# Things that bug you about Star Trek **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 13, 2017, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bug-you-about-star-trek/782109 "2017-03-13T19:08:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2017, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bug-you-about-star-trek/782109/121 "2017-03-15T02:53:15Z")
> [@AnalogSignal](#): > > Here’s my list of annoyances from TOS: > > - Forget about who was serving the coffee. Why are they still using crappy Styrofoam cups in the 23rd century? > - Why does Spock have to spend hours bending down to look into that tiny scanner? Are Vulcans immune to backaches? > - For precise navigation, is Kirk telling Sulu to press a button “on my mark” going to be accurate? > - Ion storms always interfering with transporters. > - **Should the Captain, First Officer, and Chief Medical Officer beam down together into a potentially dangerous situation?** > - On most planets, aliens speak perfect American English. > - The brig had no toilets. > - Why did phaser beams change colors from episode to episode? Happened all the time with exploratory British vessels. As for Spock and the viewer…FUCK, at least he had something to do…wtf are the helmsman and navigator supposed to do for 8 hours while staring at a star field??? ---
**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:** [March 15, 2017, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bug-you-about-star-trek/782109/122 "2017-03-15T02:59:31Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Day **strom**. Dr Richard Day **strom**. Sheesh! :smack: > > By far, the dumbest logistics point was that the \*Enterprise \*never, \*\*ever \*\*carried any extra dilithium crystals. Something that vital to the ship, there should have been holds full of spare crystals, just waiting to be used in an emergency. > > What happened to them? Did Scotty eat them for lunch? 😕 I gather that at the time of TOS dilithium was extraordinarily scare and precious, although that might have changed after the Federation treaty with the Tellun system (“Elaan of Troyius”). In fact, did any Federation ship want for dilithium in later series? ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2017, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bug-you-about-star-trek/782109/123 "2017-03-15T02:59:58Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > We don’t know what “duotronic” technology was like, so we can’t say whether or not tapes were obsolescent. For all we know, they could have been the cornerstone of the entire system (though they had obviously been superceded by Picard’s time). > > I’m watching _ **TNG** _ right now, the one with the reptile and mammal diplomats. It’s quite amusing to see Troi sitting at her “post” on the bridge, tapping her knee and looking bored. If a more pointless character was ever conceived, I’m at a loss to name them (though Wesley comes close). She’s fine as a position…but as a BRIDGE position?? and sitting next to the captain?? WTF good is a 1/2 telepath when there are full-blooded Betazeds around? The ship telepath I can see as being the captains councilor (though it raises ethics questions) or some kind of political officer (shades of Red October!!) being the Captains left-hand man. But theres absolutely no reason (as written) that Troi should potentially have that much power. Really, besides the uni change, It would have been hilarious if Captain Ronny Cox had told Troi he will call her when he needs her, so just get an office next to Dr. Crusher and wait for the next appointment. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2017, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bug-you-about-star-trek/782109/124 "2017-03-15T03:04:49Z")
> [@AnalogSignal](#): > > … > > - The brig had no toilets. > … The brig in **Star Trek: V** had a toilet that slid out from the wall. ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2017, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bug-you-about-star-trek/782109/125 "2017-03-15T03:09:59Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > To late to edit: > > If the transporter really worked this way, it would eventually lead to people asking about the nature of reality. If keeping Edith Keeler alive means millions die who never died before, it also means millions who previously were born from these people who died never were born. And it means millions more who were never born the first time are now born. And so on and so on. > > Back on the planet of the Guardian, if Kirk and co. were able to look around, they’d see a universe of people living that were not alive in their timeline. When the timeline is reset, and Edith Keeler dies, all those people that were “alive” are now never-been-alive. > > So what is the nature of their existences? Did they have lives and then not? If they had “souls” (for lack of a better term) where did they go? All those lives, those choices moral and otherwise that they made, all of a sudden never happened? or did they? > > You ask too many questions like this, and perhaps you realize there’s no point to anything. We are just cozmik pool balls bouncing against each other. So if I murder you, does it matter? Because the reality where I didn’t is just as “valid” a universe. If I murder you, did I murder the entire future of everyone you and your offspring would ever interact with? Or did I just shift quantum states? > > In other words, is Q the greatest mass-murderer in the history of the entire universe? According to that DS9 ep where “The crew discovers their descendents and if the crew avoids the accident that throws them back in time…all of those descendents will have never existed”…BUTTTTTT the DS9 guys framed it as in “these people will die. By not going back in time we are murdering them” This did not get very much of an argument in the way that “Tuvix” did. It may have a little, but I don’t think much was raised. oh yes…I just remembered…when Alt-universe Janeway goes back in time to alter the timeline and get Voyager home…there was a HUGE ruckus from some people saying she did exactly what you accused Q of doing. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2017, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bug-you-about-star-trek/782109/126 "2017-03-15T03:12:36Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > The brig in **Star Trek: V** had a toilet that slid out from the wall. And a sign over it that read “Do not flush while in spacedock”. ---
