Lieutenant JG Ollie Bergmen - Advice is cheap (additional undisclosed fees may apply)
CPT Arianus
(( Auditorium - Operations Center, Deck 5, USS Artemis-A ))
Bergmen: Exciting, right? Ferenginar has so much to offer! So, get a little temperature in this wonderful audience —please, raise your hands if you've already met some Ferengi or visited Ferenginar. What can you tell me about your experience?
And excited it was. It was more an ad from the Ferenginar Trade Commission than an instructional holo, but that was the idea. Not to slushing their lips with honey, but to show them what could lie ahead on the planet.
Jaran: I've met a couple Ferengi. We would occasionally make trips to Deep Space 9 when I was a child, and I continued that tradition into adulthood. There were always Ferengi there, especially around Quark's. Even as a kid, they were always trying to sell me something.
Cole: Having met a few, I think they’re capable of growth. Just takes them a little longer. Like bonsai trees.
Tho'Bi: ::kindly:: I think many are happy as there are.
Imril: I’ve been to the original Quark’s a few times. I don't see why the holo-salesman is so defensive about Ferengi food. I like it. I'm planning to go on a restaurant crawl, if anyone's interested in joining me.
Ollie raised his hands in a conciliatory gesture and flashed a smile at the audience. It seemed that many of them had their fair share of experiences with Ferengi. Still, he decided to stick to his script, stressing the points they had already pointed out.
Bergmen: Yeah, that§s good you have some experience already. Remember, Ferengi culture values profit above all. Understanding their customs and practices can help you navigate interactions successfully. (beat) Like bargaining. Bargaining is not just accepted; it's expected! Always negotiate prices in markets and shops for the best deals. And please focus on one important fact: the local currency is the Ferengi D'Ar. It's essential to familiarize yourself with the exchange rate to avoid any confusion when making purchases. And by “confusion”, I meant being literally robbed by a merchant in broad daylight.
Bergmen paused and looked at the auditorium, his eyebrows slightly raised as he offered his advice.
Jaran: Are we being a little harsh here, perhaps?
Cole: Jaran, I don’t think it's that simple. Clearly some ::gestures around:: of our crewmates have, unfortunately, had bad experiences and that has led them to have biases towards the Ferengi.
The young Andorian chuckled to himself.
Imril's face lit up with a sudden glimmer of recollection, bringing to the surface some negative memory of his own, but it turned out that it did not involve the Ferengi.
Imril: I had a bad day with a Da’al once. I’d like to think he isn’t representative of his whole civilization.
Bergmen: And that's actually a great point, Lieutenant. Building connections can significantly enhance your experience. Attend local events or gatherings to meet Ferengi as naturally as they are. Still, beware, while Ferenginar is relatively safe, keep an eye on your belongings, especially in crowded places.
But those present seemed to pay Ollie no mind, deeply engaged in a fervent discussion about the nuances of "moral" prejudice and the dangers of generalization.
Cole: Personally I try not to judge an entire race solely on how a select few have chosen to conduct themselves, even if regrettably there are vast cultural differences that lead to preconceptions and assumptions.
Tho'Bi: ::nodding:: Yeah… everybody thinks Andorians just solve problems with knife fights ::pause for thought:: …I mean we do …but, still. …you know …bias.
Imril: It’s easy to think of all Andorians as duelists or Ferengi as greedy, when those traits are generally held up as a society’s most likely means to be successful in life. The people that succeed at being those things are the ones outsiders are more likely to interact with and be given impressions by. Take Grand Nagus Rom. He was pretty anonymous, for a Ferengi. Just some guy who was better at engineering than profit-generating, tinkering away in the background out of view while his brother openly and eagerly chased latinum… Until, one day, he was running Ferengenar and challenging some of the things his people are stereotyped for.
Ollie sighed. He had lost their attention, and it seemed like the attention wouldn't come back to him. What could he do? Half the audience was of the same rank, so he couldn't pull this one...even though he was technically the oldest in the room. But that was childish. And even though he looked like he had just recently graduated from high school, he wasn't a child anymore. At least not in age. Hormonally...TBC...
