158
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[-] kieron115@startrek.website 12 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

Data is autistic coded for sure. And yeah, you get it! They end up having a great relationship. I guess people could complain that it's just a rehash of the McCoy and Spock dynamic but, if nothing else, I'm glad she was around for a season just for Data's character growth.

Edit: This might be a bit of a hot take but I think Picard is more of a dick to Data in general, especially in the early seasons.

[-] samus12345@sh.itjust.works 7 points 3 weeks ago

Data is autistic coded for sure.

The funny thing is, it was completely unintentional. Spiner has said he had no idea when he was doing the show that Data was appealing to neurodivergent people, and also said he's glad he didn't know at the time, because being aware of it and trying to appeal to them might have ruined the performance.

[-] kieron115@startrek.website 3 points 3 weeks ago

That's interesting! Especially given how Picard and some of the others treat him. You could have fooled me saying it was written into the show that way.

[-] samus12345@sh.itjust.works 4 points 3 weeks ago

It seems that writing a character that has no emotion just naturally lends itself to comparisons with neurodivergence.

[-] kieron115@startrek.website 4 points 3 weeks ago

Also his tendency to info dump, his inability to fully judge social situations, how his "emotional" needs get dismissed by some people (cough picard cough). There's just a lot of social things going on with Data that feel familiar.

[-] sp3ctr4l@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 3 weeks ago

No I don't think that's a hot take at all, which is why I'm confused/incredulous that Pulaski is apparently a dick... no, you're right, Picard is more often shown being pretty curt with Data in the earlier episodes.

But again, most of the time, this makes sense... dude has quite a lot on his shoulders, and Data often has trouble basically getting to the point, in terms of 'what is the potentially relevant and actionable information needed in a high stakes situation'.

this post was submitted on 21 May 2026
158 points (98.8% liked)

Risa: Your Home Away from Spacedock

659 readers
3 users here now

Welcome to Risa

All the pleasure of shore leave, none of the holodeck glitches.

Rule 1 — Be Civil, Not KlingonThis is a vacation planet, not the neutral zone.

  • No harassment, brigading, or trolling
  • No bigotry
  • Keep the banter playful, not hostile

Rule 2 — No Prohibited CargoSome things aren’t welcome aboard.

  • No spam or scams
  • No porn or sexually explicit content
  • No illegal content
  • NSFW memes must be properly tagged

Rule 3 — Keep It TrekPosts should be Star Trek memes or Trek-adjacent humor.

  • Crossovers are fine
  • Low-effort “unrelated” memes may be spaced out the nearest airlock

Rule 4 — Gatekeeping Belongs in a Black Hole
You’re welcome to have your own opinions on what counts as “real” Star Trek but forcing your view on others or pretending it’s the only valid one? That’s not the Starfleet way.
Everyone’s Trek is valid, from TOS purists to Lower Decks shitposters, and you don't get to dictate what is real or not for everyone.


If you see a post that violates the rules, or that doesn't inspire Jamaharon, report it so the mods can handle it.

Otherwise grab a horga’hn, order a Risan Mai Tai, and enjoy your shore leave.

founded 8 months ago
MODERATORS