 | | |  STAR TREK: THE (UNOFFICIAL) SURVEY
 | | |  by Ken Aitchison
 | | |  ----------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
 Disclaimer:  I am in no way affiliated with Star Trek or with Paramount.
 This is not an "official" survey, but reflects the opinions of a large
 number of participants in the Star Trek conferences of several nets.
 You are free to distribute this survey to whomever you wish, or upload
 it to any Bulletin Board or service that you like.  Please upload it all
 in one piece to ensure that this disclaimer is not lost.  Thanks!
 
 1. Who are your favorite and second favorite Star Trek: The Original
    Series characters?
 
 Favorite:

  Spock = 45.1%  Kirk  = 25.5%  McCoy = 15.7%  Sulu  = 5.9%  Other = 7.8%
 
 Other Trek idols include:  Khan, Chekov, Mudd and Scotty.
 Total votes: 51
 
 Second Favorite:
 
  McCoy  = 28.6%  Spock  = 28.6%  Scotty = 20.4%  Kirk   = 14.3%
  Uhura  = 4.1%   Other  = 4.1%
 
 Other popular second bananas are: Commodore Decker and Saavik (Kirstie).
 Total votes: 49
 
 
 2. Same as #1, but with Star Trek: The Next Generation.
 
 Favorite:
 
  Data   = 43.1%  Picard = 29.4%  Worf   = 9.8%  Riker  = 3.9%
  Yar    = 3.9%   Other  = 9.8%
 
 The remaining suggested write in votes for President include: Guinan,
 Deanna, Geordi, Wesley and Q.
 Total votes: 51
 
 Second Favorite:
 
  Picard  = 30.6%  Data    = 28.6%  Worf    = 10.2%  Geordi   = 9.2%
  Beverly  = 4.1%  Guinan   = 4.1%  Deanna   = 4.1%  Riker    = 4.1%
  Pulaski  = 3.1%  Tam Elbrum = 2%
 
 Oddly enough, there were no other votes in this category.
 Total votes: 49
 
 
 3. Who are your least and second least favorite TOS characters?
 
 Least Favorite:

  Kirk   = 28.2%  Chekov = 17.9%  Uhura  = 12.8%  Chapel = 10.3%
  Other  = 30.8%
 
 There were quite a few different votes on this question.  Other
 candidates for beam out, wide dispersal include Janice Rand, Roger
 Korby, Leslie, McCoy, Spock, Harry Mudd, Sulu, Red Shirts, Starfleet
 Buerocrats, and all of the space hippies from "The Way to Eden".
 Total votes: 39
 
 Second Least Favorite:
 
  Chekov = 12.9%    Uhura =  12.9%   Dr. McCoy = 9.7%
  Christine Chapel = 9.7%            "Red Shirts" = 9.7%
  Sulu = 9.7%       Kirk = 6.5%      Janice Rand = 6.5%
  Other = 22.6%
 
 The rest of the Denebian slime devils are:  Scotty, Stonn, Captain
 Stiles, Ilea, Edith Keeler and Stella Mudd.
 Total votes: 31
 
 4.  Who are your first and second Least favorite TNG characters?
 
 Least Favorite:

  Wesley = 18.9%  Deanna = 17.8%  Ro = 11.1%  Pulaski = 8.9%  Yar = 6.7%
  Riker = 4.4%    O'Brien = 4.4%  Beverly = 3.3%
  Other = 24.4%
 
 Other potential pinups for dart practice include:  Geordi, Barclay,
 Guinan, Kivas Fago, Lore, Q, Selar, Worf, Lwuxana, Nameless extras and
 Ensign Bimbo-of-the-week.
 Total votes: 45
 
 Second Least Favorite:

  Deanna = 21.6%  Yar    = 16.2%  Wesley = 12.2%  Beverly= 9.5%
  Keiko  = 8.1%   O'Brien = 5.4%  Barclay = 5.4%  Other  = 21.6%
 
 The remainder of the errors-Nomad-ought-to-sterilize include: Riker,
 Picard, Ro, Lwuxana, Armus, Crystalline entity, Vash and Pulaski.
 Total votes: 37
 
 5a.  What is your favorite Star Trek: The Original Series episode?
 
