After making a post in the thread concerning Picard and Guinan's relationship it got me to thinking who gave the best advice. I honestly don't know, but it did seem that Guinan set people back on the right path when they needed it. Thoughts anyone?
Who was a better counselor, Troi or Guinan?
- Thread starter shatastrophic
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Yes, a counsellor is usually there to listen...like a regular psychologist. I would think. Means Troi had no business on the bridge, but that's another story.
Anyway, as to advice, I think Guinan's was better because she could just opine and tell you what she thought about whatever situation. She was no-one's therapist.
Anyway, as to advice, I think Guinan's was better because she could just opine and tell you what she thought about whatever situation. She was no-one's therapist.
From what we were shown, Guinan would seem to have been better at her job than Troi ever was, but I think that's more the writer's fault than what was 'actually' the case on the ship. People will spill their heart to a bartender because of anonymity, and for that same reason the bartender will dispense advice, but a trained counselor is usually the way to go.
very true
Guinan. I would actually listen to her because she wasnt attractive whereas with Troi I would be looking at her body when she is talking to me.
Guinan by far was the better counselor. She never used what Q so eloquently described as the "pedantic psychobabble" that Troi always retreated to when things got weird.
I was going to start the same thread, but saw this one which already existed, so here are my thoughts:
- Troi and Guinan appear to have similar, perhaps duplicate job functions. And yet only Deanna Troi is the "official" ship counsellor, Guinan does not report to her. In other words, Guinan is only a bartender providing occasional advice, but in no way is she a member of Enterprise's "counselling department" so to speak.
- Guinan appears to provide advice on a "general" level. She rarely dwells into the specific, her advice seems to be vague and open to interpretation. On the other hand, Ms. Troi provides very particular, specific advice down to the task level, she says how to implement the advice, she's very practical.
- Guinan is sought for her "wisdom" while Deanna Troi is sought for her skills. Guinan reminds me of the Oracle in Matrix movies, who was telling everyone "what they wanted to hear" but seldom gave direct answers to questions. On the other hand, Guinan wouldn't be out of place in a Star Wars movie.
- Troi and Guinan appear to have similar, perhaps duplicate job functions. And yet only Deanna Troi is the "official" ship counsellor, Guinan does not report to her. In other words, Guinan is only a bartender providing occasional advice, but in no way is she a member of Enterprise's "counselling department" so to speak.
- Guinan appears to provide advice on a "general" level. She rarely dwells into the specific, her advice seems to be vague and open to interpretation. On the other hand, Ms. Troi provides very particular, specific advice down to the task level, she says how to implement the advice, she's very practical.
- Guinan is sought for her "wisdom" while Deanna Troi is sought for her skills. Guinan reminds me of the Oracle in Matrix movies, who was telling everyone "what they wanted to hear" but seldom gave direct answers to questions. On the other hand, Guinan wouldn't be out of place in a Star Wars movie.
Guinan seems to make people feel bad a lot of the time.
- beats worf at that phaser game while telling him he doesn't laugh enough
- pisses Riker off "Maybe you haven't heard. I tried to kill him yesterday!"
- tells Geordie to get a life in Galaxy's Child
- tells Yasha Yar she's supposed to be dead
- tells Picard that Tasha Yar's romulan kid in Redemption part 2 is his fault
Yeah I'd definitely be going to Troi over Guinan
- beats worf at that phaser game while telling him he doesn't laugh enough
- pisses Riker off "Maybe you haven't heard. I tried to kill him yesterday!"
- tells Geordie to get a life in Galaxy's Child
- tells Yasha Yar she's supposed to be dead
- tells Picard that Tasha Yar's romulan kid in Redemption part 2 is his fault
Yeah I'd definitely be going to Troi over Guinan
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