Say one thing and different people may interpret it several different ways. Say "Star Trek" and some think you're discussing a voyage among the stars, while others might believe you're describing a well-known television show about that very same voyaging. A select group may even interpret those words as signifying a confusing and uninteresting traipse through time. No matter. Given our individual programming it's hard to say any of these are exclusively "right" (though I suppose a point could be made that some interpretations produce better ratings than others).

Consider the phrase, "going the same direction." To most come first a few literal interpretations, like parallel lines represented by the tracks of a train or the notion of vehicles traveling the same stretch of road. These are all going the same direction, easily understood as such. But what about the spokes of a wheel? Don't they all go the same direction too? It's hard to point to any particular spoke to claim that its aim somehow stands distinguished from the others. And what about the mindset of people, whether joined as with the focus of prayer or in common sympathy to an ideal? (In this sense "coming together" and "going the same direction" overlap almost paradoxically!)

Too recently I've pumped the bellows pretty hard onto the forge fires of this klog. Depression may be anger turned inwards but anger turned outwards contributes little, leaves me depressed, and that's certainly not my intention. (Old enough to put a value to my hours!) It's not that I don't like "Enterprise." I may not care for some of the directions in which it's been going, and like many Trekkers have my own ideas about what could be done right or wrong over the course of the series. But it's not my show to produce, only to evaluate. Nothing done bad can harm another's reputation of good; like staring down Melkotian bullets, the proper attitude brings more positive aspects of association.

The thing about Trekkers of all ages and stages is that we're all "going the same direction." And regardless how difficult the material may be to stomach, rest assured I will argue the worst of Trek is often better than the best of many other shows, and make an effort to appreciate the perspective of those with- perhaps- a stronger stomach than mine. The difference between going in the same direction and going in the right direction is a subtle but important one. May this season successfully make that no difference at all.


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