The Official ASVS FAQ

C. How is discussion even possible?

1. How can you even compare the two? They're too different.

We start with the basic assumption that the laws of science (real science) are the same in both universes. From that, you can see how the two compare in certain cicumstances. For example, if a Star Destroyer is 1600 meters long, and the Enterprise-E is 700 meters long, then the Star Destroyer is over twice as long as the Enterprise-E. The same can be applied to weapons' output, shields, etc. So there is actually a lot of common ground between the two.

2. But you can't use real science! It's all made up!

It is made up, which can present a challenge. However, while we can't always use known science, the scientific method and scientific ways of thinking still exist. There are whole groups built around this (such as rec.arts.startrek.tech). Observe and record your information and peer review your conclusions.

3. But what if real science and film science disagree? Doesn't that make the whole thing pointless?

The whole thing is pointless, but so are most hobbies. What we do is take a) known science, b) fictional science (the internal logic of the fictional universe), and c) observed "fact". Graeme Dice described it as such:
When [Spider-man] lifts a car, is the first thing you do to state that he must not have actually applied all the force required since no human could do that? No, you say "Oh. Spiderman can lift a car. Therefore his strength must be at least some value. His muscles must be different than normal humans."
In other words, we accept the impossible, and go from there.

4. What do you hope to accomplish?

Different people come for different reasons. Some want to prove that their universe will kick the other's butt. Others come to try to find out which would win. Still others come to learn something about their own universe. And some come to be entertained. But if you mean "will we ever decide once and for all who's right" it seems that is a definate "no".