# Star Trek Turbolift question **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** star-trek-paramount\ **Created:** [October 1, 2024, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-turbolift-question/1008336 "2024-10-01T14:53:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2024, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-turbolift-question/1008336/21 "2024-10-01T22:22:29Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > they wanted Nimoy to tell them what Spock sees inside the viewer! His paycheck, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2024, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-turbolift-question/1008336/22 "2024-10-02T01:09:21Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > Why was it “turbo”? Because"quickivator" sounds stupid. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2024, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-turbolift-question/1008336/23 "2024-10-02T02:45:34Z")
What did you think of Spock’s cool futuristic E6B slide rule? ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2024, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-turbolift-question/1008336/24 "2024-10-02T03:00:54Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > There are no turbolifts or shafts Everything on a Federation starship is some form of suicide machine. When an officer or crewman goes to sleep, their matrix is cataloged and the body is vaporized so it won’t tax life support. When it’s time to “wake up”, a new body is “transported” into the berth. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2024, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-turbolift-question/1008336/25 "2024-10-02T03:06:57Z")
On that note, a friend of mine with a fondness for Star Trek TOS, ripped copies of his Blu-rays, and a funky sense of humor created an “episode” of TOS where at any transition from a turbolift, transporter, or the like switched to a new episode. It actually almost made sense for a while. So, I’ll just say that every time you enter a turbolift, you, much like Lazarus, may end up finding yourself in another closely related parallel world, replete with alternate visions of all you know and love, due to extended Federation and other polities time and universe swapping shenanigans. A quick, computer based disintegration may well be a blessing! ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2024, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-turbolift-question/1008336/26 "2024-10-02T03:13:57Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > When an officer or crewman goes to sleep, their matrix is cataloged and the body is vaporized so it won’t tax life support. I like it. Hot bunking taken to an extreme. Maybe this is how they get away with putting a freaking nursery on a warship packed with enough firepower to slag the surface of a planet. Just slurp 'em into the transporter buffers when anything bad is about to happen. Eject the data pod if things get really dire. ---
**Author:** ![zbuzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e19b73/32.png) [@zbuzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zbuzz)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2024, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-turbolift-question/1008336/27 "2024-10-02T04:19:10Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > But you don’t need lights because NO ONE is going to be in a turbolift shaft All I know is, if there were lights in the turbolift shaft in the office building on LA Law, maybe Dr. Pulaski would still be alive today. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2024, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-turbolift-question/1008336/28 "2024-10-02T04:43:34Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#): > > where at any transition from a turbolift, transporter, or the like switched to a new episode > [@zbuzz](#): > > All I know is, if there were lights in the turbolift shaft in the office building on LA Law, maybe Dr. Pulaski would still be alive today. Just leaving these two here together. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2024, 9:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-turbolift-question/1008336/29 "2024-10-02T09:17:16Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > In a short story similar to Mirror Mirror, the cast of the TV show gets swapped out with the actual, real crew of the Enterprise. One of the points of conversation was that they wanted Nimoy to tell them what Spock sees inside the viewer! Hmmm. One idea (stolen from the novel _Still River_ by Hal Clement); maybe it’s simply a display in natural high-UV Vulcan lighting, shielded so the humans on the bridge don’t end up with eye damage from looking over his shoulder. ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2024, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-turbolift-question/1008336/30 "2024-10-02T13:50:31Z")
> [@Kzbre5m](#): > > I’m sure OSHA regulations have something to say about that. They’re still working on the “Where are the seat belts?” question. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2024, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-turbolift-question/1008336/31 "2024-10-03T00:47:32Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > When an officer or crewman goes to sleep, their matrix is cataloged and the body is vaporized so it won’t tax life support. When it’s time to “wake up”, a new body is “transported” into the berth. Which would have the effect of suspending aging while you sleep. I’ll happily take a 1/3rd life extension program. Especially since it’s every day in youth, not just extending your final decrepit years. Then again, you’d wake up as tired as when you went to bed. Uggh. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2024, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-turbolift-question/1008336/32 "2024-10-03T00:48:04Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#): > > funky sense of humor created an “episode” of TOS where at any transition from a turbolift, transporter, or the like switched to a new episode. It actually almost made sense for a while. Brilliant!!! Especially for a fan of TOS. ---
**Author:** ![pirviii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pirviii/32/3233_2.png) [@pirviii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pirviii)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2024, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-turbolift-question/1008336/33 "2024-10-03T01:43:16Z")
> [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](#): > > They’re still working on the “Where are the seat belts?” question. Seat belts where outlawed in the MAGA revolt of the 2030’s. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2024, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-turbolift-question/1008336/34 "2024-10-03T02:54:08Z")
First they came for the seat belts, and I said nothing. Then they came for the railings, and still, I said nothing. Then they decided that exhaust ports no longer needed protecting, and I knew I had had enough. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2024, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-turbolift-question/1008336/35 "2024-10-03T03:24:26Z")
> [@simster](#): > > Then they decided that exhaust ports no longer needed protecting, and I knew I had had enough. Well, it _was_ ray shielded. ---
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2024, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-turbolift-question/1008336/36 "2024-10-03T13:37:16Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > As a production thing, probably a subtle clue that the turbolift does move lefty-righty. In context, since it is so quiet, probably an indicator to the passengers that the thing is moving and not just stuck. This is a good answer, but the OP said to ignore Voyager, so you’re out of luck… ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2024, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-turbolift-question/1008336/37 "2024-10-03T13:55:33Z")
Was this also the time where pointless pyrotechnics were mandated in every bridge console and crew position? ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2024, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-turbolift-question/1008336/38 "2024-10-04T00:29:03Z")
> [@pirviii](#): > > > [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](#): > > > > They’re still working on the “Where are the seat belts?” question. > > Seat belts where outlawed in the MAGA revolt of the 2030’s. But they were so happy when they were the only ones allowed to wear red shirts… ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2024, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-turbolift-question/1008336/39 "2024-10-04T02:21:13Z")
> [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](#): > > But they were so happy when they were the only ones allowed to wear red shirts If only hats were shirts… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-turbolift-question/1008336.md?page=1)