Talk:Starfleet lieutenants

What exactly is the support for all of these so-called "lieutenants, junior grade"? Just curious. I'll return now to my regularly scheduled programming. --GNDN 22:45, 1 May 2007 (UTC)
 * My guess would be either how they were referred to, or the insignia/stripes on their uniform during their appearances. Are there any specific ones you are wondering about? --OuroborosCobra talk 23:22, 1 May 2007 (UTC)

The two characters that come to mind are Marla McGivers and Charlene Masters. Both are referred to as "lieutenants", yet neither have rank insignia. The fannish response (in my opinion), is to say that both must have been lieutenants, junior grade. If we're guided by dialog first, visual evidence second, and production notes third, then the conclusion is these officers were lieutenants without any explanation for the missing stripe. If visual evidence trumps dialog, though, Kirk and company were simply demented. I am unaware of any production notes --aside from the script-- adding anything to the debate. Therefore, there is no justification for assuming that a character is a lieutenant (j.g).

There are other problems involving different ranks: (Spock, Giotto, and Benjamin Finney are all referred to as "lieutenant commanders" while wearing commander's braid; Tina Lawton is referred to by an enlisted rank despite wearing an officer's duty uniform; the whole yeoman thing is contradictory, as well.

I'm suggesting that we ought not make canon what are merely educated guesses. The "theories" explaining simple production gaffes belong in "Background", and not the main body of the article. (What a canonite I've become!). --GNDN 16:51, 2 May 2007 (UTC)