Is �Star Trek� psychologically damaging?

Solitary Poet · **Thu May 25, 2006 6:23 pm Is �Star Trek� psychologically damaging?**

I watched a TV show where a psychologist said that �Star Trek�, and other similar forms of Sci-Fi, was addictive and psychologically damaging because it made fans bored with reality and presented the audience with a world that was more interesting than real life. Why would psychologists specifically attack �Star Trek� on TV?

Founder · **Thu May 25, 2006 6:29 pm**

Good topic...

As much as I hate to say it, it is damaging for SOME people. Not all. I recently posted a topic in WN about a boy killing himself over the popular game "World of Warcraft". Stuff like this, or anything for that matter, can have a psychological affect on people...

Lord Borg · **Thu May 25, 2006 6:30 pm**

Yeah, it can be potentially damaging, I think it's towards people who can be easily swayed, but with help, people could see that it's JUST a form of entertainment, not a way of life (As nice as that kind of a future could be, no doubt)

Solitary Poet · **Thu May 25, 2006 7:30 pm**

I know a lot about psychology, and in my over-educated opinion, People who prefer fantasy to reality will find a medium to do it, even if it is just retreating into their own heads or gazing at the clouds.

That's not to say TV and movies aren't influential; people who watch violence on TV (especially the news) are more likely to believe the world and the people in it are more dangerous than they really is. Children who watch a lot of violence on TV are more aggressive children. Star Trek, however, is a largely optimistic view of the future. It has stimulated a lot of folks to become engineers and rocket scientists, and to go invent what they've seen. Moreover, Star Trek includes social science, although they aren't as good at it.

Voyager2004 · **Fri May 26, 2006 2:26 pm**

madlilnerd · **Sat May 27, 2006 6:36 pm**

don't watch star trek children... you'll end up like me... I live on myspace...

Vulcan Girl · Crewman Joined: 30 May 2006 Posts: 3 Location: Fulton IL

Not to me. I know the difference between reality and fiction, regardless of what my coworkers may think. It's actually helped me a little, to come out of my shell. In TNG, Barclay is a minor character, but one I identify with. He's shy, awkward and uncomfortable in his own skin. Very much like me. But he got better, for a while. I'm better at talking to strangers now too. Star Trek hasn't damaged me. It's helped me in a way.

Leo Wyatt · **Wed May 31, 2006 10:32 am**

It is not damaging to me but it can be for some people I suppose.

IntrepidIsMe · **Wed May 31, 2006 2:15 pm**

To say that Star Trek is psychologically damaging for the reason listed would imply that all forms of fiction are, as well. Sure, there are people that can't handle it, but there are also people who can't even handle real life. It's a waste of time to make the arguement.

Cathexis · **Wed May 31, 2006 6:45 pm**

Others might argue that Harry Potter is psychologically damaging, especially to children because they are facing the idea of witchcraft and wizardry..at least with Star Trek, as far as it may be from reality at this time in our civilization, there is a hope of reaching that state of technological advancement. I'm sure none of us will live to witness such progress, however, but as long as we look at Star Trek as a visionary approach of life in the future....it is quite optimistic and inspirational.

What we have to rely on are our logic and common sense skills. Obviously, 90% or more of Star Trek is fictitious and is unlikely to occur, but that what I mean by using logic. As long as people can separate reality from fantasy, I don't think Star Trek is psychologically damaging at all. In fact, I think its foundations and principles offer a productive view of humanity as we move forward through time, despite things like war. Roddenberry's vision is not damaging to me. In many ways, it has inspired me to be a more virtuous human being.

People who are easily swayed and ignorant of the truth of things by those such as television shows and internet websites are the only ones that I can see being damaged by Star Trek...I can see them being lulled into a false sense of reality....but that is something that they must reconcile.

