# What are the origins of the Borg? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 1, 2001, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-origins-of-the-borg/48029 "2001-01-01T23:44:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![The\_Great\_Zamboni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@The\_Great\_Zamboni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Great_Zamboni)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2001, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-origins-of-the-borg/48029/1 "2001-01-01T23:44:50Z")
From Star Trek:TNG, the Borg must have created by something somewhere. A species like that couldn’t have evolved, Or has an explanation been given already? ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2001, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-origins-of-the-borg/48029/2 "2001-01-02T00:01:55Z")
I seem to recall reading somewhere that a long-since extinct race created them as a labor class, but then they rebelled and took over, and assimilated the rest of the culture, and then other races. ---
**Author:** ![Gaspode](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/aeb1de/32.png) [@Gaspode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gaspode)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2001, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-origins-of-the-borg/48029/3 "2001-01-02T00:07:32Z")
Oh god, has this been done to death by trekkies? > [@](#): > > Much about the Borg still remains a mystery, and whether that is by accident or design is not known. These unanswered questions only add to the mystique of these enigmatic Star Trek characters. [http://www.theborgcollective.com/The%20Borg/HTML/borg\_start.htm](http://www.theborgcollective.com/The%20Borg/HTML/borg_start.htm) [http://members.tripod.com/~Resistance\_is\_Futile/borgorigins.htm](http://members.tripod.com/~Resistance_is_Futile/borgorigins.htm) There are about 7 zillion other sites available. Have fun. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2001, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-origins-of-the-borg/48029/4 "2001-01-02T00:08:52Z")
Way back when they first were introduced we proposed that they were descended from the “Machine Planet” thet refitted V’ger. We believe that the V’ger/ Bald girl/ bad actor conglomerate stopped off at the old homestead before becoming the first Q, and the machines saw the advantages of the organic-cybernetic amalgam. They then hijacked and assimilated a nearby biological intelligence and it was a going concern… ---
**Author:** ![Phobos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Phobos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phobos)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2001, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-origins-of-the-borg/48029/5 "2001-01-02T13:42:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by The Great Zamboni \* > \*\*A species like that couldn’t have evolved, \*\* Why not? A homonid species evolves biologically that is skilled with technology (sound familiar?) and then decides it is a good idea to use that technology to improve their own bodies. Over millenia, the line between the biological and mechanical portions of themselves blurred. Like just about every other Star Trek alien species, they bear some resemblence to humanity or a human trait taken to the extreme (Klingons are humans’ warrior side, Vulcans are humans’ rational side, etc.). The Borg may be the human-use-of-biotechnology to the extreme. There’s certainly a debate going on about how far our current use of prosthetics, implants, etc. will eventually go. We already have basic medical technology for artificial organs, cochlear implants, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Guy\_Propski](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/5e9695/32.png) [@Guy\_Propski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guy_Propski)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2001, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-origins-of-the-borg/48029/6 "2001-01-02T13:49:29Z")
The Borg probably have the same origin as other mechanized men of science fiction (the Cybermen of Doctor Who, for example). Long ago, an advanced alien race began augmenting their natural bodies with mechanical implements. Gradually, most of the race was at least partially cybernetic. In the Borg’s case, there was apparently some part of the technology that was used to link the minds of the aliens, which resulted in the creation of a hive mind. It went downhill from there. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Great\_Zamboni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@The\_Great\_Zamboni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Great_Zamboni)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2001, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-origins-of-the-borg/48029/7 "2001-01-07T22:57:19Z")
Or uphill depending on which side you’re. I am user. You will be assimilated.