**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:** [March 15, 2017, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bug-you-about-star-trek/782109/127 "2017-03-15T03:21:05Z")
> [@Dale\_Sams](#): > > She’s fine as a position…but as a BRIDGE position?? and sitting next to the captain?? WTF good is a 1/2 telepath when there are full-blooded Betazeds around? The ship telepath I can see as being the captains councilor (though it raises ethics questions) or some kind of political officer (shades of Red October!!) being the Captains left-hand man. According to Gene Roddenberry, she was a “Human Engineer.” In other words, a meddling pshrink/psocial worker. Seems kind of redundant to me, if Picard had a ship full of people who had put “petty conflicts” behind them. Why would they need a “Counselor”? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2017, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bug-you-about-star-trek/782109/128 "2017-03-15T06:13:46Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > The Prime Directive – especially in TNG. > > The entire idea was used as a writing crutch to prevent the obvious solution (why the hell doesn’t _The Enterprise_ just nuke the bad guys from orbit? Oh, the Prime Directive). But it became a straitjacket. Picard ignored it many a time, and never faced any consequences. > > Note that this doesn’t actually bug me. It just amuses me and it fun to see how often it gets ignored. I think the “ignoring the Prime Directive” thing was maybe a bit of writer’s rebellion; an Absolute Rule, written from the safe confines of an office in the Administration Building “back on Earth,” cannot account for all of the weirdness a starship captain can run into out there “in the Black.” Real life, back in the age of sail, with communications times with High Command measured in months, if not years at times, ship captains had wide latitude to deal with situations as they saw fit, within certain broad guidelines. The Prime Directive wasn’t presented in-series as a broad guideline, but an Absolute Rule; it was treated, in a few episodes, as less than Absolute. It might also have just been sloppy writing; writing staffs writing themselves into a corner with a plot line, and having to have The Captain ignore the Prime Directive in order to resolve the situation. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2017, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bug-you-about-star-trek/782109/129 "2017-03-15T07:28:34Z")
Worst example I can recall was the TNG episode “Symbiosis”. 1. This alien spaceship is in trouble - we will rescue them! 2. This alien spaceship was carrying medicine - we will help them fix up their other ships! 3. The medicine is actually an addictive narcotic - oh, wait, I suddenly remember we have a Prime Directive, so no ship-fixing for you! Seriously, what the fuck? Now you’re going to use the previously-forgotten PD as an _excuse?_ It’s very convenient that the Prime Directive only counts when it happens to align with what you want to do. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2017, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bug-you-about-star-trek/782109/130 "2017-03-15T08:47:25Z")
Why does anybody use the Holodeck anymore? It malfunctions too much! And why make it even _possible_ for the safeties to be shut down? ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2017, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bug-you-about-star-trek/782109/131 "2017-03-15T12:40:08Z")
> [@ekedolphin](#): > > Why does anybody use the Holodeck anymore? It malfunctions too much! And why make it even _possible_ for the safeties to be shut down? Anyone remember Phil Farrand’s _Nitpicker’s Guides_ from the mid 90s? I remember him complaining about the holodeck–“How many people does this thing have to almost kill before Picard pulls the plug on it?” As far as Troi, nothing screams 1980s about TNG quite so much as Troi sitting right next to the Captain on the bridge. Meet our brave crew: Here is the wise, unflappable Captain. And here is the Captain’s loyal, stalwart First Officer. And here is the Captain’s therapist… Actually, I’ve always thought that the whole problem with Troi was that someone got confused about the meaning of the word “counselor.” It seems to me that it was originally intended to mean “advisor to the Captain.” Someone to give him considered advice and guidance about the tricky diplomatic situations he might run into. But then other writers began to interpret it to mean “psychiatrist,” and suddenly Troi was helping the crew deal with their various emotional problems. Those are two very different kinds of “counseling.” The former might not be so strange to have as a bridge position, but because we saw so much more of the latter, that’s how we primarily think of Troi. And thus we ask things like “Why is the ship’s shrink sitting there on the bridge all the time? Does the crew really have that many psychological hang-ups?” ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2017, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bug-you-about-star-trek/782109/132 "2017-03-15T12:53:43Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Worst example I can recall was the TNG episode “Symbiosis”. > > 1. This alien spaceship is in trouble - we will rescue them! > 2. This alien spaceship was carrying medicine - we will help them fix up their other ships! > 3. The medicine is actually an addictive narcotic - oh, wait, I suddenly remember we have a Prime Directive, so no ship-fixing for you! > > Seriously, what the fuck? Now you’re going to use the previously-forgotten PD as an _excuse?_ It’s very convenient that the Prime Directive only counts when it happens to align with what you want to do. It’s always been more of a Prime Suggestion. ---
