Child abandonment in the 24th century

[Pavonis]

I was reviewing what is known canonically about the families of Trek characters in another thread, and realized that Will Riker has an unusual history of his own. Much like Picard's undocumented nine-year span between 2355 and 2364, we know nothing about a three-year period in Riker's life, from 2350 to 2353.

We know that Kyle Riker, for some reason, abandoned his teenaged son Will in 2350. What happened to this 15-year-old Will? Was he taken into custody by the state? Was he moved into a foster family? Or did he raise himself? Any of these options are an interesting possibility and would reveal much about the workings of 24th century human society on Earth.

I know nothing has been mentioned in canon, but what seems likely?

How and why was Kyle Riker allowed to abandon Will? Seems like that should be illegal. Or perhaps parents are no longer responsible for their children after the age of 15 in the 24th century?

 

[Crazy Eddie]

I know nothing has been mentioned in canon, but what seems likely?

What seems most likely is that the legal age for humans in the 24th century is much lower than it is now (considering human children have to take calculus in 3rd grade) so Will Riker was probably "abandoned" in the sense that his dad told him "You're an adult now... time for you to get the fuck out of my house."

How and why was Kyle Riker allowed to abandon Will?

Because on Earth, the essentials of life--food, shelter, clothing, etc--are basically free. All young Will would have to do is go to the local autorities and explain his situation and be told "Well, here are the keys to your studio apartment and your card containing your monthly allowance of replicator and transporter credits. If you cannot find a job within thirty days, we will provide you with one you probably won't like."

 

[Pavonis]

I figure a 15 year old can take care of themselves easily in the 24th century, even without a job.

Still, the term used was clearly "abandon". Will didn't say he was "kicked out". The term "abandon" implies that Kyle still had responsibilities to Will that he shirked. I believe the episode "The Icarus Factor" implies that Kyle had an emotional meltdown, or something, and ended up leaving Will. Rather than kicking Will out of the Alaska house, it would seem Kyle simply left Will alone at home.

 

[The Wormhole]

Hell, at 15 he might have entered Starfleet Academy. Wesley took the entrance exam when he was 15, after all.

In fact, that might explain how he made first officer at a pretty young age.

 

[mythme]

Hell, at 15 he might have entered Starfleet Academy. Wesley took the entrance exam when he was 15, after all.

In fact, that might explain how he made first officer at a pretty young age.

Except that we know canoncially that he entered at 18.

 

[T'Girl]

There seems to be a trend in the 24th century of single child families, so there might not have been much extended
family for young Riker to have been taken in by.

 

[The Wormhole]

Hell, at 15 he might have entered Starfleet Academy. Wesley took the entrance exam when he was 15, after all.

In fact, that might explain how he made first officer at a pretty young age.

Except that we know canoncially that he entered at 18.

Oh right. Sorry, it's been a while since I brushed up on Riker's canonical backstory.

I know, I'm a disgrace to Trek fandom.

 

[Pavonis]

On further consideration, how do we know that Riker enrolled in the Academy at 18? Memory Alpha says he did, "Conundrum" and "Future Imperfect" are cited, but I don't know how the date of 2353 is determined. Actually, I don't even know how we "know" that Riker was born in 2335!

Maybe Will did just join Starfleet after being abandoned by Kyle!

 

[Timo]

"Conundrum" has those computer screen tidbits where a hawkeyed viewer might discern details of each character's backstory. Yet such computer readouts generally also contain in-jokes and innocent impossibilities, so we could disregard them in general - indeed leaving us without evidence on Riker's age or his early Starfleet history.

TNG is full of examples of children being considered rather independent from an early age. There are several recently orphaned early teen kids aboard the E-D who simply get shown their quarters and left alone; there's no evidence Wesley has a roommate of any sort during Season 2, either. Perhaps Kyle Riker is a typical parent of the 24th century, and it's Will Riker who's the socially dubious norm-rattler because he perversely wants to cling on to his dad even after turning ten?

I don't think the concept of "underage" has ever turned up in Star Trek, really. Perhaps there's no legal distinction between child and adult in the 24th century any more?

