From Newsgroup: rec.arts.sf.tv

Hello everyone,

I am watching again everything from Star Trek TOS to the new Star Trek Strange New Wolds. I'm currently at season 7 of Star Trek The Next Generation, episode Lower Decks (which, I believe, gave the inspiration for the great Star Trek Lower Decks show, which I deeply love).

I have a question that, maybe, the savy trekers can answer: in TOS, everyone says "Aye, aye, Sir!" to acknowledge an order. But I've learned from Star Trek Lower Decks that we "now" have to say "Aye, Sir!" and not "Aye, aye". In episode
15 season 7 of TNG, "Lower Decks", Cmd Riker, after a drill, reminds Ensign Lavelle that "one 'aye' is sufficient" when responding to orders. The dialog goes that way:

Cmd Riker: Lavelle!
Ensign Lavelle: Sir!
Cmd Riker: Resume previous course and speed.
Ensign Lavelle: Aye, aye, Sir.
Cmd Riker: One 'aye' is sufficient acknowledgment, Ensign.

The question is bothering me a little, I must say. No matter how hard I've been paying attention, I haven't figured out why. Why one 'aye' has become sufficient, instead of two? Even, why two 'aye' are now, apparently, unwelcome when it was the norm in TOS? In fact, this is what was also mentionned in one of
the episodes of the series Lower Deck (sorry, I can't recall which one).

Thank you for your insights.

-f6k
--
~{,_,"> finger f6k@huld.re <",_,}~
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.arts.sf.tv

On 2025-09-25 22:39:48 +0000, f6k said:

Hello everyone,

I am watching again everything from Star Trek TOS to the new Star Trek Strange
New Wolds. I'm currently at season 7 of Star Trek The Next Generation, episode
Lower Decks (which, I believe, gave the inspiration for the great Star Trek Lower Decks show, which I deeply love).

I have a question that, maybe, the savy trekers can answer: in TOS, everyone says "Aye, aye, Sir!" to acknowledge an order. But I've learned from Star Trek
Lower Decks that we "now" have to say "Aye, Sir!" and not "Aye, aye".
In episode 15 season 7 of TNG, "Lower Decks", Cmd Riker, after a drill, reminds Ensign Lavelle that "one 'aye' is sufficient" when responding
to orders. The dialog goes that way:

Cmd Riker: Lavelle!
Ensign Lavelle: Sir!
Cmd Riker: Resume previous course and speed.
Ensign Lavelle: Aye, aye, Sir.
Cmd Riker: One 'aye' is sufficient acknowledgment, Ensign.

The question is bothering me a little, I must say. No matter how hard
I've been paying attention, I haven't figured out why. Why one 'aye'
has become
sufficient, instead of two? Even, why two 'aye' are now, apparently, unwelcome
when it was the norm in TOS? In fact, this is what was also mentionned
in one of the episodes of the series Lower Deck (sorry, I can't recall
which one).

Thank you for your insights.

-f6k

One "aye" is slightly faster to say, which could be important in an
emergency or batle situation.

Realistically, it most likely just lazy script writers, probably no
longer getting paid by the word. :-)

Technically in "aye aye sir" back in the days of sailing ships, the
first "aye" confrism the order has been heard and said, while the
second "aye" confrims the order will be carried out immediately. the
singulr "aye, sir" would normally be used when agreeing with or
replying to a sneior officer's statement, while the doulbe "aye aye,
sir" is used when acknowledging and performing an order.

--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.arts.sf.tv

On 9/25/2025 11:38 PM, Your Name wrote:

On 2025-09-25 22:39:48 +0000, f6k said:

Hello everyone,

I am watching again everything from Star Trek TOS to the new Star Trek
Strange
New Wolds. I'm currently at season 7 of Star Trek The Next Generation,
episode
Lower Decks (which, I believe, gave the inspiration for the great Star
Trek
Lower Decks show, which I deeply love).

