How Has Star Trek Impacted You?

So earlier this morning, I had to do a 10 min presentation for my Sociology 101 class on how Star Trek impacted society. ^^; My question to you all, is...



*hugs*
Here was the transcript of some points of my presentation ^^; (Part 1)

Address to Social Change
Star Trek aired on September 8, 1966, around the time of the civil rights movements. Through Star Trek, Gene wanted to address the issues of racism and sexism, featuring minority groups as equals on television. The Enterprise had a very diverse multi-cultural crew that represented many minority groups. This diversity helped strengthened the crew’s efficiency when working together.

Role of Women
Gene wanted to change how television portrayed women by giving them equally important roles on Star Trek. Majel Barrett played as “Number One”, the second in command of the U.S.S. Enterprise during the pilot episode. Nichelle Nicholes played as Lt. Uhura, chief officer of communications. And later down the road, we have Kate Mulgrew who played the pivotal role of Captain Janeway on the starship U.S.S. Voyager.
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Role of African-Americans
Star Trek portrayed African-Americans with equal roles as well. Again, Nichelle played as Uhura, and there was actually an interesting story between her and Martin Luther King Jr. that changed her life and the future of their show. As the show evolved “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” aired, which centralized, Captain Benjamin Sisko, played by African-American actor Avery Brooks.

Nichelle Nichols Meets Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.



Dr. Mae Jemison
The role Nichelle Nicoles played as Lt. Uhura is what inspired Astronaut, Dr. Mae Jemison to become the very first African-American woman in space, onboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour back in 1992. Interestingly enough, she also had a cameo on Star Trek: The Next Generation, being the first real astronaut to appear on a TV series, playing as Lt. Junior Grade Palmer.

LGBTQA
Star Trek’s progressive approach on sexual diversity portrayed interracial, interspecies, poly-amorous, or even same-sex relationships. The show’s first controversial same-sex kiss aired on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine’s episode, “Rejoined” in 1995. Lt. Hawk from ST: First Contact, was written as a gay character in several Star Trek novels, and his boyfriend Ranul Keru served onboard the U.S.S. Titan after Hawke's death. George Takei, well-known Japanese actor who originally played Sulu, and actor Zachary Quinto, who played Spock in the recent Star Trek reboots, both came out as gay. These great actors now proudly embrace it and help advocate the rights of the LGBTQA community.



Positive Vision of the Future
Star Trek illustrated a positive vision of the future. In this universe, Earth is united with no poverty, no wars between nations, better living standards, the people are more accepting, and we could finally inhabit space and explore the stars.



NASA
It’s what has inspired many of NASA’s scientists and astronomers today in developing better space technologies to further benefit humanity and explore the cosmos. In support of their fans, NASA even named one of their space shuttles after the U.S.S. Enterprise from Star Trek called the Shuttle Orbiter Enterprise (OV-101)



King of Jordan, Abdullah II
Star Trek also inspired the King of Jordan, Abdullah II, who is now currently funding for a Star Trek style resort called the “Red Sea Astrarium” in Aqaba, Jordan. He was such a big fan, he even had a special cameo on Star Trek Voyager on a diplomatic visit to America.

Paramount Park Murcia
Paramount as well wants to build a Star Trek Theme Park in Alhama de Murcia, Spain in 2015!
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Part II: Inspiration to Science & Technology

Another essential part of Star Trek’s futuristic universe was all the cool advanced technology they used in the show, many of which inspired technologies we use today.



Ion propulsion, featured in "Spocks Brain" from The Original Series,inspired NASA’s Ion Propulsion for their Deep Space 1 mission & future satellite programs.

The Phaser also inspired the United States Air Force’s dazzler weapon known as the PHaSR, which stands for Personnel Halting and Stimulation Response, which can stun a target temporarily using a low-density lazer beam. So remember to set phasers on stun!

