this post was submitted on 26 Oct 2023
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Honestly, I never understood why a counselor would be on that spot. A linguist? Why not. Historian? Absolutely biologist/chemist? Understandable. Counselor? Nah-uh
Regular counselor? Sure, doesn't need to be on the bridge.
Mind-reading empath, though? Massive strategic advantage in any encounter, friend or foe! Put her on the bridge!
Indeed. It doesn't happen too often, but the writers occasionally remembered to do something useful with her empath powers, like in the Samaritan ep where she's the first one to clock that the Pakled's are up to something. Ofc this comes a few minutes after Worf says something like "bro we really want to send Geordi over there?" and Riker's like "look at these dipshits he's gonna be fine" and then Troi is the one that figures it out. So must have been opposite day in the writer's room or something.
To be fair, stating the obvious, which she does quite a lot, is also quite advantageous. Like, sure, that Klingon Captain seems angry and insulted, but what if he's just a really good actor trying to deceive a Federation ship? When Troi goes "Yup, he's angry and insulted" that would basically be the go ahead to assume he's telling the truth and act accordingly.
But TNG writers usually only seemed to remember there was an empath on the bridge at the last second, so they just wrote in she can't sense anything
I think there's a lot of value in quickly profiling enemies and anyone else you deal with.
Ah yes valuable skills like sensing that the romulans may be hiding something.
And that the alien who is yelling seems angry
And the Ferengi is scheming. Oh, wait, she can't read Ferengi.
Show was written in a time before streaming, before people could record TV. She was there to explain to the audience, who were assumed to not be aware of the previous episodes, who the bad guys are.
Good point! I had VHS tapes that had been recorded over too much....I often missed half an ep, because I set the timer wrong or I already had a good one and I tried to record a second on the same tape.
The stories which her empathy abilities are more useful don't make it to the show unfortunately, they're over too quickly. That's my theory.
Yeah. She's an empath that can size up the adversary over a FaceTime call. Pretty awesome advantage!
Uh what? Historian? The history of...where no man has gone before? Why would a biologist/chemist be on the bridge? They would be in a lab where they could actually employ their skills. Not saying Counselor is the best, but it's pretty obvious it's because of her abilities, not her title.
One would think that it is important for a ship's counselor to remain pretty detached from the day-to-day decision-making of the crew. That it would be a very bad idea for the counselor to be regularly fraternizing with what are basically her patients.
I wonder how this works in, for example, the Navy.
Same goes for doctors and such, seems a bit awkward for the enterprise crew to be friends with their doctor. Imagine having a drink with your gynecologist, or in case of riker, someone who most likely has treated him for at least one alien VD.
Or just the more general awkwardness of having your therapist and doctor around all the time, always aware of your lifestyle. Like, getting scolded by Beverly for your shitty eating habits during checkup and then she runs into you in 10 forward while you are trying to inhale a piece of cake.
Well, they're all basically locked in a submarine, but way worse. You're in a sealed box hurtling through space. You need a doctor on board, and you need a counselor on board. If you don't want both of them to go completely insane, both of them also need friends and social interaction.
While I agree that Starfleet levels of general fraternization are a lot looser than in modern military, I also think it's just kind of something you learn to live with when you serve on a ship.
I think we're, at least, led to believe that Starfleet officers are better adjusted than your average early 21st century human. For example, we don't see a lot of gossip behind Riker's back about how he gets around, but you very probably would today.
It may still not be ideal, but I think it would be less problematic than it would be for us.
Everyone is living authentically so there isn't the friction you imagine. Riker isn't shamed for liking sex. Troi isn't shamed for liking sweets. People are done shaming each other for being themselves. At least that was the idea.
It’s not about shame in my opinion, more like having your parents always nearby. Beverly is certainly too professional to ever reference something intimate or personal that she only knows through her function on the ship.
Also there is certainly still a degree of "shame" present, people still have privacy and an outward image. People still wear clothes.
i've never served in the Navy or even been on board ship, but fraternization between officers and enlisted in all services is pretty strictly forbidden.. and counselors and therapists would probably be officers in most cases.. but casual socialization is normally totally off limits.. simple reason being, officers have to order enlisted people into danger, so there can't be appearance of favorites..
fraternization among the officers is normal, though and has been part of life aboard ships forever
She's psychic though.
Once upon a time this was a subject that came up on the bridges of Navy ships.
She gotta handle the very high achievers of the flagship- they all have neuroses. It would be like managing a class of potential CEOs. Riker has typical dad issues, La Forge has anxiety, Crusher has.....french and scottish issues....