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.
That’s what Kahn thought.
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”—
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.
People do this all day. Not much different than now.
“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.
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:
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:
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! 
Not bland. Deadened. The Federation makes extensive use of public manipulation tools. The broadcasts you have viewed are all propaganda. These transmissions 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.
It beat the hell out of TNG, that’s for sure! 
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.
Two words: Holodeck spooge.
It’s not complicated. 
Now if I could just get that in LCARS format.
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:
But other than that, what have the [del]Romans[/del]Federation ever done for us?
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.
…acted consistently shifty in regards to the legal rights of AIs?
Hey, if you get bored at home, there’s a lot of out there out there!
