# Why Star Trek is better than Star Wars **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 8, 2000, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-star-trek-is-better-than-star-wars/17545 "2000-02-08T03:48:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![jab1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ee7513/32.png) [@jab1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jab1)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2000, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-star-trek-is-better-than-star-wars/17545/81 "2000-02-11T22:54:00Z")
Universal translators built into every Fleet-issue communicator gives the appearance that all aliens speak English. * * * \>\< DARWIN \> \_\_ **L\_\_\_L** ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2000, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-star-trek-is-better-than-star-wars/17545/82 "2000-02-12T00:38:00Z")
Jeffery, why do you insist that Worf could whup Chewie? Are you nuts? Take away Worf’s batleth, and Chewie’s blaster, and let them go at it mano a mano. Chewie would kick his butt, any time, and day. Heck, even Luke could take Worf, using his Jedi powers. One of my favorite lines in any movie comes from Luke, in _Jedi_. “…I warn you, not to underestimate my powers” In case you’re wondering, I like both SW, and ST. Seen every movie, scene every episode of TNG, DS9, and Voyager. I just think SW is a little better, just because it’s “cooler.” Adam * * * “Life is hard…but God is good” ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2000, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-star-trek-is-better-than-star-wars/17545/83 "2000-02-12T02:05:00Z")
Nonsense. Jedi mind tricks don’t work on Klingons. ---
**Author:** ![Balduran](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cc9497/32.png) [@Balduran](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balduran)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2000, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-star-trek-is-better-than-star-wars/17545/84 "2000-02-12T05:21:00Z")
MrSleep Wrote > [@](#): > > Where would you rather live? On a far away planet where you get to rescue damsels in distress from gigantic, vile monsters, or in a world where you get your meals from a slot > in the wall? I don’t like getting dismembered by gigantic, vile monsters, and I hate to cook 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2000, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-star-trek-is-better-than-star-wars/17545/85 "2000-02-12T07:04:00Z")
quote: > [@](#): > > For the best personal combatant from each universe, I’ll put Obi-Wan Kenobi up against anyone you name. He has fought and beaten both Darth Maul, and Anakin Skywalker (before that one became Vader). With a lightsaber in his hands and the Force as his ally, no Trek character could touch him. With Spock’s Vulcan mental discipline, he could easily hold off Obi-Wan’s force mind tricks, and with his superior Vulcan reflexes, physical stamina, strength and speed, he’d have Obi-Won knocked out with a vulcan neck pinch before Obi got finished watching his lightsaber slooooowly extend to its usable length. * * * Cecil said it. I believe it. That settles it. ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2000, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-star-trek-is-better-than-star-wars/17545/86 "2000-02-12T07:07:00Z")
For that matter, Seven of Nine probobly has nanoprobes inside her that neutralize the force, and Borg technology that neutralize “futuristic” swords. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2000, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-star-trek-is-better-than-star-wars/17545/87 "2000-02-12T16:43:00Z")
The only Borg technology that could neutralize a light saber would be a really really buff forcefield. Or another light saber. And we know that 7 of 9 posesses neither of these. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2000, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-star-trek-is-better-than-star-wars/17545/88 "2000-02-12T16:53:00Z")
weirddave wrote: > [@](#): > > With Spock’s Vulcan mental discipline, he could easily hold off Obi-Wan’s force mind tricks, and with his superior Vulcan reflexes, physical stamina, strength and speed, he’d have Obi-Won knocked out with a vulcan neck pinch before Obi got finished watching his lightsaber slooooowly extend to its usable length. “Superior Vulcan reflexes” my patooty! Spock may have the strength, nerves, and combat training of a Star Fleet Vulcan, but Kenobi can react to danger _before it even happens!_ Such is the nature of a Jedi’s reflexes. Of course, Spock could just give himself a Midi-Chlorian injection, I suppose. :rolleyes: * * * The truth, as always, is more complicated than that. ---
