Death Wish Decisions...

[nx1701g]

Going along with the 37s Poll I posted a while ago I thought that I would do a poll on this topic as well. This time you're the captain, what choice do you make?

Here is the scenario incase people haven't seen the episode:

Janeway considers a Q's request for asylum, but if it is granted, he will commit suicide.

"Q"uinn - Seeking political asylum because he wants to die
"Q" - Representing the Continuum's interests for Quinn's request to be denied.


"Q"uinn - wants to die because he feels he has done everything possible and that his immortality is a disease.
"Q" - Fears what Quinn's death will cause to the Continuum.

 

[kimc]

I agree not only Janeway's asylum decision but also her plea to Quinn that life as a human would be a new experience and one worth living.

 

[exodus]

kimc said:
I agree not only Janeway's asylum decision but also her plea to Quinn that life as a human would be a new experience and one worth living.

I used to think so to, but then I thought: Why be a nothing human after you've been a Q? If he was bored as a Q, he really would wish for death as a human.

I'd keep him in prison.

He was a danger to himself and others, he should be lock away. I just never understood how by simply being bored was a good enough reason to wish death, even for a Q.

 

[Scatta]

Having personal experience with burnout, I've gotta go with Quinn. I know it's different because Quinn couldn't be severely sleep deprived, which is part of what made it suck, and that he wasn't stressed in the same way, but it's the closest human experience (especially in my own limited experience) that I could think of to "hang it on" so to speak. If he felt anything like that, which I believe he did, I couldn't possibly justify making him endure it for eternity, just because the Q were afraid of change.

That's not even taking the prison conditions into consideration.

I wouldn't agree with the suicide, of course. However, I can certainly see wanting to be mortal where his time would eventually come. He could have explored life as a human for a little while, though. Being mortal was the one thing that was new to him. Unfortunately, I guess he just didn't see it that way.

 

[Romulan_spy]

I think I would deny asylum. I couldn't support helping someone kill themselves. Furthermore, the Federation tries to respect other cultures no matter how different they are. In this case, where the Q culture is completely on a different plane of existence than ours, we should respect their way of life and not interfer.

 

[kimc]

exodus said:

kimc said:
I agree not only Janeway's asylum decision but also her plea to Quinn that life as a human would be a new experience and one worth living.

I used to think so to, but then I thought: Why be a nothing human after you've been a Q? If he was bored as a Q, he really would wish for death as a human.

Being human isn't so bad really plus it's something Quinn never got to experience before. The prison conditions suffered by Quinn were really quite harsh so I can see having a hard time sending him back.

 

[exodus]

kimc said:

exodus said:

kimc said:
I agree not only Janeway's asylum decision but also her plea to Quinn that life as a human would be a new experience and one worth living.

I used to think so to, but then I thought: Why be a nothing human after you've been a Q? If he was bored as a Q, he really would wish for death as a human.

Being human isn't so bad really plus it's something Quinn never got to experience before. The prison conditions suffered by Quinn were really quite harsh so I can see having a hard time sending him back.

True.

Still, as a human I'd love to have the power of a Q.

I'd end poverty, war and global warming all before 12:00 noon.

 

[exodus]

Scatta said:
Having personal experience with burnout, I've gotta go with Quinn. I know it's different because Quinn couldn't be severely sleep deprived, which is part of what made it suck, and that he wasn't stressed in the same way, but it's the closest human experience (especially in my own limited experience) that I could think of to "hang it on" so to speak. If he felt anything like that, which I believe he did, I couldn't possibly justify making him endure it for eternity, just because the Q were afraid of change.

But you endured it and got thru it.

 

[DanCPA]

exodus said:

Scatta said:
Having personal experience with burnout, I've gotta go with Quinn. I know it's different because Quinn couldn't be severely sleep deprived, which is part of what made it suck, and that he wasn't stressed in the same way, but it's the closest human experience (especially in my own limited experience) that I could think of to "hang it on" so to speak. If he felt anything like that, which I believe he did, I couldn't possibly justify making him endure it for eternity, just because the Q were afraid of change.

But you endured it and got thru it.

