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Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!dartvax!merchant
From: merchant@dartvax.UUCP (Peter Merchant)
Newsgroups: net.startrek
Subject: Re: Red shirt == death
Message-ID: <2481@dartvax.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 17-Oct-84 12:46:58 EDT
Article-I.D.: dartvax.2481
Posted: Wed Oct 17 12:46:58 1984
Date-Received: Thu, 18-Oct-84 19:28:03 EDT
References: <16000005@uiucdcsb.UUCP>
Organization: Dartmouth College
Lines: 29

{ This line is wearing a red shirt... }

Well, yes, the red shirted crewmen tend to get nailed fast.
The first explanation for this is very simple: They wear red shirts
so the blood won't show.  This is 1966, after all...can't show people 
dieing horrible deaths with blood and gore and guts.

A far more legit excuse is simply this:  When security men were
first introduced, they wore red shirts.  Then somebody decided
that if Jim goes down on a planet into a sticky situation, he'd
better have some security men around to help protect him.  Now,
the transporter only carries five people, I think.  Two to protect
Jim, as was usually the case, leaves three spaces open.  One for Jim,
usually one for Spock, and one for Bones/Scotty/Sulu/Random  Crew
Person who is going to have more to say then "Capatin!  Over here!"

Again, I'm not sure of my numbers, but this seems to be the case
in most episodes that I remember.  Don't flame me if my numbers are off.

So, in a way, it makes sense.  These security crewmembers are
the ones who get sent down to protect the Captain.  They are
supposed to go first into rooms where there may be booby traps.
Unfortunately, none of them were ever smart enough to say "Hey, I 
think I'll look for booby traps!"

What say?

--
                                               Peter Merchant