Why are the Betazoids described as an empathic species in SFA? Troi was an empath, but that’s because she’s half human. Lwxana and the Betazoid “delegates” in LDS are all telepathic. They all regularly use telepathy to speak to each other and to humans they’re close with. Why are the Betazoids in Academy signing to each other to communicate subtly instead of thinking?
Also, was the Betazoid president’s taking off of the speech device supposed to be symbolic of something in lore? I know the actsman is Deaf, but is there some kind of link between Deafness/muteness and the psionic wall?
Maybe the daughter is too sensitive to telepathy?
She had that inhibitor on because if she goes out of control, bad things happen.
Or something.
The episode definitely doesn’t work as well if the Betazoids can simply read everyone’s minds and know their true intentions.
Which is sort of the whole problem with telepaths.
I’m hoping that we’ll get another perspective through Tarina’s brother Ocam Sadal.
I noticed that he gave her information on what Caleb was thinking beyond what she was able to pick up on her own with the inhibitor on.
He’s very up front and Luaxana-like. I like him a lot already.
I think he’s going to be a great addition as a roommate to Caleb and Darem.