this has always been my theory. We will never achieve or acknowledge true AI until it has replicated all of our flaws, at which people everyone will say "that's totally useless, why would anybody want that?"
I think Q was right about us all along. That episode's conclusion only made sense because the humans in that fantasy timeline are nothing like real-life humans. And of course, that's why ST:TNG is such a pleasure to watch (except for a few stinker episodes): it shows humans you'd really want to hang out with and work with, instead of the backstabbing rats that exist in real life (as you see on much more realistic shows like "Game of Thrones").
Yeah, it seems idealism is not in vogue, especially the kind of idealism that wants to see people as professional, in command of their faculties, yet not distant or aloof. It seems people have trouble outgrowing their tribal egotistical manners and behaviors.
It’s not at all bad, in general many people work together in a global complex society, but, oh boy, lots of evolution to be had if we want a better, more kinder world.
My current pet peeve is the emotional reactivity it elicits of any social media in its worst forms.
As great and optimistic as ST:TNG was, don't forget that in the later seasons, they basically resorted to "which crew member goes crazy in this episode?", I guess because the writers ran out of ideas.
