From: dcbii@rob.raleigh.ibm.com ()
Subject: Re: Female CO for the E
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 15:41:00 GMT
Organization: IBM, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina


jeffo@uiuc.edu (J.B. Nicholson-Owens) writes:

>If the show is truly in a "death spiral", then what the show is doing  
>is wrong.  Since part of their formula of having non-white-males in  
>positions of seldom-seen power helped put them in what you call a  
                                ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>"death spiral", it makes sense to try something else.  Something like  
>putting women in charge, e.g., as a rational, logical and  
>thought-provoking captain of an often-seen ship.

Oh Please!  We've all heard enough of this sexist/racist nonsense.  If the
show is indeed in a "death spiral", which I don't really believe anyway,
it's because the writing is bad.  Most of us like the current characters, and
even the ones I think the show could lose and survive (e.g. Troi/Riker)
would be OK if they were better used and written for by the show.  You seem
to be implying that YOU cannot tolerate so many white males in positions of
authority.  Sounds like reverse discrimination to me.

To be honest, the reason some of us don't want to see a change is because we
like the characters where they are, and I personally, am used to them.
Admittedly, the black/female admirals and such are used sparely, but that's
because they are not part of the regular cast.  It's not that the viewers have
a problem with non-whites or females in positions of leadership.  If you don't
believe me, take a look at Deep Space Nine.  The commander is black, and the
first officer is female.  The first officer seen in the previews/press kit
looks to be perhaps the most interesting character on the show, though all
of them will probably get a chance to shine.  From what I've seen on this net,
I'll bet that DSN will get a HUGE following (including myself), and once we've
seen the show for several seasons (or maybe even after the first, if the
writing is good enough) we won't want the characters to change here either.

Now your idea about an often-seen female captain or some such is a good one.
But to put that concept in just to please those who say there are not enough
good female/black/etc. characters would be as stupid as quotas.  Actually, it
is very hard to really develop the characters they have how.  Adding other
regulars at this point would just make them that much more shallow.

I have a feeling some of you wouldn't be satisfied unless the show had a
minority dominated universe, or some such.  And now that I think of it, that
would be similar to the current situation in South Africa.  Think about that
for a minute.

Perhaps Deep Space Nine can be a new start, since they will have many more
races (aliens) and things and can deal with things more equally.  Don't
forget that Bajorans, Vulcans, Ferengi, etc. don't count as white.  In fact,
since we don't know the population numbers those races may be either majorities
or minorities in the Federation.  But please, even if there are not the exact
percentages of female/black/etc. characters on the show at exactly the right
times, don't let that ruin your enjoyment of the show.  If you do, YOU are the
one who will be losing out.

Dave Barnhart                    email: 70672.1311@Compuserve.com

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