I'm afraid mine is not going to be as long and as well done as yours. Sorry. :-P

I had a rough childhood. When I was 1 year old, my dad left. My first memories are of being homeless and living in shelters. At 10 I was thrown into foster care. I saw my first episode of Star Trek when I was 12-13. It was an episode of TNG and I fell in love. The show gave me hope that there was a better future out there for me. I know it sounds silly. I remember first seeing VOY when I was placed into a group home for troubled youth. I hated the place. The other boys were abusive and mean and the staff were no better. But VOY was like my little escape to another world. A better world.

I am to all intents and purposes a scientist and i think Star Trek and its depiction of science in general definitely had a role to play in that. So considering this is the career i will likely spend the rest of my life working in, i would call that a fairly big impact.

Quote by Vidan@notaredshirt79

I had a rough childhood. When I was 1 year old, my dad left. My first memories are of being homeless and living in shelters. At 10 I was thrown into foster care. I saw my first episode of Star Trek when I was 12-13. It was an episode of TNG and I fell in love. The show gave me hope that there was a better future out there for me. I know it sounds silly. I remember first seeing VOY when I was placed into a group home for troubled youth. I hated the place. The other boys were abusive and mean and the staff were no better. But VOY was like my little escape to another world. A better world.

Awwww, Tony ;_; *huge hug squeeze* It's not silly at all. Star Trek did the same for me too, escaping into this better world, and showing that there was hope. :)

Quote by Gravity

I am to all intents and purposes a scientist and i think Star Trek and its depiction of science in general definitely had a role to play in that. So considering this is the career i will likely spend the rest of my life working in, i would call that a fairly big impact.

I totally agree with you on that. That's really awesome ^^;

Excellent write up Eurrsk! I've always thought Star Trek tried to highlight the best of what we are as a race and look toward a bright future. Of course being a tech geek, how could one not love the idea of a real holodeck some day! :)

the google contact lens !! lol

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Quote by DBeaSSt

Excellent write up Eurrsk! I've always thought Star Trek tried to highlight the best of what we are as a race and look toward a bright future. Of course being a tech geek, how could one not love the idea of a real holodeck some day! :)

Thanks! Indeed! one of the very reasons why I love it so much! :D If they made a holodeck one day, I would probably never leave it lol! ^^;

Quote by DilenXichetSTO

the google contact lens !! lol

omg lol! Right?? :D

Well done, Chris!! B) Awesome work.

It was weird for me when I was 14, when I realized that I was growing out of the usual cartoons and stuff I was into before then. I was left reeling and with a wandering imagination. I needed something more than simple fantasy worlds and video games (even though those played good parts of my childhood.)

One night I was bored, flipping through channels on TV. And there came on Star Trek: The Next Generation, and without thinking about it I just put the remote down. The Best of Both Worlds episodes were on. "This show is awesome..." I said to myself as the 2nd hour concluded.

While it was heavily syndicated with re-runs of episodes often showing, I then found out that TNG was about to wrap up its 5th season, and I caught part one of Time's Arrow when it premiered that weekend, again left reeling for more! So between watching reruns of previous seasons, and the weekly new episodes... I watched every airing religiously. The following year my parents took me to a Trek convention in Boston. I got a Uniform, a combadge, and one pip to hold the rank of Ensign.

Reality hit me when my dad passed away in ’94. Everything changed and my world seemed shattered with him gone. The grieving months went by, but next to my family, I escaped to TNG, putting my uniform on and acting episodes out in parts. I always felt safe there, getting lost in the stories. It helped me heal; no one is ever alone on the Enterprise.

Despite his passing, I could go on and on about how great those days were and how happy Trek made me… But more to the point, getting into Star Trek was an explosive experience. Imagination, possibility, hope, courage…It helped me further explore these things within, and today I consider myself a playful explorer with a love for the outdoors, astronomy, art, music…things that provoke curiosity, wonder, and a sense of adventure.

While daily life can be a drag at times, it is important break away from the mundane. Share in your adventures with those you love and it tends to make life that much more awesome, for those experiences are timeless and transcend everyone, no matter who you are or where you come from. And challenges: They can be overcome together.

Twenty years later, the kid in me squee’s that I have my own starship. There are no limits. So boldly go.



