Dammit man, I'm a bassoonist, not an pyrotechnician!
CIVILIAN LIFE:
Q1. Name:
tei
Q2. How did you find out about Elite of the Fleet?
Oh goodness. I'm such a prolific lurker that I've honestly forgotten; I can go hours clicking my way around the Internet until I find something awesome. I guess the answer is that it showed up in a clicking spree.
Q3. When did you first become interested in Star Trek?
I knew that I loved it long before I actually watched it, simply because it's exactly the kind of thing that I have a track record of loving. It took the Reboot film and a pile of TOS DVDs belonging to a teacher at my school ('cuz my school is awesome like that) for me to actually start watching it. Of course, I had been correct in my prediction that I would become, erm, completely obsessed.
Q4. Why have you decided to join Elite of the Fleet?
All of my friends have accepted the fact that when I am asked why I am doing something, I will offer one of two answers: either "just in case", or "for lulz". Obviously the second is the one that applies here. However, in my mind, the word "lulz" (a word of which I am quite fond) has many different meanings, among them "fun," "improvement of the mind," "broadening of horizons," "adventure and excitement and really wild stuff," and "don't really know, just seems like a good idea." I think all of those are valid things to go after in life, especially the first two. That's why I'm here.
Q5. Who is your favourite Star Trek character?
I love Kirk in all his arrogant, womanizing, obnoxious glory. Part of what makes him such a fascinating character is that all his faults are laid out clearly, explored in depth... and then accepted, both by him and by the charmed viewer. This show is about humanity being pushed and challenged in an unfamiliar universe, and Kirk represents everything that humanity loves and loathes about itself. I tend to be somewhat analytical and academic in my thinking about everything-- including television-- so I appreciate that he's the kind of character that offers more the more you think about him.
Q6. And the least?
The one thing that bothers me about Star Trek is the women. It seems that it's impossible to introduce a female character without several minutes of coy music and lingering shots of the stunned faces of all the men in the vicinity, as well as, erm, strategic areas on the women themselves. I mean, I like chicks in short skirts as much as the next open-minded straight girl, but... really? So for characters I hate, I'll just have to say every single "oh my god, it's HER!" woman ever. You know the ones I mean... the ones who are incredibly important for one episode and then find some nice man to protect them and are never seen again.
Q7. Which television (or film) series is your favourite? I'm quite fond of the Reboot film simply because it was what convinced me to dive in in the first place (and because it's just generally awesome, but that goes without saying) but upon investigation I prefer TOS; there's less stuff blowing up and more good writing unobstructed by special effects and conventions of the modern blockbuster.
________________________________
STARFLEET LIFE:
Q8. What do you hope to gain from your service in Starfleet?
New experiences; the acquaintance of like-minded individuals; learning opportunities; exposure to the opinions of others; excuses to make lists using excessive numbers of semi-colons.
Q9. Is there any occupation in Starfleet you feel you would be particularly unsuited for?
Meetings. You know, the kind where everyone sits around a big table and tries to remember what they're supposed to be doing. I hate them; I hate the way it takes so long to accomplish nothing and the way everybody has to have their say even if they have nothing to say. On the plus side, any meeting that I run is pretty much guaranteed to be efficient enough to leave all the participants dazed. I am the co-president of a certain student body at school, and I'm usually the one who tries to get the meeting over in ten minutes, and spends the next twenty trying to convince everyone that yes, we DID et through everything we needed to get through, we just cut out all of the waffling and obligatory period of agreeing with each other.
So, to summarize: I'm not great at bureaucracy. Or sitting around and talking. Any occupation that requires either of these, I would be terrible at.
Also, my answer to question 13 either means I would be a nervous wreck of a doctor, or an awesome one. I suspect the former, but you be the judge...
Q10. The four current Academic Tracks at the Academy are Tactics, Operations, Exploratory Sciences and Medical Sciences. Describe how you could be an asset to each of these departments.
Tactical: I have a large amount of experience in Urban Exploration. This has taught me many things about the planning and operation of potentially dangerous operations, as well as endowing me with a healthy respect for the fact that ultimately, the only law that has no loopholes or technicalities is the law of gravity. I am able to keep my head in tight situations and come up with or alter plans on the fly. I also have good reflexes from gymnastics and springboard diving.
