# 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:** 4
**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 17, 2014, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-life-like-in-the-federation-from-star-trek/686112/61 "2014-04-17T17:28:47Z")
> [@For You](#): > > This “Singularity” idea is just fantasy nonsense. _Star Trek_ is … umm … Actually, the origin for the Singularity was a mathematical projection of the rate of technological change. You can look it up. Doesn’t mean that mathematical projection was RIGHT … other factors may come into play … but it is the opposite of fantasy nonsense. ---
**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 17, 2014, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-life-like-in-the-federation-from-star-trek/686112/62 "2014-04-17T21:02:57Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Unless people just aren’t paying attention (not impossible, actually), it would be hard to hide the Dominion attack (and the senseless destruction of the Golden gate bridge), the whale probe near-extinction event, or the large scar cut into Florida. > > V’ger could be unknown-the events happened in space. The events of First Contact (complete assimilation of earth) was undone when the time change was corrected. Q’s meddling in the primordial soup-likewise. > > Large planetary destruction or population annihilation-the events of Doomsday Machine, The Immunity Syndrome, for example, are similar to Afghanistan - out of planet, out of mind. In “Turnabout Intruder,” Spock tells Janice Kirk that similar events (the Vayan experiment, the Tholian interphase) had been recorded and could have become known to him/her. Apparently, they have something equivalent to _ **USA Today** _ or _ **Weekly World News** _. ---
**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 17, 2014, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-life-like-in-the-federation-from-star-trek/686112/63 "2014-04-17T21:11:41Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > I do remember the ones in Generations - but they are more like the people sent to supermarket openings than actual reporters. Or the people in our PR department who wrote stuff for the employee newsletter. …are the actual reporters Scottish, as well? 😉 ---
**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 17, 2014, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-life-like-in-the-federation-from-star-trek/686112/64 "2014-04-17T22:19:55Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > I haven’t gotten far enough into DS9 for that reference. I do remember the ones in Generations - but they are more like the people sent to supermarket openings than actual reporters. Or the people in our PR department who wrote stuff for the employee newsletter. You’re implying that there’s a difference between the two. Currently we got about half a dozen actual reporters in US media: Glenn Greenwald, Matt Taibbi, and a few others. The bulk of the talking heads on TV are no different from your employee newsletter writers, in terms of actual ability at getting and writing a story. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2014, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-life-like-in-the-federation-from-star-trek/686112/65 "2014-04-18T03:05:48Z")
> [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > Actually, the origin for the Singularity was a mathematical projection of the rate of technological change. You can look it up. Doesn’t mean that mathematical projection was RIGHT … other factors may come into play … but it is the opposite of fantasy nonsense. OK, I read a little on it. From what I read, and given that I have read and enjoyed the work of Vernor Vinge, I have to say, the concept of the singularity is on a par with the concept of _Star Trek_. But this is not a thread to derail with that. ---
**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 18, 2014, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-life-like-in-the-federation-from-star-trek/686112/66 "2014-04-18T04:54:40Z")
> [@nevadaexile](#): > > Expanding upon this thought: Even if people are assimilated or killed couldn’t they be cloned? Don’t the various sickbays and medical labs have detailed genetic makeups of them. Can’t all of their thoughts and memories be recorded? > > Just clone a replica, give it all of the “primary person’s” knowledge and keep on keepin’ on. Nobody dies and the adventures just continue. It’s already been shown that you can rejuvenate people and filter pathogens out of their bodies simply by running them through the transporter. Why not just do that and give everyone virtual immortality? Oh, wait … that wouldn’t be “moral” or “ethical.” ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2014, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-life-like-in-the-federation-from-star-trek/686112/67 "2014-04-18T05:21:46Z")
> [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > You’re implying that there’s a difference between the two. Currently we got about half a dozen actual reporters in US media: Glenn Greenwald, Matt Taibbi, and a few others. The bulk of the talking heads on TV are no different from your employee newsletter writers, in terms of actual ability at getting and writing a story. The ones in the major markets at least don’t just read press releases. And I’m not asking for really good reporters. I wonder how the press covered the beginning of Generations. The new Enterprise had a great maiden voyage, even performing a rescue and showing off the capability of its shields. In totally unrelated news, an obituary of Admiral Jame T. Kirk is linked here. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2014, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-life-like-in-the-federation-from-star-trek/686112/68 "2014-04-18T05:24:34Z")
> [@nevadaexile](#): > > Expanding upon this thought: Even if people are assimilated or killed couldn’t they be cloned? Don’t the various sickbays and medical labs have detailed genetic makeups of them. Can’t all of their thoughts and memories be recorded? > > Just clone a replica, give it all of the “primary person’s” knowledge and keep on keepin’ on. Nobody dies and the adventures just continue. Yeah, this is what I call failure of nerve, and I hate it. SF (especially in the movies) invents some world changing discovery or invention - and nobody exploits it or pays it much attention. This is because it would change the world so much as to be unrecognizable, and the writer chickens out. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2014, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-life-like-in-the-federation-from-star-trek/686112/69 "2014-04-18T05:44:44Z")