Steve

Unlike most people I seem to talk to, my first introduction to Star Trek was the original series. For several years, my parents went through a bit of a rough patch and had separated, leaving me to spend the weekdays living with my mom and going to school, and the weekends with my dad. I'm not sure how it all started, but at some point, I must have seen an original series episode on TV, and had obviously taken to it. Money was tight back then, but I remember that on the Friday at the end of every week, my dad brought home in his briefcase, an original series episode on VHS for me, until I had nearly the entire collection. These VHS cases became a very familiar sight for me and brought me to a smile, every time.

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Even as an adult, I own every single Star Trek episode from every single series, including the original series, a collection that I have spread across DVDs and iTunes. I re-watch original series episodes over lunch, and while I sometimes cringe at some of the acting, it still makes me really happy to sit down and watch an episode.

Star Trek has been a huge part of my life ever since I was a kid, and it's impacted every aspect of who I am today. From trying to be a good and fair person in the way I live my life, to picking a job that reflected that vision, to joining this online Star Trek community and watching re-runs of the show nearly every day. It's not that I consider myself a hardcore fan, it's just that Trek has become my comfortable and familiar companion, reminding me of how to be a good person and always taking me on new adventures, no matter how many times I've seen an episode.

Then there's poor Julien, (who was a complete non-Trekkie when I first met him), but who's now seen every series of Trek, has been to the Vegas convention with me (this year will be his second), and even has a costume to wear on costume night, this time around! (Not even I have a costume, lol).

Yeah... I think it's fairly safe to say Trek plays a big role in my life, and I wouldn't have it any other way B)

Quote by Rasilek

While daily life can be a drag at times, it is important break away from the mundane. Share in your adventures with those you love and it tends to make life that much more awesome, for those experiences are timeless and transcend everyone, no matter who you are or where you come from. And challenges: They can be overcome together.

Twenty years later, the kid in me squee’s that I have my own starship. There are no limits. So boldly go.

Wow ;_;

*hug squeeze* The loss of a loved one is never easy, and I'm really glad you did found that comfort and hope through Trek. You're never alone. Those adventures and experiences are truly worth cherishing, and with the people you love. :)

Boldly go, Steve!

These are all very good stories. So I thought I would share my view of Star Trek and what it has meant to me through my life.

I was around 7 or 8 years old when I first saw Star Trek, it was the original series, and no we are not going into my age ;)

I grew up in an abusive family I was sexually abused by my Uncle and Cousin and physically and emotionally abused by my father. I grew up listening to You can't be my son or you will never amount to anything. After you hear this enough you begin to believe it. It affected my greatly because I no longer trusted anyone and was struggling hard in life with who or what I was. Words impact us profoundly and I don't think most people really understand how words hurt us more deeply then physical attacks. As a child I actually wished I would just die so it would all end.

In my world of hell I found one thing that gave me hope and a reason to endure the pain my life was full of. It was a show called Star Trek. I loved this show because it always left me with a feeling of happiness. Not because I loved Science Fiction or the thought of traveling in space seeing the stars. But how the world was in Star Trek. I saw it as a world that did not care who you were or what you were or even what color you were. It showed a world where diversity was a strength. I gave me hope that things can get better.

It gave me a guide in life to change myself and break the chain. The chain I speak of is violence. I was determined through my life that I would not be like my father or my Uncle and cousin. I would choose to seek out peaceful solutions to problems. Sure I was called a coward, a pussy a chicken and yes a faggot. I didn't care, I did not care if I was looked at as the odd person or different person.

Has the world become like the world of Star Trek? No, but it is changing slowly. I like to think it is getting better. It won't happen over-night or even in my lifetime. But I have hope in mankind, I like to look at hope as a first step for us all to take in the right direction. Call me weird if you like or a dreamer, but our future evolves from all of our dreams. Things change because of our dreams. Mountains are moved because of dreams and we travel to the stars now because of dreams. So what is wrong with dreaming of a world where your diversity is embraced as a strength?

