SFDebris: I Borg
Posted: Sat May 15, 2010 9:16 pm
YouTube and no, that's not a typo, there's no apostrophe in the title. Weird, I hadn't noticed that before now. 
This one feels very rushed, especially near the beginning, where most of the script seems to be glossed over in about a minute. I'm also slightly disappointed that the issue of using Hugh as a weapon to take out the collective was dismissed as needing more time than the video had. While I can understand the sentiment (and the fact that Chuck has more things to do with his life than producing these videos, as much as we might wish otherwise), I think it was a mistake. That choice lay at the heart of this episode, and while the issue of how to treat a single example of a species that previously has demonstrated not just a lack of individuality, but a strong tendency to eliminate it wherever its encountered, is important, so is the tactic proposed.
Ultimately this comes down to the Geneva Convention's requirements for military action - necessity, proportionality and discrimination. The action is clear necessary, given that if something isn't done about the Borg they will obliterate humanity, either by extermination or assimilation. It is proportionate as the Borg have never demonstrated any intention of backing off, and as previously stated the Borg are intent on humanity's destruction, not merely the acquisition of a bit of territory. Finally it is discriminate, as the attack is aimed specifically at crippling the collective military's computer network. The fact that this network is synonymous with the central nervous system of every Borg is irrelevant - the target has a clear and substantial military purpose.
This one feels very rushed, especially near the beginning, where most of the script seems to be glossed over in about a minute. I'm also slightly disappointed that the issue of using Hugh as a weapon to take out the collective was dismissed as needing more time than the video had. While I can understand the sentiment (and the fact that Chuck has more things to do with his life than producing these videos, as much as we might wish otherwise), I think it was a mistake. That choice lay at the heart of this episode, and while the issue of how to treat a single example of a species that previously has demonstrated not just a lack of individuality, but a strong tendency to eliminate it wherever its encountered, is important, so is the tactic proposed.
Ultimately this comes down to the Geneva Convention's requirements for military action - necessity, proportionality and discrimination. The action is clear necessary, given that if something isn't done about the Borg they will obliterate humanity, either by extermination or assimilation. It is proportionate as the Borg have never demonstrated any intention of backing off, and as previously stated the Borg are intent on humanity's destruction, not merely the acquisition of a bit of territory. Finally it is discriminate, as the attack is aimed specifically at crippling the collective military's computer network. The fact that this network is synonymous with the central nervous system of every Borg is irrelevant - the target has a clear and substantial military purpose.