Operations: My chief asset in the Operations department is as a communicator and especially as a linguist. I speak French fluently and I study both Latin and Ancient Greek, which are languages which provide a foundation for the learning of others. I would relish the experience to meet and learn from native speakers of languages unlike any spoken on Earth (although I suspect that there are common threads that run through all languages, regardless of planet of origin: for instance, the Klingon use of the apostrophe is similar-- in function if not in exact sound or placement-- to its use in Ancient Greek.) As for the Security aspect... unfortunately my only weapons training is with a bow-and-arrow, but I'm always willing to learn.
Exploratory Sciences: Although I don't have a lot of systematic scientific education, I'm definately interested in maths, which I tend to view as more of an art form than as "science's little helper". I occasionally reflect that had I made some quite different decisions a few years ago, I could easily have become just as much of a "science person" as I am currently a "humanities person". (Even that distinction bothers me somewhat, although not enough to abstain from using it.) I would relish the opportunity to walk down the other path.
Medical: Again I'll have to ask you to jump ahead to Q13, which I think says a lot about me and certainly about my medical potential: I want to help people, and am terrified of being incapable of doing so. Does that make me a pushover? Charitable? An awesome doctor? A terrible one? I have no idea, but I know that if I ever did hold official responsibility for the lives of others, I would be meticulous to the point of obsession with that responsibility-- which is (I hope) the attitude that all doctors must have towards their work.
Q11. What are your top five strengths?
01. Honesty. I believe that it's always better to be honest, even if it puts you in uncomfortable situations, than to lie and wait for the results to catch up to you later. I believe in being held accountable for my own actions and holding others accountable for theirs.
02. Bravery. I am perfectly comfortable clambering around abandoned buildings, jumping from tall objects, launching myself onto my head, performing in front of crowds (speeches, concerts, etc.) and other similarly nerve-wracking activities. I'm the one who jumps up and says "Let's do it!" when presented with a challenge, the one who is first in line for the untested and uncertain... all of which makes it rather embarrassing that I consistently fail to retain consciousness after receiving vaccinations. Which I suppose really should be in the "weaknesses" section, but seemed to fit more humorously here.
03. Loyalty. Loyalty and patriotism aren't virtues that have as much presence in the public consciousness today as they should. For example, many people (at least in school) seem to regard the national anthem as a waste of time, or an opportunity to chat or stare vacantly into space for a minute and a half. I'm probably the only one who takes that time for its intended purpose: to reflect on how lucky I am to live where and when I do, and contemplate the amazing things that humanity as a whole is capable of.
04."Sophron". This is a Greek word for which there seems to be no English equivalent. It's intelligence, but not in the sense of being blessed with exceptional brainpower or unusual amounts of knowledge. It means, in the words of scholar Richmond Lattimore: "Not necessarily that you have superior brains, but that you make the maximum use of whatever brains you have got." I don't pretend to be "smarter" than anybody else, but I do try to approach the world thoughtfully.
05. Open-minded. I don't think there should be any shame in changing your opinion when presented with overwhelming evidence that contradicts you. I believe in understanding arguments you don't agree with and in being capable of saying "I don't know".
Q12. What are your top five weaknesses?
01. Bluntness. I can sometimes be a little bit lacking in tact. I am in the habit of saying what I think, and my utterances are frequently followed, in my head, by something along these lines: "Oops. That was mean. I probably shouldn't have said that. But no, you know what? It's what I meant. Tough." As is demonstrated, I also have something of an aversion to apologies. And yeah, tactlessness and aversion to apologies are sort of a bad combination. I'm working on it.
02. I hold a grudge for forever and a day. I remember every slight that I've ever received from everyone I know. Although I probably won't still be giving someone grief about it years after the fact, I do keep it in my memory.
03. Obsessive. Although this applies to books/movies/tv shows (obviously) the more problematic way that I'm obsessive has to do with events and places. When I decide that I want to go somewhere or do something, and spend a certain amount of time expecting that it's going to work out, then IT'S GOING TO WORK OUT, dammit. This isn't really the same thing as determination (that would be a good thing; this isn't); it's more the knowledge that I'm going to be really really upset if something I've become fixated on goes wrong.
04. Picky. I like to have control over the people and objects that I surround myself with, the food I eat, the places I go, etc. Joining an organization such as Starfleet involves giving up some of that control-- but then, there's only so much control that one person can have over there life no matter where they are and what they're doing.
