[extropy-chat] Spike, father of Ferenginar

[David Lubkin]

Spike wrote:

>Do not worry Brett, my profit motive is immune to
>injury, as is that of humanity in general.  Humans are
>the ancestors of the Ferengi.

I've seen analyses of the primary species in Star Trek: The Next 
Generation as based on long-standing human stereotypes that most 
people find offensive.

Ferengi, ugly, short, with prominent nose and ears, boorish, and 
obsessed with money, are Jews.

Klingons, large, brown-skinned, aggressive, violent, and relatively 
dim-witted, are blacks. (Versus the original series, where Klingons 
and Romulans were analogs for Communists (Soviet and Chinese, respectively).)

Vulcans, exotic-looking, with slanted eyebrows and tinged skin, 
smart, hard for humans to fathom, are Asian.

I suppose the Betazoids, dark-haired, hot, and emotion-driven, are Hispanic.

Humans, mostly white, good-looking, noble, and evolved compared to 
everyone except maybe the Vulcans, are white.

This patterning in ST:TNG seems consistent enough to be deliberate, 
at least for Ferengi and Klingons, although I suppose it could be 
unintentional.

None of this had occurred to me until it was pointed out, but I tend 
to be oblivious. Has anyone else noticed any of this?


-- David.