Data was a person, to the extent that there was a very famous episode exploring defining him as such. He may have been a machine, but he had clear free will and was capable of thinking for himself, to the extent that the Federation even at their level of technology at the time had no idea how to make another one of him. He was not made specifically to fill a Starfleet uniform, either – Enrolling in Starfleet academy was his idea and he earned his commission just like everybody else. That’s not something a toaster would do, no matter how complicated of a little song it can beep.
The existing crew of the Enterprise certainly knew this having already served with him for some time, several of them having their asses saved by him personally, and one of said asses also having been tapped.
I imagine Sales™ would not manage to clear that bar, and Pulaski would have no idea either way (unless maybe she were thoroughly briefed).
I imagine Sales™ would not manage to clear that bar, and Pulaski would have no idea either way (unless maybe she were thoroughly briefed).
But he was a LCDR in Starfleet, on board the most prestigious ship in the fleet, and clearly had the respect of the crew he worked with. She had to completely ignore all of that to display the prejudice she showed. I think it’s perfectly correct to take issue with it.
Data was a person, to the extent that there was a very famous episode exploring defining him as such. He may have been a machine, but he had clear free will and was capable of thinking for himself, to the extent that the Federation even at their level of technology at the time had no idea how to make another one of him. He was not made specifically to fill a Starfleet uniform, either – Enrolling in Starfleet academy was his idea and he earned his commission just like everybody else. That’s not something a toaster would do, no matter how complicated of a little song it can beep.
The existing crew of the Enterprise certainly knew this having already served with him for some time, several of them having their asses saved by him personally, and one of said asses also having been tapped.
I imagine Sales™ would not manage to clear that bar, and Pulaski would have no idea either way (unless maybe she were thoroughly briefed).
But he was a LCDR in Starfleet, on board the most prestigious ship in the fleet, and clearly had the respect of the crew he worked with. She had to completely ignore all of that to display the prejudice she showed. I think it’s perfectly correct to take issue with it.
I will volunteer to have my ass tapped by Sales™ if that’s what it takes to bridge the human-machine cultural divide.
A haywire ai controlled fuck machine is exactly how I want to die!