Posted on 03/06/2009 8:43:44 AM PST by Reaganesque
The test wasn’t devised to see how you win. It was devised to see how people held up under circumstances that led to defeat. This is a critical aspect of leadership. That’s an important thing to know, if you’re actually going to never give up, not lose your ability to think on your feet, and avoid defeat if at all possible.
Kirk circumvented this process. He was never evaluated in this manner. If that was a prerequisite, then he received preferential treatment by being allowed to pass without taking the test.
>Start Trek also promoted the no (or very few) personal belongings model too.<
LOL. Replicators would make life such a breeze.
I wonder how they handled royalties so that those who developed the original of any item, were provided enough profits to allow their efforts to sustain them.
I’d love one of those things. My wife would have to move out though. LOL
It’s an interesting ethical dilemma. Is it okay to cheat to win and if so, in what circumstances.
LOL. Replicators would make life such a breeze
(Actually, they wouldn’t. Remember the Krell of Forbidden Planet fame...)
Yep. It’s one way to look at it. On the other hand, maybe in the “future” we would know more about human psycology than we do today, just as we know more today than we did 500 years ago.
Okay, but you do realize you are setting up a hypothetical that would render the test unnecessary in the first place.
Oh yes.
Unless there was another reason for the test that was hitherto untold to us viewers. The writers may be busy coming up with one, or they may hope not enough people notice. ;)
Yes I agree.
In this instance...
The Koubayashi Maru test touched on ethics in more ways than one IMO. It was a right of passage of sorts. It should have been something that upper-classmen didn’t discuss with those who hadn’t taken the test.
If someone knew going in that the test was merely a way to assess how someone handled certain failure, then their reaction to the test would be severely impacted, of no value at all.
Kirk’s foreknowledge of the test, rendered it of no value at all to those evaluating him. That alone shows a very poor ability on his part to assess something rationally that was integral to his receiving a commission.
Hand him a pack of Marlboros and tell him to smoke em all in the closet for a few times.
As I recall, Spock says he (Kirk) took the test "three times", and therefore did face the real test twice. Since there can be no "winning" of the scenario -- normally -- I always figured this meant that cadets who were dissatisfied with their own performance could opt to re-take it. Indeed, the question of how many times a candidate chooses to subject themselves to a no-win scenario, and their reasons for doing so, might very well be part of what the Academy evaluates.
In one of the ST episodes or movies, I think Spock refers to it when they're in one of those no-win situations. Then Kirk says I rigged the scenario.
I favor the do-what-you-have-to-do approach with a no-other-option-greater good safety net.
It was in the second movie, the Wrath of Khan.
I’m excited! My dad and brother were always huge trekkies and it rubbed off on me!
Looks pretty good!
Thanx.
I think that’s a well stated response. What I would question is whether it would be a good thing to have someone take the test five times, fail miserably on four of them, then pass once and be considered a good candidate for leadership.
I would have some serious concerns over that candidate.
There is still the question in my mind, what value a test can have if you know from the onset that you cannot win.
Within the confines of the parameters of the test, I agree. You do everything humanly possible to win.
I hope you’re wrong but I had the same reaction. Kirk is a military leader but the trailer suggests he will be portrayed as an inarticulate comic book hero. yuk.
No need. It's on YouTube since it was bootlegged from Watchmen previews.
Impressive. I like it.
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