From: wolfone@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu (Patrick Chester)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.startrek.current
Subject: Re: Stupid Ferengi? (was: Re: "Rascals" Really Really Sucked!!!)
Date: 12 Nov 92 11:33:33 GMT
Organization: The University of Texas at Austin, Austin TX

In article <1dmev9INNhj3@gap.caltech.edu> thogek@cco.caltech.edu (Thomas G. Kiefer) writes:
]Some minor "Rascals" spoilers lie below...

]
]In article <Bx980L.J85@mentor.cc.purdue.edu> myempire@mentor.cc.purdue.edu (Matt J. Martin) writes:
]>  I'm not at all comfortable with the idea of the ST writers simply creating
]>a sentient species that can be viewed as consistently inferior.  Sure they
]>may be trying to make a point about immaturity of humanity, but they 
]>betray their own prediliction toward racism in the process.
]
]Unfortunately, this is the kind of reasoning that makes writers everywhere
]PC-happy.  (That's "Politically Correct", if anyone wasn't sure. :)  Isn't
]is POSSIBLE that there is a humanoid (aren't they all humanoid?) race out
]there with a LOWER (on average?) intellignce level than humans?  Why not?
]And what would happen if this race became aware of all the spacefaring
]races out there, wanted to become one of them NOW (impatient, not wanting
]to appear stupid or inferior, and not wanting to wait to develop and/or
]figure it out themselves), and happened to stumble across, inherit, or
]chance to buy or steal the technology required to do it?  Then, once out
]there, they MIGHT greedily vy for as much power and position as they can
]get among the races, possibly over-trying to compensate for their innately
]inferior intelligence.

Ever hear of the Pakled? They are not too bright, but smart enough to use
that to trick others into helping them so they can steal their technology.
 
]>  To me it seems inconsistent that the Feregi could have a very sophisticated
]>and reliable technological development (all their ships look the same) and
]>still be so revoltingly stupid.
]
]But they are greedy, and somewhat resourceful (cunning?).  If they can't
]make the stuff, they can find out where to get it.  Maybe they got
](inherited?) a bunch of ships from one race/organization/garage-sale,
]and so most of their ships look similar.

I'd say that the Ferengi's greed may cloud their thinking sometimes. Not to 
mention their arrogance when they succeed can be a block to their thinking
at certain times. Know any Hu-mans that have that problem? In short, Ferengi
are intelligent enough to build starships, etc. but they get overconfident
at times. Their system of social advancement may allow those good at scheming
to get to the top while those who are more technically inclined remain a
needed underclass, hence how Riker was able to completely confuse his guard.
Of course that Ferengi may have simply been unfamiliar w/Fed computer tech.
This is all speculation of course so I don't know. 

]
]>                                 And the writers seem not to care for
]>differentiating social stupidity from technical stupidity.  Not only are the
]>greedy and obnoxious, but they can't even realize it when Rikers bullshits
]>them about the computer.

As I said above, that particular Ferengi may not have been very familiar
w/computers.

]>                  I'm not at all impressed with the writers of ST when they
]>dabble in this kind of social irresponsibility.  They have completely 
                         ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Right. Hide behind that little PC phrase so everyone will goosestep to your
ideology. Political Correct Thought: Liberal McCarthyism with inspirations
from the Inquisition and Salem Witch Trials. I have adapted to your attacks.
Flaming is useless. I will not be assimilated by you.

]>disregarded everything that makes ST unique in the world of commercial 
]>entertainment.  For shame!!
]
]From my point of view, what they're *ignoring* (this case, anyway--not
]always) is PC-cries like this, which have taken much from the variety
]and realism from TV and movies today.  That, unfortunately, does
]sometimes make them unique.

Next they'll be asking us to restrict thoughts.



-- 
Patrick Chester            |----------------------------------------------------
wolfone@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu |"The earth is too fragile a basket in which to keep
Politically Incorrect      |  all your eggs." Robert A. Heinlein
Future Lunar Colonist      |"The meek shall inherit the Earth. The rest of us
#^%$!! Militarist          |  are going to the stars." Anonymous
(Of the Sun Tzu mentality) |----------------------------------------------------
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