# Star Trek inaccuracies **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** tv-shows-scripted, star-trek-paramount\ **Created:** [September 19, 2022, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-inaccuracies/971862 "2022-09-19T23:05:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2022, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-inaccuracies/971862/181 "2022-10-11T14:36:54Z")
I recall one episode of DS9 that took the idea of “solar sails” to ridiculous proportions by having a ship made of wood, with sails that needed to be operated by hand. Despite the simplicity of the craft, they even manage to go FTL, though admittedly only because the sails got pushed along by tachyons. Science! ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2022, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-inaccuracies/971862/182 "2022-10-11T14:37:29Z")
There is an episode where _Voyager_ is hit by a Borg weapon, starts to spin , and Paris manages to get her in control and back into warp in a second or two. Paris does seem bored most of the time. ---
**Author:** ![Steven\_Maven](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steven_maven/32/3272_2.png) [@Steven\_Maven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steven_Maven)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2022, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-inaccuracies/971862/183 "2022-11-02T21:22:20Z")
What about the Holodeck? First, people seem to be able to travel distances much greater than the deck or even the ship itself. Nobody has sex with anything? Not even the most attractive crew member of their gender of choice? Sometimes crew members get injured in the Holodeck but other times they aren’t. Anything else? ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2022, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-inaccuracies/971862/184 "2022-11-02T21:40:19Z")
> [@Steven\_Maven](#): > > First, people seem to be able to travel distances much greater than the deck or even the ship itself. I don’t think it’s been canonically addressed, but I assume the floor is a sort of omni-directional treadmill. > [@Steven\_Maven](#): > > Nobody has sex with anything? Not even the most attractive crew member of their gender of choice? In TNG, Ensign Barclay had a holodeck program featuring a holographic Councilor Troy, for implied sexy purposes. Pretty sure it’s canon that Quark had “adult” programs available in his holosuits on _Deep Space 9_. And then there’s _Lower Decks_, which featured a full-on holodeck orgy. > [@Steven\_Maven](#): > > Sometimes crew members get injured in the Holodeck but other times they aren’t. The holodeck has safety protocols which prevent anyone from being hurt, but they can be overridden with sufficient clearance, and occasionally go offline on their own when there’s significant ship damage. They’re usually pretty explicit in the script about the safety protocols being disabled when it happens. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2022, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-inaccuracies/971862/185 "2022-11-02T21:42:43Z")
> [@Steven\_Maven](#): > > First, people seem to be able to travel distances much greater than the deck or even the ship itself. Indeed. They can be miles away in a 10 metre square room. > [@Steven\_Maven](#): > > Nobody has sex with anything? Not even the most attractive crew member of their gender of choice? **Dr. Crusher:** _[outside of the holodeck, to Wesley, who is inside]_ Wesley, You’re spending too much time in the holodeck. I want you to see Counsellor Troi. **Wesley:** Um… She’s in here with me, mom! I want to know who cleans up the spooge. > [@Steven\_Maven](#): > > Sometimes crew members get injured in the Holodeck but other times they aren’t. I think the idea is that the safeties (when they are working) are supposed to keep you from being killed; but sprains, broken bones, and such are allowed. I presume the safeties can be set for ‘zero injuries’ from holographic characters and situations, but the people want to have ‘acceptable risks’. ---
**Author:** ![Pavelb1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/439d5e/32.png) [@Pavelb1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pavelb1)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2022, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-inaccuracies/971862/186 "2022-11-02T21:45:17Z")
Your holodeck ref made me think of Barclay which made me think of the worst occurance of “We’ve discovered this amazing tech thats never seen again and would break everything!” Usually its this crazy ancient artifact…but in the second (I think) Barclay episode, he uses readily on hand equipment to not only increase deflector shield use…he invents Starfleet transwarp drive. Everything he did should be easily repeatable. Its all recorded!! I know that Lower decks makes a passing ref to this trope, but I want to see an entire Lower Decks ep dedicated to this! A Department of Useless Anamoly and Artifact study. DUAA! “We tried to replicate telekinesis with this kironide stuff and all the test subjects died!!” 'Yeah…DUAA!" “Someone might want to check on Kirk and Spock.” An entire ep showing cynical officers fanwanking why the feds dont have: A giant neutronium paper weight Telekinesis transwarp Soul transfer devices All of Methuselahs stuff Garths abilities Scalosian tech Im just gonna stop there…i went from memory to looking at a TOS ep list (Goin backwards) and im only halfway through the third season. OK one more: Jesus Christ the Spock’s Brain tech. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2022, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-inaccuracies/971862/187 "2022-11-02T21:49:58Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I want to know who cleans up the spooge. That’s what ensigns are for. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2022, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-inaccuracies/971862/188 "2022-11-02T21:50:17Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > In TNG, Ensign Barclay had a holodeck program featuring a holographic Councilor Troy, for implied sexy purposes. Pretty sure it’s canon that Quark had “adult” programs available in his holosuits on _Deep Space 9_. Nitpick: Troi Yes, it is canon that Quark ran porn in his holosuites. It’s mentioned several times and he even tried to record Kira for a client who was interested in…well, that was never specified, but easy to imagine. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2022, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-inaccuracies/971862/189 "2022-11-02T21:50:56Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Nitpick: Troi I’ll hand over my agonizer. ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2022, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-inaccuracies/971862/190 "2022-11-02T21:52:42Z")
