I was hoping to find some clever loophole in Riker's phrasing (Q "exonerating" them for something, while not everything) but I don't really see it. Really it's either a writing mistake, or later writers changing their mind about it. I will say, even before TNG's final episode, in fact it might be True Q, Picard says "you put us on trial for the crimes of humanity" or similar, and Q replies "the jury's still out on that Picard, make no mistake." So even then, the "exoneration" had already been erased.
As to the exonerated, but the trial never ends conundrum... it is a recurring theme of Starfleet that tests are deceptive: * The Kobiashi Maru has no solution... that's the point. * The Pyche test that candidates to Starfleet Academy must pass is meant to see how people respond to their worst fears, but when Westley takes it in the Episode "Coming of Age", he doesn't even know that he's taking it. Also in that episode when Westley takes the test on defusing the aggression of of a Zaldan, he doesn't know he's taking a test. Chang, who was proctoring the test explicitly tells Westley that not all tests are announced, or what they appear to be. * In the episode "Thine Own Self" Troi takes the Bridge Officer's Test. It turns out that the test, is partly knowing all the systems of the ship and other command skills, but also testing the ability of the person being tested to knowingly order their fellow officers to their own deaths when necessary. And that last part is not something that the testee is told they are being tested on. Clearly, making humanity think that they had been exonerated was just hte next part of the trial. This makes sense: Q is interacting with Starfleet in the way that Starfleet interacts with itself... the same way he speaks English, the same way he generally wears a starfleet uniform... he's approaching humanity on humanity's own terms. That aspects of the trial are deceptive is just one more example of that.
This is an interesting point--funnily enough I just watched a video that convinced me wishes most definitely work! I'm going to give it a shot! Good to hear from you, @danielshottopics8187 !!
It's kind of hard to think what the man with a holodeck would do with Q powers... I have to say--I don't know what I'd do in Riker's shoes. Thanks for commenting, @ryanstephenson7312!
You're thinking lineally. The Q aren't bound to 3.5 Dimensions like every other being, they can move forward and back through time. Q wasn't wrong when he said they were exonerated, they were. The human timeline just hadn't gotten there yet.
rhw trial at the begining was to seeif thet were war lik still. But in the other at the end of the seasin they are on trial wether they ar worthyt being savd byfrom tier own action by figuring out the problem
Johnathan Frakes was not a good actor -nor was John Sherwood de Lancie Jr. But the character "Q" was a genius move. It exemplified that omnipotency is a bad idea. I knew this at a young age when I found out that there is no GOD -no ALLAH and such. Humanity -living in unison are their own gods and each one has powers above themselves. The trick is balancing out influence as not to create enemies and resentment. We all control life or death (more so "death") but we also have to fit together in a society and rarely take a life.
I was hoping to find some clever loophole in Riker's phrasing (Q "exonerating" them for something, while not everything) but I don't really see it. Really it's either a writing mistake, or later writers changing their mind about it. I will say, even before TNG's final episode, in fact it might be True Q, Picard says "you put us on trial for the crimes of humanity" or similar, and Q replies "the jury's still out on that Picard, make no mistake." So even then, the "exoneration" had already been erased.
I prefer the "Q is full of it" explanation.
As to the exonerated, but the trial never ends conundrum... it is a recurring theme of Starfleet that tests are deceptive:
* The Kobiashi Maru has no solution... that's the point.
* The Pyche test that candidates to Starfleet Academy must pass is meant to see how people respond to their worst fears, but when Westley takes it in the Episode "Coming of Age", he doesn't even know that he's taking it. Also in that episode when Westley takes the test on defusing the aggression of of a Zaldan, he doesn't know he's taking a test. Chang, who was proctoring the test explicitly tells Westley that not all tests are announced, or what they appear to be.
* In the episode "Thine Own Self" Troi takes the Bridge Officer's Test. It turns out that the test, is partly knowing all the systems of the ship and other command skills, but also testing the ability of the person being tested to knowingly order their fellow officers to their own deaths when necessary. And that last part is not something that the testee is told they are being tested on.
Clearly, making humanity think that they had been exonerated was just hte next part of the trial. This makes sense: Q is interacting with Starfleet in the way that Starfleet interacts with itself... the same way he speaks English, the same way he generally wears a starfleet uniform... he's approaching humanity on humanity's own terms. That aspects of the trial are deceptive is just one more example of that.
What happens if you wish for everything to be just as they are and as they would ordinarily be in the future?
Then, I think, your wish is granted!
Great Vid Bud, I Think Wishes Could Work However they have to be made carefully.
This is an interesting point--funnily enough I just watched a video that convinced me wishes most definitely work! I'm going to give it a shot! Good to hear from you, @danielshottopics8187 !!
Am I the only one who would have sent Q home kept the powers and use them sparingly?
It's kind of hard to think what the man with a holodeck would do with Q powers... I have to say--I don't know what I'd do in Riker's shoes. Thanks for commenting, @ryanstephenson7312!
You're thinking lineally. The Q aren't bound to 3.5 Dimensions like every other being, they can move forward and back through time. Q wasn't wrong when he said they were exonerated, they were. The human timeline just hadn't gotten there yet.
You can’t think so linearly. Future q have exonerated humans but past q are always in the midst of their trial.
Ha! Amazing explanation, @vservo1149! Thanks for this brilliant comment!
rhw trial at the begining was to seeif thet were war lik still. But in the other at the end of the seasin they are on trial wether they ar worthyt being savd byfrom tier own action by figuring out the problem
Johnathan Frakes was not a good actor -nor was John Sherwood de Lancie Jr. But the character "Q" was a genius move. It exemplified that omnipotency is a bad idea. I knew this at a young age when I found out that there is no GOD -no ALLAH and such. Humanity -living in unison are their own gods and each one has powers above themselves. The trick is balancing out influence as not to create enemies and resentment. We all control life or death (more so "death") but we also have to fit together in a society and rarely take a life.