Whenever there’s a storyline with quark, they talk about money/latinum.

I remember in one of the next gen episodes that there was discussion about money and Picard said something about how they’ve moved away from money.

So do Starfleet get paid now?

Update: thank you for the quick responses. From what I’m gathering the tldr is that the following is the answer

  • Ferengi love for money/not being a post scarcity society by design
  • Bajorans being so near their slavery times and not post scarcity yet
  • Quark creating an atmosphere of camaraderie/gambling/upgraded replicators/actual food

All this requires some form of currency.

  • cybervseas@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    No one said the replicator can perfectly create the most delightful and exquisite flavors and aromas associated with the real thing. Also the bar is like a real bar in a way, you’re not paying for just the food/drink but also the atmosphere.

    Also also it’s a Bajoran station, so maybe Quark has to pay an energy bill even for using the drinks replicator.

    Also also also Quark makes the point that he had programmed the drinks replicator to be even better than a regular one, so you’re also paying for that.

    • MajorHavoc@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Also also also Quark makes the point that he had programmed the drinks replicator to be even better than a regular one, so you’re also paying for that.

      Great point.

      And to be clear, by “programmed” we mean “installed weird sketchy dark web firmware, some of which he happened to write and sell himself” and by “even better” we mean “breaks lot of Federation food safety rules in fun ways”.

      • Maalus@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Also, you can get groceries and make your own dinner. Why would you ever go to a restaurant?

        Going to a bar is most likely about the atmosphere, the people there, just as much as it is about the alcohol

        • aredditimmigrant@endlesstalk.orgOP
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          1 year ago

          Why a restaurant for the service.

          Between my wife and I we can make a lot of good staples (roasted chicken, beef and potatoes, etc.) but we’re not masters of the kitchen by any stretch.

          You go to a restaurant to have someone else make the dinner and hopefully they are better than you are to make something tastier. As a side you don’t have to deal with cleaning dishes.

          That and hopefully they have a good wait staff to liven up things

    • SatyrSack@lemmy.one
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      1 year ago

      maybe Quark has to pay an energy bill even for using the drinks replicator.

      I think this is the main part. Things cost money on DS9 because the energy used to run the replicators is a finite resource, given that they are in such a remote location.

    • PutangInaMo@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Quark doesn’t pay for anything on the station. That was clarified in the series when Sisko threatened to charge him for it all. Forgot the episode though.