About the spirit of Trek

[Joe Dizzy]

If I may be so bold to take a minute of your time, I'd like to adress some pertinent and pressing matters in all things Trek.

I've seen all but two episodes of Enterprise's first season and was under the foolish belief that it was a slightly above average sci-fi series. It happened to take place in a pre-Trek era and though the name doesn't explicitly state it, it was part of the Trek universe.
You see, somehow I got tricked into thinking that the series was about exploration, about humanity beginning to go boldly, about what it means to come in contact with new lifeforms and new civilizations and how the UFP came to be.
But I was WRONG!! I WAS DEAD WRONG!
That's not what the show is about! It's about whether Capt. Archer uses "phased" or "phase"-pistols. It's about whether Risa is 2453 ly or 12,4ly or half a stone-throw away. It's about whether Vulcans are robots or saints with no emotions or merely controlling them.
It's about dropping names through-out the episodes so every geek in Klingon armor, living in his parent's basement can gloat about getting the reference. It's about the NX-01 being a clunky mess of a ship so Kirk's clunky mess of a ship can be considered an improvement! And don't get me started on the zippers! Worst. Idea. Ever. Next thing, they'll do is start joking about a lack of seat belts.
It's about paying respect to the fans! Can I get an amen?!
Trek is about two things, and two things only: technology and continuity. We've all been brain-washed into thinking otherwise. Stories, conflict and drama are all the devil's middle name! Can I get an amen?
But thanks to all the brave souls on practically every trek-related board on the 'net, we shall be saved! Can I get an amen?
We shall be saved! We shall re-focus our attention on what really matters: consistent techno-babble! We will have courageous young men fighting for what should rightfully be ours: the Star Trek spirit, the way it was meant to be!
On every discussion-board, on every (gaming) convention and on every occasion we dare to utter the name Enterprise.
Maps that make sense again, technology so consistent that it could actually work, if it weren't fiction, a chronology that fits neat and tidy and is without contradiction, just like real life! Just ask anybody about say, the development of the middle-east conflict, they will all tell you the same thing. Or even the supposed chinese oppression of Tibet, they will all tell you the same thing, or ask anyone about 2.WW they will all tell you same thing. Because real life history is without errors and contradictions. Every event is clearly laid out, easy to follow and even more easily summarized without lacking factual accuracy.
And that's what we should expect from the trek-writers!

So let us all stand up and applaud those upstading, right-thinking, splendid men. C'mon get up! All of you! Yes even you sitting at your desk, explicitly NOT working. Stop shaking your head and get up. Applaud these men. Give me an amen, brother!
Halleluja, we shall be saved!

Amen!

Rev. Joseph Q. Dizzy

[Joe Dizzy]

If you are a devout member of any faith-based religion, and feel insulted or offended by this post. I sincerely apologize as this was not my intent. I also suggest you get yourself a sense of humour.

If you are a devout member of any Trek-based religion, and feel attacked or insulted by this post. I sincerely do not care. Get yourself a sense of humour!

[C5]

Aaaaah.... Finally, someone who dares to express his true feelings.

For some time I feared that the intelligentzia would brainwash us enough into thinking that what really makes a good ST show is its scenario and spirit, and forgetting the real values of it, like the respect of pips, colors, and phase pistols. Thanks, my friend, for showing some people have escaped this horrenduous attempts from the infamous B&B entity.

But let's not stop here! There are other values to judge a series! Let's keep an eye on warp special effect, transporter special effect, and Klingon ridges. Let's not forget that a series whose first episode stages a shower scene is scientifically proven to be utter crap with no redeeming quality whatsoever.

And why keep to Enterprise ? Let's go back to TNG, and DS9 (TOS, of course, being the holy work of Saint Roddenberry, can't be considered other than flawless).
I recently saw Duet again... man but now my eyes are open. What is that for an episode with absolutely no references to the technology or continuity, no precise date to allow us, the mighty fans, to build our holy chronology and technobabble database ?
And this Darmok episode, in TNG ? How could they have such an episode where the Universal Translator is ineffective, while it always worked in TOS (and where half the Galaxy spoke english anyway) ?