**Author:** ![jab1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ee7513/32.png) [@jab1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jab1)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2000, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-star-trek-is-better-than-star-wars/17545/89 "2000-02-13T01:09:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by tracer: > \*\*Of course, Spock could just give himself a Midi-Chlorian injection, I suppose. :rolleyes: > \*\* Boy, was that a lame explanation for the Force. “The Force is actually generated by bacteria.” Uh-huh… Ya think maybe Lucas was remembering that old _Trek_ episode, “Plato’s Stepchildren”? And that he substituted bacteria for the compound that gave the Platonians telekinesis? **tracer** obviously remembered it! Not that everything _Trek_ did was original. The first Hollywood version of the transporter, for example, appeared in the 50s version of _The Fly_. I’m sure transporters appeared in print even before that. And death rays date all the way back to H. G. Wells’ _War of the World_, written in _1896_! (Hey, try this link I just found: [www.war-of-the-worlds.org](http://www.war-of-the-worlds.org) It’s devoted to EVERY version and sequel of the story ever printed or recorded or filmed.) * * * \>\< DARWIN \> \_\_ **L\_\_\_L** ---
**Author:** ![inertia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/d07c76/32.png) [@inertia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/inertia)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2000, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-star-trek-is-better-than-star-wars/17545/90 "2000-02-13T04:03:00Z")
To begin with, one Knight could take out 12 Kingons any day. What has the starship Enterprise and toilet paper got in common? AHunter3: Just send me one Lt. Uhura and one Princess Leia and I’ll extrapolate the rest. DSYoungEsq: I really didn’t like what Bear & Co. did with the Foundation series. Neobican: Star Wars doesn’t need all that techno crap when they’ve got the Holy Hydrospanner Robbnn: I’ll bet the weather’s really nice there. Eve: LIS was aweful, but if you liked that you should like _Starship Troopers_. It’s very campy and attempts to predate itself. Kinda’ neat. Tracer: _Babylon 5_? That’s not any better than _As the World Turns_. StrTrkr777: This debate obviously is near and dear, but I feel honor bound to point out that Chewy would do to Worf what Duke Nuke ‘Em does to the boss at the end of Episode II. Duke: "I’m gonna’ rip off your head and shit down your neck." It’s a riot to watch. Sake Samurai: Ya’ got brass cajones. Have you seen _The Thirteenth Floor_? It’s better than _The Matrix_, but not for its special effects. jab1: I’m planning on moving to southern Califonia in a couple 'o years, we **gotta’** hang out. One thing though, Universal Translators suck. Jai Pey: Troy has a callipygian form which Laeia lacks. Furthermore, lesbianism isn’t something you should take lightly my friend. Of course, Oragana does have a certain ring to it. StrTrkr777: Yes, most of the women on your list are babealicious, but why is nurse Chapel in there? However let’s not forget that Laeia is Luke’s sister (twin?) and the things she can do with just her mind . . . Tracer: Midi-Chlorian. I saw that episode. How come it never resurfaced in any future episodes? Didn’t it only give the embiber as it were a psychokenetic ability and nothing else? Immortality too? I vote for Star Wars sans the prequel. Star Trek has its good points, but it’s too spartan. Too clean. Additionally, I don’t know how many of you Dopers have ever owned a tribble, but they smell bad. I would also suggest getting them spayed or neutered right away. Voyager is bad even for TV. What I’d really like to see is a _Star Wars_ TV series. Then we’d know for sure. I’ve ordered two of her books from Amazon and haven’t received them yet so pardon my ingnorance when I ask, “What does Ayn Rand have to say about this subject?” * * * They both circle Uranus looking for Klingons!!! ---
**Author:** ![inertia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/d07c76/32.png) [@inertia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/inertia)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2000, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-star-trek-is-better-than-star-wars/17545/91 "2000-02-13T04:09:00Z")
Of course, Organa does have a certain ring to it. Too many godmothers (it’s a drink). ---
**Author:** ![Neobican](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Neobican](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neobican)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2000, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-star-trek-is-better-than-star-wars/17545/92 "2000-02-13T12:39:00Z")
> [@](#): > > What I’d really like to see is a Star Wars TV series. Then we’d know for sure. That would suck. Gee, whats tonights episode? Um, the rebel fights the empire…again. And the comparisons? Worf would knock Chewie out, end of story. Han blasting Picard? Wah ha ha! Dont you know Starfleet Captians are much more intelligent than to sit and talk with some strangers before taking security precautions such as scanning for and deactivating weapons? No Trek character can beat Obi Wan? What? I know for a fact a “jedi mind trick” will not work on our android pal Data. With his super fast reflexes (remember he dodged the anticipating drilling laser?) he could easily avoid the most learned of the jedi knights, disarming and incapacitating in record time. ## Besides, its almost a moot point anyway, as I said, the Trek crew would utilize their superior intellect… instead of trading blows to win they would simply encase the would-be attackers in a force field, deactivate their simple weapons, and transport 'em straight to the brig. No fuss, no muss. _“Wow! Spider-Man! Are you really friends with the X-men?”_ **"Not since Cyclops tried to use my viewmaster."** (Marvel Team Up #1) ---
