Depends on what it's a canon spectrum for

Is Star Trek Online canon? by ratbrainbasher on 2015-07-03 01:23:00 UTC Reply

At least a little? I, personally, consider it canon unless contradicted by the movies or tv shows. Memory Alpha seems to consider it non-canon, while TV Tropes seems to consider it fully canon. So, does anyone know where it sits on the 'canon spectrum?' Hey, a canon spectrum might be a good idea...

I just want to know so I can properly use a (prototype)Odyssey cruiser in a fanfic I'm writing.

Technically, it's not canon by Tira on 2015-07-03 02:25:00 UTC Reply

With Star Trek, anything that's not from the live-action movies or tv shows isn't canon, end of story. However, a lot of people will declare elements of non-canon works part of their personal canon. So unless something in one of the episodes contradicts it, feel free to use it, though maybe put a comment in the author's notes or something.

(The EU moment that's totally part of my personal canon? The part from Spock's World where Amanda responds to a tabloid headline about her having married a little green man by saying "There's nothing little about my husband.")

Okay. by ratbrainbasher on 2015-07-03 03:25:00 UTC Reply

So, as long as I don't contradict the tv shows or movies, I should be safe. Unless the episode is threshold, in which case, everyone should try contradict it as much as possible.

What do you think about the 'Canon Spectrum' idea? I think it might be funny to have one, in order to go along with the suevian colour spectrum.

I googled that episode... by Desdendelle on 2015-07-03 13:44:00 UTC Reply

But my Star Trek-fu is weak; please enlighten me and tell me what's so bad about "Threshold".

There may be more accurate sources... by the Irish Samurai on 2015-07-03 14:33:00 UTC Reply

... but for sheer speed it's hard to beat Tv Tropes.

Here's what they have to say on the matter: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Recap/StarTrekVoyagerS2E15Threshold

Depends on what it's a canon spectrum for by Tira on 2015-07-03 03:33:00 UTC Reply

If you mean for the PPC, I'm not sure how often it would apply. It's really only relevant for series with expanded universes. That said, I do think there's already an explanation of the differences between canon/fanon/headcanon. If you mean just for Star Trek, I'd have to say no. Personally, I find the Star Wars canon levels to be way too confusing to keep track of, and I like that the Star Trek rule is immediately discernible.

I meant as a gag. by ratbrainbasher on 2015-07-03 05:06:00 UTC Reply

As in, just one more thing for agents to complain about. But, as you've said, some canons are really confusing, so why not have characters argue over where things go? It could be a nice bit of meta humour, because all-too-many fans will know the same pain. The PPC started, after all, as a way to have some fun with something really annoying. A canon spectrum argument would go something like:

"We should place the comics over here, because they are clearly less canon"

"I disagree; we should place them ahead of the books!" Which could be funny. (Also, that is the first time in my life I have ever used a semicolon for anything except programming.)

Though a Star Wars Canon Spectrum... by [EvilAI]UBEROverlord on 2015-07-03 07:48:00 UTC Reply

Is actually not a bad idea. Since everything is a big mess right now, it actually might helpful for judging violations among other things. What do you all think? If you are interested in that I can work on one to add to the Wiki.

Well, why not? by ratbrainbasher on 2015-07-03 08:37:00 UTC Reply

It could, at the very least, provide some fuzzy guidelines for people to follow. I hope it can still be an in-universe gag, though.

I see no reason why not. by [EvilAI]UBEROverlord on 2015-07-03 08:49:00 UTC Reply

Just really remarking on what a mess the Star Wars Canon is right now. I'll see what others think.

You can if you want to! by Tira on 2015-07-03 05:30:00 UTC Reply

If you can get a funny line or a decent plot point out of it, I say give it a shot.