Let's all stand up against tyranny!!! Join the fight, brothers!!

One point, though, Joe : what is this "humor" thing you referred about in your second post ?

[Silverthorne]

humor, is that like mistaking an elf for a vulcan....

[Lancer]

Thank you, thank you, thank you, brother Dizzy for opening my eyes!

When, in the past, I talked about the position of Qo'nos or the technology behind energy weapons I did so in order to encourage my fellow brothers to use their creative spirit to reconcile themselves to the inconsistencies that so much troubled them.
Oh, how I now regret my erroneous ways! It deeply saddens my very soul that in this I did the work of the horrendous B&B by trying to lead the faithfull from the path of truth. Even that I did so from what I perceived as the best of intentions can be no excuse for this monumental mistake.

The only thing I can do to redeem myself now - if there is any possibilty of redemption left for me - is to pledge myself with all my strength to the true spirit of Trek and to spread it among my fellow men at every opportunity.

Thank you again so much for giving me a chance to finaly see the light at the end of the transwarp tunnel.

Halleluja!!!



C5: Humor is a rather difficult subject to explain, as The Original Series never had any humorous episodes. To the best of my knowledge Gene Roddenberry never delved into the subject as it would have made the series rather difficult to understand for the Vulcan viewers, if not offended them outright.
As it was never in Star Trek you shouldn't concern yourself with it. It's one of those "real life" things that by their very nature have no meaning for a true believer like you obviously are.

[Phantom]

Don't get HOLIER THEN THOU! I have stated my opinion numerous time about Ent. some of my problems with the show do have to do with continuity and technology, but the main reason is it is a terribly done show right from the ground up. I thought this was supposed to be a place where each side could come to express their opinions, BUT I WAS WRONG, DEAD WRONG. The fact this thread exists, only to take shots at those who have expressed their problems with the show. Ok, some of them have been minor and nit-picky...So what?! It's there opinion, and if they want to express it...the more power to them. But I guess like B&B some people feel threatened that everyone isn't blindly following the new and improved order of things...It really makes you think who is being brainwashed.

Oh, BTW I don't take offense about religious anything, I do resent being talked down to, however.

[toadkiller]

Originally posted by Silverthorne
humor, is that like mistaking an elf for a vulcan....

No - but it may be like mistaking an elf for a toothbrush.

[Capt Daniel Hunter]

ROTFLMAO

Yay Brother

[Imagus]

Hallelujah, Brother Joseph...

Although I deduce from your tone that you are weak-willed liberal, low in faith and dedication...

We of the True Church of Roddenberry (Militant) will crush all
infidels!

We will strike from our city fastnesses and destroy all who support the heretics Berman and Braga!


Fx: satire mode off


Calm down Phantom, we're just having a laugh and nobody's having a go at you! Your dislike of the show includes reasons other than continuity - we can appreciate that!

And besides, we've taken quite a bit of flak for liking the series...

[Lancer]

Originally posted by Phantom
I thought this was supposed to be a place where each side could come to express their opinions, BUT I WAS WRONG, DEAD WRONG. The fact this thread exists, only to take shots at those who have expressed their problems with the show.

If what you want to indicate here is that you are willing to shout at people for just expressing their opinion - in a not-at-all serious mood I might add - then yes, maybe this forum is indeed turning into a place where not every side is allowed to express their opinion.

This isn't meant to talk you or anybody else down, Phantom - it's as much about making fun of ourselfes (the "Enterprise lovers") as it is about making fun of people who nitpick the show and it is even more about making some general fun.

But I guess like B&B some people feel threatened that everyone isn't blindly following the new and improved order of things...It really makes you think who is being brainwashed.

No - nobody feels threatened by you or anybody else who doesn't like Enterprise.
But just because I like the series hardly means I am brainwashed and your implication that I am (if there is another way to read your post pray tell me) borders on a personal insult.


