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I disagree. Every time we think “that could never happen” in our society, it happens. In my life time, I’ve watched the rise of software as something you buy an

I disagree. Every time we think “that could never happen” in our society, it happens. In my life time, I’ve watched the rise of software as something you buy and own, and saw it transform completely into something you rent. The Ferengi society is the logical conclusion to this process. On Ferenginar you have to pay for everything, with the equivalent of parking meters everywhere. Our society is rapidly heading in that direction. The main difference is that at least the Ferengi are honest about the values that govern their society. I think we’re far more likely to end up like the Ferengi than we are the federation.

OscarCunningham 3y ago
Yeah, the bit that's bad world-building is that they have these terrible values which are repeatedly shown not to work, and yet simultaneously they have a successful interstellar civilization.
- Ekaros 3y ago
  And clearly they are somewhat integral part in operation of the part of galaxy they are in. As people keep trading often in their currency. Even the federation occasionally get hands on Latinum.
- chongli 3y ago
  that they have these terrible values which are repeatedly shown not to work What? Like our values? The Ferengi are developed to be every bit as unique, individually, as we are. We see Ferengi scientists, murderers, reformers, inventors, and leaders. I think it’s more your lack of imagination that’s the issue. The Ferengi are totally plausible as scientists, inventors, and explorers. Nothing they do is at all out of line with what Europeans did in the age of discovery, apart from slavery. The Ferengi never tolerated slavery.
  - paulryanrogers 3y ago
    > The Ferengi never tolerated slavery. Ferengi females were arguably slaves since they had so few rights.
    - sharkbot 3y ago
      But the Ferengis changed their society to include “fe-males” due to internal politics and change from within. It wasn’t instituted from the outside, it was Ferengi society advancing via the means of their own political system. I think that speaks highly of the Ferengi social system.
  - tempodox 3y ago
    But they have indentured servitude, which is not that far from slavery.

OscarCunningham 3y ago

Yeah, the bit that's bad world-building is that they have these terrible values which are repeatedly shown not to work, and yet simultaneously they have a successful interstellar civilization.

Ekaros 3y ago
And clearly they are somewhat integral part in operation of the part of galaxy they are in. As people keep trading often in their currency. Even the federation occasionally get hands on Latinum.
chongli 3y ago
that they have these terrible values which are repeatedly shown not to work What? Like our values? The Ferengi are developed to be every bit as unique, individually, as we are. We see Ferengi scientists, murderers, reformers, inventors, and leaders. I think it’s more your lack of imagination that’s the issue. The Ferengi are totally plausible as scientists, inventors, and explorers. Nothing they do is at all out of line with what Europeans did in the age of discovery, apart from slavery. The Ferengi never tolerated slavery.
- paulryanrogers 3y ago
  > The Ferengi never tolerated slavery. Ferengi females were arguably slaves since they had so few rights.
  - sharkbot 3y ago
    But the Ferengis changed their society to include “fe-males” due to internal politics and change from within. It wasn’t instituted from the outside, it was Ferengi society advancing via the means of their own political system. I think that speaks highly of the Ferengi social system.
- tempodox 3y ago
  But they have indentured servitude, which is not that far from slavery.