I have a question that, maybe, the savy trekers can answer: in TOS,
everyone
says "Aye, aye, Sir!" to acknowledge an order. But I've learned from
Star Trek
Lower Decks that we "now" have to say "Aye, Sir!" and not "Aye, aye".
In episode 15 season 7 of TNG, "Lower Decks", Cmd Riker, after a
drill, reminds Ensign Lavelle that "one 'aye' is sufficient" when
responding to orders. The dialog goes that way:

Cmd Riker: Lavelle!
Ensign Lavelle: Sir!
Cmd Riker: Resume previous course and speed.
Ensign Lavelle: Aye, aye, Sir.
Cmd Riker: One 'aye' is sufficient acknowledgment, Ensign.

The question is bothering me a little, I must say. No matter how hard
I've been paying attention, I haven't figured out why. Why one 'aye'
has become
sufficient, instead of two? Even, why two 'aye' are now, apparently,
unwelcome
when it was the norm in TOS? In fact, this is what was also mentionned
in one of the episodes of the series Lower Deck (sorry, I can't recall
which one).

Thank you for your insights.

-f6k

One "aye" is slightly faster to say, which could be important in an emergency or batle situation.

Realistically, it most likely just lazy script writers, probably no
longer getting paid by the word.-a :-)

Technically in "aye aye sir" back in the days of sailing ships, the
first "aye" confrism the order has been heard and said, while the second "aye" confrims the order will be carried out immediately. the singulr
"aye, sir" would normally be used when agreeing with or replying to a
sneior officer's statement, while the doulbe "aye aye, sir" is used when acknowledging and performing an order.

Also consider that at the time TOS was made there were still a LOT of
veterans from WW2 around, so there was more experience in how things
were actually done in a military. It shows in little ways like "Aye
aye" and yeoman constantly handing Kirk paperwork to read and sign. ;)
--
I've done good in this world. Now I'm tired and just want to be a cranky
dirty old man.
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.arts.sf.tv

Verily, in article <10b5ccm$qh1j$1@dont-email.me>, did
YourName@YourISP.com deliver unto us this message:

On 2025-09-25 22:39:48 +0000, f6k said:

Hello everyone,

I am watching again everything from Star Trek TOS to the new Star Trek Strange
New Wolds. I'm currently at season 7 of Star Trek The Next Generation, episode
Lower Decks (which, I believe, gave the inspiration for the great Star Trek Lower Decks show, which I deeply love).

I also love Lower Decks. I'm looking forward to the Starbase 80 spinoff
I suspect to be in the works.

Technically in "aye aye sir" back in the days of sailing ships, the
first "aye" confrism the order has been heard and said, while the
second "aye" confrims the order will be carried out immediately. the
singulr "aye, sir" would normally be used when agreeing with or
replying to a sneior officer's statement, while the doulbe "aye aye,
sir" is used when acknowledging and performing an order.

That's fascinating. I'm guessing the writers just thought the equivalent
of "yes yes" was silly, but it's barely possible that they intended to
honor this distinction.
--
Trustworthy words are not pretty;
Pretty words are not trustworthy.

-Lao-Tzu spoke those pretty words.
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.arts.sf.tv

On 2025-09-26 15:41:05 +0000, The True Melissa said:

Verily, in article <10b5ccm$qh1j$1@dont-email.me>, did
YourName@YourISP.com deliver unto us this message:

On 2025-09-25 22:39:48 +0000, f6k said:

Hello everyone,

I am watching again everything from Star Trek TOS to the new Star Trek
Strange New Wolds. I'm currently at season 7 of Star Trek The Next
Generation, episode Lower Decks (which, I believe, gave the inspiration >>> for the great Star Trek Lower Decks show, which I deeply love).

I also love Lower Decks. I'm looking forward to the Starbase 80 spinoff
I suspect to be in the works.

Technically in "aye aye sir" back in the days of sailing ships, the
first "aye" confrism the order has been heard and said, while the
second "aye" confrims the order will be carried out immediately. the
singulr "aye, sir" would normally be used when agreeing with or
replying to a sneior officer's statement, while the doulbe "aye aye,
sir" is used when acknowledging and performing an order.

