Humanoids can be positively grotesque sometimes.

[qcontinuum]

I take that back. Everyone can be positively grotesque when sordid reproductive rituals are involved. Including Trill symbionts and, apparently, Q. *shudder*

Watching amanda_the_q throw herself desperately at doctorbashir, thus triggering a ridiculous four-way fight between her, him, his current paramour ezridax and her symbiont symbiont_dax followed by egregious quantities of make-up sex... Part of me is entertained, and part of me would be vomiting if I actually had an alimentary tract. I really thought Amanda was over her "have sex with everything humanoid that moves" phase. You know, people, sex is entertaining enough, but it is not the sum total of existence. A Q should most especially be capable of thinking of something else. Particularly one who believes that it's not the role of the Continuum to completely disrupt mortals' lives for a quick fix of amusement.

And can any humans tell me why it is that humans who obviously find both of their genders attractive will not only vigorously pretend that they only find one of them attractive, while making it blatantly obvious that this is simply untrue, but will phrase things in such a way as to imply that the only alternative would be for them to exclusively prefer the other one? You'd never catch me doing that. Oh, wait, I did do that, with kathrynjaneway and Q, but then, she'd read the logs of my encounters with Picard so she had to know that gender is in fact entirely optional for me. I refer to myself as male only because that's my form for humans. Given the way my role in the Continuum has changed, if I had to present myself to an entirely new species and it was a species with similar reproductive patterns to humans I'd probably end up presenting as a harried single mother. :-(

Pretending to have been some sort of galactic Lothario was all part of the role. (Why did I take on that role? Was I sabotaging myself? Did I actually get hit in that first firefight and have part of my capacity for reason damaged before I even tried to contact Janeway? No, I know. Q made me do it. It's all her fault. She started to play jealous, so I had to play along.)

The concept of monogamy is completely ridiculous to the Continuum. I'm pleased to see Amanda has left behind enough of her roots that she's actually forgotten that mortals get offended if you throw yourself at their boyfriend, though not pleased that she's retained enough of her roots that she primarily throws herself at male humanoids, the more human-looking the better. We are capable of that most sordid of emotions, jealousy, though we ought to be above it... but come now, when someone you have an interest in won't give you the time of day but expresses a strong interest in a shrill, annoying doctor with a lousy bedside manner and a clingy thief and con artist, jealousy becomes awfully hard to avoid. On the other hand, we share much more nicely than humans do, or most other corporeal mortals (Denobulans being an exception that comes to mind...) The idea of being jealous because you have something, but someone else also has that, and you want to have it all to yourself, is so unbelievably petty I can barely comprehend it. Why? Why do humans do this? (Or mortals? I see a joined Trill engaging in this behavior, so it isn't just humans.) Why can't they enjoy the company of anyone they wish without their companions getting all in a snit about it?

*Snort* Love. They use that as their excuse. I'll tell you about love. Love is about realizing rather too late in the game that a mortal you originally saw only as an example of their species and a rather stuffy one at that is someone you want to spend an inordinate amount of time with, only you're locked into a role and now the mortal will probably mistrust you until the end of time. Love is about being someone's best friend for billions of years, and then sharing your pattern and your life with them to create the most glorious thing any of your species has ever created, only to have them declare that you are ruining the child and they can't stand to watch and storm out on you, leaving you abandoned to the hardest task your species has ever undertaken, alone, with no aid whatsoever. Don't talk to me about love. It's the ugliest of emotions, because it pretends to be benevolent but is truly cruel. Give me something up front about its cruelty every time.

Comments

[paristorres.livejournal.com]

I can't believe I'm agreeing with you, Q, but I can't believe how much sex there is on DS9. Or how much sex I'm not having. Comparatively, of course. Don't those people have jobs? A quadrant to rebuild?

On the other hand, I do recommend monogamy. It can be very, very... satisfying.

Just wait until you have a kid.

[qcontinuum.livejournal.com]

Monogamy may not turn out to be all it's cracked up to be for you, either, once there's a kid involved.

But then, we have radically different biologies. You probably evolved to take a certain satisfaction out of monogamy since it improves the chances your young will survive. We haven't reproduced in so long, Q and I more or less had to re-invent it, so monogamy is pointless for us and always has been. I suppose if I were a human it might have somewhat more appeal, although the one time I was human the subject really didn't come up.

Sex on DS9? Where?

[harrykim.livejournal.com]

Voyager launched from DS9 5 years ago, and the crew spent a little more than a day on board the station itself. I don't remember seeing rampant sex *anywhere*!

Then again, I spent most of my time on the Promendade trying not to get ripped off by some Ferengi bartender...

