A rare moment of honesty
1SimpleTailor
TNG and DS9 are the only two series that I really know well enough to make these recommendations for.
I would highly recommend watching TNG before DS9, even if she likes DS9 better. TNG and DS9 work best as companion shows, with TNG building up a lot of DS9 plot-lines in its latter seasons. I would also highly recommend against starting with any episodes involving Q or the Borg, or any of the series "highlights". Let those plots build, and you don't want to spoil some of the best episodes in a sampler. My go-to TNG introduction picks are:
-Cause and Effect
-Darmok
-Measure of a Man
DS9 can be harder to pick introductory episodes for. Its more serialized nature means that a lot of later episodes have a lot of spoilers. I would highly recommend against picking any episodes that highly involve the Dominion or the Dominion War, let that plot build itself up. That does however, leave us with a lot fewer options. My DS9 introduction picks are:
-Duet
-Past Tense
-Bar Association
I mean what are we supposed to do?
I'm working class. I live paycheck to paycheck. I don't have much charisma. I do my best to raise awareness among my peers, with little success. I voted. I support organizing, but unless the strike happens on a weekend I'll be looking at homelessness.
I'm thinking of just going blackout on media, because the constant barrage of the encroaching fascism has wreaked my mental health. I know where this is all heading, and I feel powerless to stop it. I'm a victim of the whims of history. Does that play into the fascist hands? Absolutely. What the fuck else am I supposed to do? Throw my life away in a suicidal attempt at positive change that has a incredibly small chance of success? I need to have a few less things to lose before I'm at that point.
I see people all over social media asking, why aren't you doing anything? Where's our next Luigi? Acting like their provocative online discourse makes them into some revolutionary badass. Well... what the fuck are you doing?
I attended a top 100 public high school in America, where we were taught Greek and Roman mythology. The problem wasn’t that the subject wasn’t offered, it was that a sizable portion of students weren’t paying attention. Even among those who did, few retained the knowledge beyond the next exam. The real issue with American education isn’t just what’s being taught but how it’s being taught. Subjects aren’t presented in a way that truly engages students or encourages long-term retention.
100%. The graphics may be dated but gen 2 is peak Pokemon aesthetic. Peak sprites and soundtrack.
I definitely agree that DS9 is the most consistantly good Star Trek. TNG and VOY reach the same highs, but there's a lot more lows in between them.
I would definitely recommend finishing TNG! Seasons 5 and 6 are peak!
I think an attachment to the characters, nostalgic or otherwise, is necessary to enjoy all of TNG. That way even in bad episodes, it's character you enjoy just doing silly things. Without that attachment A LOT of TNG can be hard to get through.
I tend to play random TNG episodes when I'm doing chores around the house. If TNG is what's playing on the P+ Star Trek Channel I'll usually just put that on. Did some early Spring cleaning this week and had a very random selection of TNG episodes playing. Can't believe Paramount put Code Of Honor in the mix there, but maybe it truly is random.
Been on a Trek rewatch kick again, to combat the depressing reality we live in. Rewatched the begining on DS9 season 6. Ep1 A Time to Stand through Ep13 Far Beyond the Stars. I'd argue that this might be the strongest string of Trek episodes in any series!
Rewatched my favorite Voyager episode too, Counterpoint. I tend to hate on Voyager a bit, but there are some really fantastic episodes mixed in with all the mid ones. Counterpoint would easily make it to my top 10 Trek episodes of all time list!
As someone who loves TNG, it's a very mixed bag of a show. It has very high highs, and very low lows. It's a product of its era of television for better or worse.
DS9 is peak Star Trek. Its far from perfect, but so is TNG. It's the last Trek series to truly have vision. Subsequent writers unfortunately took the wrong lessons from the show, but we can hardly blame DS9 for that.
The TNG films and Voyager are what began Star Treks downward spiral. Poor creative decisions and studio meddling doomed the TNG Films. Meanwhile, sloppy writing and a flawed premise that was poorly executed combined to make Voyager the most mediocre 90s Trek show.
ENT was just the final nail in the coffin. A complete regression of the series that nobody asked for. A desperate attempt at revival by a creative team that was out of ideas.
Hence all the ifs. But hey, the competition isn't fierce! Put the slightest effort into being self-aware, respectful, and charming and you can easily get her attention.
A lot of people in this thread are talking about how much women suck because of X, Y, Z. But like... have you tried not dating shitty women? Or at least not getting so hung up on a woman who treats you poorly? Yeah, it sucks to be treated badly, but consider that you just dodged a bullet. You don’t need women like that in your life. Find a woman you actually connect with, someone you share interests with, not just someone you want to sleep with.
Two hard truths a lot of single men need to reckon with:
1: Most people are kind of shitty, and therefore, most women are kind of shitty. I could go on about how consumer culture and social media encourage toxic traits, but the fact of the matter is you should focus on not being a shitty person yourself, and you shouldn’t settle for shitty people either.
2: With number one in mind, you need to broaden your horizons regarding what kind of woman you’re attracted to. Porn and social media have rotted our brains when it comes to attraction. Maybe I’m just pervy, but honestly, I can find something attractive in just about everyone. 90% of people are at least a 7/10 if they put in some effort, and a 7/10 who you truly vibe with is better than a 10/10 who treats you like shit. And trust me, when you form a true romantic connection with someone, they become even more attractive in your eyes.
There are good, beautiful women out there, I know because I’m marrying one. We met online, and she’s one of the kindest and smartest people I’ve ever met, and I find her more beautiful than anyone else in the world. And I’m a fat, impoverished, autist. If I can do it, so can you.