MovieChat Forums > Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987) Discussion > Privacy in Star Trek

Privacy in Star Trek

posted 8 years ago by Little_Miss_Yappa
79 replies | jump to latest

N00b here again. 

So, as I mentioned in my intro post, I grew up on TNG, DS9, and Voyager thanks to my mom but I was born in '87 so I didn't really remember much from any of these shows. This prompted me to start watching TNG on Netflix, which is how I ended up here.

Something that bothered me kinda early on in the series (I don't remember when I first noticed it) is that the concept of privacy as we know it today seems to go out the window. My mind is kind of a blur now, but I'm thinking about things like how you can just ask the computer where someone is and it tells you their exact location, but I know there were other issues I found throughout the series.

In general, Western culture values privacy, both socially and legally (to a point of course, but still, that sh!t is important as hell). Seeing as how Western culture seems to be the dominant culture in Star Trek universe Earth (basically all of the stories are told from that point of view, the Federation headquarters are in Europe, etc.), I'm really curious/it bothers me that this is never addressed (or, if I'm not recalling exactly correctly, not really at least).

I'm just wondering your thoughts. Obviously I haven't seen the other series or films (as an adult) so there may be things I'm missing (part of why I want your thoughts, haha).

Brent Spiner  Matthew Gray Gubler is 4ever bae. Kat Dennings is wifey

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[–] damengines 8 years ago

hi welcome to the board. I'm the local star trek representative and will be your guide to all things trek. in answer to your question, they did address that issue in season 7 episode attached. if I can be of any more help just let me know. live long and properly

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[–] Little_Miss_Yappa 8 years ago

I recall that ep but don't remember it being addressed in any real way.

Brent Spiner  Matthew Gray Gubler is 4ever bae. Kat Dennings is wifey

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[–] foebane72 8 years ago

I'm assuming that you mean everyone aboard Starfleet ships? Maybe the crew members in question need to be reachable at any given moment, given that they ARE crew on a starship, after all. And it's not as if anyone else can just walk into their quarters if they don't wish it.

As for people everywhere else, like the inhabitants of Earth and other planets, I don't think the option exists, unless they have combadges, which are essentially personnel locators anyway. Perhaps the option exists to deactivate that part of a combadge?

Why are you here if you haven't seen the movie yet?

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[–] Little_Miss_Yappa 8 years ago

Yes that's what I meant, in Starfleet/The Federation. My point, however, is that the same could be said for many careers today - the Presidency for example - we just don't have the technology to do so. And I firmly believe that if we did, there would be MUCH resistance, regardless of occupation, precisely because of our value of privacy. Like, would YOU want someone being able to know EXACTLY where you are at ALL times? Obviously Secret Service and all that makes it so that a President mostly has someone knowing where they are (or at least where they're supposed to be) but they at least have the OPTION of privacy as things are now. This is what I'm getting at, and it's never adequately addressed on the show, if at all. And again, I know it wasn't just the locator thing that bothered me RE: privacy. I'd have to watch the series again to remember everything.

Brent Spiner  Matthew Gray Gubler is 4ever bae. Kat Dennings is wifey

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[–] Tolyngee 8 years ago

That level of privacy when serving aboard a vessel???

Are you the kind of liberal who would complain about inmates in maximum security prisons not getting their "privacy" as well. (to create shanks, deal drugs, etc)

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[–] Little_Miss_Yappa 8 years ago

As things are now, military people and higher up politicians (to compare to starfleet) ALREADY get that level of privacy, simply by virtue of the fact that we don't have that kind of tech (yet), so...

Brent Spiner  Matthew Gray Gubler is 4ever bae. Kat Dennings is wifey

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[–] cjh8504 8 years ago

Don't listen to Toly, Yappa. He's a weirdo.

Movie Theater: Young Frankenstein 10/10. RIP Gene Wilder. One of the funniest people of all time.

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[–] Nakitaakita-1 8 years ago

If you are on the ship, they need to know where you are.

She deleted 33,000 e-mails AFTER congress' subpoena for them !

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[–] Little_Miss_Yappa 8 years ago

But do they really? If you're on a battleship during war time, it'd be nice/super convenient to know/have easy access to that info too, but ya don't. And if the tech were introduced I'm more than certain it would be met with resistance, and with good reason as far as I'm concerned. I just think it would have been nice for them to address something like this. That's a huge effing cultural/worldview change. Sure it's a few hundred years into the future, but still...I'm just sayin'... I also think, without this technology (or, more precisely, without the cultural desire to use it) it could've made for some more interesting writing. If you can't just say, "Oh hey computer, where's blah blah blah?" and get an immediate and accurate answer, it creates more obstacles for characters, especially when being able to know quickly would be super beneficial (like in times of disaster/danger).

Brent Spiner  Matthew Gray Gubler is 4ever bae. Kat Dennings is wifey

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[–] Nakitaakita-1 8 years ago

From what I understand right now parents can monitor where ther kids are by the kid's cell phone.
People choose to have a device connected to their car that monitors speeds.

Thinks right now. You are joking that you think in 400 years knowing where others are won't be commonplace.
We are almost there already.

She deleted 33,000 e-mails AFTER congress' subpoena for them !

