Yes, that is how it works on Star Trek. My question is if it’s a realistic way to run a space fleet, or even if it’s in-universe consistent. Seems like random events happen all the time and you always want to be prepared.
It seems the makers of Star Trek wanted to have a comfortable middle class academic life for its characters, but also the adventure of TOS. There was always a weird tension there. I only resolved it by creating a head cannon where planetary life is so existentially vaccuous, that people would rather risk their lives and the lives of their children on a space ship than live safer lives on the ground.
Keep in mind also that we only see little snippets of time portrayed in the show. Even individual episodes can have gaps of days or weeks between scenes! The show wouldn’t be very exciting if every other episode was just them lazily cruising to their next mission and filling out crew reports or whatever.
Edit: Yeah, I could see planetary life being pretty unfulfilling. Like… what are you gonna figure out that hasn’t already been figured out? Gotta go out into the great unknown to solve a new mystery.
Instead of money, people look to accomplishments for social status and distraction.
That’s basically canon, established in the uhh season 1 finale I think it was? They unfreeze some people from the 21st century and the one rich guy is questioning what the point of it all is if money isn’t around anymore.
Captain Jean-Luc Picard: This is the 24th century. Material needs no longer exist.
Ralph Offenhouse: Then what’s the challenge?
Captain Jean-Luc Picard: The challenge, Mr. Offenhouse, is to improve yourself. To enrich yourself. Enjoy it.
Yes, though I remember the Futurama episode more clearly. My only regret… is… that I have… boneitis.
But I guess this why I find TNG sort of spiritually hollow for me. It reflected all the attainment-striving of imbued to the 1990s by capitalism but sans the capitalism. Like I think underneath it might be an anxiety, “if nobody works, does it mean people will be lazy? No! Instead they will WORK HARD at being the BEST THEY CAN BE but in the most 1990’s liberal arts way possible.” How different is getting into Star Fleet and getting a commission on a starship really that different than getting into an elite university and getting a job with a major company? TNG-era trek is the same existential treadmill but with a slightly different carrot.
Not quite sure I understand your point but the shows focus on the overarchievers. The average joe has way less exciting goals. For example Siskos dad just ran a small restaurant
Not sure I understand your point. TNG sells continual self-improvement and is constantly showing us continuual self improvement on the part of the crew; and your argument is that I should ignore it because a main character’s dad in a different series striving for greater realism runs a restaurant?
But, honestly, do we really know much at all about Federation culture? We only have a little snippets, often the main purpose of which is as background to a character in Star Fleet.
But, yes, TNG is definitely the try-hardest of the utopias. It’s been a while since I’ve seen it, but I remember if we ran into a civilian, they were likely to be doing something highly technical with their careers.
Star Fleet especially, has been very competitive, though I kind have trouble seeing James Tiberius making it through Starfleet Academy in the TNG-era.
I can’t speak for everyone but if there was no capitalism and I needed for nothing I would seriously just go door to door asking folks if they had any computer/tech problems I could take a look at for them. Can you imagine how absolutely insane O’Brien would go if he had no problems to fix?
Yes, that is how it works on Star Trek. My question is if it’s a realistic way to run a space fleet, or even if it’s in-universe consistent. Seems like random events happen all the time and you always want to be prepared.
It seems the makers of Star Trek wanted to have a comfortable middle class academic life for its characters, but also the adventure of TOS. There was always a weird tension there. I only resolved it by creating a head cannon where planetary life is so existentially vaccuous, that people would rather risk their lives and the lives of their children on a space ship than live safer lives on the ground.
I mean… https://listofdeaths.fandom.com/wiki/Star_Trek:_The_Next_Generation
Keep in mind also that we only see little snippets of time portrayed in the show. Even individual episodes can have gaps of days or weeks between scenes! The show wouldn’t be very exciting if every other episode was just them lazily cruising to their next mission and filling out crew reports or whatever.
Edit: Yeah, I could see planetary life being pretty unfulfilling. Like… what are you gonna figure out that hasn’t already been figured out? Gotta go out into the great unknown to solve a new mystery.
Yeah, basically, I think Star Trek never resolves the existential void that would come at the end of capitalism.
https://magnus919.com/2026/03/the-suppression-engine-what-zapffe-reveals-about-why-post-capitalism-is-hard/
Instead it replaces it with the striving that is depicted in The Burnout Society.
Edit: Actually, that is the answer. Instead of money, people look to accomplishments for social status and distraction.
That’s basically canon, established in the uhh season 1 finale I think it was? They unfreeze some people from the 21st century and the one rich guy is questioning what the point of it all is if money isn’t around anymore.
Captain Jean-Luc Picard: This is the 24th century. Material needs no longer exist.
Ralph Offenhouse: Then what’s the challenge?
Captain Jean-Luc Picard: The challenge, Mr. Offenhouse, is to improve yourself. To enrich yourself. Enjoy it.
Yes, though I remember the Futurama episode more clearly. My only regret… is… that I have… boneitis.
But I guess this why I find TNG sort of spiritually hollow for me. It reflected all the attainment-striving of imbued to the 1990s by capitalism but sans the capitalism. Like I think underneath it might be an anxiety, “if nobody works, does it mean people will be lazy? No! Instead they will WORK HARD at being the BEST THEY CAN BE but in the most 1990’s liberal arts way possible.” How different is getting into Star Fleet and getting a commission on a starship really that different than getting into an elite university and getting a job with a major company? TNG-era trek is the same existential treadmill but with a slightly different carrot.
Not quite sure I understand your point but the shows focus on the overarchievers. The average joe has way less exciting goals. For example Siskos dad just ran a small restaurant
Not sure I understand your point. TNG sells continual self-improvement and is constantly showing us continuual self improvement on the part of the crew; and your argument is that I should ignore it because a main character’s dad in a different series striving for greater realism runs a restaurant?
Ah my mistake, I thought your point was about the federation culture in total but if its obly regarding TNG Enterprise than you are right
Sorry that I was hostile.
But, honestly, do we really know much at all about Federation culture? We only have a little snippets, often the main purpose of which is as background to a character in Star Fleet.
But, yes, TNG is definitely the try-hardest of the utopias. It’s been a while since I’ve seen it, but I remember if we ran into a civilian, they were likely to be doing something highly technical with their careers.
Star Fleet especially, has been very competitive, though I kind have trouble seeing James Tiberius making it through Starfleet Academy in the TNG-era.
I can’t speak for everyone but if there was no capitalism and I needed for nothing I would seriously just go door to door asking folks if they had any computer/tech problems I could take a look at for them. Can you imagine how absolutely insane O’Brien would go if he had no problems to fix?