# Starship technology appears tomorrow. Do you go? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 3, 2010, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starship-technology-appears-tomorrow-do-you-go/545400 "2010-07-03T05:15:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Shawn1767](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Shawn1767](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shawn1767)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2010, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starship-technology-appears-tomorrow-do-you-go/545400/21 "2010-07-03T15:42:09Z")
Paul in Qatar, you’re probably correct. However, I imagine it might be like those cruise ship “day at sea” itineraries. The day would be chock full of stuff to do and there’d be work to do as well, but you’d be doing it on a starship traveling to some new place. I guess I think we should go to several of the nearest earth-like planets that might harbor life. ---
**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:** [July 3, 2010, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starship-technology-appears-tomorrow-do-you-go/545400/22 "2010-07-03T17:55:40Z")
As long as we can assume that when we do return home it’s not 10,000,000 in to the future; sure, I’d go. ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2010, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starship-technology-appears-tomorrow-do-you-go/545400/23 "2010-07-03T17:58:55Z")
Not in the first wave, no. I’d go, but not right away. ---
**Author:** ![Shawn1767](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Shawn1767](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shawn1767)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2010, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starship-technology-appears-tomorrow-do-you-go/545400/24 "2010-07-03T18:37:15Z")
Yes, Shakes, I should’ve addressed that in the original parameters. Time dilation or lack thereof works the same as in the Star Trek universe. Somehow we can warp space without affecting the time back home. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_the\_Immortal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Max\_the\_Immortal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_the_Immortal)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2010, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starship-technology-appears-tomorrow-do-you-go/545400/25 "2010-07-03T18:45:36Z")
No, because the Enterprise is a terrible ship. Its technology constantly malfunctions. Crewmen constantly die from exploding consoles because they apparently didn’t bother with fuses. Every holodeck program worth running requires you to disable the safety protocols, inevitably killing someone. The transporters outright murder you and replace you with a simulacrum. It is a terrible, terrible ship. If we were talking about a tour of duty on, say, the SSV Normandy, I’d be inclined to sign up. ---
**Author:** ![Shawn1767](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Shawn1767](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shawn1767)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2010, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starship-technology-appears-tomorrow-do-you-go/545400/26 "2010-07-03T19:29:47Z")
I didn’t say it was the Enterprise per se. It was a galaxy class ship. Because so many actors serve aboard the Enterprise, I’m sure they have more than their fair share of drama and danger. However, there are other ships in the fleet we never hear about because they never run into trouble. We can pretend we’re on one of those ships. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2010, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starship-technology-appears-tomorrow-do-you-go/545400/27 "2010-07-03T19:44:53Z")
USS Sedate USS Canadian Sovereignty Discussion USS Comatose USS Vinyl Siding USS Narcoleptic USS I want to say one word to you - just one word: ‘plastics’ ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2010, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starship-technology-appears-tomorrow-do-you-go/545400/28 "2010-07-03T19:49:12Z")
> [@Shawn1767](#): > > However, there are other ships in the fleet we never hear about because they never run into trouble. We can pretend we’re on one of those ships. 😉 You must have missed the part where I’m the Captain. We shall gloriously defend the Earth against all threats. First on the list is a trip to the planet Risa, where I shall order all crew members to infiltrate the local society and investigate the Jamaharon phenomena. As your leader, of course I shall participate fully in the operation. I see **Attack from the 3rd dimension** has claimed the Science Office slot. Being me, I’m drafting **Skald** for [del]Secret Police[/del] Security Chief and **Silenus** as First Officer. **Quasi** is Ship’s DJ, and will be spinning the er…hologram programs… in Ten Forward. ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2010, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starship-technology-appears-tomorrow-do-you-go/545400/29 "2010-07-03T19:59:59Z")
Sign me up. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2010, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starship-technology-appears-tomorrow-do-you-go/545400/30 "2010-07-03T20:26:28Z")
> [@Rysdad](#): > > Sign me up. You’re in luck. We have an opening for “Crewman who drinks with girl in the background”. This demanding position will require you to be prepared at all times to drop whatever you’re doing to go drink with a girl in Ten Forward any time a bridge officer is present. ---