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Mary Ann]

This may apply to Alexander as well. Though Worf doesn't abandon his son, Worf goes on a lot of away missions and I wonder who is then Alexander's official guardian. It's probably Troi, but does Alexander then stay with her or stay alone is Worf's quarters? Has this ever been explained?

 

[sbk1234]

It seems to me that the "abandonment" may be more in Will's mind, than actual fact. Kyle may have made arrangements for Will to be taken care of appropriately, but the hurt, angry boy may have looked upon it as abandonment, instead.

 

[The Wormhole]

This may apply to Alexander as well. Though Worf doesn't abandon his son, Worf goes on a lot of away missions and I wonder who is then Alexander's official guardian. It's probably Troi, but does Alexander then stay with her or stay alone is Worf's quarters? Has this ever been explained?

I'm pretty sure it was stated that Deanna Troi did look after Alexander when Worf was gone.

 

[Pavonis]

It was only stated that Worf wanted Troi to raise Alexander in the event of his death during the risky spinal cord transplant in "Ethics".

When Worf was off the ship, why would anyone need to watch Alexander? The kid's probably going to be in school for some part of the day, and during the rest of the day, he's as safe in his quarters as he would be in anyone else's quarters.

 

[The Wormhole]

It was only stated that Worf wanted Troi to raise Alexander in the event of his death during the risky spinal cord transplant in "Ethics".

I was thinking of Parallels, actually, when Worf asks her to be the Klingon version of a godmother or whatever it was. True, that was an alternate reality, but I don't think it's too much of a stretch to assume he had a similar conversation with her in the real universe.

 

[Pavonis]

So that's probably what he asked her to be in "Ethics", without using the Klingon term.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

why would anyone need to watch Alexander? The kid's probably going to be in school for some part of the day, and during the rest of the day, he's as safe in his quarters as he would be in anyone else's quarters.

Worf doesn't know every member of the crew personally. There's no way he would let Alexander just wander around. Who knows what some of those people are capable of. Just because they're in Starfleet doesn't mean they couldn't hurt the kid.

The only quarters Alexander is safe in are his own, really.

 

[Crazy Eddie]

On further consideration, how do we know that Riker enrolled in the Academy at 18? Memory Alpha says he did, "Conundrum" and "Future Imperfect" are cited, but I don't know how the date of 2353 is determined. Actually, I don't even know how we "know" that Riker was born in 2335!

Maybe Will did just join Starfleet after being abandoned by Kyle!

He might have simply enlisted in Starfleet and gone back to OCS three years later when he realized he had nothing better to do with his life and he might as well see how far he could go with Starfleet.

 

[Crazy Eddie]

why would anyone need to watch Alexander? The kid's probably going to be in school for some part of the day, and during the rest of the day, he's as safe in his quarters as he would be in anyone else's quarters.

Worf doesn't know every member of the crew personally. There's no way he would let Alexander just wander around. Who knows what some of those people are capable of. Just because they're in Starfleet doesn't mean they couldn't hurt the kid.

Wait, what?

Dude this is Star Trek we're talking about, the show that asks us to believe that "the problems" of humanity have all been totally and completely solved, that there's no crime, no war, no poverty, no mental illness... it isn't said openly, but that definitely implies no pedophiles.

 

[SpyOne]

It seems to me that the "abandonment" may be more in Will's mind, than actual fact. Kyle may have made arrangements for Will to be taken care of appropriately, but the hurt, angry boy may have looked upon it as abandonment, instead.

^This.
Kyle might have "abandoned" Will by sending him to live with his grandparents, or an Uncle and Aunt.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Worf doesn't know every member of the crew personally. There's no way he would let Alexander just wander around. Who knows what some of those people are capable of. Just because they're in Starfleet doesn't mean they couldn't hurt the kid.

Wait, what?

Dude this is Star Trek we're talking about, the show that asks us to believe that "the problems" of humanity have all been totally and completely solved, that there's no crime, no war, no poverty, no mental illness... it isn't said openly, but that definitely implies no pedophiles.

Admit it. You don't believe that new age utopia shit any more than I do.