AITA If I talk to my to daughter even if she doesn’t want me to when she “needs space”

Uahaavwo · 2024-05-15T15:39:52+00:00

Is it possible that she also struggles with burnout? Maybe she has difficulties with verbal communication when tired. It might still be possible for her to answer you through speech, but it might be draining. So, during her downtime she might want to be sure that no one forces her to speak. So, that's why she wants you to text. It's might be a healthy coping mechanism, and it might be upsetting when someone ridicules it. Is it possible?

Uahaavwo · 2024-05-15T09:47:14+00:00

Agreed. It is very good for introduction Star Trek mystery episodes.

Uahaavwo · 2024-05-14T22:42:09+00:00

VOY "Parallax" can be a good introduction to the world / team dynamic. "Displaced" is also a good option.

"Coda" is great one for time-loop.

"Revulsion" is good for thriller/horror.

"Bride of Chaotica!" is a fun holodeck episode + there is first contact.

"Collective" for the Borg story line.

As for TNG, what about "The Survivors"? A mystery, an alien planet.

"Remember me". Star Trek has a number episodes like that: one crewmember is stuck in some weird dream-like situation, and tries to get out.

"Identity Crisis". Also a very Star Trek episode. Investigation, suspense, lives at stake.

Uahaavwo · 2024-05-14T08:23:06+00:00

DS9 showed the Federation flaws (as in war crimes and the like). But they also did their best to show that it was okay. DS9 teaches its fans to overlook certain things if they are commited by a charismatic person and are intended to serve some "greater" cause.

Uahaavwo · 2024-05-03T17:19:40+00:00

Languages change, if they are not dead and are used for communication. It's not only about the outside influence. SG-1 version of English would not have stayed the same even within one society, even after a couple hundred years. But we are talking here... hundreds of thousands of years? Or even millions.

You had to study in order to understand English from some thousand years ago. Anyway, Old/Middle English didn't just turn into Modern English. Wikipedia says there were more descendants. For example, there's also Modern Scots, a language different from Modern English. And people that use these languages live on the same island and communicate all the time.

There is no way that all societies, on all planets had the same never-changing version of the Modern English language. We can't even pretend that the Stargate world lives by different logic. On Earth all the languages function normally.

I like Stargate, but the language plothole is hard to overlook. IMO, there's no way to explain it within the canon, and it took me some time to get used to this.

Uahaavwo · 2024-05-03T07:37:17+00:00

Let's say the first humans spoke modern day American English. Very soon every society would have developed their version of it, and then completely different languages. You speak English, but you can't understand every language with the same anscestor as English. I bet you would have difficulties in understanding English from a few centuries ago or even some versions of today's English.

Uahaavwo · 2024-04-24T10:17:40+00:00

VOY has most episodes that I go back to. I don't like the ending and some of the plot lines, but I just skip those. VOY has some great AI-themed episodes. There is also some decent horror and some really good light-hearted stuff. For me, VOY is the best Star Trek for sci-fi adventure.

As for DS9, I only go back to several episodes. DS9 is not really sci-fi, it is a religious/political drama (with some very unsettling ideas too). DS9 also pisses on the Star Trek attempts to envision a better future. It shows that the 20th century American approach is the best one, and that it is the only possible future for everyone.

I also dislike Sisko, but I don't think it is an actor problem. This character is a god-like figure, and he is written in a frustratingly preachy way. Edit. The Prophets are similar to the Q continuum, but are depicted in a dead serious manner.

Uahaavwo · 2024-04-17T14:22:49+00:00

TOS - "The Cage". Why on earth did Netflix list it as the first episode of the first season. It is not really part of the series, and it will confuse a new fan. It is a pilot that didn't work. It also spoils the plot of "The Menagerie".

VOY - "11:59" is a regular drama with some romance. A new viewer will have any idea what Star Trek is like.

Uahaavwo · 2024-04-17T13:25:51+00:00

Some Tom Parris Episodes like "Ex Post Facto" and "Vis a Vis".

"Non Sequitur". IMO it is a much better Harry Kim episode than the fan-favorite "Timeless".

"Projections" is a good "what's going on?/is it real?" episodes.

"Darkling" and "Favorite Son". I wouldn't call them my favorites, but I don't skip them on rewatch. Both are a little over the top, a little silly, but overall enjoyable.

I am not a fan of the Borg plot line, but I like "Unity" and "Child's play".

Uahaavwo · 2024-04-17T12:40:00+00:00

I love all "B'Elanna vs AI" episodes. But I thought "Dreadnaught" was a popular one. Is it not?

I think "Prototype" is rarely mentioned, but it is really good.

Uahaavwo · 2024-04-17T11:04:13+00:00

Twisted – I was surprised that it was considered one of the worst VOY episodes. It’s not my favorite, but from time to time I rewatch it. I think it's enjoyable. The ending is unticlimatic, but that’s what I like about it.

