The Tricom Badge

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I take a rather dim view of most 32nd-century technology, 'cos it's so magical and can fix everything. But I admit I do love the tricom badge.

I am curious, though, is ALL transporting done via this badge? Or is there still such a thing as an actual transporter? Meaning, a physical device? Would transporter CHIEFS, as such, have any usefulness to 32nd-century Starfleet?

I should imagine that a person like Nils Pitcairn would be extremely distressed and saddened if he found himself in a future like this. He would probably assume that society had no need for him and thus he is obsolete.

And I'm also wondering what happened to Discovery's own transporter personnel? What would THEY think about a Starfleet which had no more need for them?

I mean, if nothing else, people who don't have tricom badges would need a way to be transported. And there's cargo as well.

Edit: Since the use of a tricom badge is dependent on hand & fist gestures, I wonder how a species without limbs like this would operate one..

 

[Tuskin38]

I wonder how a species without limbs like this would operate one..

They'd probably have a model that is voice controlled instead.

 

[fireproof78]

I should imagine that a person like Nils Pitcairn would be extremely distressed and saddened if he found himself in a future like this. He would probably assume that society had no need for him and thus he is obsolete.

Happens all the time in the real world military based upon technological updates, or reclassification of specializations. Many jobs are going to be obsolete as technology progresses and continues to improve different jobs.

That said, I would imagine transporter specialists would be integrated in to Engineer or Operations crews for general maintenance, and utilized if badges malfunction.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Trek tech seems very humanoid biped-centric.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Happens all the time in the real world military based upon technological updates, or reclassification of specializations. Many jobs are going to be obsolete as technology progresses and continues to improve different jobs.

True dat, but this is a special case given the 900-year time jump.

In the real world, people have time to adjust to changes, because things happen gradually. If Pitcairn (a character I happen to admire, BTW) found himself in the 32nd century he would be totally unprepared for it.

I mean, think about it. If your livelihood has been taken away, and your profession is no longer needed, then who are you? How are you useful to society? What is there left for you to contribute?

 

[fireproof78]

I mean, think about it. If your livelihood has been taken away, and your profession is no longer needed, then who are you? How are you of use to society? What is there left for you to contribute?

Learning something new. There is always something new to learn. I would welcome the day mental health counselors are no longer needed.

 

[Quantum21]

As advanced as it looks most of the tech in Discovery will be available in 50-100 years in the real world.

The real problem is the modern human capacity to comprehend these things.

There is an Arthur C Clarke quote floating around out there on the subject.

Oh, what's one of the least likely things? Warp drive. Another: transporters. 60s fiction.

More likely: programmable matter

I take a rather dim view of most 32nd-century technology, 'cos it's so magical and can fix everything. But I admit I do love the tricom badge.

I am curious, though, is ALL transporting done via this badge? Or is there still such a thing as an actual transporter? Meaning, a physical device? Would transporter CHIEFS, as such, have any usefulness to 32nd-century Starfleet?

I should imagine that a person like Nils Pitcairn would be extremely distressed and saddened if he found himself in a future like this. He would probably assume that society had no need for him and thus he is obsolete.

And I'm also wondering what happened to Discovery's own transporter personnel? What would THEY think about a Starfleet which had no more need for them?

I mean, if nothing else, people who don't have tricom badges would need a way to be transported. And there's cargo as well.

Edit: Since the use of a tricom badge is dependent on hand & fist gestures, I wonder how a species without limbs like this would operate one..[/QUOT

 

[Avro Arrow]

I mean, think about it. If your livelihood has been taken away, and your profession is no longer needed, then who are you?

Tell me you're an American without telling me you're an American.

You are not your job. Your profession is not (or at least, should not be) your identity.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Tell me you're an American without telling me you're an American.

What's that supposed to mean?

 

[fireproof78]

What's that supposed to mean?

It's a stereotypes that Americans are workaholics.

 

[fireproof78]

And nobody else is?

Not to the same degree. Identity tied in to one's job and how will you handle it if your job ceases to exist. I don't understand how that is a question. Are we not learning beings capable of adaptation to survive?

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

It's a stereotypes that Americans are workaholics.

Uh huh.

Now maybe this doesn't mean sweet diddly squat, but I personally don't consider myself a workaholic. I enjoy a good day's off as much as anyone. What I DO believe is that my job has meaning, it means that I have meaning, and if that job is suddenly yanked out from under me, I would be under no small amount of stress. Isn't that at least a tad understandable?

Yes, I do keep coming back to Chief Pitcairn. I happen to identify with the Chief probably more than I have with any other character in Trek. What would people expect him to do if he were suddenly faced with a world in which his life and career no longer meant anything?

 

[fireproof78]

. What I DO believe is that my job has meaning, it means that I have meaning, and if that job is suddenly yanked out from under me, I would be under no small amount of stress. Isn't that at least a tad understandable?