So how has Star Trek affected me? It affected me with life, love and hope.

Stark Trek, for me, is the embodiment of acceptance and equality.

I was introduced to Trek with TNG. I actually don't know when I started watching it, but it must have been season 2 or 3. I have since re-watched the entire series many times over along with all of the other series, except for the original (sorry Dave).

I identified with Data. As a young tween in the early 90's I was raised in a very Christian home. I knew at a young age that I was different, but didn't know what or why. I was very sheltered and didn't get much social interaction. We didn't even have cable TV until I was in High School. It actually wasn't until High School that my friends basically told me I was Gay...and it all fell in to place.

I saw the difference in Data, and his drive to become more like the rest of the crew, and his struggle to comprehend his differences and how to overcome them. I felt as thought it were my own internal emotions being portrayed by an emotionless being on TV. I was enthralled by the idea that everyone is the same, everyone has the same opportunities and everyone has the potential to command a Starfleet vessel. Star Trek became the primary fuel for my daydreams and fantasies (the Holodeck concept helped there).

I became so enamored with the show that I would actually stand in front of the TV with my finger over the IR sensor so my brother couldn't change the channel with the remote control when a new episode was on.

I have never been much of a Gamer, but when I found out about Star Trek Online I knew it would become a very important part of my life. Finding Stonewall Fleet was such a coincidence that I almost didn't see the posting in the forums. Thankfully I did, and here I am. Happy.

Quote by Suruk

Has the world become like the world of Star Trek? No, but it is changing slowly. I like to think it is getting better. It won't happen over-night or even in my lifetime. But I have hope in mankind, I like to look at hope as a first step for us all to take in the right direction. Call me weird if you like or a dreamer, but our future evolves from all of our dreams. Things change because of our dreams. Mountains are moved because of dreams and we travel to the stars now because of dreams. So what is wrong with dreaming of a world where your diversity is embraced as a strength?

So how has Star Trek affected me? It affected me with life, love and hope

Wow ;_; Beautifully said, Suruk! Like Martin Luther King Jr, "I have a dream!"
Well, those dreams will take us far! :D Boldly go! *big hugs*

Quote by Mrizzy

I saw the difference in Data, and his drive to become more like the rest of the crew, and his struggle to comprehend his differences and how to overcome them. I felt as thought it were my own internal emotions being portrayed by an emotionless being on TV. I was enthralled by the idea that everyone is the same, everyone has the same opportunities and everyone has the potential to command a Starfleet vessel. Star Trek became the primary fuel for my daydreams and fantasies (the Holodeck concept helped there).

have never been much of a Gamer, but when I found out about Star Trek Online I knew it would become a very important part of my life. Finding Stonewall Fleet was such a coincidence that I almost didn't see the posting in the forums. Thankfully I did, and here I am. Happy.

Aww :D I absolutely love Data. He is one of my favorite characters from the show because of those reasons you point out so well. ^^ This game and this community is like no other, and I'm really grateful that you've been such a wonderful cheerleader as an Admiral for this fleet! Thank you for giving me the opportunity to grow in this community and being a positive influence on others. Boldly go, Izzy! *huge hugs* !

This is pretty amazing!! I would love to see more stuff come true :D except.. Viidians, Hirogens, Borg... and most other Delta Qaudrent species and things lol

Wow! So many ways! I could go on and on and on, but I'll keep it to a few points.

1. Understanding: no matter how different we are, we can still be at peace with one another. Our differences accentuate our strengths, not magnify our weaknesses.
2. Technology: suddenly, we have something to strive for! Imagine what life would be like with a holodeck, replicator, and medical tricorder in every home.
3. Empathic-ness: As an empath, I had a very hard time finding ways to understand my abilities. Star Trek is by far the best resource I have found for an intelligent discussion on what I'm experiencing. I actually do model this aspect of my life after the Betazoids and Ocampa.