05. Temper. Anger and sadness are basically the same thing for me; which makes a difference to how I react to angering/upsetting events in that I'm not only mad at someone for the act they committed; I'm also angry because they made me feel a certain way. It's not particularly fair to the person I'm angry at; basically what I'm (subconsciously) thinking is , "I'm mad at you because you made me angry."
Q13. What is your biggest fear?
Not being able to help somebody that needs it. For me, the hardest thing in the word is to say "I'm sorry but there's nothing I can do." I've had to do that a few times in the past year and each time I'm unable to help, it just makes me more frightened of those types of situations.
Q14. Do you consider yourself to be a leader, or a follower?
I think the most effective leader is one who can accept when it's not their turn to lead. When entering into a new milieu, it's usually appropriate (and nearly always easier) to follow than to lead. I know that it's my turn to lead when people start looking to me for advice without my having officially "taken control". This has happened to me a few times, and although it's not something I habitually go looking for, I feel comfortable in a leadership position. (I hope you don't feel I'm dodging the question. If it were a one-word answer, I would say "leader"; I'm just excessively verbose.)
Q15. What do you admire the most in your peers?
I admire people who are loyal and confident in their own ideas and morals. I also admire kindness: despite what I said in "weaknesses" about being somewhat tactless, I do try to be kind, and I think there's a difference between being blunt and being nasty. I try to avoid the latter and seek out people who do the same.
Q16. You are stranded on a Class M planet that has not been mapped by The Federation. You are only allowed to choose two of the following items to keep with you: a phaser, a tricorder or a communicator. Which two would you choose to have?
The phaser and the communicator. I think the communicator is the most important item of the bunch: I am on the planet in my capacity as a member of Starfleet, which means that I must be available to act in that capacity. I cannot do so without the communicator. In addition, the people at the other end of the communicator are the only people available who have a responsibility to protect me; to not take the communicator would be to place my trust in the locals, which is unwise to say the least.
The phaser, besides its obvious usefulness as a protection device, also has the capability to be a source of heat, allowing me to cook food.
Q17. Please describe your understanding of the Federation’s Prime Directive.
Any student of history knows that when cultures interact, they affect each other profoundly. The results of cultural mingling range from very positive (new languages, foods, and technologies) to catastrophic (world wars). When restricted to a single planet, negative effects are limited by geography-- as mind-bendingly horrific as Earth wars are, it's unlikely that a war waged between different cultures on one planet will have adverse effects on any other planets or extra-terrestrial species.
However, as soon as humans move into space we create enormous dangers. When humans are exposed to cultures that are enormously different from any found on Earth, the possibility of us creating a significant disturbance in that culture is enormous. Self-preservation is a part of it--we don't want to wage war against other planets-- but the more important part is the preservation of developing cultures. We don't have aliens more advanced than ourselves wandering around Earth and showing off their superior technology; and we owe other planets the same respect.
Q18. The United Federation of Planets includes more than 150 member planets, and the galaxy has many more besides. Which planet do you most want to visit?
Organia. A planet on which there is truly nothing but peace and harmony goes against everything humans know about culture. As much as we wish it were not so, we know that humans will probably never stop fighting each other; we will never stop having petty annoyances and being bothered about things we shouldn't be. A kind of being that has no (even repressed or hidden) desire to fight is an incredible rarity-- but such a being has clearly achieved a venerable state of existence. Studying the society of Organia would be both interesting and useful, in that lessons learned could be applied to the improvement of human culture.
________________________________
KOBAYASHI MARU:
The following questions describe situations you may commonly find yourself in as a member of Starfleet. You will be read the scenario, and then given two options to choose from. You may expand upon the reasons for your choice, but you must indicate one of the two that you feel best describes your likely response to the situation provided.
Q19. Service in the Fleet can be draining at the best of times, and on one particular day everything seems to have gone wrong. You’re exhausted, but your shift is finally over and it’s time to unwind. Your roommate is already on their bed when you get back to your quarters. Do you:
a. Settle in for a lengthy chat with them - you’d really like to vent about your day and you’d quite like to hear about theirs too. It’s a bit of a ritual by this point anyway. Maybe you’ll even head out to the Rec Hall together to unwind over a card game with the others.
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Although it might seem that this question would divide introverts and extroverts, my answer here is actually a product of my tendency towards the overly analytical. I do occasionally find socializing tiring, but if I am to make sense of a senseless day I need to talk through it as that helps me to think clearly about what happened. Keeping my thoughts churning around in my head only mixes them up more, but putting them into words sharpens and defines them.