-- Venting-some-steam-mode off --


Now it's all well and good that people who don't like Enterprise express their sentiments about the show here on this board or anyplace else.
But please, just for a moment, try to put yourself in the shoes of someone who likes Enterprise.
How would you feel if a TV show you liked was time after time picked on for sometimes trivial matters?
How would you feel if your favored TV show was week-after-week, episode-by-episode, taken apart by people who claimed that they hated the show, yet always watched it?
How would you feel if this happened not just anywhere, but on your favorite discussion board, the one you really really enjoy to read?
Wouldn't you ask yourself why all these people who claim to absolutely hate the show come back week after week to watch it, seemingly just to pick it apart?
Wouldn't you just get a little tired of this topic?

IMHO making fun of the debate about Enterprise was about the most positive response that could be expected, considering how unreconcilable the two sides seem to be.

Please don't get me wrong:
Of course you are free to express your sentiments about Enterprise, that's as much your right, as it is mine (or anybody else's) right to express their opinion.

If, as you claimed Enterprise is a "terribly done show", then why isn't there more talk about the quality of, e.g.
- the actors
- the scripts
- the dialogues
- the special effects
- etc. etc. etc.,
instead of discussions about the validity of some "canon" facts?

Okay, so maybe there are these discussions, but somehow they seem to disappear into the background, once someone brings up perceived continuity problems.

Can someone please tell me why this is so ???
(This being a dead serious, not lighthearted or ironic or rhetorical question.)

[qerlin]

Originally posted by Phantom
Don't get HOLIER THEN THOU! I have stated my opinion numerous time about Ent. some of my problems with the show do have to do with continuity and technology, but the main reason is it is a terribly done show right from the ground up. I thought this was supposed to be a place where each side could come to express their opinions, BUT I WAS WRONG, DEAD WRONG. The fact this thread exists, only to take shots at those who have expressed their problems with the show. Ok, some of them have been minor and nit-picky...So what?! It's there opinion, and if they want to express it...the more power to them. But I guess like B&B some people feel threatened that everyone isn't blindly following the new and improved order of things...It really makes you think who is being brainwashed.

Oh, BTW I don't take offense about religious anything, I do resent being talked down to, however.

Since you weren't mentioned specifically, phantom, it seems strange you'd assume the remark was directed at you. If you feel that this thread hits the mark somehow on you...then maybe you should reexamine either your arguments or grow a thicker skin. This doesn't seem to be an attack on anyone in particular.

[Phantom]

Hey I'm all for humour here and everywhere else. But you do have to be careful on how it is applied. Obviously some people saw the attempted humour in the first post here, I did not. What I saw was sarcasm aimed in the rough direction of those (maybe I m making a broad statement here) who have expressed negative opinions to Ent, and I still do.

Im not apologizing for my opinion of the show or my perception of this thread. I will, however, retract the "brainwashed" implication from my above post. It was an unfortunate term to use.

Now Im not suggesting that you put up a big sign saying "LAUGH" the next time you want to put a little humour into a post like this, but I would suggest some kind of "lead in" to avoid confusion. What you find amusing, I (or someone else) might not.

[Sho-sa Kurita]

Thanks Joe. You just made my explicitly-WORKING night a little funnier.

[Sea Tyger]

What I saw was sarcasm aimed in the rough direction of those (maybe I m making a broad statement here) who have expressed negative opinions to Ent, and I still do.

Well maybe, just maybe, you now understand how many of us feel when people like you bash Enterprise and belittle those who like it.

Enterprise bashers are entitled to their opinion; I don't agree with it, but I welcome it. However, I get tired of hearing the same drek over-and-over about canon or technobabble or props or the look of the ship...or, worse, belitting the people who do like the show.

If you can't take it, don't dish it out.

[AslanC]

Originally posted by Lancer
C5: Humor is a rather difficult subject to explain, as The Original Series never had any humorous episodes.

Trouble With Tribbles
I Mudd
Mudd's Women

Am I missing any?