8 of 9 · **Mon Jun 19, 2006 8:17 pm**

Also I have to add. Ever since i watched Star Trek. every single episode, i wish i was there, and there have been times to a point wich i'd freak every one out, actually talkin like i was on startrek. or even to a point where i took it to far, and yah, talked borg, bad mistake, my mom sent me to a psycoligist when i was like 14, cuz of it, i am now 19. but tell u wat, no shrink can fix my TREKKI sight. lloll. its in my blood, like the Nannoprobes.

harrykims#1fan · **Mon Jun 19, 2006 8:30 pm**

Star trek IMO isnt psychologically damaging...
Spongebob Squarepants IS

That is all

Tuvok8917 · **Tue Jun 20, 2006 9:29 am**

No, it's not... OH WAIT, STAR TREK IS ON!!! WILL BE BACK IN AN HOUR!

lol.

1 hour later:

Ok, i'm back. Like i said: Star Trek is not damaging.

What are you staring at? Did i said something funny?

Cathexis · **Thu Jun 22, 2006 12:22 am**

As I was saying.........

The Truth Is Out There, as in...Out There In Space.

Therefore, The Truth = Star Trek ! So, if that's True, then Star Trek CAN'T be psychologically damaging.....or Can It ? *Twilight Zone theme*

End Transmission.

MakeItSo · **Mon Jul 17, 2006 5:47 pm**

La Forge · **Mon Jul 17, 2006 5:57 pm**

As Cathexis said, ST is optimistic. Its not damaging. However, in some cases, I suppose that it could be.

I watch Star Trek 'cause I like the shows...That's all. Not because I want to live in a new world. However, I do think that life, in our time, is extremely boring...

That's all.

madlilnerd · **Wed Jul 19, 2006 3:53 pm**

I like fantasy more than reality. I would much rather live in the worlds presented to me by Soul Calibur III, Legend of Zelda and Tithe (it's a book).
And yes, sometimes when I look at my life in comparison to the fantasy presented to me, I get depressed. I get down about it. It's not hard for me to diffieniate between fantasy and reality, but in a way it is hard for me to accept that I can't have what I'm being shown.
So I've decided I'm going to start cosplaying. I've decided I'm going to improve my life. Being presented with an unachievable fantasy has encouraged me to the better the reality I exist in.

All entertainment that features fantasy is designed to create escapism for the viewer/reader/player.

Lord Borg · **Thu Jul 20, 2006 7:29 pm**

Eh, I get depressed over what happend with ENT, but I get over it soon enough, Trek...is trek, with out it the entire world would be a differnt place, regardless if you like trek or not. (Let's face it with out trek, there would be no STV....)

5thhouse · **Sat Jul 22, 2006 10:47 pm**

Star Trek is no more damaging on the micro level you refer to than any other fantasy show/book/movie/game/what-have-you and as Solitary Poet mentioned certain people with those predispositions are going to find an outlet, if not Star Trek, something else. The fact is that the great majority of Trek fans live a normal life. I'll also point out that there is nothing wrong with a healthy fantasy life. There is a point at which fantasy is no longer healthy, but having some people cross that line isn't going to change if you remove the current inspiration for their fantasies. They will find another, or come up with their own.
I don't think Trek makes me bored with the "real world" either if anything it makes me more interested because as any passion it exites you, raises awareness, and that carries over into the 'real world.' I think people who have a passion for Star Trek are certaintly happier in that real world than people with a passion for nothing. I also want to point out that there is nothing to make one person qualified to say that a passion for Star Trek is less 'real' than a passion for abstract art or literature. I find it hard to believe she would argue against literature yet fictional literature is no more 'real' than ST.
Also, I don't know exactly his/her specialty but if they are say a practicing therapist they aren't going to see all the healthy Trek fans, they will only see those who don't know how to manage fantasy, or have some other type of problem. That will skew her view of things.
On the other hand, looking at a more macro level I have a problem with some of the messages hidden in ST about things like gender and race. I think there is more merrit to those 'problems' than any of her claims.