Star Trek’s level of medical care is far more advanced than today’s. As Beckett says in LD, “Doc will wave a light over it.” Yet, in Star Trek people aren’t shown doing hobbies and pastimes that are much different from what’s done now. Still, I wonder about differences in a society where people know they won’t be laid up for months for doing or trying something that some folks of today might look at and say, “nope, too dangerous.” Injuries will still hurt, there’s a big difference between say, a broken leg taking months to heal and possibly multiple surgeries, and Star Trek’s healing of a broken leg in a matter of hours.
I’m trying to think of what I’d do differently if I had access to Star Trek level medical care. There are things I want to try, but I look at sideways because of the possible injuries. It’s mild, but one thing I think I’d try again is skating. I injured my knee roller skating at a rink years ago, and that knee is still a problem. That injury left me skittish of skating. If I knew an injury from skating (within reason) could be an easy fix, I would have given it another go.
Is there a pastime you’d be more willing to try, or try again, if Star Trek level medical care was available?
That’s my thought. There are a few things I can think of that come with a significantly higher risk of injury than death, though. I’d go hiking and camping more often (and in more places) if I didn’t have to worry about ticks and mosquitoes spreading disease. And if I could carry an effective antivenom, that would open up more of the world as well.
I’d try some harder mountain bike trails if broken bones were easy to fix. Of course you could still suffer a fatal head injury, but with a good helmet I’m more afraid of smaller (but still life-altering) injuries.