She didn't have to endure it for eternity

 

[exodus]

Tighs Eye said:

exodus said:

Scatta said:
Having personal experience with burnout, I've gotta go with Quinn. I know it's different because Quinn couldn't be severely sleep deprived, which is part of what made it suck, and that he wasn't stressed in the same way, but it's the closest human experience (especially in my own limited experience) that I could think of to "hang it on" so to speak. If he felt anything like that, which I believe he did, I couldn't possibly justify making him endure it for eternity, just because the Q were afraid of change.

But you endured it and got thru it.

She didn't have to endure it for eternity

I guess I'm too optimistic when it comes to stuff like this.

I just don't believe bad feelings like bordom or depression last forever. I've always been of the mind set that if you really want to get over it you can.

 

[DanCPA]

For some people, there is just too much pain to move forward. Some people don't have the hope. They don't want to bother trying, they just want the release

 

[exodus]

Tighs Eye said:
For some people, there is just too much pain to move forward. Some people don't have the hope. They don't want to bother trying, they just want the release

Not to belittle any of that but I guess I never really understood that.

I've been broke, out of a job and as next to homeless as you can get but in all my suffering and depression I have never in my life wanted to commit suicide.

Maybe if I was in another country where I was really starving or dying from some deadly illness but in America where we can afford to throw away food and spend money on useless things, I don't see how anything could be that bad where I'd want to die because of it.

Like I said, not to belittle but that's just how I think and view things. My life is a gift, a great privilage to have. I could never throw it away.

 

[DanCPA]

exodus said:
My life is a gift, a great privilage to have. I could never throw it away.

I feel the same way, but recent events have showed me that some see it otherwise

 

[Dreadnoughty]

This was a great episode I thought...especially in regards to the moral dilemma.... but anyways:

I don't know who I'd choose, I wouldnt want Quinn to go back to his nightmare comet prison...but I wouldnt want him to die either. Janeway did what she thought was best, and I agree... obviously she didnt think Q would give him the poison. I really felt for Quinn, but while it does sound daft to be "bored" of simply...existence, I could certainly see his point.

Afterall, its his life... I believe he should be allowed to do what he likes with it, its not like he hasnt had experiences or even had a good life.

 

[Scatta]

exodus For humans I agree with you completely, but we are talking about an imortal Q with no chance of ever getting over it. That would be more like whether or not to allow euthanasia for a patient who will never recover or be able to live with his or her condition. It's not really the sort of thing that comes up in real life, except maybe in cases I can't even begin to fathom. (i.e. People with suicidal thoughts think it will never get any better, but for Quinn, it actually won't.)

Humans survive depression, burnout, suicidal thoughts, what have you by making a new start. Becoming mortal was his only possible new start. He should have embraced it and chose to live out his remaining days as a human, but that was his choice to make. You and I may disagree with him completely, and would probably try to talk him out of it, just like Janeway did, but it doesn't negate his right to do so.

Edit Note to a friend of mine who might be reading this: You do have the right, but if you attempt suicide and I find out about it, you'd better hope you're successful. Otherwise, I'll make you wish you were dead, even more than you already would. Copish?

 

[exodus]

Scatta said:


Edit Note to a friend of mine who might be reading this: You do have the right, but if you attempt suicide and I find out about it, you'd better hope you're successful. Otherwise, I'll make you wish you were dead, even more than you already would. Copish?

Tough love, huh?

Why not just tell them you love them very much and about how much it would hurt you as well as many others they'd leave behind to not have them in this world anymore?

Too whomever you're talking to: Someone cares very, very much for you. A true friend is someone that cares as much about your soul as they do their own. That's a very rare and special gift, isn't that worth living for?

 

[Good Will Riker]

I would vote for the decision that would get my crew home.

Sorry Mr. Quinn, but my crew comes first.

 

[nx1701g]

^ Do we really know if Q would have returned them though?

 

[Nebusj]

nx1701g said:
^ Do we really know if Q would have returned them though?

Have we got any cases of him breaking his word or going back on a deal?

 

[exodus]

Nebusj said:

nx1701g said:
^ Do we really know if Q would have returned them though?

Have we got any cases of him breaking his word or going back on a deal?

No, but the deal is never exactly what he offers.

For example: He could send them home, however he could purposely send them back to the wrong time or as beings other than themselves.

There is always a price to pay when dealing with the Q.