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submitted 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) by aredditimmigrant@endlesstalk.org to c/startrek@startrek.website

Whenever there's a storyline with quark, they talk about money/latinum.

I remember in one of the next gen episodes that there was discussion about money and Picard said something about how they've moved away from money.

So do Starfleet get paid now?

Update: thank you for the quick responses. From what I'm gathering the tldr is that the following is the answer

  • Ferengi love for money/not being a post scarcity society by design
  • Bajorans being so near their slavery times and not post scarcity yet
  • Quark creating an atmosphere of camaraderie/gambling/upgraded replicators/actual food

All this requires some form of currency.

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[-] VindictiveJudge@startrek.website 56 points 9 months ago

DS9 is a Bajoran station, not a Federation one. The Bajoran economy is not post-scarcity and still runs on money. Either Starfleet officers get a stipend to purchase things when posted on such assignments, or Quark simply bills Starfleet. Either way, Starfleet/the UFP likely has a reserve of latinum and other resources for trade with other nations.

[-] aredditimmigrant@endlesstalk.org 12 points 9 months ago

Ok so next question. If the computer can magically create anything. And they are on almost all space stations (including cardassian/federation ones) what's the point of a bar?

Gambling makes sense. Paying for food/drink when you have a replicator doesn't.

[-] cybervseas@lemmy.world 27 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

No one said the replicator can perfectly create the most delightful and exquisite flavors and aromas associated with the real thing. Also the bar is like a real bar in a way, you're not paying for just the food/drink but also the atmosphere.

Also also it's a Bajoran station, so maybe Quark has to pay an energy bill even for using the drinks replicator.

Also also also Quark makes the point that he had programmed the drinks replicator to be even better than a regular one, so you're also paying for that.

[-] aredditimmigrant@endlesstalk.org 6 points 9 months ago

This makes much more sense. On my first run through of ds9 and this has been bothering me

[-] Maalus@lemmy.world 5 points 9 months ago

Also, you can get groceries and make your own dinner. Why would you ever go to a restaurant?

Going to a bar is most likely about the atmosphere, the people there, just as much as it is about the alcohol

[-] aredditimmigrant@endlesstalk.org 2 points 9 months ago

Why a restaurant for the service.

Between my wife and I we can make a lot of good staples (roasted chicken, beef and potatoes, etc.) but we're not masters of the kitchen by any stretch.

You go to a restaurant to have someone else make the dinner and hopefully they are better than you are to make something tastier. As a side you don't have to deal with cleaning dishes.

That and hopefully they have a good wait staff to liven up things

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this post was submitted on 27 Nov 2023
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