Q20. You’ve intercepted what sounds like a pretty important transmission - you feel like the Captain needs to know. When you report, do you:
a. Give them all the facts: what it said, what the voice sounded like, where the inflection was, the language it was in, and so on. Details and facts are the important part, everything else is subjective.
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The Captain is the Captain because he or she knows better than those who, well, aren't the Captain. I must assume that the Captain is intelligent enough to make decisions given a set of data, because if they aren't the entire crew is in trouble. My opinion isn't important unless it's asked for.
Q21. There are many decisions to be made in Starfleet, and some are harder than others. Faced with a decision where things could go wrong in any number of ways, do you:
a. Stay impersonal and objective. Weigh up the pros and cons, think out all the possibilities, and focus on the basic truths. A careful analysis of the situation will reveal the best possible choice, even though some may not approve of it.
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Ultimately, the choice that is made by weighing pros and cons--which should include, but not be limited to, the feelings of those affected-- is the one that will turn out the best for the most people. Even if the decision is one that would adversely affect me, I hope and think that I would have the strength and clear-sightedness to make a decision for the greater good. I'm certainly not saying that the emotions of those involved should be discounted, but they should be treated with a just sense of proportion.
Q22. The day-to-day life of Starfleet can be quite arduous at times, and quite exciting at others. Everyone has their own way of approaching everyday work, but would others see your approach as:
a. Planned and orderly. You seem to prefer to have decisions made and matters settled, rather than hanging over your head. You appear comfortable when in control over such matters. You seem to be task-oriented, and plan ahead.
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Plans are good; but the best part of any plan is the part that says "this plan will not go as planned." Although it may seem contradictory, that very fact proves the necessity of having at least an outline of what is supposed to happen and what isn't. There is no way that you can adapt to the unexpected if you have no idea that it IS unexpected in the first place.
This opinion is not so much an exhortation to "always stick to the plan" as an exhortation to not let events pass by in a blur, unanticipated and unexamined.
Q23. You can earn 5 points for your future Track by promoting the community in your Journal. Please link the post here if you wish to do so:
Okay!
Q1. Name:
tei
Q2. How did you find out about Elite of the Fleet?
Oh goodness. I'm such a prolific lurker that I've honestly forgotten; I can go hours clicking my way around the Internet until I find something awesome. I guess the answer is that it showed up in a clicking spree.
Q3. When did you first become interested in Star Trek?
I knew that I loved it long before I actually watched it, simply because it's exactly the kind of thing that I have a track record of loving. It took the Reboot film and a pile of TOS DVDs belonging to a teacher at my school ('cuz my school is awesome like that) for me to actually start watching it. Of course, I had been correct in my prediction that I would become, erm, completely obsessed.
Q4. Why have you decided to join Elite of the Fleet?
All of my friends have accepted the fact that when I am asked why I am doing something, I will offer one of two answers: either "just in case", or "for lulz". Obviously the second is the one that applies here. However, in my mind, the word "lulz" (a word of which I am quite fond) has many different meanings, among them "fun," "improvement of the mind," "broadening of horizons," "adventure and excitement and really wild stuff," and "don't really know, just seems like a good idea." I think all of those are valid things to go after in life, especially the first two. That's why I'm here.
Q5. Who is your favourite Star Trek character?
I love Kirk in all his arrogant, womanizing, obnoxious glory. Part of what makes him such a fascinating character is that all his faults are laid out clearly, explored in depth... and then accepted, both by him and by the charmed viewer. This show is about humanity being pushed and challenged in an unfamiliar universe, and Kirk represents everything that humanity loves and loathes about itself. I tend to be somewhat analytical and academic in my thinking about everything-- including television-- so I appreciate that he's the kind of character that offers more the more you think about him.
Q6. And the least?
The one thing that bothers me about Star Trek is the women. It seems that it's impossible to introduce a female character without several minutes of coy music and lingering shots of the stunned faces of all the men in the vicinity, as well as, erm, strategic areas on the women themselves. I mean, I like chicks in short skirts as much as the next open-minded straight girl, but... really? So for characters I hate, I'll just have to say every single "oh my god, it's HER!" woman ever. You know the ones I mean... the ones who are incredibly important for one episode and then find some nice man to protect them and are never seen again.