Can’t believe that I’m the first person to mention everyone watching “Keeping Up with the Cardassians.” ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2014, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-life-like-in-the-federation-from-star-trek/686112/70 "2014-04-18T05:54:17Z")
My questions: Will farts be genetically eliminated, smell like laundry/fruit, or go through a device that makes it sound like a commercial jingle? Will federation-issue pants be shart proof? Will drunk people still be forced to pee in public late at night? What will prostitutes accept in a world without money? Will robot prostitutes corner the market? How many of them will be male robots disguised as female robots? On interstellar flights, what will the mile high club be called? ---
**Author:** ![Washoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecae2f/32.png) [@Washoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washoe)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2014, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-life-like-in-the-federation-from-star-trek/686112/71 "2014-04-18T06:01:03Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Widespread peace, democracy, the rule of law, prosperity, racial and ethnic harmony, and boundless opportunities to see the stars? Sign me up! But Yogi—_the Borg!_ ---
**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 18, 2014, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-life-like-in-the-federation-from-star-trek/686112/72 "2014-04-18T14:07:18Z")
> [@Washoe](#): > > But Yogi—_the Borg!_ Screw the Borg, Boo-boo. They swiped my pick-a-nick basket. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2014, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-life-like-in-the-federation-from-star-trek/686112/73 "2014-04-18T16:10:13Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Screw the Borg, Boo-boo. > They swiped my pick-a-nick basket. I am Ranger Smith of Borg. Pic-a-nik is irrelevant. Basket is irrelevant. You will be assimilated. Yogi: No. I am smarter than the average Borg! ---
**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 18, 2014, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-life-like-in-the-federation-from-star-trek/686112/74 "2014-04-18T17:02:38Z")
> [@Washoe](#): > > But Yogi—_the Borg!_ It’s not Utopia, to be sure. But it has a lot going for it, and United Earth in both Kirk’s and Picard’s times is in many ways a better place than anarchic Earth in our time. ---
**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 18, 2014, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-life-like-in-the-federation-from-star-trek/686112/75 "2014-04-18T17:15:05Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > I am Ranger Smith of Borg. Pic-a-nik is irrelevant. Basket is irrelevant. You will be assimilated. > > Yogi: No. I am smarter than the average Borg! But [del]Yogi[/del] Locutus, you know the park rules! No assimilation after six o’clock! ---
**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 18, 2014, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-life-like-in-the-federation-from-star-trek/686112/76 "2014-04-18T17:25:05Z")
The “Singularity” is misnamed. It’s a horizon, not a singularity. The future more than 30 years or so hence would be unrecognizable to any person of today, but by the same token, the present of today would be unrecognizable to someone from the 80s. But that’s irrelevant, because science fiction is not about the future. It’s set in the future, but it’s about the present. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2014, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-life-like-in-the-federation-from-star-trek/686112/77 "2014-04-18T17:31:02Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > The “Singularity” is misnamed. It’s a horizon, not a singularity. The future more than 30 years or so hence would be unrecognizable to any person of today, but by the same token, the present of today would be unrecognizable to someone from the 80s. bwah? Seriously? How old are you? I was an adult in the 80’s and really, today is hardly that inconceivable thing you imagine it would be for an ancient such as myself. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2014, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-life-like-in-the-federation-from-star-trek/686112/78 "2014-04-18T17:56:55Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > bwah? > > Seriously? How old are you? I was an adult in the 80’s and really, today is hardly that inconceivable thing you imagine it would be for an ancient such as myself. Another child of the 80s chiming in. While 'tis true that the Future is a pretty exciting place, if someone had time traveled back to 1980 with their iPhone (assume it can link to the future internet through the time portal) in their Kia Soul time machine, I would have understood the phone’s function immediately. It’s basically Star Trek tech - sort of a tricorder/communicator that can interface with a central computer. And I would have wanted one. Also, I would say, Man cars sure are ugly in the future!🙂 ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2014, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-life-like-in-the-federation-from-star-trek/686112/79 "2014-04-18T18:46:17Z")
[Like Root Beer.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hdiuRMK3UQ) ---
**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 18, 2014, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-life-like-in-the-federation-from-star-trek/686112/80 "2014-04-18T19:26:58Z")
It’s easy to say that now, having lived through it all gradually. But the fact is, a single iPhone, while possibly comprehensible, is a drop in the bucket of what’s changed. A person in 1984, and that includes all of us, would not have been able to comprehend just how interconnected our lives are now. Similarly, when 2044 rolls around, it’ll all just seem perfectly normal to us, if we’re all still alive. But if any of us were Rip Van Winkled to that year, we’d be lost. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-life-like-in-the-federation-from-star-trek/686112.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-life-like-in-the-federation-from-star-trek/686112.md?page=5)