Generation Ships

[Sindri]

Originally Posted by Danukian

Maybe you wouldn't notice, but in the Navy, some people start to gripe after 2 days, almost everyone has a strong craving after 6 months. I'm picturing some of the biggest complainers I knew after 20 years....



Most navies other than US and Muslim nations have alcohol rations, and things have been going reasonably for the past 4 centuries. Knowing the desperate ingenuity of people who are prohibited from drinking for 2 weeks, a "dry" generational ship is going to have an impossible task of hunting down blige-wine operations - which only require water, sugar, yeast, and a sealed container - not to mention if a guy from engineering cooperates with a guy from hydroponics and food resources! Heck, if there is no legal stimulants, it'll only be a matter of time before a generation of over-educated, under-thrilled deviants start cooking up nasty chemical highs as a replacement. If this ship can handle 30 children running amok, I'm sure it's study enough for Crewman Jones to have 2 beers a days.


Back to the OP: I think you will need a higher than average percentage of capable teachers and maintenance personal, able to keep a ship functional as well as train the next generations of doctors, engineers, crewman, etc.

The foods in questions that I wouldn't notice was things I haven't even heard of or have no desire to eat. There are a lot of foods out there thus there are a lot of weird vegetables I've seen once and never had.

I think you could definitely keep the first generation dry the question is whether it's a good idea and if it's worth the cost in narrowing eligible people.

Yeah the teaching of the next generation is going to have to be rather dependable.