(geek thought) I've never really understood the Kobayashi Maru

[smurasaki]

For those out there who are not familiar with Star Trek's famous no-win scenario for Starfleet command-track cadets, the Kobayashi Maru is (in original continuity) a simulator scenario in which the cadet, as captain of a ship, must decide whether to enter the Neutral Zone and rescue a damaged civilian ship - violating the treaty in the process, or

Comments

[smurasaki]

Heck, I was worried it was just me. And, yes, the bridge officer test Troi took makes a hell of a lot more sense - as long as it doesn't get an attack of cheating computer syndrome should someone come up with a previously unforeseen solution that doesn't involve sacrificing someone. People can be really damn creative.

I've always found it weird that Star Trek was so enamored of this no-win test when, in practice, the Star Trek world is full of people who don't believe in no-win situations and they almost never actually come up in the shows or movies. Actually, I don't think they ever come up on that scale.

[smurasaki]

Strict is one thing, cheating to achieve a desired outcome quite another. As you point out, in the "real world" of Star Trek, people are damn good at coming up with a third option. I can't believe that they're less creative when being tested.

So, if they want to make sure the commanders are able to order people to their death when there's no other option... they might have to run the test a few times if they had a really creative candidate.

(Though there is still the odd disconnect between the simulations - which can be no-win or "can't save everyone" - and the reality that, oh, 90% of the time at least, involves the heroes coming up with a third option or a way to save everyone. It's like the testing is worse than reality in the Star Trek 'verse.)

[smurasaki]

Even in Star Trek land, technology and possibilities will change, so they'd have to keep coming up with new tests. They'd have to, anyway, which is actually another problem with the Kobayashi Maru, since whatever the test was is bound to get out at some point. It's not that I don't think you could have a realistic "not everyone can survive" test, but that, given the reality we're shown, I think it'd take a lot of work!

And you're right about the working together aspect of Star Trek. I love that success is generally (always?) a group effort and it's not one brilliant person but more a matter of collective brilliance. Which we really ought to see the Academy encouraging, instead of the silly Kobayashi Maru test. I mean, wouldn't a test that required collective brilliance actually make more sense? And still teach humility in command, if that's supposed to be part of it.

[smurasaki]

(maybe this test was inspired by Spock)

You might be onto something! Actually, that'd be a great place to get "can't save everyone" scenarios for the test - from actual incidents.