Star Trek: Why I Hated The Holodeck (An Über-Geek's Reverie)

Riker may have rank but the holodeck would frequently be used for private sexual fantasies, and other entertainment. It would not be surprising if there was some official or unofficial rule about barging in.

Agreed. The holodeck was a nifty piece of work, aside from the obvious problems that Chris pointed out, but the writers began to rely on it far too much. As a plot device it allowed them to have a story (or a story within a story) that could break the rules. It was fiction within fiction that could allow for the exploration of a character without having to create a situation in the "real" world to allow for that exploration. It was used far too frequently though and never explored the most interesting storyline, holodeck hookers. <grin>

Division! Ewww.

((And Quark sure hinted about certain types of holo-programs! :-))

That darn Farengi, always hinting at stuff but never delivering :-)

Barclay was having some fun with Crusher and Troi that one time.

Yeah. "Hollow Pursuits" is the only episode that even remotely touches on the sort of perversions the Holodecks would most certainly be used for. You'd want to air that thing out for an hour or two after I've been in there...

I finally got caught up on DS9 about 8 months or so ago. The only station that carried it locally abruptly stopped carrying it after the 2nd season so I had missed out on almost every episode of the remaining 5 seasons except for the random shows that I managed to catch either at my sister-in-law's house or while spending a night in a hotel.

DS9 was my least favorite series. The Farengi(I have no idea how to spell that) were the only saving grace for me.

The shape-shifter character was so droll and unlikeable, I just couldn't stand him.

The Odo, Quark relationship is a weird one of mutual-dependency. I mean If Odo was this hotshot security that could be anything to spy on Quark, why wasn't he able to put Quark away for good (as he always threatens to do so - but never really succeeds).

My theory is that Odo is getting some shape-shifting action in one of Quarks holosuites, so he keeps up appearance of harassing Quark in public, and Quark like the good Ferengi he is plays along. I am sure that there is a Rules of Acquisition that applies to the perverted relationship between the two.

:-o did I just write that, my inner geek is coming out!!

And when Odo is an object, such as a glass, what does he see and hear with?

Duh. A glass eye. ;-)

Crafty idea, but about the only thing it could do would be to create a lensing effect of some kind...

If memory serves, this is actually covered in the Star Trek The Next Generation Technical Manual and that's precisely how it works. That's a good read, too, if you've got a dominant geek gene which -- let's face it -- everybody in this thread has.

That's a good read, too, if you've got a dominant geek gene which -- let's face it -- everybody in this thread has.

I dunno... I draw the line at reading Star Trek Technical Manuals. Perhaps I don't really fit in here.

Aw, c'mon! You're really trying to tell me that an in-depth analysis on the hydrogen-collecting properties of the Bussard ramjet doesn't get you all hot? Methinks thou doth protest too much.

Nope - but I do think it's cute when guys like to read them. That's why I love the movie Galaxy Quest. The Trekkie-ish character Brandon cracked me up.

To each his-or-her own, I suppose. But that book is really a testament to the obscene amount of effort that went into creating one make-believe spaceship. When you stumble upon something like the exorbitant detailing of algebraic equations and applied physics that govern the consumption of a fuel that doesn't @!$%#ing exist... you can't help but be awed by it. On second thought, I guess this book is really more an examination of the fine line between "nerd" and "neurological disorder".

Yes, I did see the new Andromeda Strain. I found it pretty forgettable.

It seems that a lot of people didn't care for Voyager, but out of all the STs, it's my favorite. I own the entire series and every year or so watch most of the episodes again.

Next in my line up would be Deep Space 9, then Next Generation, then Enterprise.

What a disappointment Enterprise was to me -- everything from that awful pop theme song to Scott Bakula, who to me made a terrible Captain Jonathan Archer! But as I said, I am such an unabashed fan, overall I enjoyed watching the series. I thought Jolene Blalock was the best thing about that series. I liked John Billingsley, too. What did you think of the series?

I'm looking forward to the new movie and hope it's good. Even if it isn't, I'll probably enjoy watching it. :-)

It seems that a lot of people didn't care for Voyager, but out of all the STs, it's my favorite.

I enjoyed it the most, too.

Yeah, Enterprise just kind of petered out for me and I only watched the first season and perhaps part of the next. I enjoyed the female vulcan character. There were a couple of great episodes...

