I think part of the issue is one that's more of an externally imposed cultural difference.
A lot of tech that's ubiquitous in Trek but uber in B5 (like shields) is something that came about in Trek because the different races worked together. It's the whole basis of the Federation.
In B5-verse we don't have that cooperation. That's what Delenn found so fascinating about humans, later in the series: the way they build communities, and open them to other races. It isn't just the Clark administration that's xenophobic there, everyone is - Clark's just a bit more militant about it than most humans. Drazi, Vree, Abbai, Minbari, Centauri... never really gave any thought to the kind of cultural and scientific cooperation that's at the very root of the Federation.
And that's why, in A Thin Veneer, the Federation really scares the shit out of the Minbari. Not because they're more technologically advanced (though they are, and that annoys them)... because they're perverts.
Who's behind it? I did say after all, externally imposed. My own guess would be the Shadows and Vorlons. It's all part of their little game, making each race its own petri dish so they can't grow together. That's what really scared them both about Sheridan's alliance, because he was pushing exactly that agenda.
Makes you wonder if the Organians and Melkots and Q are playing their own game against the Shadows and Vorlons, in A Thin Veneer, doesn't it?--
"Use of unnecessary violence in the apprehension of General Zod has been approved."
--
Sucrose Octanitrate.
Proof positive that with sufficient motivation, you can make anything explode.
A lot of tech that's ubiquitous in Trek but uber in B5 (like shields) is something that came about in Trek because the different races worked together. It's the whole basis of the Federation.
In B5-verse we don't have that cooperation. That's what Delenn found so fascinating about humans, later in the series: the way they build communities, and open them to other races. It isn't just the Clark administration that's xenophobic there, everyone is - Clark's just a bit more militant about it than most humans. Drazi, Vree, Abbai, Minbari, Centauri... never really gave any thought to the kind of cultural and scientific cooperation that's at the very root of the Federation.
And that's why, in A Thin Veneer, the Federation really scares the shit out of the Minbari. Not because they're more technologically advanced (though they are, and that annoys them)... because they're perverts.
Who's behind it? I did say after all, externally imposed. My own guess would be the Shadows and Vorlons. It's all part of their little game, making each race its own petri dish so they can't grow together. That's what really scared them both about Sheridan's alliance, because he was pushing exactly that agenda.
Makes you wonder if the Organians and Melkots and Q are playing their own game against the Shadows and Vorlons, in A Thin Veneer, doesn't it?--
"Use of unnecessary violence in the apprehension of General Zod has been approved."
--
Sucrose Octanitrate.
Proof positive that with sufficient motivation, you can make anything explode.