# Tell me about Star Trek **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 6, 2013, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-star-trek/660254 "2013-06-06T00:49:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![miss\_elizabeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@miss\_elizabeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miss_elizabeth)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2013, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-star-trek/660254/21 "2013-06-06T16:35:03Z")
Hey thanks guys! This is pretty interesting. So, Worf was raised by humans? Why is he so caught up in Klingon stuff then? I’ve already seen an episode where he helps Riker fit in on a Klingon vessel and where they crew re-creates a Kingon Ascension Ceremony (I may be mangling the name) because he’s sad he can’t be with Klingons. Why does he care so much if he was raised by humans? Or is it just poor storytelling? Also, last night I saw an episode with Q. What is the deal with him, and with Whoopi the Bartender? What are they? Also, I realize that the stories are often somewhat dumb and sappy. I’ve already skipped an episode where Data was Sherlock on the Holodeck, so I know there are clunkers. But I like Picard (who isn’t French, I don’t care what anyone says) and the dynamic with the rest of the crew. Oh hey, am I supposed to like Riker? Because I don’t. Which is funny, because I remember thinking he was cool as a kid. Did fans at the time like him? I also find Wesley Crusher annoying as fuck, but I expected that. But, even though I see the flaws, I do enjoy the show. I may watch the original series eventually, just like I plan on watching all the older Doctor Who episodes. But we’re enjoying this for now. I really appreciate you guys filling in this stuff for me. ---
**Author:** ![miss\_elizabeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@miss\_elizabeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miss_elizabeth)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2013, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-star-trek/660254/22 "2013-06-06T16:36:37Z")
> [@robert\_columbia](#): > > I can’t recall a specific episode where it was unequivocally stated, but it seems clear from statements from characters that the United States did not exist as an independent political entity by the time of Picard. The US is referenced in a past tense sense. At one point, the Enterprise-D finds wreckage from a destroyed spaceship and beams some of it aboard and they find that it is labeled “NASA” along with a 52 star flag, which they use to conclude that the ship was from a specific period of US history (mid 21st century?). Eventually they find the body of a deceased American astronaut on a nearby planet. This is the episode that spawned the thread. 🙂 ---
**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:** [June 6, 2013, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-star-trek/660254/23 "2013-06-06T16:44:14Z")
> [@miss\_elizabeth](#): > > Hey thanks guys! This is pretty interesting. So, Worf was raised by humans? Why is he so caught up in Klingon stuff then? I’ve already seen an episode where he helps Riker fit in on a Klingon vessel and where they crew re-creates a Kingon Ascension Ceremony (I may be mangling the name) because he’s sad he can’t be with Klingons. Why does he care so much if he was raised by humans? Or is it just poor storytelling? > > Also, last night I saw an episode with Q. What is the deal with him, and with Whoopi the Bartender? What are they? If you adopt a Korean kid into a white American family, it is only to be expected that he eventually explore the cultural heritage he was born into. Worf’s adoptive parents also raised him with exposure to Klingon things, food especially. His mother comments later about her ability to cook blood pie. Excellent storytelling, in fact. Get used to not knowing. They never fully explain why Q fears Guinan. But we do know that Guinan’s race was dispersed by the Borg, and that she is very, very long-lived. ---
**Author:** ![pancakes3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ba9def/32.png) [@pancakes3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pancakes3)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2013, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-star-trek/660254/24 "2013-06-06T16:51:43Z")
> [@miss\_elizabeth](#): > > Hey thanks guys! This is pretty interesting. So, Worf was raised by humans? Why is he so caught up in Klingon stuff then? I’ve already seen an episode where he helps Riker fit in on a Klingon vessel and where they crew re-creates a Kingon Ascension Ceremony (I may be mangling the name) because he’s sad he can’t be with Klingons. Why does he care so much if he was raised by humans? Or is it just poor storytelling? It’s a running storyline that Warf is very conscious of his Klingon heritage. He wasn’t adopted at birth - he was orphaned as a child. He still speaks Klingon and overcompensates by being very traditional. The