XPost: rec.arts.tv, alt.tv.star-trek.tos, rec.arts.sf.tv   
   From: no_offline_contact@example.com   
      
   On Tue, 30 Jan 2024 04:30:43 -0500   
   Ubiquitous  wrote:   
      
   > Actor William Shatner scolded members of parliament in the European   
   > Union over reports that they planned to address the "gendered   
   > language" in the iconic introduction to his science fiction   
   > fan-favorite television series: "Star Trek."   
   >   
   > GB News reported on the initiative, which was apparently inspired by   
   > a 61- page document -- titled "Toolkit on Gender-sensitive   
   > Communication" -- which was published by the European Institute for   
   > Gender Equality.   
   >   
   > In addition to advising against the use of phrases like "no-man's   
   > land" -- suggesting "unclaimed territory" as an alternative -- the   
   > document addressed the problematic goals of the Galactic Federation,   
   > namely "to boldly go where no man has gone before."   
   >   
   > According to the group's findings, statements such as that one   
   > created an environment where "women may be subject to invisibility or   
   > omission."   
   >   
   > Shatner, who delivered the line as part of the introduction of each   
   > "Star Trek" episode, was not convinced.   
   >   
   > "Presentism at work yet again," Shatner began by registering his   
   > complaint about the attempt to apply today's values to a show that   
   > was created in a very different time and culture.   
   >   
   > "Why start at Trek?" the actor asked in his X post, suggesting that   
   > there were certainly more important historically significant   
   > documents that should be addressed first.   
   >   
   > "Isn't it better to start at the beginning and redo foundation   
   > material such as the Magna Carta, religious writings, works of   
   > Shakespeare before worrying about a silly TV show opening that   
   > reflects social commentary of the time?" he asked. "If people are   
   > offended by 6 seconds of dialogue recorded in 1966 without a modicum   
   > of understanding of the social issues at the time there's bigger   
   > issues that they need to deal with first -- like educating   
   > themselves."   
   >   
   > 	Presentism at work yet again. Why start at Trek? ??Isn't it   
   > better to start at the beginning and redo foundation material such as   
   > the Magna Carta, religious writings, works of Shakespeare before   
   > worrying about a silly TV show opening that reflects social   
   > commentary of the... 	pic.twitter.com/P0okn5rYca   
   >   
   > 	-- William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) January 29, 2024   
   >   
   > One person responded to Shatner by asking is the EU planned to ban   
   > the words of American astronaut Neil Armstrong next.   
   >   
   > "Neil Armstrong must be spinning in his grave ... 'One small step for   
   > man, one giant leap for mankind.' Will he be canceled for leaving out   
   > an 'a'? Is the word 'mankind' misogynous? We live in foolish times."   
   >   
   > 	Neil Armstrong must be spinning in his grave..."One small   
   > step for man, one giant leap for mankind".   
   >   
   > 	Will he be canceled for leaving out an "a"? Is the word   
   > "mankind" misogynous? We live in foolish times.   
   >   
   > 	-- Ry Brooks (@RyBrooks) January 29, 2024   
   >   
   > --   
   > Let's go Brandon!   
   >   
      
   While Shatner is absolutely right in the larger sense, he seems to have   
   forgotten that as long ago as TNG, that famous intro was changed to   
   "where no ONE has gone before". I assume that was because "activists"   
   of one kind or another were already upset about the use of "man".   
      
   All of these "activists" seem to have forgotten - or more likely   
   ignored - the fact that "Man" has long been understood to include BOTH   
   sexes and does NOT mean exclusively male.   
      
      
   --   
   Rhino   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)