Personal Relationships

[Anissa T]

Do you think since they knew it was a one way trip, they put in any regulations regarding personal/intimate relationships between fellow Atlantis workers? I mean, really, how can you ask someone to go somewhere where they may not come back. Then say, oh yeah by the way, you can't have intimate relations with anyone here.

Do you think this is a subject that will be brought up in any of the episodes down the road?

[PKidd18]

I'm sure that subject will be covered soon... at least I hope it will be covered soon... I was wondering about taht one myself... :)

[Colonel Carter]

Why would they have such limitations?

I talked the other day with a retired Air Force person. He told me that in the Air Force you can develop relationships. He said it even happens between a superior and a person beneath them, like O'Neill and Carter. He said they probably frown upon it, but that's about it.

Of course I've never been in any armed forces so I'm not one to say. That's just what I was told. That makes me think that O'Neill and Carter's choice not to pursue a relationship is really their choice and not one dictated to them.

But the whole thing at Atlantis is that they aren't even military, they're civilians. I don't think there are any rules against developing a relationship with someone where I work. I think all I saw in the employee handbook was that it could be considered bad taste to develop a relationship between a supervisor and someone below the supervisor, but I don't think even that's forbidden.

[Anissa T]

I don't think many companies actually put it in their manuals/handbooks/regulations. Although, the Army does have it in their regulations. It could develop for a conflict of interest down the road (promotions, workload, days off etc. etc.etc). This is especially true in a combat situation. Someone may want to concentrate of the person they love (have a relationship with) and not concentrate on the mission which at any given moment may be more important.

I had a colonel who use to sum it up as "Mission first, family always". When in the military and on a mission, you absolutely have remember that the mission is first. Some people forget that and get themselves into trouble. That's not to say that a love interest doesn't have their place and shouldn't be thought of at all. It's just that there is more going on there.

[Colonel Carter]

I understand why it would be considered a bad idea for a relationship to develop between someone and their superior or supervisor. The biggest one is usually others accusing the person in charge of showing favoritism. And just looking at dating relationships, it could cause serious problems for trust and morale and all of that if they broke up.

Overall I say it's unwise in any occupation for that kind of relationship to develop. But I guess not forbidden so technically, O'Neill and Carter could start up a relationship together if they both were of a mind to. I think their choice to show restraint tells a lot about their characters though.

I don't quite understand what "mission first, family always" means. :scrch

[Anissa T]

I don't quite understand what "mission first, family always" means.

I means, that while engaged in a military mission, your mission will be priority, not your family. However, should an issue arise, he would always find time for a soldiers family. Atleast, that was the way I took it.

[Colonel Carter]

I would say then it's best to keep family seperated when going into a bad situation. It's all well and good to say mission first, but a person's family will always take precedence I think. No matter what, you'll do anything for someone you love dearly. Forget regulation. Or maybe that's just me. :shep

[Anissa T]

Yes. And most people are like that. I think he was specifically applying it to while people were engaged in a particular mission. I know it sounds weird, but being in the military for several years, I get it. I mean there is every day workload and then there are "special missions" be they big or be they small.