KIRK: Picture, please. ...Earth. ...But when? ...Spock?
SPOCK: Judging by the pollution content of the atmosphere, I believe we have arrived at the latter half of the twentieth century.
I trust that everyone realizes how misguided it would be to use atmospheric pollution as a chronological indicator.
The rest of the audience laughed. seems I was the only one thinking "that's kinda stupid..."
Maybe they were pushing the environmental theme a little too hard?
"After years of fighting with reality, I am pleased to say that I have finally won out over it."
[deleted]
You see... It was funny because it was an Eco movie about whales and earth and yeah... Perhaps the end of the 20th century had more pollutants than the 23rd.
shareHad it been during the original 5 year mission, I would have taken the line as a crack by Spock on humanity. But this is newly reborn Spock, so the comment, an attempt at humor, seems out of place.
But then, so does "One damn minute, Admiral", and that's the funniest line in the movie.
"Live long and suck it, Zachary Quinto!"
I never read that as a joke. I had always taken it seriously. We know that in the 24th century earth is a clean pollution free paradise. Because of technology there has to be far more pollution now, especially after the wars and nuclear weapons we've been setting off (bloody french). Spock clearly says, by the pollution content in the atmosphere we have arrived at the LATTER half of the 20th century. He didn't give an exact date. So obviously it's not an exact science. Plus we also know that Klingon technology is not as good as Federation technology. The bird of prey would have had limitations compared to the Enterprise.
shareNo. Neither are hairstyles or politics necessarily chronological.
But if you have historical data or are familiar with data regarding earth's historic atmospheric profile then you are equipped to identify a specific era using that data plus other signs, like technology and civilisation.
He could just as easily have said the extent of the polar ice caps.
If its was really necessary for them to reassure any viewers chagrined at the casual use of apparent pseudo science then-
- Kirk - "But Spock, you credulous bleeding heart tree hugger, how do you know that the atmosphere profile didn't change naturally, over the centuries? What school did you go to that told you that the atmosphere was like a clock and that the air wasn't just as bad in the middle ages before man screw...."
- Spock - "Because there were no Goodyear blimps hovering over 'niners matches at Candlestick park in the middle ages. At least not in any of the historical records I have studied, Admiral."
Glasgow's FOREMOST authority Italics = irony. Infer the opposite please.
Exactly, regardless of whether global warming is a fad or a fact there will be historical data of exactly what state certain things would be in at certain times - if you come out of time travel and the population of the Earth is a lowly 2 billion then it's safe to assume that it's either the end of World War 2 or the end of World War 3.
Spock just says the latter half of the 20th century, that's a very rough estimate, it's not like he said April, 1994 - there's high traces of sulphur and gunpowder over Seattle.
So no, if the OP laughed at Spock's comment then they must have mental health problems.
Ya Kirk-loving Spocksucker!