**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:** [March 15, 2017, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bug-you-about-star-trek/782109/133 "2017-03-15T13:10:11Z")
> [@The\_Tooth](#): > > It’s always been more of a Prime Suggestion. ^:dubious:^ ---
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2017, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bug-you-about-star-trek/782109/134 "2017-03-15T13:20:57Z")
> [@The\_Tooth](#): > > And a sign over it that read “Do not flush while in spacedock”. Yeah, but did you see the graffiti that had been crossed out? “Please flush twice. It’s a long way to the replicator.” ---
**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:** [March 15, 2017, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bug-you-about-star-trek/782109/135 "2017-03-15T14:10:13Z")
Why do you need to carry around multiple data pads? It’s like each data pad is only capable of handling one subject. And to make this even more asinine, it was established in one of the early STNG episodes that the data pads get their information downloaded to them from the “central network” or whatever it was called. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2017, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bug-you-about-star-trek/782109/136 "2017-03-15T14:23:20Z")
> [@MrAtoz](#): > > Anyone remember Phil Farrand’s _Nitpicker’s Guides_ from the mid 90s? I was a very early member of the Guild. Back when we had actual newsletters. Many of the Trek Qs and arguments I’ve seen on my years here at SDMB have been hashed out thoroughly by Nitpickers. I still enjoy these discussions, tho. “Please continue your petty bickering.” - Data ---
**Author:** ![The\_Pork-Chop\_Express](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@The\_Pork-Chop\_Express](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Pork-Chop_Express)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2017, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bug-you-about-star-trek/782109/137 "2017-03-15T14:33:54Z")
It bugs me that in the ST:TNG episode ‘The Measure of a Man’ that no-one offered to help Data escape if it looked like Starfleet would deactivate him. I’d have loved to have seen Worf and Geordi show up and hint that they’d help him if things went south. Worf offered to help Riker rescue the person he loved in ‘The Outcast’. I’m certain he would have offered to help Data. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2017, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bug-you-about-star-trek/782109/138 "2017-03-15T15:20:49Z")
Back in ST:TOS every ship had [its own insignia](http://img12.deviantart.net/6149/i/2014/074/7/3/constitution_class_insignia_recognition_chart_by_viperaviator-d7450li.png). But after that, the Enterprise’s insignia became the standard for everyone. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2017, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bug-you-about-star-trek/782109/139 "2017-03-15T15:32:21Z")
> [@MrAtoz](#): > > As far as Troi, nothing screams 1980s about TNG quite so much as Troi sitting right next to the Captain on the bridge. Meet our brave crew: Here is the wise, unflappable Captain. And here is the Captain’s loyal, stalwart First Officer. And here is the Captain’s therapist… > > Actually, I’ve always thought that the whole problem with Troi was that someone got confused about the meaning of the word “counselor.” \*\* It seems to me that it was originally intended to mean “advisor to the Captain.” Someone to give him considered advice and guidance about the tricky diplomatic situations he might run into. \*\*But then other writers began to interpret it to mean “psychiatrist,” and suddenly Troi was helping the crew deal with their various emotional problems. Those are two very different kinds of “counseling.” The former might not be so strange to have as a bridge position, but because we saw so much more of the latter, that’s how we primarily think of Troi. And thus we ask things like “Why is the ship’s shrink sitting there on the bridge all the time? Does the crew really have that many psychological hang-ups?” Yes, very much of an 80s/Elder Roddenberry -ism: Here we’ll bring in a character who will advise the Captain as to what are the real feelings and impulses being experienced by both sides of the argument and once so validated and enlightened, we will be able to solve problems without having to disintegrate someone or getting your shirt ripped. Not that it worked very well even from the start, already in the pilot she was limited to knowing that something around was in a lot of pain, and in the Death Penalty Club Med Planet she detected “healthy sensuality” and not fanatical adherence to deadly rules. Plus known hostiles are, well, known hostile. Heck, a recently-unfrozen 20th century businessman called a Romulan’s bluff right off the bat. ---
**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:** [March 15, 2017, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bug-you-about-star-trek/782109/140 "2017-03-15T17:07:20Z")
> [@MrAtoz](#): > > But then other writers began to interpret it to mean “psychiatrist,” and suddenly Troi was helping the crew deal with their various emotional problems. Those are two very different kinds of “counseling.” Isn’t it great to know that in the future, there will always be someone looking over your shoulder who’s from the \*\*government \*\*and is there to \*\*help \*\*you? How utterly opposed that is to the original series’ concept of individualism! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bug-you-about-star-trek/782109.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bug-you-about-star-trek/782109.md?page=8)