From: ccoprdj@prism.gatech.EDU (Jorge Diaz)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.startrek.current
Subject: Re: SPOILEReview: "The First Duty"
Date: 8 Apr 92 18:49:38 GMT
Article-I.D.: hydra.53958
Organization: Georgia Institute of Technology

In article <338.29E28C90@gisatl.fidonet.org> deitch@gisatl.fidonet.org (David Deitch) writes:

>     Actually, I found it out of character.  As a former member of the 
>Enterprise crew, I wouldn't have guessed Wes being the kind who needs to be 
>part of the best flight team, nor would I have placed piloting as his main 
>interest.  Remember, he is supposed to become such a great propulsion 
>phsysicist.  And then for someone who has seen as much as Wes, who has seen 
>how real leaders act, to become so easily beguiled and controlled by no more 
>than a ranking cadet, it was a character disappointment for me.

OK, I haven't seen the episode yet, but it's pretty hard to avoid all the
articles about it (even though you have all been putting Spoiler Warnings, 
and ^L's which I appreciate :).

Now, about him 'being part of the best flight team'.  That's normal for anyone
(almost).  Most people want to be good at the things they do.  It's a normal
human trait.  I don't think it's out of character at all for Wesley, because
his character is a human, and that's how humans act.

Piloting being his main interest?  Wasn't he navigator on the Enterprise
once he was made acting Ensign?  I would think that that would help to
develop some interest in piloting.

Now as far as 'being so easily beguiled and controlled by no more than a
mere ranking cadet.'  First, I haven't seen the episode, but from what
people have said, this cadet seems to be the kind of person who gets people
to do what he wants.  It's called charisma.  Some people got it, some don't.
If this guy has it, then he could convince pretty much anyone to do what
he wants (I've met people like this - it's pretty scary the way they can
manipulate people).

Second, you have to remember that for all his experience on board the
Enterprise, for all his conversations with Picard-the-all-knowing, for
all his genius,

           Wesley is still a boy.

Right?

           Wesley is still a boy.

This makes a *huge* impact on how he acts.  And, BTW, did I mention that

           Wesley is still a boy?

What do boys want (and girls too)?  They want to fit in.  They want to have
friends.  They want to be respected.  Especially those that are very smart
and never seemed to 'fit in' with the kids their age.  Now Wesley is in the
Academy, and the thing he really wants is to have friends who he can
talk to, and have fun with, and just basically 'hang around' with.  And
he's afraid that if he says 'no' on this, that he's going to be called a
wimp, and be ridiculed, and that's the last thing anyone wants to happen to
them (try to remember your first year at college :).


On a different note:

   I'm sorry, but I just don't see the comparison people are making between
this cadet and Kirk.

Kirk reprogrammed the simulation.  *However*, he did this after having taken
the test several times.  The test had already served it's purpose - they
had all the info on his 'character' that they needed ('It's a test of
character, there is no right solution' - Kirk).  He did it more as a 'I'll show
*you* it can be done' thing than anything else.  He didn't hurt anyone,
and he sure as hell wasn't risking anyone's life.

Now, Cadet Bozo decides he wants to do this manuever.  Why?  To go out in
style.  To make an impression.  Just like Kirk.

HOWEVER, he risked all their lives, one person even got killed.  This wasn't
a 'harmless prank' like Kirk's reprogramming.  The last time it had been
tried (what, 100 years before?), everyone had been killed and the manuever
had been outlawed.

I don't understand how people can say the two are the same thing....


-- 
Jorge Diaz                       | If winning is not important, then Commander,
Georgia Institute of Technology  |    why keep score?
Office of Information Technology | 
ccoprdj@prism.gatech.edu         |                     - Worf -