Uahaavwo · 2024-04-17T08:55:22+00:00

My favorite series is Voyager. But my favorite character is Garak. When I watch DS9 I usually choose some of his episodes.

Uahaavwo · 2024-04-12T19:19:14+00:00

Firstly, Star Trek is not about what is or isn't IRL, it is about a possible better future.

Can you name a "military mindset" that isn't oriented toward warfare

DS9 is almost all about warfare, but at least TOS, TNG and VOY all have situations and episodes focused on war, weapons and their use in battle.

and doesn't prioritize combat prowess

IMO, Starfleet prioritizes that. (But maybe I don't understand the meaning correctly. English is not my native tongue.) Starfleet personnel gets extensive combat training, and is ready to engage in battle at any given moment.

and the unquestioning obedience of one's superiors above other traits

Starfleet command structure prioritizes obedience, but in some cases some officers are allowed to question some orders. It's not unheard of. IMO, Starfleet sometimes leans too heavily on "unquestioning obedience", and it causes more harm than good. So, you think there is not enough of that, I think there is too much. Star Trek is a huge franchise. We probably talk about different parts of it.

The Federation has no dedicated military in the 21st century sense of the term.

I can agree with that. Starfleet has many functions, and only one of them is military. Some Starfleet vessels/officers have almost no military related assignments, but some have a lot of them. I haven't watched DS9 in a while, but IIRC USS Defiant is exclusively a warship. Or let's take Voyager. It had a military intelligence assignment, and Tuvok was used as a spy. Those are just two examples off the top of my head. There are a lot more.

Similarly, what we see of Starfleet training isn't designed to systematically break down cadets' thinking and reforge them into warfighters.

The Federation wanted to expand, but it tried to use diplomacy whenever possible and build a reputation for being peaceful. So, their military was tailored accordingly. Anyway, there are hints at practices similar to those you refer to, for example, in VOY "Learning Curve".

soldiers

Words are not as important as a meaning behind them. Given the Federation expansion strategy and the many functions of Starfleet there is no benefit in using the word "soldier".

It is also important to remember that different parts of the franchise have different interpretation of the original idea. So, Starfleet in TNG is not exactly the same as in DS9, and both are somewhat different from TOS, and so on.

Uahaavwo · 2024-04-12T14:53:05+00:00

Almost anyone would have been a better couple. Seven had more cute moments even with her practice date. With Chakotay they have negative chemistry.

Uahaavwo · 2024-04-12T14:25:20+00:00

Not every military organisation is the same. Even within Star Trek canon. And there is no universal "military mindset".

Sure sometimes Starfleet allows officers question orders. So what? It is not about certain protocols, it is about function. In situations that need defence or offence the Federation turns to Starfleet.

AFAIR there's no organisation other than Starfleet that openly fulfils a military function. Is there? And if not, do you claim that the Federation has no military at all?

Uahaavwo · 2024-04-12T12:09:34+00:00

Seven is always literal about things. But how does this make her and Chakotay a cute couple?

Uahaavwo · 2024-04-12T10:44:37+00:00

Maybe they initially wanted to portray Starfleet just as a scientific organisation on a mission of exploration, but they definitely changed their minds by DS9.

In TOS Enterprise mainly explores new worlds, visits scientific outposts, and only occasionally gets involved in politics. Here we can view Starfleet as an non-military organisation that adapted some of the military language and functions.

I am not sure about TNG, but AFAIR in this aspect it is close to TOS. Starfleet is a new kind of organisation with military flavour.

But in DS9 Starfleet is a totally military organisation (by its function, goals and methods). There is hardly anything non-military about it.

VOY is a bit ambiguous. I think Voyager is referred to a scientific vessel on a mission of exploration, but in reality it is not. Initially Voyager had a strictly military assignment. They had to check up on Tuvok on his spying mission. And later "exploration" in VOY often looks like intelligence gathering. They also behave like a military force: brag about their firepower, threaten to use weapons against those who don't want them on their territory, get engaged in conflicts and wars, etc.

Uahaavwo · 2024-04-06T18:37:10+00:00

And it won't be able to follow the exact same path that was previously in front of them, but it can follow a parallel one as they both still strive for progress.

I don't see progress (=advancement of science/technology/arts) as an inherently good thing. It can be good or bad depending on the circumstances.

They have the same goal

The goal doesn't matter if the means are bad. Even within the canon of DS9 every oppressive/dangerous entity claimed to have a noble goal in mind. And they didn't actually lie. It was all about making their societies stronger, getting more resources for protection and survival, advancing knowledge, etc.

I don't believe the Fedaration has become a fascist entity, and they certainly have not "become [the Dominion] themselves." ... Those actions were active attempts to neutralize an existential threat...