Q7. Which television (or film) series is your favourite? I'm quite fond of the Reboot film simply because it was what convinced me to dive in in the first place (and because it's just generally awesome, but that goes without saying) but upon investigation I prefer TOS; there's less stuff blowing up and more good writing unobstructed by special effects and conventions of the modern blockbuster.
________________________________
STARFLEET LIFE:
Q8. What do you hope to gain from your service in Starfleet?
New experiences; the acquaintance of like-minded individuals; learning opportunities; exposure to the opinions of others; excuses to make lists using excessive numbers of semi-colons.
Q9. Is there any occupation in Starfleet you feel you would be particularly unsuited for?
Meetings. You know, the kind where everyone sits around a big table and tries to remember what they're supposed to be doing. I hate them; I hate the way it takes so long to accomplish nothing and the way everybody has to have their say even if they have nothing to say. On the plus side, any meeting that I run is pretty much guaranteed to be efficient enough to leave all the participants dazed. I am the co-president of a certain student body at school, and I'm usually the one who tries to get the meeting over in ten minutes, and spends the next twenty trying to convince everyone that yes, we DID et through everything we needed to get through, we just cut out all of the waffling and obligatory period of agreeing with each other.
So, to summarize: I'm not great at bureaucracy. Or sitting around and talking. Any occupation that requires either of these, I would be terrible at.
Also, my answer to question 13 either means I would be a nervous wreck of a doctor, or an awesome one. I suspect the former, but you be the judge...
Q10. The four current Academic Tracks at the Academy are Tactics, Operations, Exploratory Sciences and Medical Sciences. Describe how you could be an asset to each of these departments.
Tactical: I have a large amount of experience in Urban Exploration. This has taught me many things about the planning and operation of potentially dangerous operations, as well as endowing me with a healthy respect for the fact that ultimately, the only law that has no loopholes or technicalities is the law of gravity. I am able to keep my head in tight situations and come up with or alter plans on the fly. I also have good reflexes from gymnastics and springboard diving.
Operations: My chief asset in the Operations department is as a communicator and especially as a linguist. I speak French fluently and I study both Latin and Ancient Greek, which are languages which provide a foundation for the learning of others. I would relish the experience to meet and learn from native speakers of languages unlike any spoken on Earth (although I suspect that there are common threads that run through all languages, regardless of planet of origin: for instance, the Klingon use of the apostrophe is similar-- in function if not in exact sound or placement-- to its use in Ancient Greek.) As for the Security aspect... unfortunately my only weapons training is with a bow-and-arrow, but I'm always willing to learn.
Exploratory Sciences: Although I don't have a lot of systematic scientific education, I'm definately interested in maths, which I tend to view as more of an art form than as "science's little helper". I occasionally reflect that had I made some quite different decisions a few years ago, I could easily have become just as much of a "science person" as I am currently a "humanities person". (Even that distinction bothers me somewhat, although not enough to abstain from using it.) I would relish the opportunity to walk down the other path.
Medical: Again I'll have to ask you to jump ahead to Q13, which I think says a lot about me and certainly about my medical potential: I want to help people, and am terrified of being incapable of doing so. Does that make me a pushover? Charitable? An awesome doctor? A terrible one? I have no idea, but I know that if I ever did hold official responsibility for the lives of others, I would be meticulous to the point of obsession with that responsibility-- which is (I hope) the attitude that all doctors must have towards their work.
Q11. What are your top five strengths?
01. Honesty. I believe that it's always better to be honest, even if it puts you in uncomfortable situations, than to lie and wait for the results to catch up to you later. I believe in being held accountable for my own actions and holding others accountable for theirs.
02. Bravery. I am perfectly comfortable clambering around abandoned buildings, jumping from tall objects, launching myself onto my head, performing in front of crowds (speeches, concerts, etc.) and other similarly nerve-wracking activities. I'm the one who jumps up and says "Let's do it!" when presented with a challenge, the one who is first in line for the untested and uncertain... all of which makes it rather embarrassing that I consistently fail to retain consciousness after receiving vaccinations. Which I suppose really should be in the "weaknesses" section, but seemed to fit more humorously here.