[kiranerys.livejournal.com]

Not all of us on the station are currently of the sex-having variety, thanks a lot. And currently, we don't have a lot to do for reconstruction--all the ships for the taskforce left weeks ago.

Prophets, I'm very defensive today. Carry on.

[kathrynjaneway.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry you feel that way about love, Q, because I can tell you it's one of the most wonderful feelings in the world, one of the most elevating of emotions. Love has many facets--the ecstasy of romantic love, consuming passion and desire, along with tenderness, warmth and caring. Love is putting another's needs above your own, of always being by their side, and knowing that they will do the same for you. Loving and being loved is an incredible experience--which no one should ever be ignorant of.

It's not all moonlight and roses, I'll grant you that. As you've discovered, love, because of its capacity for bringing great joy, can also be the source of great pain. But that's a risk we have to take. As the old adage says, you can't get something for nothing.

I've been fortunate to have known two great loves in my life and I sincerely hope that I will one day be able to find it once again.

[geordi-laforge.livejournal.com]

Well, I think you already hit on the reason why monogamy is more appealing to humans. We are just wired differently. I happen to like the difference, myself.

I'm hardly qualified to talk about love, and gender preference, however. Wanting to reach out, make that intimate connection--it's...well, love can be the most wonderful feeling in the world, and I hope someday that I'm lucky enough to find it. I don't think I hold out much hope that the future you showed to Captain Picard is going to happen to me. I don't even know anymore if that is what I want.

And as for preference--I think, unfortunately, that we let it define who we are far too much in our minds, even today. It's very hard sometimes for us to switch mental gears like that--to go from looking at someone as only an object of friendship, to thinking that maybe they could be so much more. I believe that we could learn a great deal from those of us who don't let it hold them back--I can think of one person in particular who isn't designed to let it interfere with his choices in love, and that is something I admire in him. He may still be struggling to figure all this 'humanity' stuff out, but in that, he is far more self-aware than I am. I know I learn from him, perhaps as much as he learns from me.

Well said Mr. LaForge

[timenchanter.livejournal.com]

I may be saying all of this tongue-in-cheek, but it appears it needs to be said. After reading the original posting from my dear friend Q, and all the subsequent posts, I would have to say that my opinion lies somewhere in the middle.

Love IS a grand thing, Q, but you are right...it can cause the most dispicable of emotions to arise. It is not LOVE that is at fault, however, it is the misunderstanding that most of us humans have of love. Love has nothing to do with sexual preference nor that of race, creed, religion or place of origin. It is merely something that one feels in the soul. Something so basic and primal that none have yet been able to adequately define it. It is something which consumes the mind, yet elevates it to a plane that is unatainable on one's own. And love is not merely shown by the choice of one's life partner. You once referred to showing me my marriage to Beverly as being an opportunity to avoid a mistake. If I am fortunate enough to be able to call a fine woman such as herself my wife, at some point, I will consider myself one of the luckiest men alive. There are very few for whom I have such an abiding love and respect and almost none which have been dear to my heart for so long. To put it in concise form for you, Q, love is what stays your hand from destroying your son even though the things he does may merit it. It is that thing that makes you laugh in the middle of scolding him. The thing that makes you rejoice in his triumphs and diminish his setbacks. Love is not blind, Q, it is seeing the very best in others.

On that note, let it be said that I love you, after a fashion. We have been through a lot you and I. I hope that you have the good sense to cherish the loves you've had rather than be embittered that they are impermanent. -- Jean-Luc

[doctorbashir.livejournal.com]

You know, people, sex is entertaining enough, but it is not the sum total of existence.

It's not? *confused*

Let me present you with a hypothetical choice.

[qcontinuum.livejournal.com]

Choose carefully, because it might not *remain* hypothetical.

You can give up your advanced intellect, the enhancements your parents had given to you. You will lose your career, your intelligence and your ability to be a doctor. However, you will remain unbearably attractive to individuals of both sexes and many species, and will most likely end up continuing to get laid on a regular basis.

Or you can give up your libido, and lose your sex life entirely, but keep your mind intact. You can still be a doctor, you will still be a genius, but you won't have sex any more.

Which would you pick?

Choose carefully. There may be a pop quiz.

Re: Let me present you with a hypothetical choice.

[ezridax.livejournal.com]

Don't be so mean, Q! He's very nice as a person, he just likes sex. Which is totally natural. And punishing him for annoying you would deprive me too, you know.

And I care... why?

[qcontinuum.livejournal.com]

Dear lady, if I decided your boyfriend is in serious need of a test, the fact that it would inconvenience you would not disturb me in the slightest.

There's finding sex enjoyable and fun, and then there's being obsessed with it. I suggest your boyfriend needs to learn to stop being obsessed and recognize there is more to life. Or there really might be a pop quiz.