# What is life like in the Federation from Star Trek? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 14, 2014, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-life-like-in-the-federation-from-star-trek/686112 "2014-04-14T21:02:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**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:** [April 15, 2014, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-life-like-in-the-federation-from-star-trek/686112/21 "2014-04-15T18:45:21Z")
I seem to recall Troi making a passing reference (an offhand comment, really) that people were “adjusted” to Federation society. I can’t recall the specific context, I think it was in season 2, but it was clear that anyone stepping out of line got “fixed” in some way. I don’t think it was intended by the episode’s writer to be a major tell regarding the largely unseen Federation society, but it seemed creepy nonetheless. I’ll see if I can find the quote. ---
**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:** [April 15, 2014, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-life-like-in-the-federation-from-star-trek/686112/22 "2014-04-15T19:35:39Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > I view the civilian view of Star Fleet is as a bunch of Boy scouts, or malcontents. People who aren’t well adjusted - well adjusted meaning “live a quiet life.” People who refuse to grow up. People who need more supervision. That’s what Kahn thought. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2014, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-life-like-in-the-federation-from-star-trek/686112/23 "2014-04-15T20:46:50Z")
Aha! Almost forgot…the Star Trek: The Motion Picture novelization, written by Roddenberry himself, actually gives some more peeks at his vision of Federation society. Of foremost interest being the concept of “New Humans”— > [@Memory Alpha](#): > > New Humans > In the early-23rd century, society was evolving to a point where large numbers of “New Humans”, telepathically linked as a group mind, represented a sizable portion of Human society. Although more intelligent than normal humans, these people proved incapable of deep space exploration, lacking the ability to bear encounters with more advanced beings than themselves - for all their intelligence, aloofness was a hindrance to them. > [@Memory Beta](#): > > James Tiberius Kirk introduces himself with an explanation of his name, noting that the custom of using a male-surname is rare among most humans, except those serving in Starfleet. Kirk characterizes Starfleet as a conservative, individualistic group where old customs “die hard.” This aspect is often criticized as “primitive” by modern critics calling themselves New Humans, who tend to bury their identities into group consciousness. While Kirk acknowledges this may be more evolved, it makes for poor space travelers as shown by Starfleet’s early history. While this is expanded on at least one other novel, these sources still aren’t really “G-Canon,” to borrow a SW term. Still, it, and some of Roddenberry’s other concepts from the early TNG days (until he got kicked upstairs) and lingering editorial edicts until his death really gives you an interesting peak at his vision of the Trek universe. And how it could sometimes be a bit…ah, “peculiar,” compared to what us fans are used to, or might have imagined. On the other hand, on a personal note, in retrospect, I actually found a lot of the more “grounded” stories from DS9, Voyager, ENT, and certainly from what I’ve read of the expanded universe novels, etc., to be a little _too_ grounded—they just felt like stogidly 20th century people and settings shoehorned into a 24th century Halloween costume. Roddenberry’s hardline Evolved Humanity™ may have been alien and unsympathetic, but they certainly _felt_ alien—like that line from John Campbell goes (paraphrasing), “show me something that thinks as well as a man, but _differently_, and you’ve written a believable alien.” I can give 'em that, at least. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2014, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-life-like-in-the-federation-from-star-trek/686112/24 "2014-04-15T21:51:09Z")
[People do this all day](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBWFJrUEaqI). Not much different than now. ---
**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:** [April 16, 2014, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-life-like-in-the-federation-from-star-trek/686112/25 "2014-04-16T05:17:19Z")
“Bland” is a pretty good description. There doesn’t seem to be much happening in terms of popular culture: all of the music they listen to is either Classical or Cool Jazz. No Rock, no Disco, no Rap, no C&W … and apparently **nothing else** was produced in the last 200 years, either! As far as I recall, you _never_ hear them referencing 21st or 22nd century books or movies, only those from the 1940s or earlier, and they don’t even know what television was! The mere thought of Ten-Forward as a swingin’ place— **HA!** No wonder they spend so much time on the Holodeck! Roddenberry nixed the idea of having a chapel on the _Enterprise-D_ because he thought people would be “mature” enough to handle their own personal problems by the 24th century. So instead of something resembling a Chaplain, they have pshrinks/psocial workers sticking their noses into other people’s business under the guise of “Counselors.” Any society that has institutionalized Mary Worth to that extent can’t possibly be a healthy one, IMHO. ---
**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:** [April 16, 2014, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-life-like-in-the-federation-from-star-trek/686112/26 "2014-04-16T05:20:52Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > [People do this all day](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBWFJrUEaqI). Not much different than now. They have crappy graphics like that in the 24th century?!? More must have been destroyed in the Eugenics Wars than we can possibly imagine! :dubious: :eek: ---
**Author:** ![the\_diego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@the\_diego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_diego)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2014, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-life-like-in-the-federation-from-star-trek/686112/27 "2014-04-16T06:55:02Z")
The merit system as applied to the common folks is strictly enforced and it must be a b|atch for middle-of-the-road guys like me. I don’t think I’ll ever make the grade to be assigned to the bridge of a starship. ---
**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:** [April 16, 2014, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-life-like-in-the-federation-from-star-trek/686112/28 "2014-04-16T07:06:15Z")
> [@the\_diego](#): > > The merit system as applied to the common folks is strictly enforced and it must be a b|atch for middle-of-the-road guys like me. I don’t think I’ll ever make the grade to be assigned to the bridge of a starship. Oh, I’m sure that everyone is encouraged to rise to their own level of incompetency. In other words, the Peter Principle is strictly enforced! Probably no one ever experiences the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat, either. Everything seems way too … managed. :dubious: ---