All that, and the best memories of my childhood was watching TNG with my father. :)

Quote by Scott_Tetrius@Frozenlily

This is pretty amazing!! I would love to see more stuff come true :D except.. Viidians, Hirogens, Borg... and most other Delta Qaudrent species and things lol

Lol yes, let's hope those become reality eep ^^;

Quote by betazoidhalf

Wow! So many ways! I could go on and on and on, but I'll keep it to a few points.

Understanding: no matter how different we are, we can still be at peace with one another. Our differences accentuate our strengths, not magnify our weaknesses.
Technology: suddenly, we have something to strive for! Imagine what life would be like with a holodeck, replicator, and medical tricorder in every home.
Empathic-ness: As an empath, I had a very hard time finding ways to understand my abilities. Star Trek is by far the best resource I have found for an intelligent discussion on what I'm experiencing. I actually do model this aspect of my life after the Betazoids and Ocampa.


All that, and the best memories of my childhood was watching TNG with my father

Glad you found that empathic part of Star Trek to help better understand yourself! ^^

Mine is not as good as the others but here it goes.

My first was watching Star trek 2 when I was a child, seeing this technology on screen, showing me that we are not the only humans in the galaxy. After seeing it, I watched all the original series movies and then went on to TNG. I loved the show. It showed me that being different is ok, and living in an emotional abusive broken home myself, it was nice to see that things would get better. No hunger, disease, poverty (which ive struggled thru my entire life), no homelessness, etc. When i saw ds9 and voyager for the first time, it was amazing, the graphics were so much better and it seemed so real, that at times i had to tell myself that we are not that advanced. I always look at the medical part of it, being afraid of needles and always having to be stuck for something, i bawl at the sight of a needle and hate them with a passion, seeing that in the future needles were not needed for much anymore lets me know that one day it will happen. One day we will all be equal. (i wanted to add something to this but could not make it sound right, so i will end here)

Quote by Night82

Mine is not as good as the others but here it goes.

My first was watching Star trek 2 when I was a child, seeing this technology on screen, showing me that we are not the only humans in the galaxy. After seeing it, I watched all the original series movies and then went on to TNG. I loved the show. It showed me that being different is ok, and living in an emotional abusive broken home myself, it was nice to see that things would get better. No hunger, disease, poverty (which ive struggled thru my entire life), no homelessness, etc. When i saw ds9 and voyager for the first time, it was amazing, the graphics were so much better and it seemed so real, that at times i had to tell myself that we are not that advanced. I always look at the medical part of it, being afraid of needles and always having to be stuck for something, i bawl at the sight of a needle and hate them with a passion, seeing that in the future needles were not needed for much anymore lets me know that one day it will happen. One day we will all be equal. (i wanted to add something to this but could not make it sound right, so i will end here)

No worries! *big hugs* I'm glad it has given you hope and comfort through those rough moments in life. You're right that things will get better. :) Pretty soon, I'm sure we won't have to worry about tohse needles anymore :D

I grew up with Enterprise and Captain Kirk.

Of course I didn´t realize at this time - as a child - that there was a hidden message behind (Lt Uhura: a 1. afroamerican AND 2. woman doing a very important job! OMG!) and that this message was important.

As I advanced in age (still watching Star Trek) the messages came through which are: "We all are equal! Don´t be afraid to face the unknown, rather be interested and have an open mind!" And I recognized the importance.

Yes, I think that Star Trek has impacted me... but this wouldn´t have been possible if my open minded family wouldn´t have allowed me to watch it^^

My family (i was raised by my grandparents) never gave me the feeling that a girl is less valuable than a boy or told me that girls HAVE to play with dolls - hey, i got a model railway for christmas as I was 5 or 6! - but this sight of things was rare in the late 70th respectively early 80th, so I´m very grateful.

I still watch Star Trek over i-net, preferably Voyager (and I´m sure most of you have figured out by now that I´m a Voyager and Janeway fan, lol) and I´m still impressed. And that´s why I play Star Trek Online. I love it!^^

Ok, that´s my story.

Greetings! Live long and prosper!

A.M. aka K.E.

P.S.: Most of you know that English isn´t my first language. And I don´t use a translator. So all errors are my property, I have the copyright! xD