03. Loyalty. Loyalty and patriotism aren't virtues that have as much presence in the public consciousness today as they should. For example, many people (at least in school) seem to regard the national anthem as a waste of time, or an opportunity to chat or stare vacantly into space for a minute and a half. I'm probably the only one who takes that time for its intended purpose: to reflect on how lucky I am to live where and when I do, and contemplate the amazing things that humanity as a whole is capable of.
04."Sophron". This is a Greek word for which there seems to be no English equivalent. It's intelligence, but not in the sense of being blessed with exceptional brainpower or unusual amounts of knowledge. It means, in the words of scholar Richmond Lattimore: "Not necessarily that you have superior brains, but that you make the maximum use of whatever brains you have got." I don't pretend to be "smarter" than anybody else, but I do try to approach the world thoughtfully.
05. Open-minded. I don't think there should be any shame in changing your opinion when presented with overwhelming evidence that contradicts you. I believe in understanding arguments you don't agree with and in being capable of saying "I don't know".
Q12. What are your top five weaknesses?
01. Bluntness. I can sometimes be a little bit lacking in tact. I am in the habit of saying what I think, and my utterances are frequently followed, in my head, by something along these lines: "Oops. That was mean. I probably shouldn't have said that. But no, you know what? It's what I meant. Tough." As is demonstrated, I also have something of an aversion to apologies. And yeah, tactlessness and aversion to apologies are sort of a bad combination. I'm working on it.
02. I hold a grudge for forever and a day. I remember every slight that I've ever received from everyone I know. Although I probably won't still be giving someone grief about it years after the fact, I do keep it in my memory.
03. Obsessive. Although this applies to books/movies/tv shows (obviously) the more problematic way that I'm obsessive has to do with events and places. When I decide that I want to go somewhere or do something, and spend a certain amount of time expecting that it's going to work out, then IT'S GOING TO WORK OUT, dammit. This isn't really the same thing as determination (that would be a good thing; this isn't); it's more the knowledge that I'm going to be really really upset if something I've become fixated on goes wrong.
04. Picky. I like to have control over the people and objects that I surround myself with, the food I eat, the places I go, etc. Joining an organization such as Starfleet involves giving up some of that control-- but then, there's only so much control that one person can have over there life no matter where they are and what they're doing.
05. Temper. Anger and sadness are basically the same thing for me; which makes a difference to how I react to angering/upsetting events in that I'm not only mad at someone for the act they committed; I'm also angry because they made me feel a certain way. It's not particularly fair to the person I'm angry at; basically what I'm (subconsciously) thinking is , "I'm mad at you because you made me angry."
Q13. What is your biggest fear?
Not being able to help somebody that needs it. For me, the hardest thing in the word is to say "I'm sorry but there's nothing I can do." I've had to do that a few times in the past year and each time I'm unable to help, it just makes me more frightened of those types of situations.
Q14. Do you consider yourself to be a leader, or a follower?
I think the most effective leader is one who can accept when it's not their turn to lead. When entering into a new milieu, it's usually appropriate (and nearly always easier) to follow than to lead. I know that it's my turn to lead when people start looking to me for advice without my having officially "taken control". This has happened to me a few times, and although it's not something I habitually go looking for, I feel comfortable in a leadership position. (I hope you don't feel I'm dodging the question. If it were a one-word answer, I would say "leader"; I'm just excessively verbose.)
Q15. What do you admire the most in your peers?
I admire people who are loyal and confident in their own ideas and morals. I also admire kindness: despite what I said in "weaknesses" about being somewhat tactless, I do try to be kind, and I think there's a difference between being blunt and being nasty. I try to avoid the latter and seek out people who do the same.
Q16. You are stranded on a Class M planet that has not been mapped by The Federation. You are only allowed to choose two of the following items to keep with you: a phaser, a tricorder or a communicator. Which two would you choose to have?
The phaser and the communicator. I think the communicator is the most important item of the bunch: I am on the planet in my capacity as a member of Starfleet, which means that I must be available to act in that capacity. I cannot do so without the communicator. In addition, the people at the other end of the communicator are the only people available who have a responsibility to protect me; to not take the communicator would be to place my trust in the locals, which is unwise to say the least.
The phaser, besides its obvious usefulness as a protection device, also has the capability to be a source of heat, allowing me to cook food.
Q17. Please describe your understanding of the Federation’s Prime Directive.