 City on the Edge of Forever = 28.6%  The Trouble With Tribbles   = 10.9%
 The Doomsday Machine        = 10.2%  Balance of Terror           =  6.1%
 Mirror, Mirror              =  4.1%  The Enterprise Incident     =  4.1%
 Amok Time                   =  4.1%  I, Mudd                     =  2.7%
 Other                       = 12.9%  No Opinion                  = 16.3%
 
 Total votes: 49
 
 5b.  What is your favorite Star Trek: The Next Generation episode?
 
 Best of Both Worlds     = 37.8%   Yesterday's Enterprise  = 18.4%
 Deja Q                  =  4.1%   The Offspring           =  4.1%
 Redemption              =  3.1%   Other                   = 24.5%
 No Opinion              =  8.2%
 
 Total votes: 49
 
 5c.  Which episode is better?

 TNG episode:  60.4%   TOS episode:  12.5%   It's a tie:    6.3%
 No opinion:   20.8%
 
 Total votes: 48
 
 6(a) What is your least favorite Original Series episode?
 
 Spock's Brain                     = 31.6%
 The Way to Eden                   =  7.9%
 Let That Be Your Last Battlefield =  5.3%
 And the Children Shall Lead       =  5.3%
 Spectre of the Gun                =  5.3%
 Turnabout Intruder                =  5.3%
 Other                             = 18.4%
 No Opinion                        = 21.1%
 
 Total votes: 35
 
 (b) What's your least favorite TNG episode?
 
  Shades of Grey  = 30.8%  The Royale      = 12.8%
  The Game        =  5.1%  Justice         =  5.1%
  Haven           =  3.1%  Other           = 30.3%
  No Opinion      = 12.8%
 
  Total votes: 39
 
 (c) Which is of the two is worse?
 
  TNG episode:  42.1%  TOS episode:  31.6%
  It's a tie:   10.5%  No Opinion:   15.8%
 
 Total votes: 38
 
 7(a) What's your favorite Star Trek movie?
 
  Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan           41.8%
  Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home             23.5%
  Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country    20.4%
  Star Trek III: The Search for Spock        6.1%
  Star Trek: The Motion Picture              6.1%
  Star Trek V: The Final Frontier            0.0%
  No Opinion                                 2.0%
 
  Total votes: 49
 
 (b) What's your least favorite ST movie?
 
  Star Trek V: The Final Frontier           65.7%
  Star Trek: The Motion Picture             16.7%
  Star Trek III: The Search for Spock        3.9%
  Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home              3.9%
  Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country     2.0%
  Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan            0.0%
  No Opinion                                 9.8%
 
  Total votes: 51
 
 8.  Overall, which series is better?
 
 The Next Generation = 78.8%     The Original Series =  7.7%
 It's a tie          =  3.8%     No Opinion          =  9.6%

  Total votes: 52
 
 9.  What's the one thing you would change about Star Trek if the
     decision was up to you?
 
 Six people state that they would work on reducing inconsistiencies in
 the Trek universe.  Don Tyro clarifies this by saying that he would
 reduce the major YATIs.  He states, "Notice I said MAJOR.  Just 'cause
 there's some minor ones in there doesn't spoil the entertainment value."
 Milan Rezac specifies his thoughts as well.  "I would get more
 consistency between on-screen material and novels, manuals, etc."
 
 Six people agreed that there should be more action featured in the show.
 Andy Krokamp says simply, "It's getting too soft!"  Ian Columby feels
 that "Watching the crew solve other people's problems gets boring week
 after week."
 
 Three would alter the writing to remove the social commentary that is
 often featured on ST.  Scott Smith explains that he would "make the
 episodes less "slice of life", where things that occur now are portrayed
 in the future."  Douglas Bueoy says that there should be "Less political
 correctness, which would result in the charaters being even more
 believable."
 
