important-star-trek-tng-question/632109/15 "2012-08-21T03:57:00Z")
> [@a35362](#): > > I can’t imagine how he could possibly float or swim. He’s built like a machine, not a human! He’s all machine parts and wiring and computer chips. He weighs 100 kg. (which is 220 lbs., which is pretty solid for someone with his height and build). I don’t remember it being stated - his overall density is no doubt higher than a human’s (whose density is typically near that of water) but Worf could readily carry him, so he’s clearly not in 500lb range. I’m guessing the only way he could swim is if he could move his arms and legs at outboard-motor speeds. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2012, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-an-extremely-important-star-trek-tng-question/632109/16 "2012-08-21T04:10:38Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > _Insurrection_ isn’t as bad as people say. I mean, it isn’t _good_, but it’s definitely worth seeing if you’re a TNG fan. > > The one after that is total balls, though. What bugged me about Insurrection is that previously during the show the crew has been happy to stand by and let entire planets die to fulfill Starfleet beliefs. But now they decide to go rambo to save a people from being relocated :rolleyes: ---
**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:** [August 21, 2012, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-an-extremely-important-star-trek-tng-question/632109/17 "2012-08-21T04:16:45Z")
> [@grude](#): > > What bugged me about Insurrection is that previously during the show the crew has been happy to stand by and let entire planets die to fulfill Starfleet beliefs. But now they decide to go rambo to save a people from being relocated :rolleyes: Plus it wasn’t clear why they _had_ to be relocated. So the ugly aliens are actually pretty aliens who just moved off-planet and got old, huh? So why don’t they just move back and stay there? The humans were feeling the “fountain of youth” effects, so you don’t actually have to trash the planet (for reasons I still don’t understand). Just settle 5000km west of the existing population and you’ll never see them anyway, so who gives a fuck? ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2012, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-an-extremely-important-star-trek-tng-question/632109/18 "2012-08-21T04:18:31Z")
> [@grude](#): > > What bugged me about Insurrection is that previously during the show the crew has been happy to stand by and let entire planets die to fulfill Starfleet beliefs. But now they decide to go rambo to save a people from being relocated :rolleyes: Isn’t that the whole point? Star Fleet _itself_ was violating the Prime Directive by relocating the Ba’ku. This conflicts with Data’s programming, which starts the entire insurrection. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2012, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-an-extremely-important-star-trek-tng-question/632109/19 "2012-08-21T05:25:17Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > Isn’t that the whole point? > Star Fleet _itself_ was violating the Prime Directive by relocating the Ba’ku. This conflicts with Data’s programming, which starts the entire insurrection. Yes that was the whole plot, that Starfleet brass was corrupt and willing to bend the rules for their own benefit(SHOCKER!). So in upholding the prime directive the crew grossly violates it as well, never questioning Starfleet regs in the other cases(if they were wrong in this instance may they have been wrong before?). And it was revealed near the end the entire thing was fueled by the Sora/Ba’ku split, in a conflict resembling petulant teenagers seeking to hurt their parents. They don’t want to move back just yet, they want to show their parents. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2012, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-an-extremely-important-star-trek-tng-question/632109/20 "2012-08-21T05:27:20Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Plus it wasn’t clear why they _had_ to be relocated. So the ugly aliens are actually pretty aliens who just moved off-planet and got old, huh? So why don’t they just move back and stay there? The humans were feeling the “fountain of youth” effects, so you don’t actually have to trash the planet (for reasons I still don’t understand). Just settle 5000km west of the existing population and you’ll never see them anyway, so who gives a fuck? Bingo, apparently in a setting involving warp travel it would just be too damn hard for the powerful SF brass to go take vacations on a resort on world. No they must have youth in their office dammit! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-an-extremely-important-star-trek-tng-question/632109.md?page=2)