ZoopZeZoop

I trust piss-sprinkled snow more than RFK, Jr.

So, guillotine?

Fighting is a part of that, but it's more about testing how well you've trained and showing how well you work together, plus what the trainer has learned to face different kinds of battles. I believe there are non-fighting competitions in some of the games/shows.

I don't think it's that impressive. He'd do anything to help himself. Most of the people around him would, too.

I'm assuming that was a legacy choice. It did look ridiculous in a late 80s backdrop, though. I'm also glad they changed it up.

Could be. If I was Jellico and you were Riker, I might have conceded to your point. Personally, I wouldn't have changed to 4 groups anyway. I still say it doesn't warrant Riker's behavior. Two things in particular:

1. Not making a change directly ordered by your captain and instead waiting to see if he'd enforce it later. If the order was potentially bad for readiness, delaying only made that worse.
2. Sulking about it and making your captain jump through hoops to get your assistance.

Jellico might have had experience with making this change in similar timeframes with good success. I would guess it is his preference for a reason. Still not saying it's the decision I would have made.

As a final note, many of us like Riker sometimes or are at least familiar with him. Before this episode, we don't know Jellico and he comes off brash. That may be influencing our overall opinion of how the episode is perceived. We usually don't like it when someone barks orders we disagree with and we have to follow them. I've never served, but my understanding is that's a pretty common experience in the military. Riker's behavior wouldn't usually be tolerated in the military, especially in a crisis and especially from someone in a leadership role.

Yes, but this was a special circumstance. The crew knew what they signed up for. You can disagree with your captain, you can voice those disagreements, but in the end an order is an order. Riker was disrespectful. It was Riker and Troi's duty to smooth the path with the crew. It was never meant to be long term. Riker could tell that whatever was going on was serious. So, get with the plan, Riker.

Plus, though he shouldn't have had to do it, he swallowed his feelings about Riker to ask him to help for the good of the mission and the crew. Jellico is an ass, but an A+ captain.

Jellico was thrown into a really tough position. They knew this was a likely outcome. He still managed to get Picard out alive. Imagine how that might be hindered if your second in command was willfully disobedient, even in front of the crew.

I don't actually think they are proud of everything. I think it's gaslighting to maintain support. If they never express regret or apologize, their team thinks they're on the winning side on everything. They like to feel like winners.

If they ask in advance, you might be more likely to feed them by the specified time.

Seriously. I try to go out of my way to be nice and understanding with food service workers. It sucks to be them and it doesn't have to. If they got paid a living wage, had health care, child care, maternity/paternity leave, and a few other things. They'd have no problem having smiles most of the time. I wouldn't smile working 80+ hours a week with no end in sight.

No clipping and straight to the end, please.

I'll second that.