I found that Enterprise actually improved significantly prior to being canceled. It was as if the writers had finally found their groove and were creating good stories then the show got canned. The first 3 seasons floundered but then the ship started slowly turning and it became worthwhile to tune in. Unfortunately, by that point viewers had tuned out. I really think that the fans who insisted on absolute continuity with the established Trek storyline really did Enterprise a disservice. As has famously been said, "It's just a show!" and if the writers wanted to violate canon and could do so in a logical way, I wasn't bothered. Let's face it, the original show went on the air in 1966 and even the novels and movies revised canon.

I found that Enterprise actually improved significantly prior to being canceled. It was as if the writers had finally found their groove and were creating good stories then the show got canned.

Too bad, I guess I should have hung in there...

It seems that a lot of people didn't care for Voyager, but out of all the STs, it's my favorite.

Finally, a few non-haters. While it is not my favorite, I liked it.

Chris, I actually laughed when I read, "and that other one." So, no offense taken.

I, too, thought Enterprise got better as it went on. Maybe if they'd killed off Archer, or transferred him somewhere, I would have liked it even more.

Regarding Voyager's Doctor getting sick, the idea was that they couldn't simply re-boot him because in order to "clean his system out," so to speak, he would have to lose memories and the personality he had developed. I forgot to mention earlier that I loved his character. As we'd say in Spanish he was a "cabrón encantador." (A lovable old goat.)

And, by the way, Janeway has been my favorite ST captain so far and wish they'd include her in an upcoming movie. Different strokes for different folks. :-)

Let's hope a new series is introduced one day, with new characters to love, hate and everything in between.

Ahh, one thing I did not like on Voyager was when they replaced Kes with 7of9. I liked the addition of 7of9, but didn't see why they had to remove Kes. And the episode where Kes returned was not a very good episode.

I guess I've strayed a bit from the Holodek theme. Sorry.

I forgot to mention earlier that I loved his character. As we'd say in Spanish he was a "cabrón encantador." (A lovable old goat.)

I loved the doctor, too. He was quite rude at the beginning, but his personality grew and he became loveable. His interactions with 7of9 were interesting, too. I remember when they sang the "You are my Sunshine" duet.

Also, the them song to Voyager is my favorite theme song form the ST's.

Yeah, but, if they had done that, then it would have been too easy and less dramatic!

I did often have questions in my mind about the Holo-Emitter that allowed the doctor to leave sick bay. (Which, by the way, was a device they found during one of those time travel episodes).

They didn't seem to be able to duplicate it, so there was only one he could use, which caused the doctor (and me!) to panic whenever it was damaged, taken away, etc.

They could practically re-build the whole Voyager while being lost in space (and did!), but they couldn't duplicate (nor even "replicate") that little device.

The poor doctor.

I guess it would of been another case of too easy and less dramatic.

patriciaad, I, too, enjoyed his interaction with 7of9. And the episodes with him singing were some of the best!

Ahhhh. A kindred spirit.

I like Carloz was just a fan of, all the Star Trek's and tended to accept "as is" all the episodes, because it was still better then anything else on. Deep space nine was the least of my favorites, and only watched occasional, but still find the shows on and watch them when I can.

Actually, I didn't like most Holodeck episodes. I think TNG and Voyager relied on the Holodeck too much as a plot device. To some degree it became a crutch for the writers.

(Thanks for not misinterpreting my earlier reply. It wasn't meant to sound argumentative, but seems to sound that way.)

There's a fairly recent cosmology theory that speculates that all of reality might be a holographic projection of some sort. Perhaps Old Bill got it right, we are actors on our own holodeck!

I'm a fan of involution, there are a number of things which could be, but our human experience still designates how that would be perceived.

In 11001001, Riker returns to the holodeck after the Binars have left and removed their "magic" programming. Riker hopes to resume with Minuet, of course, but he finds exactly the lifeless automaton you describe.

Yes, he had sobered up. The magic was gone.

Too true, d/0. Today, if it's not politics or religion, you might as well not even post it. Not like anybody is going to read it. At least, that's the way it seems to me.

Don't get me wrong, I know there's still a few of us out there that don't care about the politics, but that's all most are after anymore.