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Posted on: Tue, Apr 1 2008 2:53 PM

Posted by: MustangSally Posts: 7

OK, jumping in here late...hope you don't mind.

 I think the episodes about sexuality do resonate for many people with disabilities in that historically, those with disabilities were (and often times  still are) expected or assumed to be asexual.  Thousands of people with disabilities have been sterlized to control their reporductive and sexual lives.  When you fight against those stereotypes you are claiming a sexual identity that many in society see as unnatural or inappropriate.

Posted on: Tue, Apr 1 2008 3:10 PM

Posted by: shellGVchick Posts: 1,261

NG not to change the mood but I detest Star Trek even as a tiny kid to now, something about it too weird, too out there. I can honestly say though I've never sat down and watched a episode either, just the little I've seen through tv ads and flipping channels was enough to know I don't like it....  Don't hit me too hard lol.

Posted on: Tue, Apr 1 2008 5:22 PM

Posted by: Nightengale Posts: 665

I agree Mustang Sally, sexual orientation and identity issues can have a lot of parallels with disability issues even though sexual orientation is not a disability itself.   But thirty years ago psychiatry would pathologize homosexuality and asexuality now is still considered a problem or an illness by many rather than a legitmate orientation/identity.  My biggest non-disabled allies as a person with a disabiltiy are my friends in the queer community.

Shell - I was not into Star Trek at all and watched my first episode when I was 16 just because LeVar Burton from Reading Rainbow was on it.  Then I discovered the way they use history and anthropology and so on and only pretend the show is about the future.  I think it's really about humanity.  And the way they dealt with disability was always my favorite part.  Watching them refer to ASL as "gestural language Number 37" and teaching an android to interpret just makes my day.  But to each his or her own of course.

Posted on: Tue, Apr 1 2008 5:26 PM

Posted by: cudachaser Posts: 1,484

abled_friend:

Captain Christopher Pike is in an enclosed chair from the shoulders down.   He only has two lites he can blink.....one for yes.....one for no.   He was the original captain before Kirk.

I remember that episode!

Joe 

Posted on: Tue, Apr 1 2008 6:05 PM

Posted by: shellGVchick Posts: 1,261

Night hey I think thats cool, I just never sat down to watch any of it. All the beam me up scotty stuff was just too weird. I know people though who know all the characters, watched every episode and so on, they could write a book on it. I think it's great when shows can do that.

Posted on: Tue, Apr 1 2008 6:37 PM

Posted by: Daisies1 Posts: 0

shellGVchick:

I know people though who know all the characters, watched every episode and so on, they could write a book on it.

Uh, I kind of used to be one of those.

But of course I grew up.

Now I know everything about 'Diagnosis Murder'      '

Posted on: Tue, Apr 1 2008 7:02 PM

Posted by: cudachaser Posts: 1,484

 Ever dream 'bout flying in space? I do, especially since I was so close to the program...most of dreams are being launched into space

Joe 

Posted on: Tue, Apr 1 2008 7:06 PM

Posted by: Nightengale Posts: 665

Ironically I've always been terrified about the idea of outer space.  The first movie I saw was ET when I was six and it gave me nightmares for years, and then when I was nine the the Challenger exploded.  I fell for Star Trek despite the fact that it took place in the stars!