From Newsgroup: alt.tv.star-trek.tos   
   From Address: ryon@dslnorthwest.net   
   Subject: Re: Explanation to Graeme about A Piece of the Action   
      
   On Aug 20, 12:39aam, ToolPackinMama  wrote:   
   > On 8/19/2011 11:01 PM, Ron wrote:   
   >   
   >   
   >   
   > >> Well, I don't think THAT'S exactly true. aThe history of the beginning   
   > >> of the contamination was well established. aNo doubt the crew of the   
   > >> Horizon made copious notes during their visit there.   
   >   
   > > Hmmm, if that were true, all of that would've been in the sociological   
   > > computers of the Entrprise; there would not have been any surprise   
   > > over the sate of the Iotian culture or all the wondering what kind of   
   > > contamination had taken place, etc. As it was, all our heroes knew was   
   > > that the Iotians were imitative--- that dosn't say much.   
   >   
   > Just cos that's all WE (the audience) were told doesn't mean that is all   
   > that they knew. aMany details are glossed over to tell a story in under   
   > an hour. aMany facts/details are just sketched in. aOften, they only put   
   > in the dots, and we have to connect the dots ourselves.   
   >   
   > This is not only common in fiction: aalso in non-fiction story-telling,   
   > facts are glossed over, compressed, or outright omitted, because of   
   > story-telling requirements.   
   Sigh...  Kirk says at the beginning of the show they don't know how   
   the Horizon had contaminated Iotia-- that's one thing, the other is   
   that whatever the crew learned was never transmitted; their [radio]   
   message only just arrived at Starfleet a short time before telling of   
   their contact with the Iotians; after that message was sent, the ship   
   was lost. So this is no plot device, the Enetrprise crew is going into   
   a first contact situation as blind as anyone else would be.   
   Ron   
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