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[–] Little_Miss_Yappa 8 years ago

I never said it's impossible (I mean duh), only that I think that kinda tech will be met with severe resistance by your average person, particularly in the case of the workplace. And the tech we have now isn't all that comparable to the specificity, accuracy, and usage that the Enterprise locator has. We're on our way, to be sure, but not close enough. Not in my opinion anyway. 

Brent Spiner  Matthew Gray Gubler is 4ever bae. Kat Dennings is wifey

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[–] Nakitaakita-1 8 years ago

My point is, that people are already fine with being monitored.
400 years from now it will not even be on their radar.

She deleted 33,000 e-mails AFTER congress' subpoena for them !

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[–] Little_Miss_Yappa 8 years ago

Yes, but it's not being monitored in the same way is my point. I do believe, particularly in a social and legal culture where people value their privacy, that people have their limits, and would protest to that end (whether it's in vain or not).

Brent Spiner  Matthew Gray Gubler is 4ever bae. Kat Dennings is wifey

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[–] cjh8504 8 years ago

Take it easy, ladies. No need to argue.

Movie Theater: Young Frankenstein 10/10. RIP Gene Wilder. One of the funniest people of all time.

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[–] GlobalWarmer1914 8 years ago

GIRL FIGHT!!!!
Let's get some mud and see some rasslin'

GlobalWarmer
I can teach you how to shoot so close to a raccoon that he craps himself.

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[–] 8 years ago

[deleted]

[–] cjh8504 8 years ago

Lol.

Movie Theater: Young Frankenstein 10/10. RIP Gene Wilder. One of the funniest people of all time.

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[–] Nexus71 8 years ago

In the new Trek movie they make a point of the privacy issue when Spock,Kirk and McCoy discuss Uhura's necklace emitting a specific radiation so that they can locate her.When McCoy remarks that Spock gave his girlfriend a tracking system.

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[–] inthepipe55 8 years ago

Havnt seen yet doesnt really address the OP question, there must be away to disable comunicaters.

End of line

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[–] cjh8504 8 years ago

Probably. Plus,they can leave the communicator somewhere they're not.

Movie Theater: Young Frankenstein 10/10. RIP Gene Wilder. One of the funniest people of all time.

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[–] Tolyngee 8 years ago

Somehow you found a way to disable your spellcheck...

Oh... Florida... that explains a lot!

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[–] inthepipe55 8 years ago

Hey yes how to fix???

End of line

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[–] inthepipe55 8 years ago

I would appriaciate it

End of line

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[–] Hanz-Willhelm2 8 years ago

Isn't it a military vessel. It isn't a cruise ship, since it has military purposes I suppose some of their personal freedoms are curbed to fall in line with command and the chain of command. The same for a sailor serving on a ship.

If the captain needs to know where a sailor or officer is that person wouldn't get to be like "I needed some alone time and I wanted to wander the ship undisturbed for a day to where no one knew where I was" The captain would need and expect to be able to locate someone in a timely manner. Not a cruise ship but a military vessel under command.

I assume they can lock their doors but people always just walk into each others quarters. I've never really noticed a "knocking" or asking permission first in most cases and the doors always open right up. I assume they can lock them if they chose however.

Was ist der Sinn des Lebens?

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[–] jakeconhale 8 years ago

Uh... you've never noticed the door chime?

Jake Meridius Conhale, at your service!
"Old Man" of the BSG (RDM) boards.

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[–] Nexus71 8 years ago

Great answer Jake 👌 but indeed you are right there is that noise when someone is at the door of their private quarters before the person in the room says "come in" or "enter".Had forgotten about that.

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[–] timmytony80 8 years ago

Nexus 71; Yes but no one, NO ONE, ever uses it! They just happily jot right

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[–] cjh8504 8 years ago

They all use the door bell. What the?

Movie Theater: Young Frankenstein 10/10. RIP Gene Wilder. One of the funniest people of all time.

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[–] Nexus71 8 years ago

As far as I know it is always used.If they don't use it,it is probably not their private quarters.

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[–] cjh8504 8 years ago

Yeah, Nexy. (chirp) "Come."

Movie Theater: Young Frankenstein 10/10. RIP Gene Wilder. One of the funniest people of all time.

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[–] aluminum_foil 8 years ago

Aside from technological non-privacy, try keeping to yourself while standing next to a Betazoid.

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[–] revengine 8 years ago

I find it funny and ridiculous that people will get their backs up about privacy but have no problems geo-tagging photos they put online or use instagram/Twitter/Facebook to constantly update their status and whereabouts and where they are or will be. Anyone with a smartphone who uses social media is not difficult to find. As far as privacy in the Star Trek universe, just remove your comm-badge - it worked for Worf when he wanted to off Duras.

You should have taken the money. - Robert McCall

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[–] cjh8504 8 years ago

Said that yesterday, Rev.

Movie Theater: Young Frankenstein 10/10. RIP Gene Wilder. One of the funniest people of all time.

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[–] bilyidol 8 years ago

They consent to location tracking when they signed the Starfleet Terms of Service agreement when they boarded the ship. Since the consent was granted by the party being tracked there are no concerns! Problem solved!

I tell you what.

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[–] cjh8504 8 years ago

I like it, Bily.

Movie Theater: Young Frankenstein 10/10. RIP Gene Wilder. One of the funniest people of all time.

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