Fuck dangerous hobbies, I'd be able to do whatever I wanted with my career since I wouldn't rely on heavily subsidized corporate health plans in order to keep my partner alive.

Assuming, of course, that in such a post-scarcity society we wouldn't still find a way to stratify society and allow only the elite to have access to such things.

I've always wanted to learn skateboard but at 40+ it seemed like a really dumb hobby to start, given that you spend more time falling at first than you do on the board.

For me the medical care wouldn't change much because you can still die a lot of ways and getting hurt probably still hurts a lot.

The big difference for me would be transporters. I hate traveling because for me the destination is the destination and the journey is just an annoyance. There are a thousand places I'd visit if getting there wasn't such a pain in the ass.

In an early episode of the Orville, Gordon and Isaac get into a prank war which culminates in Isaac removing Gordon's leg. This is treated as going a little bit too far but ultimately harmless and funny.

In Star Trek, they tend to prefer to mitigate risks protectively with things like anti-grav harnesses and holodeck safeties, except for exceptionally reckless individuals like James T. Kirk and Jason Vigo.

I'd take up white water kayaking if I could just walk into the infirmary and get it taken care of.

What about the opposite of that, though?

Permanent injury and disability is unlikely. Chronic pain is likely a nonissue. Most of the unpredictable diseases can be sciencemagick'd away. Even old age, you'll still be mobile, active, and happy. Long, thriving lives are the minimum expectation.

In a world where medical technology is so good that only "natural" death will get you in the end, and one where there's no resource constraint forcing you to a stressful and awful life with no opportunity to thrive, everyone kind of has a lot more to lose. I might be more willing to do something "risky", but not if that risk contains "risk of immediate death" because there's no fixing that.

Though whether this is the way human psychology works... who knows.

Lower Decks take on what happens in the holodecks tells me they do have some insane hobbies and well extracurricular activities that need clean up afterward.

I think the pastimes I'd want to try would likely kill me so Bones isn't going to be able to fix me, e.g. freestyle mountain climbing, skydiving, bungee jumping.

Honestly, it would just be nice if that kind of tech could rid me of my (at times excruciating) chronic pain.

I've reached the point – years ago – where it has become truly debilitating and there are days and longer periods where I can barely perform any physical action. It is frustrating and my quality of life would improve dramatically if I did not have that constantly hindering me in my daily life.

Forget "dangerous" hobbies; I might actually be able to have a social life again and see my friends or go out to see a movie or go shopping!

@Nmyownworld Nothing I can think of. My hobby(arboriculture) is pretty dangerous. I just do my best to minimize risks.

A holodeck would be a game changer though. While perhaps not truly dangerous with safeties on, doing Worf's calisthenics program, or recreating historic battles where you meet on a field with sword and shield would be hugely fun and intimidating, even with the safety factor.

Assuming that it cost the same as Star Trek medical care, I'd definitely be more open to it.

That said, though, part of the issue is less concern over medical care, but rather more that of having enough time and money. You can't go around the world trying new things, if you can't afford to go, or if you can't get enough leave to be able to do so.

I think it's the pain of receiving high medical bills which keeps me (and most other US citizens) from doing fun/silly/stupid/risky things...

I don't have hobbies and barely leave the house now, so does a yes still count there? Honestly cut out the paperwork, travel time, and multiple visits and pretty much any scifi medical treatment would work for me... be it automated, vats, comas etc.

Some of my problems could likely be solved by today's tech (at least significant relief), but not much hope of that when a place I want to go to doesn't even have a website (or more generally, call-centric appointments etc).

@Nmyownworld Probably not. That said I have a feeling that Mensur would be in again

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academic_fencing

If people want to try more dangerous stuff, there's a holodeck with safety for that. So there isn't much reason to risk more pain and injury than necessary.

Like now, medical care is still just a backup if the normal means of self-preservation fail. You can never be sure if that stunt will end up with a broken leg or neck, and there's a thin line between those, even for ST-level docs.

But then there are species that will always push to the brink of survivability, like Klingons or Hirogen.

Ed: but specifically for mild things like skating, that's more about having your past injuries healed so they don't "remind" you to not do it again. But again with a hoodeck that's less of a problem.

Not really. Maybe if Peter F. Hamilton Commonwealth level of medical technology was available. Star Trek's doesn't really seem advanced enough to change my opinion on risking my life for fun.

Nah, dangerous hobbies don't sound fun. But, with other trek tech, I'd definitely pick up new hobbies. Like solving a mystery in the holodeck. ;)

If star trek medical care (which implies star trek economy + society) existed and were THE thing, I would be doing so sorts of cool shit. Like... Just wear a helmet and don't die instantly and you'll be back to normal in a few hours? COUNT ME IN. Shit. I might even become a doctor just to see cool shit knowing that I could actually help people.

Well, considering there are still people in wheelchairs in Star Trek, guess I’d still be in one.

I like the inclusion (in the show), but I would hope that paralysis was cured that far in the future.