**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:** [April 16, 2014, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-life-like-in-the-federation-from-star-trek/686112/29 "2014-04-16T07:09:35Z")
Also, whenever they travel in time or use the Holodeck, it’s usually to visit the 20th (or maybe the 19th) century. Looks like humanity has already gotten to be as interesting as its ever going to get! ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2014, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-life-like-in-the-federation-from-star-trek/686112/30 "2014-04-16T07:10:19Z")
Not bland. Deadened. The Federation makes extensive use of public manipulation tools. The broadcasts you have viewed are all propaganda. [These transmissions](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blake%27s_7) convey a far more accurate picture of … nff! nffff! nmfnffff.zzzzz. MfM wants us to know that he thinks TOS was the warmest, bravest, most wonderful show he has ever seen. ---
**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:** [April 16, 2014, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-life-like-in-the-federation-from-star-trek/686112/31 "2014-04-16T07:30:11Z")
> [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > MfM wants us to know that he thinks TOS was the warmest, bravest, most wonderful show he has ever seen. It beat the hell out of _ **TNG** _, that’s for sure! 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![the\_diego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@the\_diego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_diego)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2014, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-life-like-in-the-federation-from-star-trek/686112/32 "2014-04-16T07:59:44Z")
On second thought, people must be primitive and superstitious as hell. The old Greek Gods are real. You have beings evolved far higher than humans. You also have very real bogeymen called Klingons and Romulans. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2014, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-life-like-in-the-federation-from-star-trek/686112/33 "2014-04-16T08:05:55Z")
Two words: Holodeck spooge. ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2014, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-life-like-in-the-federation-from-star-trek/686112/34 "2014-04-16T14:36:21Z")
> [@Superhal](#): > > Two words: Holodeck spooge. [It’s not complicated.](http://www.pbp1.com/Property/DetailImage/SA216BY-Detail-Property.gif) 😃 Now if I could just get that in LCARS format. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2014, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-life-like-in-the-federation-from-star-trek/686112/35 "2014-04-16T14:58:28Z")
[Previous thread on this subject.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=643882&highlight=federation) ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2014, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-life-like-in-the-federation-from-star-trek/686112/36 "2014-04-16T15:14:46Z")
Widespread peace, democracy, the rule of law, prosperity, racial and ethnic harmony, and boundless opportunities to see the stars? Sign me up! Some other previous threads that may be of interest: > **[You're trapped in the Star Trek universe. What do you do now?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=560237)** > > A quantum subspace interstitial anomaly sucks you out of your chair and into the Star Trek universe: TNG continuity, shortly after the Dominion War ends. You’re lucky enough to arrive in Earth rather than the Klingon homeworld. A couple of... > **[Which galactic empire is best?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=486261)** > > Gotta love galactic empires: everything’s big, shiny, well-dressed, and more often than not a thinly-disguised version of either the Roman or British empires. Or both. Ya got Asimov’s from The Foundation Trilogy. Lucas’s from Star Wars. Herbert’s... > **[Star Trek: What led to Earth's/the Federation's utopia?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=286417)** > > What, precisely, in the Star Trek universe, leads to Earth becoming the Utopia it is by the TNG days? Is it matter-antimatter power and replicators? A final realization of the horrors of war? Contact with other species? Space travel leading to... > **[Did any Star Trek books address how the cashless Earth economy worked?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=582912)** > > IIRC there was one STTNG show where a rich human from the past wakes up and is told “we don’t use money anymore”. Did any Star Trek shows or books address exactly how the cashless Earth economy worked? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2014, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-life-like-in-the-federation-from-star-trek/686112/37 "2014-04-16T15:44:46Z")
But other than that, what have the [del]Romans[/del]Federation ever done for us? ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2014, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-life-like-in-the-federation-from-star-trek/686112/38 "2014-04-16T15:50:37Z")
I would imagine that freedom from want for everyone would lead to an explosion of creativity. Sure a lot of people would sit on their duffs eating and drinking and not doing a hell of a lot, but people do get bored. If they werne’t shoehorned into jobs that mean nothing to them, they might do stuff that means something to them. There would be TONS of bad art, music, writing, hell, just about every art form. But there would be quite a few ponies under all that horse manure. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2014, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-life-like-in-the-federation-from-star-trek/686112/39 "2014-04-16T15:54:08Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > But other than that, what have the [del]Romans[/del]Federation ever done for us? …acted consistently shifty in regards to the legal rights of AIs? ---
**Author:** ![AtomicDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@AtomicDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AtomicDog)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2014, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-life-like-in-the-federation-from-star-trek/686112/40 "2014-04-16T17:32:05Z")
Hey, if you get bored at home, there’s a lot of out there out there! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-life-like-in-the-federation-from-star-trek/686112.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-life-like-in-the-federation-from-star-trek/686112.md?page=3)