Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site dartvax.UUCP 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