# The trouble with The Trouble With Tribbles - open spoilers **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 7, 2012, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trouble-with-the-trouble-with-tribbles-open-spoilers/624408 "2012-06-07T17:43:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trouble-with-the-trouble-with-tribbles-open-spoilers/624408/81 "2013-09-11T22:18:44Z")
> [@ajrjaneway](#): > > I’m not impressed with David Gerrold, but I don’t find anyone else of the same opinion. All I find are glowing reports of how wonderful he is. Anyone else not so enamored of him? His _War Against the Chtorr_ began well, but he dragged it out too long. I lost interest before the series ended. ---
**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:** [September 11, 2013, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trouble-with-the-trouble-with-tribbles-open-spoilers/624408/82 "2013-09-11T22:37:21Z")
Ended? _Ended_ you say? \ ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trouble-with-the-trouble-with-tribbles-open-spoilers/624408/83 "2013-09-11T22:44:09Z")
The series didn’t end. He got into a dispute and, because the person he had the dispute with (publisher?) has first right of print, he will _never_ complete the series. ---
**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:** [September 11, 2013, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trouble-with-the-trouble-with-tribbles-open-spoilers/624408/84 "2013-09-11T22:48:27Z")
Which is ok, because it had turned to crap by then anyway. ---
**Author:** ![OtisCampbellWasRight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/d78d45/32.png) [@OtisCampbellWasRight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtisCampbellWasRight)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2013, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trouble-with-the-trouble-with-tribbles-open-spoilers/624408/85 "2013-09-12T11:59:42Z")
The Trouble with Tribbles was and continues to be one of the most popular episodes of ST:TOS because it was “the funny one” among a bunch of others that dealt with more or less serious social issues, the mean-spirited ending notwithstanding. Not to derail,well maybe a little, but I love the “funny one” from ST:TNG even better: “A Fistful of Datas.” Micheal Dorn, much like Shatner before him in TWT, is a surprisingly good comedic actor. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2013, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trouble-with-the-trouble-with-tribbles-open-spoilers/624408/86 "2013-09-12T15:37:37Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > I remember the episode of the animated series in which Robert T. April (the first captain of _Enterprise_-1701) and his wife used the transporter to restore Kirk and crew, who had been reduced to children somehow, to their proper age. They could have remained young themselves (they had been subjected to the same rejuvenating phenomenon) but decided not to because they had already lived “satisfying, full lives.” Just one in a series of notably unrealistic choices people made in the ST universe. ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_s\_Son](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19adc/32.png) [@Jim\_s\_Son](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_s_Son)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2013, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trouble-with-the-trouble-with-tribbles-open-spoilers/624408/87 "2013-09-12T15:52:50Z")
> [@VOW](#): > > I liked the reference to the Human-Kllingon encounter in a DS9 episode. > > Worf was questioned by his DS9 coworkers as to why the Klingons in ST: Classic have no brow ridges. > > Worf’s answer was priceless. “Klingons don’t like to talk about that.” > ~VOW I am also fond of Sisko explaining the Starfleet dress code 75 years “Command wore gold, medical wore blue, engineering wore red” and Dax says “And women wore less” I love the episode and the ending. It is probably the only Star Trek episode of any series where the captain is flat out clueless about the wheat. Of course the Klingons deserved to get infested with tribbles. They insulted the Enterprise. Somethings are worth fighting for. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2013, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trouble-with-the-trouble-with-tribbles-open-spoilers/624408/88 "2013-09-12T18:23:38Z")
> [@Kamino\_Neko](#): > > You’re rather severely missing the point. > > The Augment virus changed the infected on every level - genetics, psychology, and gross anatomy - bringing the infected closer to humans, then the change stayed. > > Some hundred and change years later, they develop a cure that does the exact same thing, but in reverse, resetting all 3 to the pre-viral Klingon baseline. > > Once you accept the first, you cannot reject the second. Uh-huh. More than a year later now… I still think it’s more credible, and more elegant, to just reject the first. Klingons had ridges all along. There was no bone-dissolving, gene-rebuilding virus. The Worf line in “Trials” was a fourth-wall joke from writers to fans. The Trekverse is better with the _Enterprise_ retcon eps avoided. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2013, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trouble-with-the-trouble-with-tribbles-open-spoilers/624408/89 "2013-09-12T18:30:22Z")
I wonder if Tribbles would get along with Hortas. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2013, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trouble-with-the-trouble-with-tribbles-open-spoilers/624408/90 "2013-09-12T18:33:37Z")
The “la-la-la I can’t hear you” defence. Yeah, I’m with you on that one. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2013, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trouble-with-the-trouble-with-tribbles-open-spoilers/624408/91 "2013-09-12T19:09:36Z")