struggle to remain faithful to his heritage vs loyal to the federation comes into play in a few episodes. > [@](#): > > Also, last night I saw an episode with Q. What is the deal with him, and with Whoopi the Bartender? What are they? Whoopi is a bit ambiguous. She’s a dispersed nomad from a defunct civilization and decidedly not human. Her people have encountered the Borg and Q and other entities that Humans are meeting for the first time. Q is (relative to humans) an omnipotent being capable of bending the rules of physics with a mere thought. As omnipotent and omniscent as they are, they still have very “human” problems and I for one enjoy Q episodes for the most part. > [@](#): > > Also, I realize that the stories are often somewhat dumb and sappy. I’ve already skipped an episode where Data was Sherlock on the Holodeck, so I know there are clunkers. I agree with the dumb/sappy stories. They are perfect examples of heavyhanded writing. The themes aren’t just presented - they’re bludgeoned into you with no nuance or depth. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2013, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-star-trek/660254/25 "2013-06-06T17:20:21Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > I think you have this backwards. The “highly untalented authors” are Roddenberry, Blish and Foster. You maybe prefer Marshak and McIntyre? :rolleyes: \* The reason I recommend Blish’s books in particular is because he was usually working from early-draft scripts of episodes, giving us an idea of what the original story was like before being rewritten by the ST staff. \*Why is there no :vomit: smiley at this site?!? ---
**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:** [June 6, 2013, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-star-trek/660254/26 "2013-06-06T17:22:56Z")
Slightly off topic, but I [just found this, and have a need to share.](http://www.blogcdn.com/www.comicsalliance.com/media/2012/11/startrektheoriginalseriesbydustyabell-d5ihg4k.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2013, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-star-trek/660254/27 "2013-06-06T17:29:05Z")
According to the original ST Technical Manual, the United Nations came to represent United Earth sometime after WWIII. It was implied in at least one TOS episode (“The Omega Glory”) that the United States still existed in one form or another within that confederation. The founding of the United Federation of Planets was dealt with in detail in _ **Star Trek: Enterprise** _, the “prequel” to TOS. Probably a great deal more has been written about both of these, but I don’t know how much of it is considered canon (whether it should be or not). ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2013, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-star-trek/660254/28 "2013-06-06T17:32:16Z")
I liked the Sherlock Data episodes - they were fun. 🙂 I did not like almost anything centered around Troi. “I sense hostility” ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2013, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-star-trek/660254/29 "2013-06-06T17:33:20Z")
Man, I imagine an alien reading up on that. ‘So, the United States is in the United Nations, which is part of the United Federation of Planets. You guys sure love the word ‘United’, huh?’ ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2013, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-star-trek/660254/30 "2013-06-06T17:37:36Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Slightly off topic, but I [just found this, and have a need to share.](http://www.blogcdn.com/www.comicsalliance.com/media/2012/11/startrektheoriginalseriesbydustyabell-d5ihg4k.jpg) Excellent! That’s even more than they managed to cram onto my first Star Wars T-shirt back in '77! [http://www.electrictshirts.co.uk/user/products/large/PH7848\_StarWars\_ANewHope\_TS\_HiRes.jpg](http://www.electrictshirts.co.uk/user/products/large/PH7848_StarWars_ANewHope_TS_HiRes.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2013, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-star-trek/660254/31 "2013-06-06T17:38:20Z")
Guinan is deliberately written as an enigma. You’re _supposed_ to be wondering what the deal is with her, and what few answers you get are slowly doled out as time goes on. ---
