this post was submitted on 04 Oct 2023
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Come on'n get your jamaharon on! There are no real rules—just don't break the weather control network.
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This assumes Q was there to actually judge humanity and not begin a dialogue with Picard and the Federation. In his own omnipotent way. It's not a judgement, it's more of a test or like a training.
This is definitely how I always saw it.
Q isn't arguing in good faith because he wants to see humans "rise above it" as it were. It isn't fair, but it is a quick way to reveal if their most base impulses will take over when under pressure.
Q sees human society in TNG as on the path to becoming better than they already are, but thinks they need some prodding to make it there.
It's almost Nietzchian in a way. He wants humanity to leave the worst aspects of our culture which are holding humanity behind, and that takes effort and self-reflection and consideration. Q is trying to kickstart that self-reflection, consideration, and effort. He knows Picard is a good man and can do it. He definitely has a "thing" for Picard and I think it is close to love. It is why he chooses him.
He wants Picard to no longer simply be a real mensch, but a real ubermensch.
Sisko doesn't realize its a test to make humanity better, and just sees a Nazi arguing in bad faith.
So he punched Q.
It's a question of how these humans justify their image of their own race. I enjoyed it, as all Q episodes it was fun.