# Picard **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 22, 2003, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picard/150271 "2003-01-22T19:16:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DjPip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bc8723/32.png) [@DjPip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DjPip)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picard/150271/1 "2003-01-22T19:16:00Z")
Why is Picard still a captain and Janway is Admiral?Picard as saved the Earth and the Fed for over 15years but is still a captain but Janway gets lost for a few years comes back and is now an Admiral! I know star trek anit real but there is no why a man who as saved eveyone so many times wud still be a captain and get no rewards! What do other people think? And if its a silly question dont flame me am new! ---
**Author:** ![Earthworm\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f07891/32.png) [@Earthworm\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earthworm_Jim)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picard/150271/2 "2003-01-22T19:18:32Z")
Because one is not required to accept a promotion (assuming Starfleet is similar to the US Navy). Maybe Picard took Kirks advice. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picard/150271/3 "2003-01-22T19:22:24Z")
Likewise, maybe Janeway had had enough zipping around the galaxy to suit her for a while. ---
**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:** [January 22, 2003, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picard/150271/4 "2003-01-22T19:24:24Z")
Because Starfleet’s promotion system is outta whack. Let’s not forget that they gave Deanna “What’s a warp core” Troi a promotion during the run of the series, but not Data. Zev Steinhardt ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picard/150271/5 "2003-01-22T19:31:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DjPip \* > \*\*And if its a silly question dont flame me am new! \*\* Well, off to a good start, you posted in the correct forum. Welcome to the SDMB. ---
**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:** [January 22, 2003, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picard/150271/6 "2003-01-22T19:44:52Z")
They gave Janeway a desk job so she wouldn’t kill people and break the Prime Directive weekly, starting war after war. Plus being a Captain is where it’s at! You can’t score with green chicks if you are an Admiral! ---
**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:** [January 22, 2003, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picard/150271/7 "2003-01-22T19:45:45Z")
The military structure presented in _Star Trek_ has about as much realism as the legal processes presented in _Ally McBeal_. ---
**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:** [January 22, 2003, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picard/150271/8 "2003-01-22T19:55:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bryan Ekers \* > \*\*The military structure presented in _Star Trek_ has about as much realism as the legal processes presented in _Ally McBeal_. \*\* True, but at least with Star Trek, you can posit that a lot has happened in the 380 years between now and then that reflects the change. With Ally McBeal, you have to posit that Boston is in the universe where all the crazy wackos live. 🙂 Zev Steinhardt ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picard/150271/9 "2003-01-22T19:55:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Beelzebubba \* > Because one is not required to accept a promotion (assuming Starfleet is similar to the US Navy). Actually, I’m pretty sure the U.S. Navy has an “up or out” system, at least for officers; officers who aren’t promoted are forced out. ---
**Author:** ![Achernar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e274bd/32.png) [@Achernar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achernar)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picard/150271/10 "2003-01-22T20:16:50Z")
We touched on this question in this thread: [Questions about Nemisis (SPOILERS](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=150713) ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picard/150271/11 "2003-01-22T20:17:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by zev\_steinhardt \* > **With Ally McBeal, you have to posit that Boston is in the universe where all the crazy wackos live.** Not _much_ of a stretch, is it?😉 ---
**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:** [January 22, 2003, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picard/150271/12 "2003-01-22T20:44:58Z")
Naw, they all live in San Fran ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picard/150271/13 "2003-01-22T21:38:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tars Tarkas \* > \*\*Naw, they all live in San Fran \*\* Home of Starfleet headquarters. Coincidence? ---
**Author:** ![DjPip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bc8723/32.png) [@DjPip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DjPip)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picard/150271/14 "2003-01-22T22:30:09Z")
Still on topic of startrek,I reckon there will be at least one more fiim,with staff from the other shows Eg:Dax to replace Troi Bashir or the EMH to replace crusher Chakotay to replace Riker(for the love of god dont) Kim to replace Data at ops Becouse Troi and Riker get married(and Riker gets his own ship) Data well you all sud know by now and crusher goes back to starfeet HQ ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picard/150271/15 "2003-01-22T23:20:52Z")
Getting promoted to admiral in Starfleet is a backhanded compliment. Most of the admirals seem to be guys that are too incompetent to be trusted with their own ships. Janeway and Riker’s former captain (from the “Pegasus” episode) being cases in point. ---
**Author:** ![raisinbread](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8491ac/32.png) [@raisinbread](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raisinbread)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picard/150271/16 "2003-01-22T23:33:06Z")
Picard gets the job done. Janeway got lost, played Gilligan’s Island 90210 in a different quadrant. Consider it the Peter Principle. ---
**Author:** ![DjPip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bc8723/32.png) [@DjPip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DjPip)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picard/150271/17 "2003-01-22T23:38:26Z")
Whats the Peter Principle? ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picard/150271/18 "2003-01-22T23:51:28Z")
> [@](#): > > Whats the Peter Principle? Don’t know the exact reference (bet it’s from Dilbert, though), but, seeing as how this is the second time it’s referred to incompetence in high positions, it’s probably similar to the idea of putting someone in a desk job where they can’t muck up the works. ---
**Author:** ![drewbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drewbert/32/15890_2.png) [@drewbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewbert)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picard/150271/19 "2003-01-23T00:06:57Z")
[The Peter Principle](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1568491611/104-5756861-6960767?vi=glance) The basic idea is that if you do well at a job, you’ll get promoted. You’ll keep getting promoted until you find yourself in a job you’re incapable of, where you’ll remain. Hence the incompetance of upper management. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picard/150271/20 "2003-01-23T03:34:54Z")
… Which explains why 9 out of every 10 Star Fleet admirals is either incompetent, corrupt, or controlled by evil cockroaches. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picard/150271.md?page=2)