From: rhballan@eos.ncsu.edu (ROBERT HAMI BALLANTINE)
Subject: Re: "Lay off Worf!" (MOTP Spoliers)
Organization: North Carolina State University, Project Eos
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1992 19:48:47 GMT

In article <Bw4JMu.tv@acsu.buffalo.edu> v070p6nd@ubvmsd.cc.buffalo.edu (Anthos) writes:
>In article <jgasaway-141092102901@mac20-199.ncsa.uiuc.edu>, jgasaway@ncsa.uiuc.edu (James Gasaway) writes...
>>In article <BvzJ2J.Lsr@acsu.buffalo.edu>, v070p6nd@ubvmsd.cc.buffalo.edu
>>(Anthos) wrote:
>> 
>>(stuff deleted)
>> 
>>> In article <jgasaway-111092142156@mac20-199.ncsa.uiuc.edu>, jgasaway@ncsa.uiuc.edu (James Gasaway) writes...
>> 
>> 
>>> >I can't let Worf off the hook that easily (as I stated in an earlier post).
>>> > Granted, he reacted correctly once the guards "got" him.  But to suggest
>>> >there was no way he could've anticipated someone coming up behind him is
>>> >IMHO ridiculous.  Worf is responsible for Picard's safety.  It's his *job*
>>> >to anticipate -- to put himself in a position where he can act most
>>> >efficiently.  Obviously, he can't be ready for *everything*, but he most
>>> >definitely should know who's around him when he knows he's in a potentially
>>> >hostile situation.  Hey Worf!  How about putting your back to the wall? 
>>> >I'll say it again -- Give Worf remedial training.
>> 
>>> But, if you assume that he saw the guards, or just even noticed them, he did
>>> exactly what he should have.  Ignore them, they won't fire on them because
>>> they have no reason to, and they won't since Picard wouldn't make the
>>> situation so bad that they would.  Remember, Picard had to ask permission to
>>> be beamed down, since there was a defensive shield over the city, so hostilities
>>> were not to be expected, and the situation didn't warrant any other action.
>>> 
>>> If you feel otherwise, explain to me what you thought Worf should have done,
>>> and I'll explain why it wasn't done.
>> 
>>Picard was ready to take whats-his-face the diplomat *against his will*. 
>>Picard was initiating a *hostile* action and Worf knew it that in advance. 
>>Therefore, Worf *should've* anticipated hostile resistance and should've
>>been prepared!  Worf (supposedly being a competent security chief) would've
>>known the architectural layout of the beamdown area and should've figured
>>out potential strong and weak points for his and Picard's positions. 
>>That's his job!!!!  Even if Picard moves around, Worf should continue to
>>analyze his best spots for protection.  *He failed* and that's my point. 
>>Worf could've prevented the situation in the first place had he done his
>>job and thought, "Gee, I can protect Picard and myself best by standing
>>over here!"
>> 
>>Even if Worf didn't *expect* hostilities, he failed because he should
>>*always* expect hostilities while he's protecting Picard.  How else can he
>>continually analyze threat potentials and consider effective responses? 
>>Look at how his character is portrayed!  He sees threat in every ship the
>>Enterprise encounters!
>> 
>>James 
>>jgasaway@ncsa.uiuc.edu
>>Univ of Illinois @ Urbana/Champaign
>
>Since you assume that since the guards (the only two people with phasers that
>were not from the Big E) were there, that Worf was helpless (yes I'm trying to
>look at it from your POV).  Yes the phasers were aimed at WORF, but none were
>aimed at Picard.  You must then assume that Worf couldn't incapacitate the two
>guards.  I, though, will not make that assumption since I do assume that Worf
>was trained in how to deal with such a situation.  If Picard actually tried
>to take the ambassador and Picard was injured, THEN I would say that Worf didn't
>do his job.  Picard tried to intimidate, and failed.  Worf was intimidating,
>that is why the guards were pointing the phasers at him.  I call that protecting
>Picard by DRAWING POTENTIAL FIRE AWAY FROM PICARD, what any Security Officer 
>should do.  They would have had to kill Worf first, and don't assume that they
>would have been able.  Their position in the room was horrible since Worf was
>standing there (almost like Worf placed himself in the most strategic position,
>hmmm?)
>
I agree. Worf could have easily stuck out his arms and ripped off the
guards' heads.  If he had, he would have provoked an incident of which 
the federation would have been held responsible.  He was doing his job
by protecting the captain.  If the guards had turned hostile, Worf would
have unleashed his Klingon instincts , rendering the guards headless.
Thats probably what he wanted to do.  Did you see the look he gave Picard?
It was a "please let me kill them" look.  This was not originally my opinion
but after further thought,  I tend to think Worf did ok.  Not to say he hasn't
botched up other assignments.  I don't think Worf is used enough in dialogue.
He is usually seen with a "kill them, kill them now" attitude. Well, thats
my opinion. I guess I'll shut-up now.
Anthos, the Grey Knight, High Preist of Minikar, God of Chaos, Horrible Puns,
>                                                  and Extremely Bad Form
>================================================================================
>Across time and space/ The grey knight cometh/ With dragons to rape/
>Madiens to slay/ Castles to sack/ Towns to pillage/ Quarterbacks to plunder
>
>Oh, how I am confused!
>===========I wish this was a .sig so I wouldn't have to type all this===========


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