<\/td><\/tr><\/table><\/p>\nThe problem is that it’s pretty darn hard to imagine a world with no money. We can dream up a world where travel is instant. We just make a cardboard set and write “Transporter” on the side. Boom. Now you go from A to B instantly. Done. But we can’t make a box for the technology that will replace money because we can’t picture how that would work. <\/p>\n
To be fair, it’s not Gene’s fault he doesn’t know how to magically solve our arguments over money. He just wanted to show a world where – one way or another – those arguments no longer existed. But it did create this odd effect where we couldn’t talk too much about the day-to-day life of the average Earthling, because we couldn’t ever go into detail about how they pursued their long-term goals. <\/p>\n
This was probably for the best. This forced the writers out into space where they wouldn’t stumble over these problems, and kept our focus on the “strange new worlds” thing. For someone who is always nitpicking and demanding explanations for thingsMy constant question of “BUT WHAT DO THEY EAT?!” is nearing catchphrase levels<\/span> this is occasionally hard for me to accept. But I think it’s a big part of the soul of Trek, and makes for a better show.<\/p>\n When you get right down to it, a lot of stories revolve around acquiring, protecting, and holding resources: Food, bullets, land, gold, medicine, technology, etc. Individual A wants something and B doesn’t want to surrender it, so conflict ensues. It must have been a monumental pain the the ass to keep the writers in line, because “lack of resources” is an easy motivator for a writer to use. <\/p>\n DISCLAIMER: This is not an invitation to talk politics. I know how some of you are really eager to praise or curse capitalism, and you’re just looking to a fig leaf of an excuse to do so. Not here, please. Let’s keep this focused on the problems of writing fiction when you’re not allowed to talk about fundamental aspects of the world.<\/strong><\/p>\n
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