Ragnell

I feel like the only difference between Riker and a Betazoid man is that a Betazoid man tells his stupid jokes over telepathy.

Hives suggests she's allergic to something. Yeah, see a vet.

This is from the ep where Geordi had that transporter accident. You haven't seen it.

I meant the comics, and really, as Star Trek fans we should not be looking down on superheroes. Kirk did once team up with Abraham Lincoln, after all.

Back in the 90s there were at least 5 X-men teams and every single one of them had a full telepath on them, but there was still enough drama and plot for multiple monthly installments of the most intricate superhero soap opera ever created.

Star Trek writers are cowards for avoiding Betazoids.

I have never met anyone who hates this episode. This is the one where Lwaxana shows up at the wedding naked.

See, now I think early Lwaxana is key to understanding Betazoids. It is a society of telepaths and empaths, and as a result they have an EXTREMELY strong sense of self that can actually lean into the narcissistic, they don't understand boundaries, and they do not have that filter that lies between thought and speech because everyone can tell what everyone is thinking anyway. They are so aware of people's feelings that they don't feel a need to cater to passing comfort, knowing that annoyance is just a thing that happens and will pass and that it's better to focus on the more important hurts--which is why she goes out of her way to counsel Alexander and Odo but just rolls her eyes at Picard's discomfort.

This really strong sense of self is so ingrained in the species that even Lon Suder, who doesn't have these abilities, is still such a strong personality that he TAKES OVER Tuvok during a Vulcan mind meld, and Tuvok is no slouch in telepathy.

I think it was an amazing idea to portray a telepath or an empath like this, let alone both, and it indicates a unique and interesting society in the Federation. Star Trek has a (criminally underused) race of telepaths that is unlike any other race of telepaths and that is all because of Gene Roddenberry's Auntie Mame joke.

I mean, just stop and think about what Aunties and Moms can be like. Now stop and think about them in a matriarchal culture where men are still traditionally masculine and women are traditionally feminine. Now consider them in a culture where NOBODY CAN LIE.

That's the key to Betazed. Nobody can lie, so you may as well be yourself even if you're annoying and overbearing.

Going by Lwaxana, Lon Suder, Tam Elbrum ("Tin Man") and even Deanna Troi when she lets her Betazoid half out a bit, Betzoids are an extremely impulsive and hedonistic species but also the premier telepaths of the Star Trek Universe and that is just unlike any other portrayal of telepaths but it still makes so much sense when you think about it.

Equal parts Dukat, Q and Data.

Does anyone have the blank for this?

Yeah, Riker probably gets a rebellion roll everytime Troi's mother is around.

I wonder if there's a category for "The Captain COULD get some tail if he had better taste in women."

There are two kinds of Star Trek fans: those who love Lwaxana Troi and those who are wrong.

Where does "Troi's mother comes to visit" fall?