That's fascinating. I'm guessing the writers just thought the equivalent
of "yes yes" was silly, but it's barely possible that they intended to
honor this distinction.

That was typed in a rush, so has a few typos / auto-(in)corrections.
:-( It should have said:
Technically in "aye aye sir" back in the days of sailing ships, the
first "aye" confirms the order has been heard and *understood* (not
"said"), while the second "aye" confrims the order will be carried out immediately. The singular "aye, sir" would normally be used when
agreeing with or replying to a senior officer's statement, while the
double "aye aye, sir" is used when acknowledging and performing an
order.

The white battledroids in the Star Wars Prequel Trilogy (and spin-offs)
kept saying "Roger, Roger", which is probably based on similar reasons.
In some of the animated shows it became something of an over-used
in-joke though.



--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.arts.sf.tv

Hello everyone,

On 2025-09-26 15:41:05 +0000, The True Melissa said:

On 2025-09-25 22:39:48 +0000, f6k said:

Hello everyone,

I am watching again everything from Star Trek TOS to the new Star Trek
Strange New Wolds. I'm currently at season 7 of Star Trek The Next
Generation, episode Lower Decks (which, I believe, gave the inspiration
for the great Star Trek Lower Decks show, which I deeply love).

I also love Lower Decks. I'm looking forward to the Starbase 80 spinoff
I suspect to be in the works.

I wasn't aware of that! Thank you for the information :)

On 2025-09-26, Your Name <YourName@YourISP.com> wrote:

That was typed in a rush, so has a few typos / auto-(in)corrections.
:-( It should have said:
Technically in "aye aye sir" back in the days of sailing ships, the
first "aye" confirms the order has been heard and *understood* (not
"said"), while the second "aye" confrims the order will be carried out immediately. The singular "aye, sir" would normally be used when
agreeing with or replying to a senior officer's statement, while the
double "aye aye, sir" is used when acknowledging and performing an
order.

Very interesting indeed! Thinking of it, I'm almost sure that in TOS,
they use the tow forms (on aye, and two) depending of the situation,
and it now makes a lot of sense to me, thanks to you.

On 2025-09-26, Dimensional Traveler <dtravel@sonic.net> wrote:

Also consider that at the time TOS was made there were still a LOT of veterans from WW2 around, so there was more experience in how things
were actually done in a military. It shows in little ways like "Aye
aye" and yeoman constantly handing Kirk paperwork to read and sign. ;)

Well then maybe what explained Your Name was still used in military at
the time of TOS. But that wasn't the case anymore in the 80's/90's ?
So, obviously, they wrote their scripts accordingly for TNG?

And about the yeoman: yes! And that is a great detail to notice. I
haven't seen yet the late TOS movies, I'm wondering if there's still a
yeoman on bord the Enterprise...

Thank you very much all for your comments and replies; it's very
appreciated.

-f6k
--
~{,_,"> finger f6k@huld.re <",_,}~
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.arts.sf.tv

On 2025-09-27 07:44:15 +0000, f6k said:

Hello everyone,

On 2025-09-26 15:41:05 +0000, The True Melissa said:

On 2025-09-25 22:39:48 +0000, f6k said:

Hello everyone,

I am watching again everything from Star Trek TOS to the new Star Trek
Strange New Wolds. I'm currently at season 7 of Star Trek The Next
Generation, episode Lower Decks (which, I believe, gave the inspiration
for the great Star Trek Lower Decks show, which I deeply love).

I also love Lower Decks. I'm looking forward to the Starbase 80 spinoff
I suspect to be in the works.

I wasn't aware of that! Thank you for the information :)

There isn't a Starbase 80 spin-off ... yet??

According to the "Lower Decks" animated series creator, Mike McMahan,
back in December 2024:

"I would love to go there again. There are no plans to go
there again. I pitched a Starbase 80 spinoff to CBS like,
three years ago, which is where a lot of this came from.
I would love to go back to Starbase 80, but right now
there are no plans to do it."

<https://www.polygon.com/star-trek/500534/star-trek-lower-decks-finale-interview-showrunner-bts/>


--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2