**Author:** ![Shawn1767](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Shawn1767](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shawn1767)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2010, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starship-technology-appears-tomorrow-do-you-go/545400/31 "2010-07-03T20:35:33Z")
Hey, actually, on second thought, I WOULD want to be on the Enterprise. Heck, any other ship is expendable and gets blown up without a second thought. The Enterprise (D at least) crashes into Frasier Crane’s ship, blows up SEVERAL times and still the ship comes out ok. It’s like it has a guardian angel or something. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2010, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starship-technology-appears-tomorrow-do-you-go/545400/32 "2010-07-03T21:57:48Z")
Yes, in whatever capacity they needed. I’d probably never see the planets we’re orbiting, but I would still be in orbit of a world not our own. That is amazing enough, in and of itself. ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2010, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starship-technology-appears-tomorrow-do-you-go/545400/33 "2010-07-03T22:56:22Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > You’re in luck. We have an opening for “Crewman who drinks with girl in the background”. This demanding position will require you to be prepared at all times to drop whatever you’re doing to go drink with a girl in Ten Forward any time a bridge officer is present. Long as they don’t take me on any “away missions.” Pan galactic gargle blaster, please. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2010, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starship-technology-appears-tomorrow-do-you-go/545400/34 "2010-07-03T23:42:53Z")
I would guess that we would end up discovering that Earth is a fantastically unlikely miracle planet, and that the galaxy is an empty desert. Still, a Galaxy-class ship sounds like a pretty comfortable place to be if there was anything I’d qualify for. And if we have the technology for total closed system recycling, artificial gravity and reactionless drives, we could build space stations and domed colonies. ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2010, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starship-technology-appears-tomorrow-do-you-go/545400/35 "2010-07-03T23:43:18Z")
Of course I’d sign on, just let me make sure I have my towel, and my Hitchhiker’s Guide I’d apply either to the Engineering or Security department, just keep those red shirts away from me… of course, as soon as I find a TARDIS, i’ll be reverse-engineering it and using the technology to give myself bigger quarters 😉 as well as incorporating it’s Time/Space drive into the ship’s engines ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2010, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starship-technology-appears-tomorrow-do-you-go/545400/36 "2010-07-04T04:42:06Z")
> [@shijinn](#): > > what’s the drawback? \*\*\*It’s a COOKBOOK!!! * * * ---
**Author:** ![Patch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Patch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patch)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2010, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starship-technology-appears-tomorrow-do-you-go/545400/37 "2010-07-04T05:43:20Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > \*\*\*It’s a COOKBOOK!!! > > * * * Well, that beats anything I was coming here to write. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![shijinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@shijinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shijinn)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2010, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starship-technology-appears-tomorrow-do-you-go/545400/38 "2010-07-04T07:24:54Z")
what cookbook? you mean the food on board? oh it’s so delicious i can’t help but eat all the time on the ship! _burp_ i’m so full it’s a good thing they’ve got these robotic hover chairs for each and everyone on board. ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2010, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starship-technology-appears-tomorrow-do-you-go/545400/39 "2010-07-04T07:42:14Z")
Yes. I’m there. Can I sign up now? I have no children, I’m pretty sure my SO would come along which would take care of my personal needs nicely, and I have a Masters in Clinical Psychology so I could possibly be ship’s counselor. Or teach (since I’m a professor now). Or research the psychology of races we encounter (I’ve done social science research before). Or tend bar and listen, ala Guinan. Or clean the fucking holodeck. Whatever. I’m there. ---
**Author:** ![Shawn1767](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Shawn1767](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shawn1767)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2010, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starship-technology-appears-tomorrow-do-you-go/545400/40 "2010-07-04T17:04:07Z")
What about the job of the person who just repeats what the computer says? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starship-technology-appears-tomorrow-do-you-go/545400.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starship-technology-appears-tomorrow-do-you-go/545400.md?page=3)