EDIT: Accidentally duplicated post. Please see https://startrek.website/post/25896181 for all responses.
EDIT: The Harry Kim thing is more of a joke. This is less a question about Harry Kim and more about Nog.
Something about Nog’s literacy history brings up a ton of weird questions in-universe.
- How are the Ferengi able to be a functional space-faring species and business empire without at least a little emphasis on literacy?
Even for as class-based a society as the Ferengi, lower level workers have to have at least a little literacy to read instrument panels, repair ships, make sure they’re carrying the right package, etcetera.
I think a key example here is Rom, who starts out a relatively typical exploited Ferengi - how would he read manuals to repair a holosuite without literacy.
I see two explanations. One, perhaps by “reading”, they’re referring to reading of a lengua franca like Federation standard - Nog has learned and is capable of reading the Ferengi language, but not another. When dealing with other languages, the general expectation is either a universal translator is used or they pick it up as they go.
Alternatively, it could be that it is expected in Ferengi culture that reading is just something you pick up on the job rather than in a concerted educational effort.
- How did Nog manage to “catch up” fast enough to attain the educational level needed for a Starfleet officer?
Of course, it is said and implied that after the school closes, Keiko teaches Jake and Nog one-on-one. Some education definitely happened off-screen.
Still, Starfleet seems to have educational requirements. In LD:“Something Borrowed, Something Green”, Tendi mentions how she wouldn’t have gotten into the Academy without having gone to high school, suggesting Nog needs the equivalent of a high school education to train to be a Starfleet officer.
It sounds a little ridiculous to go from being unable to read to a full high school education in less than three years, though that could be a bigger stretch than I’m making it out to be.
I’d say the simplest explanation is probably that again, Nog was more educated than we might interpreting being “unable to read” to mean.
It might be possible Ferengi also have higher-than-human-average neuroplasticity and simply adapt easier - this might even aid in the on the job theory.
So what are your ten cents? Also, it’s been a while - glad to be back on Daystrom.
My favorite part of the Harry Kim joke is that at the end of Voyager, he was a captain, but Janeway rewrote that timeline to save Seven of Nine, so she ended up doing a retcon on Harry’s promotions from Ensign. Never my captain, that’s for sure.
I feel like it’d be canon for him to be Naomi Wildman’s first officer.
I feel like it’d be canon for him to be Naomi Wildman’s first officer.
This is hilariously plausible.
I feel like it’d be canon for him to be Naomi Wildman’s first officer.
Thanks. This made me spit take on my monitor.
It might be possible Ferengi also have higher-than-human-average neuroplasticity and simply adapt easier - this might even aid in the on the job theory.
I think you’re on to something.
Various Ferengi having a kind of genius foreign to Federation values is a recurring theme in DS9.
Nog, in particular, gets up to some antics that probably require some brilliance. I recall him hacking or circumventing things even early in the series.
In TNG Wesley has a hard time getting into the academy and one of the other applicants is a genius in his own right.
I feel like there was some affirmative action going on.
Didn’t Wesley go to some special testing that had the geniuses competing for one specific seat. I recall he basically went there because there happened to be a particular available slot rather than just the general admission.
From the episode:
Captain’s log, stardate 41416.2. We’re orbiting Relva Seven, where Wesley Crusher is about to be tested for entrance into Starfleet Academy.
CHANG: I’m proud of all of you. You’ve done a superb job. Each of you would make a fine Starfleet officer. It’s unfair that only one candidate from Relva will attend the Academy this year, and a loss to the Federation if the rest of you do not return to test again. Mister Mordock will be the candidate. His results were slightly higher than Mister Crusher’s. Congratulations, Mister Mordock. You’re the first Benzite in Starfleet.
So I think it has much more to do with the timing of his attempt that mattered. Had he just waited with everyone else it wouldn’t have been such an intense competition
Anytime someone is the first of their species to join Starfleet, they tend to bend some rules. Which seems pretty consistent across the franchise.
And he is clearly a competent engineer.
Anytime someone is the first of their species to join Starfleet, they tend to bend some rules. Which seems pretty consistent across the franchise.
Even in The Orville (which is a love letter to the franchise) they do acknowledge that, especially when there’s a Xeleyan applicant. Xeleyans typically don’t join
Starfleetthe Union fleet due to their preference for academic and scientific endeavors. When one does sign up, they get fast-tracked.
Although Wesley’s acceptance occurred only months after Wolf 359 - it’s possible that event caused Starfleet to more easily accept cadets (including Wesley), and just happened to benefit Nog’s chances.
The Dominion tensions around the time of Nog’s admission may have also put Starfleet on edge and caused them to continue Wolf 359 era admission policies.
The Dominion War probably helped create some job opportunities. During the war, Starfleet was launching ships as quickly as they could. In addition, they have to promote to fill in gaps left injured or killed personnel. After the war, some people may leave Starfleet, others, like O’Brien, may take a reassignment that had been deferred, creating more opportunities to advance.
I assmued it was Federation Standard (english) they were teaching him. It would make sense the Ferengi never learn since their prejudice towards the Federation
I see two explanations. One, perhaps by “reading”, they’re referring to reading of a lengua franca like Federation standard - Nog has learned and is capable of reading the Ferengi language, but not another. When dealing with other languages, the general expectation is either a universal translator is used or they pick it up as they go.
I feel like this is a potential argument alongside the increased neuroplastisity. Jake and Keiko would not have been able to help him learn to read Ferengi as I very much doubt they could read it themselves.
Still Starfleet seems to have educational requirements. In LD:“Something Borrowed, Something Green”, Tendi mentions how she wouldn’t have gotten into the Academy without having gone to high school, suggesting Nog needs the equivalent of a high school education to train to be a Starfleet officer.
Clearly The Sisko was better at persuading Starfleet / The UFP itself how politically advantageous it would be to have an officer from a world thar, not that long ago, had been expected to be the next major enemy.
Thinking on this, Nog’s family had connnections to the Nagus (I’m not sure if it’s revealed before or after his joining - but even if it’s after the Federation has spies ) so his rise though the ranks could be as much about politics as it is about his raw talent
He wasn’t stranded in the delta quadrant and also had a better boss.
Promoted officers aren’t always the smartest guy in the room. You have to be likable as well.
The “Harry Kim” thing was mostly just a joke. I guess the more literal phrasing of my question is how did someone, over less than three years, go from seemingly severely inadequate education to being accepted into Starfleet Academy and becoming an effective officer.
