There was a time when Star Trek Message Boards (ask you father or grandfather, kids) were all the rage in cyberspace.
Boasting a reasonably safe space where like-minded fans could come together, there were boasts about all kinds of topics, most of which related to preferences, likes, and dislikes. Occasionally, debates would break out, but -- in all honesty -- I hardly recall them being laced with the kind of vitriol found today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Most of the posts were benign, harmless observations meant to inspire some intellectual exchange between members, and you could practically count on every few months some fellow or missus would put up a poll seeking to find consensus around which of Trek's guest stars were the best-looking.
Ahem.
As you can guess, this wasn't always well-received. I think that some folks consider such 'contests' to be laced with misogyny, and I say that even despite the fact that both ladies and gents were perfectly at-ease sounding off on the good or bad looks of both sexes. Perhaps some of the randier comments did come from the men directed at the female guest stars, and I always tried to look past those. Ultimately what mattered, I think, was that these forums allowed folks to debate such choices while remaining civil; and it's sad they've largely fallen into the trash heep of history in favor of the largely anonymous state of social media today.
In any event, I'm comfy admitting that one of my top choices -- the lovely Maggie Thrett -- never scored as well with these board audiences, and that's okay. I only speak for me. I only pontificate on what I find attractive or interesting or desirable -- depending upon the post -- and this actress was alluring as heck in the first season outing, "Mudd's Women." (Yes, yes, yes: I realize that today's viewership would find this hour extremely chauvanistic, but the 1960's were a different era ... and Star Trek -- as TV art of its day -- was a product of that generation and their ideals. So sue me.)
Of course, I'm not bringing this up to spur any controversy regarding the depiction of males and/or females in Science Fiction. It's merely a reflection that popped into my head when word reached me last week of the lady's passing. Though her career in the spotlight was brief -- her IMDB.com profile boasts fifteen different projects -- I think she'll likely always be remembered by Trek enthusiasts for her time going where no man had gone before.
Thoughts and prayers are issued to the family, friends, and fans of Ms. Thrett. May she rest in peace.
-- EZ
Boasting a reasonably safe space where like-minded fans could come together, there were boasts about all kinds of topics, most of which related to preferences, likes, and dislikes. Occasionally, debates would break out, but -- in all honesty -- I hardly recall them being laced with the kind of vitriol found today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Most of the posts were benign, harmless observations meant to inspire some intellectual exchange between members, and you could practically count on every few months some fellow or missus would put up a poll seeking to find consensus around which of Trek's guest stars were the best-looking.
Ahem.
As you can guess, this wasn't always well-received. I think that some folks consider such 'contests' to be laced with misogyny, and I say that even despite the fact that both ladies and gents were perfectly at-ease sounding off on the good or bad looks of both sexes. Perhaps some of the randier comments did come from the men directed at the female guest stars, and I always tried to look past those. Ultimately what mattered, I think, was that these forums allowed folks to debate such choices while remaining civil; and it's sad they've largely fallen into the trash heep of history in favor of the largely anonymous state of social media today.
In any event, I'm comfy admitting that one of my top choices -- the lovely Maggie Thrett -- never scored as well with these board audiences, and that's okay. I only speak for me. I only pontificate on what I find attractive or interesting or desirable -- depending upon the post -- and this actress was alluring as heck in the first season outing, "Mudd's Women." (Yes, yes, yes: I realize that today's viewership would find this hour extremely chauvanistic, but the 1960's were a different era ... and Star Trek -- as TV art of its day -- was a product of that generation and their ideals. So sue me.)
Of course, I'm not bringing this up to spur any controversy regarding the depiction of males and/or females in Science Fiction. It's merely a reflection that popped into my head when word reached me last week of the lady's passing. Though her career in the spotlight was brief -- her IMDB.com profile boasts fifteen different projects -- I think she'll likely always be remembered by Trek enthusiasts for her time going where no man had gone before.
Thoughts and prayers are issued to the family, friends, and fans of Ms. Thrett. May she rest in peace.
-- EZ
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