From: goodwin@orionsci (Ben Goodwin)
Subject: Re: Lacarno = Kirk (Spoilers "1st Duty)
Reply-To: goodwin@orionsci.UUCP (Ben Goodwin)
Organization: Orion Scientific, Inc.
Date: Wed, 08 Apr 1992 13:21:41 GMT

In article <1992Apr7.215631.13407@acsu.buffalo.edu> v075q5fr@ubvmsb.cc.buffalo.edu (Scott J Gorcey) writes:
>Pieces of the Discussion:
>
>
>
>     Remember please: Kirk was 34 years old and a seasoned starship captain
>     during "Amok Time" (TOS season 2).  Locarno was a 21 year old CADET.
>     Big difference.
>
>     How can you say Kirk was ready to face the music in ST III?  He hid
>     out on Vulcan for THREE MONTHS while he was tried in absentia -- he
>     didn't have the balls to go to Earth and face his accusors head on. 

That's not what I thought happened.  Was he hiding or waiting for Spock
to recover?  Where did it state that he hid because he was afraid to face
the music?  And why did he finally come home if he was hiding out?  I
disagree with your assumption.

>
>
>>>What about the Kobayashi Maru scenario that he reprogrammed in the academy?
>>>As Picard pointed out, if Locarno had actually been successful, he would
>>>have thrilled the audience and become a living legend at the academy.
>>>
>>>Kirk couldn't deal with the no-win scenario at that time and neither could
>>>Locarno.
>
>     Agreed.
>
>>Um, what are you talking about?  Kirk reprogrammed the computer to let
>>him win, but he didn't expect to get away with it.  He was just angry
>>and decided that he was going to show the instructers that he wasn't
>>willing to accept the no-win scenario.  His reprogramming was very
>>clever and I would secretly commend him for it and then make sure nobody
>>ever found out what he had done.
>
>     What makes you think Kirk didn't try to get away with it?  Nowhere
>     are we told he didn't try to get away with it.

He had very little chance of getting away with it.  And IMHO the point
of Kirk's reprogramming was because he refused to accept the No-win
scenario.  He was essentially saying to his instructors "No, you can't
get away with it!"  You have no evidence that he did try to get away
with it and I have none that he didn't.  But he was caught, and since
the writers are on his side, as someone said, how could those nincompoops
catch him?  Answer, simple, he knew he would be caught.

>
>>As for Locarno, you make no sense.  Locarno was a legend in the academy
>>already because he had lead the team to some sort of victory at an
>>air show.  He was unsatisfied and risked the lives of his team mates
>>to get even more glory.  He was on some sort of glory/power trip.
>
>     Evidence for this please.  

Simple, The Squadron had just one some airshow or other that they weren't
expected to win.  It was stated more than once that they were idolized
by the other cadets, veritable Gods at the academy.  Why else would
Locarno try a dangerous outlawed maneuver other than to enhance his
own reputation?

>
>>Your comparison between Kirk's reprogramming the Computer in Kobyashi
>>Maru and Locarno's foolish actions makes no sense. Locarno was not in
>>a no-win scenario.
>
>     Yes he was.  No matter the course he chose for Nova Squadron 
>     following the accident, someone was going to lose.  Either Josh
>     (his memory, his family), himself, the squad, or the squad
>     individually.  What's your definition of a no-win situation?

You're saying that it was a no-win situation.  Locarno put himself in
that situation.  He was attempting a dishonorable course of action.
He suggested that Josh be blamed.  I don't see Kirk getting one of
his people killed and then trying to place the blame on that person's
family.  He would admit his mistake.  Better yet he wouldn't have risked
that boy's life just to enhance his reputation.

Furthermore, I am starting to find this constant Kirk bashing by TNG
advocates annoying.  Locarno had none of the qualities of Kirk IMO
except for some charisma.  He was unfit for command.  He wasn't willing
to take the medicine.  He was willing to let Joshua's family suffer
so that he could continue.  Those who think the "For the Team" bullsh*t
was anything more than a childish psychological ploy are wrong IMO.
It was obvious that he was willing to do anything to keep from paying
for his poor judgement. [preach mode off]

>
>
>          ^Hot Damn, That Pie Was Good!^
>                     Common Phrases Heard at
>                     RR Diner #32.
>
>          ^Scott Gorcey, v075q5fr@ubvmsb.cc.buffalo.edu^


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