# What’s the point of the transporter room in \*Star Trek\*? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** star-trek-paramount\ **Created:** [April 13, 2024, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-point-of-the-transporter-room-in-star-trek/1000238 "2024-04-13T18:30:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2024, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-point-of-the-transporter-room-in-star-trek/1000238/81 "2024-05-02T12:45:03Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > The blankets became evil! They tried to smother the crew, and they had smallpox. No, only half of them were evil. The other half was good, but meek. Unfortunately there was no way to tell the difference…_until it was too late!_ ---
**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:** [May 2, 2024, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-point-of-the-transporter-room-in-star-trek/1000238/82 "2024-05-02T15:12:53Z")
> [@mozchron](#): > > I always assumed that you died in the transporter beam and the tech built an exact copy of you at the destination. **Waste of Space Dept.:** _ **Star Bleccch** _ > **[MAD Issue #115 - Read MAD Issue #115 comic online in high...](https://readcomiconline.li/Comic/MAD/Issue-115?id=72805#6)** > > Read MAD Issue #115 comic online free and high quality. Unique reading type: All pages - just need to scroll to read next page. “I’ve got the strangest feeling that my face wants to sit down!” ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2024, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-point-of-the-transporter-room-in-star-trek/1000238/83 "2024-05-03T01:30:52Z")
The ultimate transporter focused episode is _Realm of Fear_. Featuring Lt. Reg Barclay’s extreme fear of transporting. (IIRC he had kept it hidden for a long time.) Much like people who dread flying will do it when very necessary. That brings up an interesting question about eligibility for joining Star Fleet? Would people with a fear of transporting be disqualified? The idea of being turned into a beam of energy and reassembled would frighten many people. The early years refining the Tech and maintaining the equipment would result in some accidents. ---
**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:** [May 3, 2024, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-point-of-the-transporter-room-in-star-trek/1000238/84 "2024-05-03T01:42:46Z")
Barclay would never pass a real psychological exam on any level. If he somehow managed to get into the service anyway, he wouldn’t last long. I wouldn’t let him onto my ship unless he was accompanied by an escort and had signed a written pledge not to touch anything. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2024, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-point-of-the-transporter-room-in-star-trek/1000238/85 "2024-05-03T01:50:44Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > **Waste of Space Dept.:** _ **Star Bleccch** _ > > [MAD Issue #115 - Read MAD Issue #115 comic online in high quality](https://readcomiconline.li/Comic/MAD/Issue-115?id=72805#6) > > “I’ve got the strangest feeling that my face wants to sit down Got some questionable popups on that site. ---
**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:** [May 3, 2024, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-point-of-the-transporter-room-in-star-trek/1000238/86 "2024-05-03T02:29:17Z")
I’ve never had any trouble, and I’ve been going there for years. Are you using an ad blocker? ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2024, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-point-of-the-transporter-room-in-star-trek/1000238/87 "2024-05-03T03:18:21Z")
Yes. I got a “Are you a human?” popup, then some intrusive popup ad. ---
**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:** [May 3, 2024, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-point-of-the-transporter-room-in-star-trek/1000238/88 "2024-05-03T05:36:33Z")
I just checked it, and it worked fine for me. Maybe it’s your location? ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2024, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-point-of-the-transporter-room-in-star-trek/1000238/89 "2024-05-03T06:14:28Z")
I think the original concept was analogous to a radio or TV station. A radio or TV playing OTA content can be placed anywhere within range of the broadcasting station, but the station and its transmission tower have a specific location (or locations, if the tower is a couple of miles away on a hilltop). The transporter room is like the broadcasting station. Also, the transporter room provided the opportunity for some interesting special effects, plus it was pivotal to the plot in several episodes. Star Trek has never been entirely accurate. We all remember the amplified listening device that enhanced sound to the level of “one to the fourth power”, which is still one. And “Chief” O’Brien who was head of the engineering department; a senior officer in his role would never be called “Chief”, because a Chief is a petty officer. ---
**Author:** ![phs3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8491ac/32.png) [@phs3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phs3)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2024, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-point-of-the-transporter-room-in-star-trek/1000238/90 "2024-05-27T18:21:24Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > Except there is no special security in the transporter room. They just didn’t show Scotty entering his password, then waiting for a text message 2FA. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-point-of-the-transporter-room-in-star-trek/1000238.md?page=4)