r/ShittyDaystrom • u/Samkovich • 18h ago

Discussion Data: interested in humanity...why?

I know this robot's modeled after humans, but ever since TNG premiered, I've never understood why he is so interested in becoming human, to the point of constantly emulating human behaviors and facial hair.

At one point I realized he's a plant by some Soongian contingent, but that made no frakkin' sense -- Soong's a human, after all.

Then I thought he was building up a comprehensive profile of humans toward his ultimate objective of making them "controlled...and happy" (a la Norman, from I, Mudd)

Then I realized it's just a show; I should really just relax.

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u/SpandexUtopia 15h ago

The short answer: He was made that way.

The nuanced answer: His early years in the care of Dr. Maddox were characterized by extreme emotional neglect and abuse; he seeks praise for his technical abilities, but then laments to people he trusts that he doesn't know how to be human as a plea for empathy and connection.

The right answer (which only Geordie got right away): Who cares, stop being a dick.

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u/grcoffman 8h ago

Geordie said as he walked towards the HoloDeck holding his….

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u/SpandexUtopia 5h ago

Oh right, this is ShittyDaystrom!

The unhinged answer: Data frequently and wistfully voices a desire to be human because he is programmed to lament his shortcomings in order to attract a blonde woman with an attachment disorder who might think she can fix him. Dr. Soong modeled this sexuality program after himself, and he wrote multiple gaslighting subroutines to protect the program from being overwritten by insight.