Timeline for Why do they always say, "Set phasers to stun" when arming up for an away mission?
Current License: CC BY-SA 3.0
18 events
| when toggle format | what | by | license | comment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 16, 2016 at 1:57 | vote | accept | Morgan | ||
| Aug 7, 2014 at 4:12 | history | tweeted | twitter.com/#!/StackSciFi/status/497233801823940609 | ||
| Aug 6, 2014 at 22:58 | answer | added | spyderdyne | timeline score: 0 | |
| Aug 6, 2014 at 10:21 | comment | added | Damon | This is mostly because episode script writers are unfamiliar with canon. It is mentioned at some point (I forgot when) that Starfleet procedure requires phasers to be always held in "stun" mode unless commanded otherwise and that they require being controlled for "stun" mode prior to going into storage. Which means that unless you explicitly set it to "kill", the phaser will necessarily be on "stun". The only justifiable in-universe excuse is that you are to verify that someone didn't accidentially do it wrong. Then again, Starfleet personnel are evolved superhumans, so that won't ever happen. | |
| Aug 6, 2014 at 8:03 | answer | added | Greggomon | timeline score: 2 | |
| Aug 5, 2014 at 19:38 | comment | added | Brilliand | Those who fiddle with their weapons' controls might not actually be changing them. I myself sometimes push down on a control that is already at its lowest setting, as a way of making sure it really is at the lowest setting. | |
| Aug 5, 2014 at 19:30 | comment | added | Morgan | This is going to be difficult. All the answers below are good and have solid rationale for both in and out of universe explanations. Thank you. Now to decide which answer is 'most right'... | |
| Aug 5, 2014 at 19:19 | answer | added | Kristian H | timeline score: 11 | |
| Aug 5, 2014 at 18:57 | answer | added | Engineer | timeline score: 8 | |
| Aug 5, 2014 at 12:44 | answer | added | Lars Ebert-Harlaar | timeline score: 4 | |
| Aug 5, 2014 at 10:23 | answer | added | Pharap | timeline score: 27 | |
| Aug 4, 2014 at 23:01 | answer | added | Pobrecita | timeline score: 30 | |
| Aug 4, 2014 at 22:58 | comment | added | Thaddeus Howze | For the same reason any military may give final orders before entering a potential arena. Their orders may have changed, the default setting may NOT be automatically set to stun. Consider weapons with multiple settings may be defaulted while stored or during emergencies stored quickly without resetting. It is more than likely a safety procedure to ensure no accidents take place that cannot be recovered from. | |
| Aug 4, 2014 at 22:57 | answer | added | Jack B Nimble | timeline score: 70 | |
| Aug 4, 2014 at 22:49 | comment | added | Mac Cooper | then as a complete outsider I would SUGGEST (meaning, guess ;) ) that perhaps they only carry phasers for missions? Some missions require kill, some stun, thus sometimes some of them have to reset their phaser. Perhaps. I'm guessing, just based on the information given [in case there is no specific answer for the program]. Hopefully there IS a specific answer, and someone knows it. | |
| Aug 4, 2014 at 22:46 | comment | added | Morgan | @MacCooper - Sometimes they work the controls/settings of their phasers after this order is given. Sometimes they just look at it and other times they make no motion to the weapon at all. Their physical reaction to this order varies from person to person, episode to episode. | |
| Aug 4, 2014 at 22:37 | comment | added | Mac Cooper | Not awfully familiar with the programme. Do they actually physically change the phaser setting while on the pad? Or do they just look at them? If the latter, based only on your question, I might suggest it is just a weapon check. | |
| Aug 4, 2014 at 22:35 | history | asked | Morgan | CC BY-SA 3.0 |