I went through TNG again a while ago and I was struck by how much I'd forgotten, and how I'd kind of lost my way in terms of my beliefs. I grew up wanting to be like Picard, and watching them again reminded me of that.
I grew up on TNG and I'm now re-watching it all with my daughter. The first season is just as rough as I remember it, but I love how much of the core themes and character of TNG they got absolutely right from the very first episode.
One thing about the show that struck me is that I'm amazed at how inter-personal communication has changed over the decades. I thought I remembered everyone being a lot more easy-going when I was a kid and then decided that I must have imagined it. But no, sure enough, right there on Star Trek you see the characters poking light fun at each other not long after they first met, even in a military setting.
Today people seem to take themselves much more seriously. You have to be a lot more guarded and diplomatic, sometimes even with people you know very well, otherwise you risk alienation or embarrassment. I know TV is not reality, yadda yadda, but there's a kernel of truth in there somewhere.
It might be part of the TV era, but I imagine having people who aren't constantly on the defensive would fit into Gene's vision of a better tomorrow. If you can assume that everyone in the room is on the same team and wants the best for everyone, you probably would feel less offended by gentle jabs.