But they didn't seem to care about his embarrassment. So he stood there, watching them argue as he tried to figure out how to cut this Gordian knot.
Jaran: Response
Tho'Bi: What they have …works for them. …Profit is their knife fight.
Imril: And the Rules Of Acquisition their Art Of War.
Cole: ::turning towards Imril and Tho’Bi:: That is an excellent comparison
Bergman cleared his throat to get their attention.
Bergmen: May I have your attention, please?
But his asking was lost in the ongoing discussion.
Jaran: Response
Tho'Bi: Maybe the real bias is The Federation's insistence we know best…
Imril nodded, agreeing with Andorian's argument.
Imril: The Federation has done things that leave a bad taste in some mouths, too. The treatment of Synths after Mars, for instance. And augments and ex-Bs who were changed or assimilated against their will. All that suspicion and discrimination, over horrible things which none of them were responsible for.
Cole: Those kinds of biases… they don’t come from policy. They come from fear. And fear makes people cruel. … ::quite:: I’ve seen that up close. ::beat:: So yeah, the Federation stumbled sometimes hard. But I also know people who would bend the whole galaxy to keep those same groups safe now. We’re messy, and we’re not perfect. But I think we try to be better than we were.
Ollie walked over to the desk, casually tapped his fingers on it, and entered an instruction into the console to have the computer generate a few holographic white chalks on his desk. Their discussion had veered far from the original topic, and as he knew from his own experience as a high school student, there's never any point in fighting with students. And as his high school ethics professor painfully taught him, asserting dominance is always better than voicing it.
He grabbed a piece of chalk, and a mischievous grin spread across his face. With the confidence and skill honed over five years of elite high school sportsmanship, he took a few steps back, gauging the distance. As he wound up, muscles tensing like a spring, he threw the chalk into the audience with a resounding splash that echoed through the auditorium as the chalk hit the empty table just above Tho’Bi's head.
Bergmen: So, now that I have your attention, yes, I agree that prejudice isn't something we should indulge in. But let's get back to the lesson's topic. (beat) Ferenginar and what we can expect…
Bergman paused briefly, set down another piece of chalk he was holding in his palm, and picked up his clicker to change the slide behind him.
Bergmen: So, there are ten basics you should know when visiting Ferenginar. ::points to slide:: Be prepared for constant rain and humidity. Pack waterproof clothing and shoes to stay comfortable. (beat) Ferengi culture values profit above all. Understanding their customs and practices can help you navigate interactions successfully. (beat) Bargaining is not just accepted; it's expected! Always negotiate prices in markets and shops for the best deals. (beat) The local currency is the Ferengi D'Ar. It's essential to familiarize yourself with the exchange rate to avoid any confusion when making purchases. ::turns to audience:: Questions so far?
Jaran/Tho'Bi/Imril/Cole: Response
Ollie nodded and clicked to show another five points.
Bergmen: Ok, remember these questions, they will be answered after the remaining five advisory notes on this slide. ::pause and look at the slide:: While public transport is available, consider hiring a local guide to help you navigate the city more efficiently, especially if you're unfamiliar with the area. (beat) Familiarize yourself with local laws and regulations, especially those related to business practices and trade. (beat) Building connections can significantly enhance your experience. Attend local events or gatherings to meet Ferengi entrepreneurs and merchants. (beat) Don’t miss the capital city, known for its striking architecture and vibrant markets. Make a list of must-see places to make the most of your visit. (beat) And importantly, last point: while Ferenginar is relatively safe, keep an eye on your belongings, especially in crowded areas.
Bergmen turned his attention back to the crowd and smiled.
Bergmen: And this summarizes the mandatory lesson, and we can come back to your questions or comments for discussion if you still have any.
Jaran/Tho'Bi/Imril/Cole: Response
TAG/TBC
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Lieutenant JG Ollie Bergmen
Operations Officer
U.S.S. Artemis-A
A240009JC1