On the holodeck sex thing, I’d always put it down to a combination of: 1. It’s like going to the toilet…it happens, it’s just not shown 2. It doesn’t feel good. The holodeck is supposed to be holograms and forcefields. Maybe the sensation is a bit uncanny valley (so to speak) and so people still very much prefer the real thing. (Although, of course, in the real world, very poor sex substitutes are nonetheless very popular, including just watching someone else have sex). ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2022, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-inaccuracies/971862/191 "2022-11-02T21:54:50Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I want to know who cleans up the spooge. On _Lower Decks_ Mariner got the job. She also has an “all nude male Olympic training gym” program. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2022, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-inaccuracies/971862/192 "2022-11-02T21:57:52Z")
Someone get me a vimto [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Q9W7pvOLxmQ/maxresdefault.jpg "Every Episode of Popular Space Show™") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9W7pvOLxmQ) ---
**Author:** ![Pavelb1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/439d5e/32.png) [@Pavelb1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pavelb1)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2022, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-inaccuracies/971862/193 "2022-11-02T22:01:23Z")
Trek is practically built on tropes that by the time we see them wouldn’t even merit a conversation (Prime Directive…holodeck stuff) but always the crew acts like this is the very first time this amazing thing came up and doggone we have to wrestle with the moral implications right here and now!! The fucking PD should not be a philosophy up for debate. “Hey this emergency holodoc is very grumpy and seems to be developing sentience when we leave it on all the time!..well thats just crazy!” Again Lower Decks is the perfect place to cover this. “A temporal anomaly passed through your quarters while you were gone. It seems 100 years passed in your room in a minute! You didn’t leave anything on did you?” “Just the toaster…oh God.” “I AM TOASTARIO!! SUPERIOR IN EVERY WAY OF HEATING!! ALL TECHNOLOGY MUST BOW TO ME!!” ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2022, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-inaccuracies/971862/194 "2022-11-02T22:01:30Z")
I was thinking about this just yesterday - Wouldn’t the process of being torn apart molecule by molecule, over a period of several seconds, apparently whilst still experiencing continuation of concsiousness, be a bit hurty? ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2022, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-inaccuracies/971862/195 "2022-11-02T22:02:39Z")
In [The Devil in the Dark](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Devil_in_the_Dark) (TOS), I noticed DeForest Kelley kept referring to the silicon lifeforms as _silicone_. ---
**Author:** ![Pavelb1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/439d5e/32.png) [@Pavelb1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pavelb1)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2022, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-inaccuracies/971862/196 "2022-11-02T22:03:30Z")
That guys “Fed officer accent” sounds just like my Matt Berry impression ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2022, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-inaccuracies/971862/197 "2022-11-02T22:06:25Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > In [The Devil in the Dark](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Devil_in_the_Dark) (TOS), I noticed DeForest Kelley kept referring to the silicon lifeforms as _silicone_. Given what he had the “Shore Leave” planet make for him, I’m not surprised. [![](https://4.bp.blogspot.com/__9PCmBrOEMA/TC-XMaAN7xI/AAAAAAAADps/kpUIw1Kt2SE/w1200-h630-p-k-no-nu/shoreleave.jpg) ](https://4.bp.blogspot.com/__9PCmBrOEMA/TC-XMaAN7xI/AAAAAAAADps/kpUIw1Kt2SE/w1200-h630-p-k-no-nu/shoreleave.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2022, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-inaccuracies/971862/198 "2022-11-02T22:11:21Z")
I LOL’d. ☺ ---
**Author:** ![Pavelb1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/439d5e/32.png) [@Pavelb1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pavelb1)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2022, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-inaccuracies/971862/199 "2022-11-02T22:18:23Z")
Which brings us back to amazing tech we never see again…McCoy was brought back to life FFS!! And the trope of “How the fuck are anyone on these Constitution class ships still alive??” What SHOULD happen: “Captain I just saw a giant white rabbitt who said he was late” “Spock beam everyone up immediatly and move the ship out of the star system. I’m beginning to think its a bad idea just beaming command crew up and down willy nilly to these planets instead of a team of dedicated, hazmat suit wearing scientists.” OR “Captain we’ve discovered a small planet that seems to be only a few thousand years old.” “Really?? Welp guess Ill beam down with the Chief Medical Officer, helmsman and…ohhh…give a geologist to make everything seem on the up and up” ---
**Author:** ![eburacum45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eburacum45/32/8690_2.png) [@eburacum45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eburacum45)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2022, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-inaccuracies/971862/200 "2022-11-02T22:24:53Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > In [The Devil in the Dark](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Devil_in_the_Dark) (TOS), I noticed DeForest Kelley kept referring to the silicon lifeforms as _silicone_. Curiously enough, I always thought that was deliberate; the closest analogues to carbon macromolecules in silicon chemistry are silanes and silicones. It might be possible to imagineer an alternative biochemistry based on, or incorporating, silicones. Mind you, that doesn’t explain how the Horta could pass through solid rock. They would probably smell like burnt rubber, too. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-inaccuracies/971862.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-inaccuracies/971862.md?page=11)