It was phrased as "identity" and my identity is not tied to my work. Would I be stressed? Sure, but life would proceed on, I'd utilize other skills and find new work. My meaning remains the same.

Wouldn't you think he might be just a fucking TAD conerned?

On Earth, maybe. But that's not identity loss to be concerned.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Perhaps I am overreacting. Fine, I get that. As I said, there are always going to be situations where the use of a simple tricom badge would not apply - nonanimate cargo, for example. So a dedicated transporter chief would definitely be needed in those circumstances.

 

[fireproof78]

So a dedicated transporter chief would definitely be needed in those circumstances.

Agreed.

 

[Avro Arrow]

What's that supposed to mean?

Sorry, it wasn't intended as anything pejorative. It's just that societally, a lot of American culture tends to be based around the primacy of work. So this concept of conflating your identity with your job tends to be an American point of view that isn't found as much, or at least to the same degree, in other parts of the world. It's not a slight--you can't help being immersed in the culture you live in.

There's lots online that discusses this topic. Just as one small example, one of the very first questions an American will ask when meeting someone new is "what do you do?", because one's job is assumed to be a large part of--and in many cases, the most significant part of--one's identity.

(I think in many cases, the younger generations are pushing back against the primacy of work, but societal change is slow, and it's in corporations' interest to keep the status quo.)

You question was framed around identity ("if you lose your job, who are you?"), and I was just pointing out that this is often a uniquely American point of view. Not that it's never seen elsewhere, but it's more likely to be seen in American culture.

What I DO believe is that my job has meaning, it means that I have meaning

And this is what I'm talking about. You're tying your personal value and identity to what you do for a living. As you rightly note, this kind of worldview does cause a significant identity crisis for the person holding it when the livelihood is taken away.

if that job is suddenly yanked out from under me, I would be under no small amount of stress. Isn't that at least a tad understandable?

There's a somewhat good chance my own job will be rendered largely obsolete by advances in AI within the next few years. If that were to happen, then yes, it would cause me a huge deal of stress... because that removes my source of income, which in our capitalist society, would make my life significantly more difficult. So yes, it would cause a lot of hardship. But it wouldn't fundamentally change who I am as a person.

Sorry, I know this is probably a bit off topic from transporter use in Star Trek's 32nd century. I just find it an interesting discussion.

 

[fireproof78]

Sorry, I know this is probably a bit off topic from transporter use in Star Trek's 32nd century. I just find it an interesting discussion.

I think it's a worthy discussion. I enjoy it because, lately, I've been growing skills outside my primary job and field of education. I can step in to threw different areas if my primary job goes south (unlikely, given I worked through the pandemic but I'll note it as a possibility).

 

[Quantum21]

I would go as far as to say the tricom badge is my favorite piece of 32nd century tech.

It takes the advancement of 80 years of miniaturization from TOS to TNG and correctly extrapolates many times that level advancement for a 1000.

 

[Quantum21]

They'd probably have a model that is voice controlled instead.

Who needs that? We have tech being controlled by brain impulses in 2024!

 

[Michael]

Sorry, it wasn't intended as anything pejorative. It's just that societally, a lot of American culture tends to be based around the primacy of work. So this concept of conflating your identity with your job tends to be an American point of view that isn't found as much, or at least to the same degree, in other parts of the world. It's not a slight--you can't help being immersed in the culture you live in.

There's lots online that discusses this topic. Just as one small example, one of the very first questions an American will ask when meeting someone new is "what do you do?", because one's job is assumed to be a large part of--and in many cases, the most significant part of--one's identity.

(I think in many cases, the younger generations are pushing back against the primacy of work, but societal change is slow, and it's in corporations' interest to keep the status quo.)

You question was framed around identity ("if you lose your job, who are you?"), and I was just pointing out that this is often a uniquely American point of view. Not that it's never seen elsewhere, but it's more likely to be seen in American culture.

I think that a very good observation. Although I would amend it in such a way to include all fundamentally capitalist countries or societies. Because this over-identification with your job is absolutely a thing in Germany as well. “What do you do for a living?” is one of the first things any German would ask you when they get to know you. I’m convinced it’s responsible for so many people having to deal with depressions and feelings of unworthiness because they are unemployed. The idea that you have to have a job basically gets drilled into you from early childhood.

Another thing I noticed about Germans (and I suspect that might be less so in the US) is the preoccupation with how much stuff costs. That can be really frustrating. Imagine telling someone – a friend or a colleague – that you just came back from visiting another country or that you were at a concert or something like that. One of the first things almost all Germans would ask after you said that is: “How much did it cost?” or “Was it expensive?” As if experiences can always be measured by how much they cost to have them. Or as if a good experience gets significantly better if you got it at a bargain price. Or as if a bad experience gets significantly worse when you paid too much for it. It’s almost funny, but definitely a little said.