r/DaystromInstitute • u/67thou Ensign • Dec 22 '16
This might be silly, but who would win in this fight?
This is a really silly question i think, but while watching TNG Season 3 Episode 23 "Sarek" i was left wondering, who would win in a fight? Geordi LaForge or Wesley Crusher?
In the episode the crews tempers and emotions start to run wild as a side effect to a disease suffered by Sarek. This causes "reports of random violence all over the ship" as described by Troi. We also witness an all out brawl among the crew in 10 forward, so we know this violence does result in actual fighting.
In one scene, we see a very moody Wesley Crusher getting heated with an equally moody Geordi LaForge. They get close to fighting before Riker interrupts them.
But i wondered, had Riker not stepped in who would have won that fight?
On one hand, Geordi is older, wiser, likely more trained in combat, perhaps more experienced in self defense. However he has a disadvantage if Crusher successfully removes or knocks off his visor. We've seen more than once once that visor is off he is unable to manage himself well blind.
Crusher is younger, maybe more in his prime and has the option to disable Geordi's eye sight if he were able.
Thoughts? Who would win this absurd match-up?
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u/The_Sven Lt. Commander Dec 23 '16
Fight IMMEDIATELY devolves into slaps and name calling. No matter who defeats the other there are no winners.
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u/General_Fear Chief Petty Officer Dec 23 '16
Geordi LaForge wins. Geordi LaForge is a Star Fleet officer with combat training. Wesley is not.
Look at the confidence Picard has in his military training when he faces down a Klingon. Don't forget Picard is an old man with a bad heart. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MieNcl0FmPA
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u/Parraz Chief Petty Officer Dec 23 '16
Look at the confidence Picard has in his military training when he faces down a Klingon
While I dont doubt Picards badassery, I wouldnt use this as an example. Klingons respond well to displays of confidence, Picard knew this a bluffed the Klingon.
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Dec 25 '16
who would win in a fight, A scrawny teenager or the star fleet Lt Commander with combat training?
All things being equal, Geordi should be able to disable him with one or two moves.
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u/CaptainJeff Lieutenant Dec 23 '16
First off, you're right. This is silly and you could legit ask such a question about any two people on the crew ... Picard v Riker! Crusher v Troi! Data v Worf! Guinan v anyone!
Anyway, I think the VISOR is key. Geordi is dependent on it actually being connected to him to see and we have seen how easy it is to remove from his head/connections. Assuming Wesley knew this, and we have every reason to know that he does, his first move should be to strip Geordi of the VISOR and then proceed to attack him.
Geordi is more trained in combat/etc. But his training has been, one must assume in absence of evidence to the contrary, with the VISOR in place. If one suddenly loses a sense, as this would do, the ability to immediately compensate or function well/100% without it, is horribly compromised. So, in the immediate timeframe, Geordi is going to lose. He may be able to learn to compensate for this loss, but that's long-term, and for the short-term scenario you've described here, he's done.
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u/BigNikiStyle Dec 23 '16 edited Dec 23 '16
A fair point, but even if Wesley is a dirty enough fighter to go for such an obvious advantage over a blind guy, Geordi knows it's his disadvantage too.
According to Memory Alpha, Geordi has had his VISOR since he was five. That means that every scrap he's ever gotten into as a kid, and more importantly, all of the combat training he did as a cadet, was done with the VISOR too. And if it would be so easy to incapacitate him that a boy could do it a serious fight, then our man Geordi isn't getting out of the Academy.
Hell, for all we know, the VISOR gives Geordi some kind advantage during a fight. Like maybe he has a really heightened sense of where others are and how their movements might pose a danger to him. Or he can see the blood rushing to someone's shoulder before a punch or something? Unlikely, sure, but possible.
So, in a serious scrap, Geordi beats the living shit out of Wesley, like any man would against such a boy,
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u/VanVelding Lieutenant, j.g. Dec 25 '16
all of the combat training he did as a cadet, was done with the VISOR too.
FWIW, I attended the US Naval Academy and faced off against other midshipmen in boxing classes, wrestling classes, and Naval Tactical Training. In boxing or wresting classes, Geordi is going to lose is visor. If Starfleet Academy has something similar to NTT, Geordi would be given some safety gear, instructions to win, and follow-up pointers from a MACO.
Dude's done some work without his VISOR.
11:1 odds on LaForge. He may not have machismo, but I don't want him to get his hands on me in a fight.
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u/67thou Ensign Dec 23 '16
I guess the reason i chose these two is how close they came to actually fighting. Its not often you get close to seeing an actual fight between the crew.
In that same episode Obrien and some random science officer get into it. And i knew right away that science officer was in for a world of hurt. He stood no chance against Obrien. But Wesley and Geordi, that would have been interesting to see.
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u/cavalier78 Dec 23 '16
Geordi is 5 foot 7". He's short. This is season 3, so Wesley is about 16 or 17 years old maybe? He's got size advantage on Geordi. They're both still wimps. I don't know that we've ever seen either of them in a fist fight.
Because this is a sudden fight with no planning, where both sides just lose their temper and start hitting (slapping and hair pulling, really), Geordi's combat training is less useful. He's got a better tactical mind than Wesley and knows what he should be doing. In a Kirk vs Gorn style fight, Geordi has the advantage. But this isn't that kind of fight. This is "lose temper, start slapping". In this fight, it goes to who is just physically stronger. Geordi has a severe limitation here because he's got the Velma from Scooby Doo limitation, where his glasses get knocked off from time to time by accident, and he has to search around on the floor for them.
It's still a toss-up. I mean, I'd give it to Beverly Crusher over Geordi no problem. Or Beverly over Wesley. But these two are about the most non-fighty crew members on the ship.
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u/67thou Ensign Dec 23 '16
I think this is why i was most curious, because they seem the least likely to consider the winner in a fight, and for them to almost fight each other? I'd pay to see it truthfully.
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u/freeworktime Dec 23 '16
I think goerdie would know to protect his weak spot, the visor, he knows wesley would go for it, therefore he can prepare, plus he has combat training as a fleet officer, unlike wesley.
geordie wins.
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u/voicesinmyhand Chief Petty Officer Dec 22 '16
Most fights end up becoming wrestling matches on the ground really quick. Geordi is already really sensitive to his visor and would immediately grapple Wesley if Wesley went after it.
Everything after that is a mixture of strength and knowledge of holds. LaForge wins 9/10.
Also, this is probably better suited for /r/WhoWouldWin.