Tag: Mudd

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Trekking Through Compliance

Trekking Through Compliance – Episode 37 – Ethical Decision-Making Lessons and the Return of Harry Mudd in I, Mudd

In this episode of Trekking Through Compliance, we consider episode I, Mudd, which aired on November 3, 1967, and occurred on Star Date 4513.3.

The Enterprise finds Harry Mudd (Harcourt Fenton Mudd) on a planet and the “ruler” of 500 robot women. Mudd is being studied by the robots, who are accommodating but refuse to let him go. The androids tell Kirk people from the Andromeda galaxy built them. However, the civilization that constructed them was destroyed by a supernova, so the androids were left without supervision. Now, they have found a new purpose in Mudd. Spock makes inquiries and discovers that there are 207,809 androids, and, most importantly, they seem to be controlled by some central coordinating power.

The robots find people too destructive and plan to take over and “serve” all humans in the galaxy to control them. Kirk leaves Harry on the planet with his attendant robots to serve as an example of human failure to them. The robots are also reprogrammed to perform their original task of rendering the planet fit for human life. As a final blow to Mr. Mudd, Kirk also leaves behind several android copies of his shrewish wife, Stella.

Commentary

The episode features the return of Harcourt Fenton Mudd, who hijacks the Enterprise and takes it to a planet of robots. The crew must outwit the androids using illogical actions to regain control. We delve into the episode’s ethical lessons and connect them to compliance practices, emphasizing the importance of ethical decision-making, ethical leadership, and continuous improvement in compliance programs. Fun fact: NBC considered a spin-off series for Harry Mudd due to the episode’s success, although it never came to fruition.

Key Highlights

  • Plot Summary: The Hijacking and Mudd’s Rule
  • The Androids’ Purpose and Kirk’s Plan
  • The Climax: Overloading the Androids
  • Ethical Decision-Making in Compliance

Resources

Excruciatingly Detailed Plot Summary by Eric W. Weisstein

MissionLogPodcast.com

Memory Alpha

 

Categories
Trekking Through Compliance

Trekking Through Compliance: Episode 6 – Human Trafficking Lessons from Mudd’s Women

In this episode of Trekking Through Compliance, we consider the episode Mudd’s Women, which aired on October 13, 1966, with a Star Date of 1329.1.

Story

Harry Mudd attempts to evade the Enterprise with his small class J cargo ship and leads it into an asteroid field. The Enterprise extends its shields over Harvey’s ship, burning out three of its four lithium crystals. The crew of the Enterprise becomes fascinated with the three beautiful women Mudd has been transporting.

As a result of the destruction of three of its lithium crystals, the Enterprise is forced to divert to Rigel 12 to obtain new crystals. Mudd makes his bargain with the lithium miners on the planet. At Mudd’s prompting, the miners offer to provide Kirk with lithium only in exchange for Mudd’s freedom and the three women’s freedom. Kirk learns the women’s beauty secret: Mudd has given them the Venus drug. Kirk beams down to collect the lithium from Childress while providing Evie with red gelatin, which she believes to be the Venus drug. Evie believes herself again to be beautiful and unintentionally reveals her natural inner beauty. In the end, Kirk gets his lithium, Evie remains with Childress, and Mudd is taken into custody.

Commentary

This podcast focuses on Harcourt Fenton Mudd and his dubious exploits, particularly around transporting women under false pretenses. Tom delves into the broader themes of human trafficking, examining issues such as the illusion of consent, manipulation, and economic exploitation. He also emphasizes the importance of victim support, legal responsibilities, and the power of awareness and education in combating human trafficking within compliance programs. The episode provides a timely reflection on these issues while drawing parallels to modern compliance challenges.

Key Highlights

  • Plot Summary of ‘Mudds Women’
  • Human Trafficking Themes in ‘Mudds Women’
  • Compliance Lessons from ‘Mudds Women’

Resources

Excruciatingly Detailed Plot Summary by Eric W. Weisstein

MissionLogPodcast.com

Memory Alpha

Categories
Trekking Through Compliance

Episode 37-I, Mudd


In this episode of Trekking Through Compliance, we consider episode I, Mudd, which aired on November 3, 1967, and occurred on Star Date 4513.3.
The Enterprise finds Harry Mudd (Harcourt Fenton Mudd) on a planet and the “ruler” of 500 robot women. Mudd is being studied by the robots, who are accommodating but refuse to let him go. The androids tell Kirk people from the Andromeda galaxy built them. However, the civilization that constructed them was destroyed by a supernova, so the androids were left without supervision. Now they have found a new purpose in Mudd. Spock makes inquiries and discovers that there are 207,809 androids and, most importantly, that they seem to be controlled by some central coordinating power.
The robots find people too destructive and plan to take over and “serve” all humans in the galaxy to control them. Kirk leaves Harry on the planet with his attendant robots to serve as an example of human failure to them. The robots are also reprogrammed to carry out their original task of rendering the planet fit for human life. As a final blow to Mr. Mudd, Kirk also leaves behind several android copies of his shrewish wife, Stella.
Compliance Takeaways:

  1. Why continuous monitoring is a mandatory part of any compliance program.
  2. Will AI take over compliance? (Answer: No)
  3. As a CCO, you are only limited by your imagination.

Resources
Excruciatingly Detailed Plot Summary by Eric W. Weisstein
MissionLogPodcast.com
Memory Alpha