 Two survey-goers would not cancel TNG after the seventh season is
 completed, and would continue producing new episodes indefinitely.
 
 Two others would work on eliminating "rushed" endings for episodes.
 Eric Troup says that he would "get rid of the five-minute wrap-up for
 episodes.
 
 Two people wouldn't change a thing, if the decision was theirs.  Jimmy
 Riddle states, "I like it just the way it is!"
 
 Several Trek fans want to see more.  Joann Mantych wants more Science
 Fiction on the show, Terrence M. Begley would like to see more androids,
 while Stuart Glen states that he would have "more posting in/out of
 regular characters.  Make it a flexible cast."
 
 Many people felt the major improvement would be to lose one or more
 members of the cast.  Those mentioned were Alexander, Lwuxana, Kirk,
 Deanna, Ferengi, and children on board the Enterprise.
 
 A number had specific nits to pick with specific charaters.  Michael
 Burkhart would like to get Riker and Troi off the bridge, Richard
 Devaney wants to see more interaction between Picard and Crusher, Wtin
 Jalanugraha would bring back Wesley Crusher, and says Cindy Matthes, "I
 would make better use of Troi's supposed powers.  I think they should
 make use of her ability to communicate telepathically with Riker."
 
 Two people had opinions on characterizations.  Heather Howe would have
 the characters grow more, and Deborah Bolen wishes to see "more real-
 life characterizations - ie: more comradery, more conflict, less
 `sweetness & light'."
 
 Quite a few had their say on how the technological end of the show ought
 to be altered.  Dennis Virzi would "ditch the holodeck", Rick Salazar
 wants "to see more and different types of Starships", and John Aitchison
 would instruct the writers to stop violating the laws of physics where
 transporters and warp drive are concerned.  Colby Gibson had this to
 say:  "I would continue to use some of the intelligence and the
 technology that is discovered all of a sudden, not just take it away."
 
 Mike Bayliss has a suggestion for "away teams": "I would have them
 having more adventures on barren moons and spacehulks so that we get to
 see a spacesuit or two."
 
 Finally, Bill Mertz would do away with the "ultra-high technology" and
 "any story using pseudo-tech as the plot device."
 
 Several BBSers had ideas on certain types of episodes.  Ethan Arenson
 would reduce the number of "character study" episodes, Rick Ekle would
 feature "more episodes on planets' surfaces", while Jim Buntjer wants to
 "do some follow up episodes.  They need to follow up Conspiracy and
 Cause and Effect."
 
 Two guys want more realism in Star trek.  Rick Dexter says he would use
 "less of the sound effects and protocol-oriented restrictions", while
 Scott Hollifield says "I would up the seriousness of the writing a notch
 or two."
 
 10. What do you think Star Trek's legacy will be like 25 years from now?
 
  30.4%  (c) Star Trek will continue to feature new television episodes/
  feature films and will be an ongoing legacy.
 
  27.4%  (a) It will be regarded as a classic TV show who served its time
  and entertained many.
 
  21.6%  (d) Trek will be even larger than it is today, with many related
  series and films being produced at the time.
 
  20.6%  (b) Star Trek will no longer feature new material, but will be
  well known via syndication and ongoing conventions.
 
 Total votes: 51
 
 
 11.  Which is your favorite Star Trek Uniform?

    42.0%     Star Trek: The Next Generation
    36.7%     ST: TWOK until about 20 years prior to TNG (Mostly red)
    10.0%     Klingon uniforms (in general)
     4.7%     Original Series
     4.0%     TNG Cadet Uniforms
     2.7%     ST: The Motion Picture (similar to TOS with some changes)
 
 Total votes: 50
 
 
 12.  What is your favorite Ship type?
 
    53.2%     Galaxy class (NCC-1701-D; the enterprise of TNG)
    11.7%     Romulan Warbird (TNG)
    11.7%     Refit enterprise and enterprise-A (throughout movies)
     9.6%     Klingon Bird of Prey
     5.3%     Reliant type Starship (seen in ST: The Wrath of Khan)
     2.1%     Original enterprise (during TOS)
     2.1%     Excelsior type (NCC-1701-B)
     2.1%     Borg Ship (Cube)
     1.1%     Klingon Battlecruiser
     1.1%     Ferengi Marauder
 Total votes: 47
 