**Author:** ![TheUnforgiven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e480ec/32.png) [@TheUnforgiven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheUnforgiven)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2000, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-star-trek-is-better-than-star-wars/17545/93 "2000-02-13T21:03:00Z")
Two words: Boba Fett. > [@](#): > > Originally posted by Arnold Winkelried: > …an Asian character trained in martial arts… I heard Jet Li might be the next Boba Fett in either episode II or III (I forget which). ---
**Author:** ![StrTrkr777](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@StrTrkr777](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StrTrkr777)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2000, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-star-trek-is-better-than-star-wars/17545/94 "2000-02-13T21:23:00Z")
Worf would beat Chewie because Worf is a warrior and Chewie is not. Worf fights to the death and finds honor in death. So Chewie would give up long before Worf would kill him, but Worf’s superior strength and training would render Chewie only a mildly challenging opponent. Jeffery p.s. Adam, I am surprised at you. SW indeed. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2000, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-star-trek-is-better-than-star-wars/17545/95 "2000-02-14T00:13:00Z")
jab1 wrote, re Midi-Chlorians: > [@](#): > > Boy, was that a lame explanation for the Force. “The Force is actually generated by bacteria.” Uh-huh… Ya think maybe Lucas was remembering that old Trek episode, “Plato’s Stepchildren”? And that he substituted bacteria for the compound that gave the Platonians telekinesis? Actually, according to one of the threads on rec.arts.sf.starwars when _Episode I_ came out, George Lucas was in fact thinking of **mitochondria** when he came up with the midi-chlorians. Mitochondria are organelles inside every cell of your body, which turn sugar and oxygen into energy. Current molecular paleontological theory states that mitochondria evolved from free-floating purple bacteria that “moved in” with larger cells, and learned to live in a symbiotic relationship with their host cell (“Pssst, hey you, the purple bacteria! If you’ll give me some of your energy, I’ll give you all the sugar you can use!”). Qui-Gon Jinn’s explanation of the midi-chlorians in _Episode I_ suggests that they don’t _generate_ the Force, they’re merely “in touch” with the Force and tell their host what to do to take advantage of it. So, no, John Williams won’t have to change the name of his “Force Theme” to the “Midi-Chlorians Theme” 😉 . ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2000, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-star-trek-is-better-than-star-wars/17545/96 "2000-02-14T01:56:00Z")
> [@](#): > > * * * > > ## What I’d really like to see is a Star Wars TV series. Then we’d know for sure. > > That would suck. Gee, whats tonights episode? Um, the rebel fights the empire…again. Consider this for a Star Wars TV series: A story arc using a side-story during the original trilogy timeline. Obviously you can’t use any of the original series actors, except for Vader, the Emperor, and the costumed characters and aliens. But you can make reference to them and events. One season only - 25 episodes, of one hour each. Instead of following a ragtag bunch of Rebels and their continual fight against the Empire, instead have each individual episode tell the continuing tale from a different character’s point of view. For example: The first episode introduces the plight of the rebellion. The destruction of the first Death Star is a blow to the Empire but already they are rallying, and they are angry. So we see this episode from the Rebel Leader’s point of view. Second episode we see from the Emperor’s point of view. Third, a Smuggler is called in to sneak in and get some information that the Rebels need. Fourth, an Imperial officer is held responsible for the breach of security. Fifth, a Bounty Hunter is sent in to deal with some of the Rebel Spies. Sixth, Jabba the Hutt takes an interest. etc, etc, etc… It would ROCK! * * * **-PIGEONMAN-** [The Legend Of PigeonMan](http://www.hotkey.net.au/~guanolad/pigeonman/) - **Shadow of the Pigeon** - Weirdo of the Night ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2000, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-star-trek-is-better-than-star-wars/17545/97 "2000-02-14T03:09:00Z")
