Discuss Star Trek: The Next Generation
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Riker seduces an alpha female. (Or was it the other way around?)
When watching this show I reminisced about, of all things, Tarzan and the Ant Men. This pulp novel, one that I read in my 8th grad English class when I should have been paying attention a lecture on transitive and intransitive verbs or something, involved a female dominated society. Amazon type women hunted down males and forced their captors to mate. Tarzan, of course, not only dominated the top woman but convinced the males to do to the same, and restoring proper gender dynamics. (Then he was captured by the titular Ant men, but that was a different story.) These pulp novels were written by a male for males and were often shamelessly misogynist. Readers very likely consisted of beta males with fantasies of being just like Tarzan.
It was hard to know what to make of Angel One. It seemed to be trying to promote gender equality by inverting the familiar dynamic so that perhaps male viewers would see how ridiculous it is to treat women like objects, subjecting them to mansplaining, disregarding their opinions as coming from an inferior source etc.
It was problematic, though. Mistress Beata, the top dog in the matriarchal society, is surrounded by long haired, subservient, pretty boys. But they bore her. It takes a real man, with hair on his chest and oozing with self confidence, to convince her to think about maybe changing the way she thinks. (Riker is no Kirk. Kirk would have her begging to join him on the Enterprise before he kicks her to the curb and says "I'll call you when you become more civilized.")
Another high ranking female seems bored of this dominant mistress role and sneaks off to mate with an alpha male from another planet. This makes her happier.
So the message seems to be that gender equality is good, but it will take some real men to make it happen.
I should probably think about this a little more. Instead, I'll likely move on to the next one.
Reply by sukhisoo
on February 22, 2018 at 4:48 PM
And, oh yeah, a snowball left the holodeck and didn't immediately blink out of existence.
It may have even been the cause of a virus which infected the entire ship.
I'm thinking maybe they should just close down the holodeck. It seems to cause a lot of problems.
Reply by Moonglum9
on February 23, 2018 at 7:03 AM
As Dixon Hill would say "You ain't seen nothin' yet, sweetheart!"
Reply by revengine
on February 24, 2018 at 4:40 PM
That's the better idea.
Reply by revengine
on February 24, 2018 at 4:47 PM
I remember some speculation being made about this on the imdb boards. Someone made the argument that since the holodeck is able to replicate some objects/matter rather than simulate it (e.g. food) it is possible the snow was replicated rather than just a simulation.
Reply by Knixon
on February 24, 2018 at 9:48 PM
But presumably the snow would still just disappear when they say "End Program." That seems less likely if it's replicated.
Reply by revengine
on February 25, 2018 at 8:32 PM
Possible. But I recall an episode where Keiko and Miles are discussing his lack of enthusiasm for putting his dirty laundry in the clothing recycler (I'm paraphrasing) which as far as I can figure means a replicator working in reverse - converting matter back into energy. There's also an episode of Voyager Year From Hell iirc where Chakota gives Janeway a pocket watch he got from his replicator rations. She refuses the gift and orders him to recycle it, presumably using the replicator in reverse much like O'Brien and his stinky socks. So, I'm guessing the holodeck could reabsorb replicated snow, just like if you were on the holodeck having a meal, it would reabsorb any left overs. You wouldn't want bits of half consumed food dropping onto the holodeck floor when the program ended.
Reply by Knixon
on February 26, 2018 at 1:22 AM
Okay, but if that's the case, then it wouldn't have prevented spread of disease. They must have already had the contaminated/infected/whatever snowball(s) out of the holodeck before ending the program, if they still existed.
And how - and WHY - would the holodeck replicate infected snow, anyway?
Reply by revengine
on February 27, 2018 at 3:15 AM
TBH it's been a while since I've seen this episode so I'm a bit hazy on the details. I'm not even sure if the snow was infected or, if like real snow, the cold effect of it lowered immune response and allowed an already present infectious element to take hold. I remember Picard or the Dr. discussing a flowery smell which they thought was part of the infection's method of spreading itself around - the pleasant smell enticed the person to inhale deeply. Not even sure if this is part of the episode, could be from a different one.
Reply by Knixon
on February 27, 2018 at 1:24 PM
But it was just a couple snowballs, that wouldn't make people overall cold to lower their resistance. It was referenced that the snowballs were carriers though, somehow, which would mean the holodeck created/replicated the disease. wtf? No "biofilters" I guess. But if it was CREATED, why?
Reply by revengine
on February 27, 2018 at 10:44 PM
Yeah but Wesley was on the holodeck playing in the snow so it was probably him who was originally infected and passed it around as his immune system would have been compromised by the cold. I should probably just watch the episode rather than try to guess at what was happening from a failing memory, I just can't bring myself to watch a season one episode of TNG.
Reply by Knixon
on February 27, 2018 at 10:52 PM
As I recall, the comments about "aroma" were made regarding the snow/snowballs. Not sure why that would even be an issue if it was transmitted from person to person.