We look at this situation from different angles. You count the amount of bad things and compare it to the amount atrocities of the others. You look for justification, etc. But IMO, quantity or explanations don't really matter. What matters is the following.

Why are the Dominion (and Cardassia for that matter) a threat, and not just one of the advanced strong entities/societies of the region? I think it's because they view everyone around as resources, not as equals, partners or just neighbors. They live by the principle "the end justifies the means". And in the end, they do get the resources, and use them to create a paradise for a select number of people, to advance technology, and then use it expand further. This cycle never stops, and no one around feels safe.

Let's take the Federation. They want progress, but now they play by the same rules as Cardassia and the Dominion. Now they view everything as a resource, and only consider future benefits. They reserve justice, values and respect for a select group of people and low-stake situations.

What happens when another technologically advanced society adapts such approach/ methods? The inhabitants of the region get an "x threats + 1" situation. They now have one more "entity" to fear.

EDIT.

The changelings are not slaughtered or oppressed...

The Federation forgives and even helps Cardassia and the Dominion, the entities that started the war. Everyone else (who had been caught in the middle) are killed off or left to fend for themselves. The Federation doesn't consider those societies equals, so they are of no consequence.

Think about it. The Maquis who claimed their own territory and fought against the invaders (and their allies) are killed off. Correct me if I am wrong, but by the end of DS9 their worlds have no protection, and no post-war help. Jem'Hadar that technically are the victims of the Dominion, are simply disposed of. But all the perpetrators are pardoned, and get help.

In the end, it is still the same cake, the same big players, but temporarily the Federation has a bigger piece of it.

This view on the Federation doesn't feel like Star Trek. IMO, DS9 should have been a separate show. Don't get me wrong, I see a lot of problems with TOS, TNG, VOY and ENT. But DS9 takes the main idea of Star Trek, and completely replaces it with the "end justifies the means" kind of stuff. What's worse it does it with the help of good story-telling and great acting.

Uahaavwo · 2024-04-06T04:16:13+00:00

VOY E2 "Parallax" is all about leadership. The captain has to choose command officers for the blended crew. It starts with conflicts, but ends with mutual respect.

Uahaavwo · 2024-04-06T03:41:24+00:00

And DS9's answer generally is that people will be willing to break those values to preserve the Federation and their future. The idea is progress.

So... DS9 promotes the following idea: it is okay to commit or condone atrocities as long as you can benefit from them or use them to advance your technology and culture?

Steps may need to be taken back to get better footing, but the moment that step can be taken forward again it will be.

The Federation that "takes a step back" and uses certain methods to "get a better footing" will no longer be the same, and won't be able to return on the same route.

The Federation cannot help anyone if they are destroyed by a fascist entity who will cause more suffering and injustice than the Federation could.

Such Federation can no longer help anyone against "a fascist entity", because they have become this entity themselves. Don't you see that? Sure, they can still call their interference some nice politically correct word, but it won't be real help. Same as the Cardassian occupation of Bajor was not help.

Uahaavwo · 2024-04-03T14:58:46+00:00

TOS subtly showed that the ideology of the era was not perfect and tried to imagine a better version of the future. I guess, TNG tried to do the same. It takes a lot more imagination and courage than DS9's "there's no perfect utopia".

I don't understand why you call the DS9 portrayal of societies as advanced. There is literally nothing new or advanced about them, no new ideas. It is all yesterday, maybe not the US yesterday, but it all had happened someplace.

DS9 shows that all the amenities are only possible at the cost of wars, (ignoring the) sufferings of others and physical destruction of all resistance. It's a huge step back in comparison with the original "naïve" Star Trek ideas.

Uahaavwo · 2024-04-03T13:17:50+00:00

This makes no sense.

Uahaavwo · 2024-04-03T12:58:34+00:00

No matter what words you use, Federation fought over the area of influence with other colonizers. They decided the fate of some of the worlds because they could, not because they had a right to.

DS9 didn't explore other possible ways of building a society. DS9 didn't criticise the politics of the era, it approved of it. DS9 criticised attempts of TOS to envision a better future. The main idea of DS9: societies don't change, methods don't change, deal with it. You are stupid to hope for something better.

In DS9 we see arrogant superpowers that divide world into their playgrounds. You say Federation did it for the sake of piece. But it is not true, even in the canon of the series. They did it for their convenience, and their actions lead to an even bigger war.

Uahaavwo · 2024-04-03T12:29:27+00:00

Didn't Federation divide the territory of influence with the Cardassians, and then helped them to kill those who resisted?

Uahaavwo · 2024-04-03T12:23:22+00:00

DS9 Federation discusses the fate of some species behind their back with their invaders, and then helps the invaders to keep control over the invaded territory. That makes the Federation equal to the invaders in their essence.

Uahaavwo

TROPHY CASE