Any student of history knows that when cultures interact, they affect each other profoundly. The results of cultural mingling range from very positive (new languages, foods, and technologies) to catastrophic (world wars). When restricted to a single planet, negative effects are limited by geography-- as mind-bendingly horrific as Earth wars are, it's unlikely that a war waged between different cultures on one planet will have adverse effects on any other planets or extra-terrestrial species.
However, as soon as humans move into space we create enormous dangers. When humans are exposed to cultures that are enormously different from any found on Earth, the possibility of us creating a significant disturbance in that culture is enormous. Self-preservation is a part of it--we don't want to wage war against other planets-- but the more important part is the preservation of developing cultures. We don't have aliens more advanced than ourselves wandering around Earth and showing off their superior technology; and we owe other planets the same respect.
Q18. The United Federation of Planets includes more than 150 member planets, and the galaxy has many more besides. Which planet do you most want to visit?
Organia. A planet on which there is truly nothing but peace and harmony goes against everything humans know about culture. As much as we wish it were not so, we know that humans will probably never stop fighting each other; we will never stop having petty annoyances and being bothered about things we shouldn't be. A kind of being that has no (even repressed or hidden) desire to fight is an incredible rarity-- but such a being has clearly achieved a venerable state of existence. Studying the society of Organia would be both interesting and useful, in that lessons learned could be applied to the improvement of human culture.
________________________________
KOBAYASHI MARU:
The following questions describe situations you may commonly find yourself in as a member of Starfleet. You will be read the scenario, and then given two options to choose from. You may expand upon the reasons for your choice, but you must indicate one of the two that you feel best describes your likely response to the situation provided.
Q19. Service in the Fleet can be draining at the best of times, and on one particular day everything seems to have gone wrong. You’re exhausted, but your shift is finally over and it’s time to unwind. Your roommate is already on their bed when you get back to your quarters. Do you:
a. Settle in for a lengthy chat with them - you’d really like to vent about your day and you’d quite like to hear about theirs too. It’s a bit of a ritual by this point anyway. Maybe you’ll even head out to the Rec Hall together to unwind over a card game with the others.
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Although it might seem that this question would divide introverts and extroverts, my answer here is actually a product of my tendency towards the overly analytical. I do occasionally find socializing tiring, but if I am to make sense of a senseless day I need to talk through it as that helps me to think clearly about what happened. Keeping my thoughts churning around in my head only mixes them up more, but putting them into words sharpens and defines them.
Q20. You’ve intercepted what sounds like a pretty important transmission - you feel like the Captain needs to know. When you report, do you:
a. Give them all the facts: what it said, what the voice sounded like, where the inflection was, the language it was in, and so on. Details and facts are the important part, everything else is subjective.
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The Captain is the Captain because he or she knows better than those who, well, aren't the Captain. I must assume that the Captain is intelligent enough to make decisions given a set of data, because if they aren't the entire crew is in trouble. My opinion isn't important unless it's asked for.
Q21. There are many decisions to be made in Starfleet, and some are harder than others. Faced with a decision where things could go wrong in any number of ways, do you:
a. Stay impersonal and objective. Weigh up the pros and cons, think out all the possibilities, and focus on the basic truths. A careful analysis of the situation will reveal the best possible choice, even though some may not approve of it.
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Ultimately, the choice that is made by weighing pros and cons--which should include, but not be limited to, the feelings of those affected-- is the one that will turn out the best for the most people. Even if the decision is one that would adversely affect me, I hope and think that I would have the strength and clear-sightedness to make a decision for the greater good. I'm certainly not saying that the emotions of those involved should be discounted, but they should be treated with a just sense of proportion.
Q22. The day-to-day life of Starfleet can be quite arduous at times, and quite exciting at others. Everyone has their own way of approaching everyday work, but would others see your approach as:
a. Planned and orderly. You seem to prefer to have decisions made and matters settled, rather than hanging over your head. You appear comfortable when in control over such matters. You seem to be task-oriented, and plan ahead.
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Plans are good; but the best part of any plan is the part that says "this plan will not go as planned." Although it may seem contradictory, that very fact proves the necessity of having at least an outline of what is supposed to happen and what isn't. There is no way that you can adapt to the unexpected if you have no idea that it IS unexpected in the first place.
This opinion is not so much an exhortation to "always stick to the plan" as an exhortation to not let events pass by in a blur, unanticipated and unexamined.
Q23. You can earn 5 points for your future Track by promoting the community in your Journal. Please link the post here if you wish to do so:
Okay!