Questions Only V: Where's The Beef?

[scottydog]

Both would be good, but for different reasons. Victoria Principal would principally be eye-candy, whereas Jenilee would make a good raw ensign, right out of the Academy.

Can you imagine Jenilee Harrison in a Twilight Zone episode or would that be a total mismatch?

[RJDiogenes]

Isn't the beauty of the Twilight Zone that everybody belongs there?

Both would be good, but for different reasons. Victoria Principal would principally be eye-candy, whereas Jenilee would make a good raw ensign, right out of the Academy.

I see Victoria Principal as a Vulcan and Jenilee Harrison as a pilot who can't cross the room without tripping, but can thread a needle with a spaceship.

[scottydog]

^^ Yes, that's my understanding, too. Super-smart and capable on work-related tasks but a total klutz in real life

What about the actress who played Beth in The Walking Dead? What type of Trek character would she play?

[RJDiogenes]

Emily Kinney would make a good ethereal energy being, like an Organian or something.

Who among contemporary performers would make the best captain on a Trek series?

[scottydog]

Christian Bale, Brad Pitt, Bradley Cooper, Liam Neeson, Joaquin Phoenix, and Tom Hanks would be good male Captains.

Scarlett Johansson, Angelina Jolie, Meryl Streep, Emma Watson, Viola Davis, Kate Winslet, and Jodi Foster would make good female Captains.

Your picks?

[RJDiogenes]

That's a tough one, since I know so few contemporary actors. Would Jensen Ackles be too much like Kirk? How about Ming-Na Wen?

[scottydog]

Yes, Ming-Na Wen is a brave choice and a smart choice. Lots of good, serious, charismatic women actors out there.

Did you know that research shows that 'charisma' is a trait rarely assigned to women?

[RJDiogenes]

Who sponsored the research? It seems like the opposite is more likely to be true, if anything.

[scottydog]

It is a bit more complicated than my blanket statement. Here's a short article discussing men's advantage in the charisma department.

What women today would you say are charismatic?

[RJDiogenes]

Does Michelle Obama count?

It is a bit more complicated than my blanket statement. Here's a short article discussing men's advantage in the charisma department.

I quickly lost count of the errors in there, but the problem is that the writer both overestimates and undervalues charisma.

[scottydog]

Yes, Michelle Obama is a good example of charisma. Oprah is another example.

Why are people so easily swayed by charismatic speakers?

[RJDiogenes]

Could it be a primate thing?

[scottydog]

Are you saying that before we were able to think very deeply, all we had were peripheral characteristics on which to base a judgment of a leader?

[RJDiogenes]

What do you mean, "before?"

[scottydog]

Point well taken

But why are some people more likely to be taken in by a charismatic leader than others?