For the first part, why he doesn’t have a formal education: Nog is living on a space station with his uncle and father. Not in a Ferengi society. The Uncle doesn’t want to shell out for an education for the kid cause he’s Ferengi and doesn’t want to pay for things, and the father just goes along because he’s kind of a doormat. There’s not enough opportunity for job-shadowing that allows Nog to learn from a Ferengi mentor that’s capable of teaching such things as literacy, so he remains ignorant. Also explains why he gets into so much trouble (aside from the bad influence of his uncle), as he has too much free time from lack of mentorship.

He also shows that he’s very hard working when he applies himself. So, in addition to tutoring from Jake and probably Keiko, he just buckles down and does the work. Especially when he gets to the academy. He specifies in “Homefront” (Or “Paradise Lost”, I don’t remember exactly) that he’s doing all right at the Academy. Not excelling, so he’s struggling. Probably not the least of which is because he’s behind in education as compared to his classmates.

There’s different types of microfiber cloths. The ones you’re thinking of are generally used for cleaning glasses or phone screens. There’s others that have a more carpety texture that are often used for dusting or cleaning larger objects.

It’s still about personal desire over public good, though. That’s my point. Doing something only because it hurts something you care about, rather than because it damages a part of society that doesn’t directly impact you, is killing us. Both metaphorically and physically. Having empathy for people directly in your life is good… but having empathy for those who are little more than a concept in every day life is how society will better itself.

I would say focusing on personal desires while completely ignoring or acting against the well being of general society is exactly why our society is crumbling. And why so often you’ll see conservatives turning heel when someone they care about turns out to be trans, or gay, or are affected by medieval immigration practices, and so on.

Is that something from the new shows, or that meme of Kor hugging Jadzia and swapping names?

Kor isn’t exactly big on acceptance overall, just his friends. He blocked Martok from joining the Klingon officer academy because he didn’t have a prestigious enough lineage. Basically he was too working class.

Cause it’s fascinating.

As long as it’s not Phil.

Does she have ears on her ass as well?

The worms themselves don’t seem to have personalities unto themselves, they basically only hold on to the personalities of their past hosts. So, in that way they do change… but only if their hosts do. If the hosts just fall back into the personalities of their past hosts, it defeats the entire purpose. That’s not just a romantic relationship thing, that’s something that’s covered in a number of other episodes. One in particular that I just re-watched was where Jadzia was hosting an initiate, and pushed back on their acceptance because they had defined themselves by the joining.

Polyamory is potentially an option (it’s at least implied for different races/cultures in the show), but you’d still have to overcome general societal prejudices. Provided that individuals can even handle that kind of relationship personally. Sometimes it’s just too much for someone to accept.

People can have different relationships. Heck, relationships evolve within a single lifetime to a great degree.

But that’s really just specific things they’re discouraging because it’s one aspect of the whole of a person. They’re not just trying to prevent past relationships from being relived, they’re trying to avoid entire lives from being relived. And, while it’s not a guarantee that that’s what’d happen… it’s a very real risk.

It’s similar to risky behaviors being illegal in our society. It’s not that they’re guaranteed to cause harm, it’s that they increase the risk of harm happening. You could speed down every road in the world at ten times the highest speed limit and never hit anyone… but it’s still incredibly risky.

The thing with past relationships is that they give the worms to people so that the worms can learn new experiences and pass them on to the next generation. If the worms are basically just living the same generation over and over again it defeats the purpose (in their eyes). I think the whole banishment thing was a bit harsh of a punishment, though.

Honor is a flexible concept, especially for Klingons.

Star Trek: F•r•i•e•n•d•s?

Gamecube? Or was it N64?

Only if they’re enforced.

Capitalist institutions push capitalism? What kind of world is this!

You dont have to call yourself capitalist to be capitalist. The main difference between modern western capitalism and classic monarchy is the collective perception of divine right. Now that perception is completely personal.

Cumconut?

There’s that one episode where she relives the trauma of losing her first child.

Some people keep monkeys as pets.

I’m 100% with you there. It’s of vital importance to make your voice heard, and voting is one of the simplest ways to do that.