• RotaryKeyboard@lemmy.ninja
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    1 year ago

    Star Trek celebrates the diversity of humanity. The extremes of genetic engineering and (on the other side of the spectrum, perhaps) the Borg are symbolic of the corruption of that diversity.

    For an in-universe explanation, I suppose you could just look at the degree to which cybernetics are tolerated. Rutherford-level cybernetics? No problem! Borg Queen-level cybernetics? Helm, warp nine, full reverse!

    • AlternateRoute@lemmy.ca
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      1 year ago

      The Bynar are very tied in like the borg but it is all willing and for the most part they retain individuality at least down to the couples level.

      Only reason the Borge are hated is the forced joining that removes individuality. The federation likely has no issue with the whole cyborg part.

      • GregorGizeh
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        1 year ago

        I would argue the bynars are not doing it voluntarily either though. According to phlox in ENT, right after birth a surgeon removes a certain part of the newborn‘s brain, replacing and connecting it with their central computer.

        And I would argue a literal newborn cannot give consent to this. The only difference to the Borg appears to be the larger degree of individuality, though that seems questionable too, considering how interlinked they are in the TNG episode.

          • GregorGizeh
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            1 year ago

            True, i suppose the fact they only enhance their own species helps as well in making them palatable to the federation species.

          • HardlightCereal@lemmy.world
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            1 year ago

            Prime directive. The Federation can apply such ideals to their own citizens and to foreigners who ask for help, but not to foreign citizens who don’t ask. The Borg try to assimilate Federation citizens, so the Federation has a valid cassus belli for war. The Bynars aren’t attacking any other species, so the prime directive doesn’t apply.

      • Norah - She/They@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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        1 year ago

        Generally even ex-Borg, like Seven of Nine, aren’t disliked or mistrusted because of their remaining cybernetic implants. It’s almost always about their connection too, and implied complicity in, horrors and genocide.