> [@Peremensoe](#): > > Klingons had ridges all along. There was no bone-dissolving, gene-rebuilding virus. The Worf line in “Trials” was a fourth-wall joke from writers to fans. The Trekverse is better with the _Enterprise_ retcon eps avoided. I agree. _Enterprise_ did some very good things, and some bad fan fick. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2013, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trouble-with-the-trouble-with-tribbles-open-spoilers/624408/92 "2013-09-12T19:10:02Z")
… ---
**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:** [September 12, 2013, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trouble-with-the-trouble-with-tribbles-open-spoilers/624408/93 "2013-09-12T19:15:55Z")
The Trekverse is better with _Enterprise_ avoided entirely. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2013, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trouble-with-the-trouble-with-tribbles-open-spoilers/624408/94 "2013-09-12T19:23:43Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > The Trekverse is better with _Enterprise_ avoided entirely. The Klingon ridges, the time war, killing of you know who fellated with great alacrity, but the pre-Federation concept, the conflicts with the Vulcans and such I enjoyed. On the whole, I could live with just TOS and DS9. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2013, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trouble-with-the-trouble-with-tribbles-open-spoilers/624408/95 "2013-09-12T19:56:48Z")
The only thing that bothers is the use of money. But that’s no big deal. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2013, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trouble-with-the-trouble-with-tribbles-open-spoilers/624408/96 "2013-09-12T20:01:09Z")
Money was used in TOS, TNG, and DS9, too. The most reasonable conclusion on the money thing is that the occasional remarks about its obsolescence represented _idealism_ on the part of those characters, not an actual, fully-realized state of affairs throughout the Federation. ---
**Author:** ![aNewLeaf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@aNewLeaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aNewLeaf)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2013, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trouble-with-the-trouble-with-tribbles-open-spoilers/624408/97 "2013-09-12T20:03:18Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > The Trekverse is better with _Enterprise_ avoided entirely. Disagree. Best to consider \*Enterprise \*what it is- fictional future historical fiction. It’s like Gunsmoke for the next generation. ---
**Author:** ![Werekoala](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7993a0/32.png) [@Werekoala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Werekoala)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2013, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trouble-with-the-trouble-with-tribbles-open-spoilers/624408/98 "2013-09-12T20:55:13Z")
I always assumed that the two different Klingon’s we’ve seen were genetically related but not identical, perhaps similar to homosapiens and Neanderthal who evolved on the same planet and were involved in war against each other almost from the beginning. In TOS, one race was ascendant and perhaps used the other as slave labor (Star Fleet Battles fans will recall that D-7s had mostly slave crews, with the command deck and neck boom able to detatch from the main section should the slaves in back revolt). By the time of TNG, the tables had turned. This would also explain why Klingon warships went from being sleek affairs to those lumpy things we got later on, the radical change in clothing styles, new emphasis on physical strength instead of cunning - two different cultures, two different asthetics and styles. Made sense to me at least. ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2013, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trouble-with-the-trouble-with-tribbles-open-spoilers/624408/99 "2013-09-12T21:00:12Z")
> [@Werekoala](#): > > I always assumed that the two different Klingon’s we’ve seen were genetically related but not identical, perhaps similar to homosapiens and Neanderthal who evolved on the same planet and were involved in war against each other almost from the beginning. In TOS, one race was ascendant and perhaps used the other as slave labor (Star Fleet Battles fans will recall that D-7s had mostly slave crews, with the command deck and neck boom able to detatch from the main section should the slaves in back revolt). By the time of TNG, the tables had turned. This would also explain why Klingon warships went from being sleek affairs to those lumpy things we got later on, the radical change in clothing styles, new emphasis on physical strength instead of cunning - two different cultures, two different asthetics and styles. > > Made sense to me at least. That would be great. The only thing this doesn’t explain is how did Kang, Kor, and Koloth regrow their forhead ridges? Or is that merely cosmetic surgery? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2013, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trouble-with-the-trouble-with-tribbles-open-spoilers/624408/100 "2013-09-12T21:12:00Z")
> [@mlees](#): > > The only thing this doesn’t explain is how did Kang, Kor, and Koloth regrow their forhead ridges? Or is that merely cosmetic surgery? We do not speak of it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trouble-with-the-trouble-with-tribbles-open-spoilers/624408.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trouble-with-the-trouble-with-tribbles-open-spoilers/624408.md?page=6)