What is your favorite alien culture in Star Trek?

[BohandiAnsoid]

I would like to ask you this simple question. It may be a culture that we know little about but seems nice, to the very well explored culture and anything in between.

My favorite culture is Ocampan. Their biology may be poorly written, but I really like their culture. Not that we know much about it, but the line from Kes about there being no romantic jealousy or conflict there, as well as the fact they were friendly to the outsiders and genuinely wanted to help them (even if they didn’t know how) and were even friendly to someone who broke their rules (Kes) wins them being on the top of my list.

However, there is also another thing i would like to ask you: in what alien civilization would you like to live in, if you were living in Star Trek universe, especially if you were a member of that civilization’s main species (or civilization just is open to accept you)? I would choose the Bajorans, but only if I was born after the end of the Occupation. Other than that, maybe Betazoids or Tamarians, but I am not sure.

 

[HIjol]

Three-Way Tie between Klingon, Cardassian and Romulan…

Honorable Mention goes to Tamarian!!!

 

[HotRod]

I rather like the Vulcans. From their savage early days, the splintering off of the Romulans, the enlightenment from the pursuit of logic and the teachings of Surak, the inner corruption by Romulan agents, etc. They're a fascinating people.

 

[Newt]

Well there is plenty of rich alien cultures, Vulcans, Klingons, Cardaasians, Bajorans, Romulans, Ferengi.
I dare say the Vulcans may be the most explored as they been with trek since the very first episode.
With great characters of Spock, Savavik, Tuvok, Sarek, T'Pol.

On the other hand the Klingons have been really fleshed out. Starting as series bad guys to the most complex aliens in Star Trek.
Great characters Worf, Martok, Gowron, Gorkon, Chang, K'Ehleyr

So it's a tie for me. Vulcans & Klingons

 

[Alexander Corrino]

I'd love to live among Vulcans. It would be very refreshing for me. I struggle with emotions, so, a culture that bases everything on logic is great. I would also not object to BEING Vulcan. Would be fascinating. (Pun fully intended.)

When it comes to "non-major" alien cultures tho I've always wanted to learn more about the Sheliak. I mean I'm German, I already live in a massively bureaucratic society so I'd probably fit right in

 

[at Quark's]

Not that it's my favorite culture (far from it), but I wonder what it would be like to be a Federation ambassador to the Sheliak Corporate.

(It's nearly certain there isn't one, as the Sheliak didn't communicate with the Federation for 111 years, but still.)

 

[Alexander Corrino]

Not that it's my favorite culture (far from it), but I wonder what it would be like to be a Federation ambassador to the Sheliak Corporate.

(It's nearly certain there isn't one, as the Sheliak didn't communicate with the Federation for 111 years, but still.)

What an awesome idea! I'd volunteer! I'd love to see if Sheliak bureaucracy can rival ours, and I'd like to think I'd be able to communicate somewhat smoothly with the Sheliak. Same level of bureaucratic language and rules and regulations etc. lol

 

[at Quark's]

Funny coincidence, I didn't see (or, at least, not consciously) you already had mentioned the Sheliak in the post before me until just a minute ago.

So apparently they do appeal to imagination.

 

[Warp Core Breach]

Pakleds.

 

[Frontis]

Species 8472, so fascinating and so different.

 

[Detached Nacelle]

Romulans. There's something somewhat compelling about strictly defined morals, this is right and this is wrong, you are friend and you are foe without uncomfortable grey areas.

I don't do well with grey areas and "under certain circumstances" and "use your best judgements" so I think Romulan society would be nice to live under you know minus the whole oppression thing.

Plus warbirds.

 

[Nyotarules]

Caitians - I like cats. A planet full of them would be heaven. I would have to stop myself from going around saying 'Hey kitty, kitty'

 

[Artoo Atari]

I'd love to live among Vulcans. It would be very refreshing for me. I struggle with emotions, so, a culture that bases everything on logic is great. I would also not object to BEING Vulcan. Would be fascinating. (Pun fully intended.)

I feel the same way. Living among logical people guided by reason and freed from emotional enslavement would be most gratifying.

 

[TheFlutteringHorde]

Andorians! They're blue! They have antennae! Their ships look cool! Some of them are named Jennifer!

 

[Oddish]

There are some fascinating cultures in Trek.

Klingons: Warrior mentality. Honor above all. Though not sure about the violent sex and reliance on pain sticks.

Cardassians: Fascinating dichotomy. A Cardassian will weep at the death of his child's pet wompet, but cut down a foe without blinking. Just don't get accused of a crime there.

Ferengi, pre-"Dogs of War": There's no taxes, everything's for sale, cheating and exploitation are expected behaviors, and your house is your house. And there's 200 words for rain.

Bajorans: A spiritual people, but forged by the ordeal of having to drive the Cardassians off their planet.

And even Kataan: Picard's "other life" was spent here, and we saw glimmers of an interesting culture, made especially poignant as they knew they were dying.

 

[Nyotarules]

I feel the same way. Living among logical people guided by reason and freed from emotional enslavement would be most gratifying.

But bad for the human psyche

 

[at Quark's]

Cardassians: Fascinating dichotomy. A Cardassian will weep at the death of his child's pet wompet, but cut down a foe without blinking. Just don't get accused of a crime there.

I think several people in power in real history shared this trait. Ruthless when it came to politics and sending thousands to their deaths, for example in a war, but still sentimental when (say) their pet died. Probably a consequence of compartmentalization of the mind. ('pet' goes into a different category than 'canon fodder').

 

[Artoo Atari]

But bad for the human psyche

Not if you're a Vulcan.

 

[Qonundrum]

The Borg, whose primary mission is a macabre warped version of "We want to improve others' lives" but go about it in an odd way, often by such complete force then, because it's simpler, just take bits off a dead soldier and watch as it then disintegrates instead of healing them back up, but that might be part of the point as the Borg, having lost their individuality, forgot about improving their Collective's members' lives in the process. That aside, surely they have more people than you'd think wanting to volunteer? I mean, working together to figure out transwarp technology to explore more of the galaxy and then sit back and drink some hard lemonade and play Pac-Man or whatever while the technological bits remove the sugars and alcohol that wreak havoc on the internal organs? Especially as Geordi is proto-Borg with technological items replacing the original biological bits (which weren't there, but I digress) and rarely was it talked about as to why not make everybody wear a VISOR. The few times the show did were when it helped out a lot, since "The Masterpiece Society" is otherwise utterly unwatchable without his scenes. I forgot the story when there's a question directly posed about why not everyone is forced to have one if it's better than un-augmented humans? There's a great middle-ground somewhere in all this, which TNG sadly never really explored.

 

[Nyotarules]

There's a great middle-ground somewhere in all this, which TNG sadly never really explored.

The Jurati Borg could be the middle ground