**Author:** ![miss\_elizabeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@miss\_elizabeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miss_elizabeth)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2013, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-star-trek/660254/32 "2013-06-06T17:38:59Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > If you adopt a Korean kid into a white American family, it is only to be expected that he eventually explore the cultural heritage he was born into. Worf’s adoptive parents also raised him with exposure to Klingon things, food especially. His mother comments later about her ability to cook blood pie. Excellent storytelling, in fact. > [@pancakes3](#): > > It’s a running storyline that Warf is very conscious of his Klingon heritage. He wasn’t adopted at birth - he was orphaned as a child. He still speaks Klingon and overcompensates by being very traditional. The struggle to remain faithful to his heritage vs loyal to the federation comes into play in a few episodes. Ok thanks. That does make more sense. I was thinking he was adopted as a baby, or close to it. If he was a child, I can see him being very invested in Klingon culture. And sure, if an American adopted a Korean baby I can see the kid eventually wanting to know more about Korean culture, but I can’t see being sad because there’s no kimchi on his birthday. But I’m rolling with it. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2013, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-star-trek/660254/33 "2013-06-06T17:48:25Z")
IIRC, Worf was still in diapers when they found him in the debris following the attack on his colony. I always wondered how the hell he managed to learn such perfect Klingon. Certainly not from the Rozhdenkos!\* \*You’d think he’d at least have uttered an “Oy, vey!” now and then, instead of “p’tahk!” ---
**Author:** ![miss\_elizabeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@miss\_elizabeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miss_elizabeth)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2013, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-star-trek/660254/34 "2013-06-06T17:52:42Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > IIRC, Worf was still in diapers when they found him in the debris following the attack on his colony. I always wondered how the hell he managed to learn such perfect Klingon. Certainly not from the Rozhdenkos!\* > > \*You’d think he’d at least have uttered an “Oy, vey!” now and then, instead of “p’tahk!” Ok, see, now I’m irritated again. It hints at a kind of a genetic destiny, which I don’t like. For all the talk about how ST:TNG is so politically correct and stuff, I find it incredibly racist and sexist at times. Ok, I’m going to roll with it… ---
**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:** [June 6, 2013, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-star-trek/660254/35 "2013-06-06T17:54:27Z")
What do you think “p’tahk” _means_ in Klingon? 😃 I know, I know - “jerk.” But the joke still works. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2013, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-star-trek/660254/36 "2013-06-06T17:56:43Z")
> [@miss\_elizabeth](#): > > I guess I’m ashamed my boyfriend doesn’t like Star Trek? If his primary exposure was to that 2009 piece of dreck, I don’t blame him. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![ReticulatingSplines](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@ReticulatingSplines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReticulatingSplines)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2013, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-star-trek/660254/37 "2013-06-06T17:58:15Z")
> [@miss\_elizabeth](#): > > Oh hey, am I supposed to like Riker? Because I don’t. Which is funny, because I remember thinking he was cool as a kid. Did fans at the time like him? Yeah, I could have written this. When I saw the series as a kid, I always thought, “Wow, what a manly guy!” But now when he does that creepy-uncle smile at the hot alien woman du jour I just roll my eyes. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2013, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-star-trek/660254/38 "2013-06-06T17:58:40Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > What do you think “p’tahk” _means_ in Klingon? 😃 > > I know, I know - “jerk.” But the joke still works. Now that I think about it, “Putz” might have been a better example than “Oy, vey!” :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2013, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-star-trek/660254/39 "2013-06-06T18:04:59Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > IIRC, Worf was still in diapers when they found him in the debris following the attack on his colony. Nah, his younger brother was in diapers and raised by family friends, but Worf was at least a young boy. Old enough to be speaking and in school, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2013, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-star-trek/660254/40 "2013-06-06T18:10:05Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > Nah, his younger brother was in diapers and raised by family friends, but Worf was at least a young boy. Old enough to be speaking and in school, anyway. He still would need native speakers to converse with. Otherwise he’d forget his native language or (at the very least) be stuck at about a third-grade level of vocabulary. Having raised a bilingual child, I know whereof I speak. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-star-trek/660254.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-star-trek/660254.md?page=3)