Neelix ??? [enterprise] [spoilers too]

[DWARF]

Latinum only really becomes valuable after the predominance of replicator technology, because it can't be replicated (something unique to do with its molecular structure, I believe). Before that, I guess it's understandable that gold is precious, through out the universe, because it's pretty, but otherwise worthless for much more than decorations (i.e., jewelry) and monetary transactions because of its inherent softness.

- Christopher

But why would that matter? IF you can't replicate latinum, then why not replicate stuff you can and sell it for latinum? In a replicator economy, wouldn't energy become the base unit of commerce?

 

[Stormprince]

But why would that matter? IF you can't replicate latinum, then why not replicate stuff you can and sell it for latinum? In a replicator economy, wouldn't energy become the base unit of commerce?

For most societies, at least those that are primary members of the United Federation of Planets, you're absolutely correct. However, many of the societies that are not members of the Federation don't have access to the replicator technology... and the Ferengi deal with both sides. Latinum is a primary way for them to make money (cold, hard currency as opposed to numbers in a databank that can easily be manipulated by those with the proper skills). The Ferengi aren't part of the Federation of Planets, though they have a lot of dealings with them.

Granted, I am FAR from a Star Trek expert (hell, to put things in perspective, I actually liked Voyager ), so I could possibly be blowing smoke out of my... EARS... but what I do remember is that Latinum can't be counterfited, which is why it becomes so precious in the future.

And note: I'm just a fan, not the creator of the ST Universe, so I have no idea, this is just an opinion formed on what I do know

- Christopher

 

[Wolf72]

agreed!

... this seems to be an alternate universe type trek ... and I like it!

vulcans are falllible ...

hopefully it won't turn into a huge technology race a few seasons from now.

 

[ascendance]

Also, did you notice how much they wanted gold? GOLD? According to Quark in DS9, gold is worthless, only Latinum is worth anything. Guess that's just the way things change over 200 years.

Actually, IRC the scene properly, they asked Archer about the valuables and the vault about the ship. Archer eventually said "Yes, there's a vault. Filled with gold bars." The Ferengi jumped to the conclusion he was talking about gold-pressed latinum, and said so.

 

[Mark Plemmons]

Yeah, I loved this episode, continuity or no. (I'm betting Paramount's reasoning is "Well, they never actually called them Ferengi, so they didn't find out the name of the race, so continuity is preserved."

You know, I didn't laugh once at the Ferengi, but watching Archer and Trip fight about Hoshi's "price," and T'Pol's bit with the captain, I thought was really funny.

That's one of the best things about Enterprise, I think. They've brought back the humor of the original series. The other Treks just lacked a lot of that, in my opinion. Oh sure, they had it on occasion, but not as a constant.

Mark Plemmons

 

[jasper]

I
Also, did you notice how much they wanted gold? GOLD? According to Quark in DS9, gold is worthless, only Latinum is worth anything. Guess that's just the way things change over 200 years.

Wrong they(big ears) drop words goldpress latinum. the humans said gold and then the big ears just repeated the word gold

 

[Ysgarran]

We also see now that T'Pol is demonstrating some very unfamiliar Vulcan traits - she lied, flat-out, to the Ferengi. She also was acting very playfully angry with the captain. Now, the way to think about this is that perhaps it's because we're seeing Vulcans as they were a couple centuries before the original series. On the other hand, though, that would only be a couple generations to the long-lived Vulcans, so I guess that really couldn't account for it. Is she half-Romulan, perhaps? Whatever the reason, I like it.

Vulcans have not had really long term exposure to humans yet. Not in the close quarters of a spaceship at least. On Earth they live in closed compounds with only minimal contact with the human population. She may have some trouble adapting. Also, they met that group of Vulcans who were indulging (? is that the word I want?) in emotions.

I read a Star Trek book a number of years ago that mentioned that the meeting of the Vulcan and Human cultures resulted in an invigoration of both. The human outlook in parted some flexibility and life into the hidebound vulcan culture. The culture vulcan imparted an ability to look past tomorrow and into the future to the human culture.

As a side note, I think that part of the Vulcan high command has been infiltrated with Romulans. Perhaps sleepers from the time of the parting between the Vulcans/Romulans or perhaps from the 'temporal cold war' that has been mentioned.

 

[Mark Plemmons]

Well, for the most part we're really only familiar with two Vulcans: Spock and Tuvok.

Spock, we've been told, because of his half-human heritage, worked harder at suppressing emotion, and acts "more Vulcan than a Vulcan."

Tuvok often showed emotional tendencies, and lied when it was expected of him.

So T'Pol, probably the first Vulcan to be in close contact with a "primitive" race like humans for an extended period of time, is bound to show more emotion that we sometimes expect.

My thoughts....

- Mark