GuanoLad: I think we’ve already had something like what you describe. It was called the _X-Wing_ and _Tie Fighter_ simulator games. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Jai\_Pey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a4c791/32.png) [@Jai\_Pey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jai_Pey)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2000, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-star-trek-is-better-than-star-wars/17545/98 "2000-02-14T04:28:00Z")
Here here Tracer. I officially have no life… and you’re so right. Xwing, then Tie Fighter, introduced an element of storytelling for SW which the ST has yet to reply in a comparable way. Here’s where the big difference comes in… ST (and don’t get me wrong, I do enjoy ST) is about thinly veiled imperialism (I’m playing right into a post above in which I become a spouting, thinly veiled liberal intellectual… et tu, Brute, I’ll bite)in which the crew of the Enterprise in whatever incarnation are forced to find their way properly as Star Fleet officers. As long as you don’t wear a red shirt, you’ve got a ticket to the end. The ST 25th anniversary computer game was awesome as a model of this… same old same old, Enterprise goes from point A to point B, shoots “x” Birds of Prey from local space, beams down to the planet or spacestation, and solves the mystery of an alien civilization, with high-jinx of Harry Mudd or the effect of nitrous oxide on Romulans. Xwing and Tie Fighter brought the fight home, in a personal way. No more worries of the hundreds of families on board your ship… its you, your droid, and your mates tryin’ fruitlessly for hours to beat crack Tie pilots and the Deathstar defenses. Not only that! There’s no one-shot missions… Mission 1 of a campaign (say, get the Death Star plans) leads to 2, leads to 3… and you’re pretty much stuck there until you accomplish the mission. By the time you finish the campaign, you know what you;ve been fighting for. You die, you’re treated to a space funeral. Tie Fighter introduced the whole secret mission stuff… work as an undercover agent of the Emperor from the “relative” comfort of your cramped Tie cockpit. Learn how to use a team of small, unsheilded starfighters and take down a capital ship. Don’t worry about scanning an alien computer a million times with your tricorder before you figure out which Tab A to insert into Slot B. And that, friends, Romulans, and country-persons, is the difference… no stupid, pansy-ass captains letting diplomacy getting into violence’s way: lets bloody the noses one on one and defeat the nasty ol’ Emperor. ST approached this concept in their handling of the Borg; no diplomacy there… and why? Because the Borg wouldn’t let the Federation remain in control. Had the Borg been like the Romulans and remained in their own clearly defined space, with neutral zones and the odd fracas, the Federation would have been happy to have 'em as hostile neighbours. No such pretenses in SW… its out with the Emperor and let’s get us a new Republic. There’s a definable good and evil in SW. In ST, because the Federation itself is nothing more than a thinly veiled Empire, the line of right and wrong gets (perhaps more realistically) clouded. Heaven forbid the Federation be WRONG. Jeffrey, re: Worf vs. Chewie: Someone said (and was echoed) that Worf ALWAYS gets his butt kicked. He always ends up biting off more than he can chew, and ends up getting rescued by his mates or dead, and re-incarnated by Q. He’d do the same with Chewie,… rush in where Stormtroopers fear to tread and get his arm ripped off. Deal with it. Regards, ITS JUST A FRIENDLY DEBATE/ Jai Pey ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2000, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-star-trek-is-better-than-star-wars/17545/99 "2000-02-14T11:48:00Z")
Kind of off-topic-ish: If you wanna see a good Star Wars fan film, try going [here](http://www.theforce.net/theater/bountytrail/). Gives you a hint at what’s possible, if people put the effort in. * * * **-PIGEONMAN-** [The Legend Of PigeonMan](http://www.hotkey.net.au/~guanolad/pigeonman/) - **Shadow of the Pigeon** - Weirdo of the Night ---
**Author:** ![Jai\_Pey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a4c791/32.png) [@Jai\_Pey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jai_Pey)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2000, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-star-trek-is-better-than-star-wars/17545/100 "2000-02-14T13:32:00Z")
Pigeonman, thanks for that link… I never knew about this site at all! Another “useful” way to waste my morning! Regards, Jai Pey [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-star-trek-is-better-than-star-wars/17545.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-star-trek-is-better-than-star-wars/17545.md?page=6)