 
 13.  What's your favorite item of Star Trek technology?
 
  33.3%     Holodeck
  20.8%     Transporter
  17.7%     Computer
  12.5%     Warp drive
   5.2%     Phasers (both hand and ship)
   3.1%     Cloaking device
   2.1%     Tricorder
   2.1%     Androids
   2.1%     Replicator
   1.0%     Communicators
 Total votes: 48
 
 
 14.  Who are your favorite Star Trek antagonists? (races; not
      individuals)
 
    26.5%     Borg
    26.5%     Romulans
    20.4%     Klingons
    13.3%     Powerful beings (Q, Trelane, Metrons, etc...)
     8.2%     Ferengi
     5.1%     Cardassians
 Total votes: 49
 
 
 15.  What is your favorite Star Trek race in general?
 
   23.2%      Androids
   19.2%      Humans
   18.5%      Klingons
   17.0%      Vulcans
    7.6%      Powerful beings (Q, Trelane, Metrons, etc...)
    2.9%      Romulans
    2.2%      Ferengi
    2.2%      Borg
    2.2%      Shapeshifters
    2.2%      Tellarites
    2.2%      Tribbles
    0.7%      Cardassians
 Total votes: 46
 
 
 16.  How much Star Trek have you seen in each of the following
      categories?  Rate yourself on a scale of 1-5, which generally
      translates to the following:
 
     (1) Star Trek?  What's that?
     (2) I've seen just a little bit of this category.
     (3) I've seen a fair amount.
     (4) I've seen most of these, but not all.
     (5) I can recite it in my sleep!
     (a) The Original Series
  1 = 0.0%     2 = 5.0%      3 = 10.0%     4 = 12.5%     5 = 72.5%
 Total votes: 40

     (b) The Animated Series
  1 = 45.9%    2 = 21.6%     3 = 13.5%     4 = 5.4%      5 = 13.5%
 Total votes: 37
 
     (c) The Feature Films
  1 = 2.6%     2 = 2.6%      3 = 15.4%     4 = 12.8%     5 = 66.7%
 Total votes: 39
 
     (d) The Next Generation
  1 = 2.6%     2 = 2.6%      3 = 0.0%      4 = 15.4%     5 = 79.5%
 Total votes: 39
 
     (e) Star Trek novels
  1 = 28.2%    2 = 25.6%     3 = 12.8%     4 = 15.4%     5 = 17.9%
 Total votes: 39
 
 18.4% of those polled didn't understand the question.  Apparently I
 didn't phrase it very well.  8^)
 
 
 17a.  Do you consider yourself to be a "Trekker", a "Trekkie" or
       neither?
 
  Trekker = 40.0% (8 votes)
  Trekkie = 40.0% (8 votes)
  Neither = 20.0% (4 votes)
 Total votes: 20
 
 The only conclusion that can be drawn from this question is that I need
 to word it more carefully in the future so I can get more votes!  It
 would probably be a close race in any event, however.
 
 
 17b.  Are you vocal about letting others know that you enjoy Trek?
 
 39.1% (a) Yes!
 43.5% (b) Somewhat.
 17.4% (c) Not really; but I'm not embarrased.  I just don't mention it.
    0% (d) No; only on BBS'es.
    0% (e) I'd die if anyone I knew found out!
 Total votes: 46
 
 
 18.  How much BBSing do you do?
 
 14.3% (a) I'm a conference host/SysOp.  Need I say more?
 59.2% (b) I read and reply to messages daily in many conferences.
    0% (c) I read and reply daily; but only in Star Trek.
 18.4% (d) I BBS several times a week.
    0% (e) I BBS once every four days to a week on the average.
  8.2% (f) It's a miracle you're even getting this reply!
 Total votes: 49
 
 

