Seven Science Fiction Ideas about Relationships and Sex

[kwhilborn]

@ chimpkin,

In Star Trek it was explained...

The beings known as the ancient humanoids were presumably the first humanoid species to evolve in the Milky Way galaxy, some four and a half billion years before the common era. Their true name lost since time immemorial, they have also come to be known as the Ancient Progenitors, and the Galenites, a name derived from the man whose work led to their discovery, Dr. Richard Galen. (TNG: "The Chase", Star Trek: Dark Horizon, Star Trek: Pendragon)
During the height of their existence, they explored the galaxy, but found no lifeforms like themselves. Realizing that their species would one day cease to be, they seeded many primordial planets with the building blocks of life, encoding the DNA so that it would evolve into forms similar to their own. Earth was one such planet. Other species to arise from this seeding program include the Cardassians, Klingon and Vulcans. Encoded within certain DNA fragments were parts of a holographic message, meant for the ancient humanoids' progeny:

"You're wondering who we are; why we have done this; how it has come that I stand before you - the image of a being from so long ago. Life evolved on my planet before all others in this part of the galaxy. We left our world, explored the stars and found none like ourselves. Our civilization thrived for ages, but what is the life of one race, compared to the vast stretches of cosmic time?
We knew that one day we would be gone, and nothing of us would survive - so we left you. Our scientists seeded the primordial oceans of many worlds, where life was in its infancy. This body you see before you, which is of course shaped as yours is shaped, for you are the end result. The seed code also contains this message, which was scattered in fragments on many different worlds.
It was our hope that you would have to come together in fellowship and companionship to hear this message, and if you can see and hear me, our hope has been fulfilled. You are a monument, not to our greatness, but to our existence. That was our wish - that you too would know life and would keep alive our memory. There is something of us in each of you, and so, something of you in each other. Remember us."

Though Dr. Galen died before he could complete his work, the message was discovered by Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the crew of the USS Enterprise, along with representatives of the Klingon, Cardassian and Romulan races. (TNG: "The Chase")
Episode writer Ronald D. Moore has stated that it is possible, though not explicit, that these ancient humanoids are the Preservers first mentioned in TOS: "The Paradise Syndrome".

 

[KilljoyKlown]

@ chimpkin,

In Star Trek it was explained...

The beings known as the ancient humanoids were presumably the first humanoid species to evolve in the Milky Way galaxy, some four and a half billion years before the common era. Their true name lost since time immemorial, they have also come to be known as the Ancient Progenitors, and the Galenites, a name derived from the man whose work led to their discovery, Dr. Richard Galen. (TNG: "The Chase", Star Trek: Dark Horizon, Star Trek: Pendragon)
During the height of their existence, they explored the galaxy, but found no lifeforms like themselves. Realizing that their species would one day cease to be, they seeded many primordial planets with the building blocks of life, encoding the DNA so that it would evolve into forms similar to their own. Earth was one such planet. Other species to arise from this seeding program include the Cardassians, Klingon and Vulcans. Encoded within certain DNA fragments were parts of a holographic message, meant for the ancient humanoids' progeny:


Though Dr. Galen died before he could complete his work, the message was discovered by Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the crew of the USS Enterprise, along with representatives of the Klingon, Cardassian and Romulan races. (TNG: "The Chase")
Episode writer Ronald D. Moore has stated that it is possible, though not explicit, that these ancient humanoids are the Preservers first mentioned in TOS: "The Paradise Syndrome".

That's a very good memory or some damn good research or maybe a little of both. In any event I'm impressed.

 

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If life spans ever reach 300, I wonder how long men and women could continue having children and how would that affect the relationships they might have?

It depends if we spend most of those years in old age or remain fertile for longer. Population control will quickly become an issue, but you'd probably find by the time we live that long we occupy other planets and are immensely effecient.
I imagine the only difference will be having to wait longer for your inheritence because the buggers won't die!
I guess seeing as people don't take marraige seriously as it is then the divorce rate would go up, and with higher rates of child birth with multiple partners the accidental incest rate will probably increase.

 

[KilljoyKlown]

It depends if we spend most of those years in old age or remain fertile for longer. Population control will quickly become an issue, but you'd probably find by the time we live that long we occupy other planets and are immensely efficient.
I imagine the only difference will be having to wait longer for your inheritance because the buggers won't die!
I guess seeing as people don't take marriage seriously as it is then the divorce rate would go up, and with higher rates of child birth with multiple partners the accidental incest rate will probably increase.

For the sake of this conversation lets assume average fertility to be about 200 years. That's a lot of possible kids. Even with a young vigorous body, having and raising kids takes a lot out of you. Next lets assume the average marriage last 20-25 years, it might then allow 20 year old's to marry 200 year old's. If you only expect a 20 to 25 year marriage and you still had a young look at 200 who would know or care.

However, I can't imagine why a 200 year old would want to live with a 20 year old, as it's bad enough with a lot less years difference.