[horatio]

I have recently rewatched parts of TNG's second season and in "Q Who?" we learn that Q and Guinan hate each other and that Guinan has supposedly extraordinary powers which later episodes like "Yesterday's Enterprise" emphasize.
In "Time's Arrow" Guinan we furthermore learn that Guinan has been on Earth for some time (a potential story in the fifth season of ENT with her might have established that she has been on Earth from the 19th to the 22nd century). One could claim that she is mildly fascinated by humankind and offers especially Picard crucial insights, not unlike Q. The difference between them is that Q forces himself upon Picard whereas Guinan either waits until someone asks her for help or gently makes her point.

[Captain Tom Coughlin]

One thing that always struck me about Guinan and Q was that she seemed to have the ability to defend herself against him. At one point he looks like he is about to use his powers on her and she puts her hands up in a defensive posture. There is certainly more to her than we know.

[kevin]

It's interesting that, although a significant past history was hinted at on several occasions, it never got spelled out specifically.

And also, Guinan's - or more specifically El-Aurian's abilities in general were never really spelled out either. We know they have some special gifts, but quite what they are is never answered.

[NCC-73515]

I guess she was a member of the Continuum Intelligence Agency and just pretended to be El-Aurian

[Commodore]

Originally Posted by kevin

It's interesting that, although a significant past history was hinted at on several occasions, it never got spelled out specifically.

And also, Guinan's - or more specifically El-Aurian's abilities in general were never really spelled out either. We know they have some special gifts, but quite what they are is never answered.

To me, it seemed that Guinan's special ability was to generally notice when something was amiss--either with individual people or with certain events. If anything, Guinan seemed to have some knowledge of the future (or at least an ability to see things in the grander scheme of things) and would occasionally give Picard and others friendly advice if they were going down the wrong path.

Such a thing would be keeping with Q's disdain of her if he considered her a meddler in certain galactic affairs, IMO...

[kevin]

Originally Posted by Commodore

To me, it seemed that Guinan's special ability was to generally notice when something was amiss--either with individual people or with certain events. If anything, Guinan seemed to have some knowledge of the future (or at least an ability to see things in the grander scheme of things) and would occasionally give Picard and others friendly advice if they were going down the wrong path.

Such a thing would be keeping with Q's disdain of her if he considered her a meddler in certain galactic affairs, IMO...

That's quite true - but how she and Q came to really be so fractious with each other is still generally unknown. It's hinted at having been deeper than mere disdain.

Also since Q is depicted as quite the meddler himself, it might make more sense the other way around - if Guinan, or her people, somehow had an ability to get in the way of his meddling.

And, as noted before, she takes a physically defensive stance against him - as if she has some method of physical defence against a Q.

[Zardoz]

Makes me wonder if other El Aurians have had run in's with the Q.

[Commodore]

Originally Posted by kevin

That's quite true - but how she and Q came to really be so fractious with each other is still generally unknown. It's hinted at having been deeper than mere disdain.

Also since Q is depicted as quite the meddler himself, it might make more sense the other way around - if Guinan, or her people, somehow had an ability to get in the way of his meddling.

That's exactly what I'm suggesting. One thing a meddler simply can't stand is another meddler because they'll inevitably work at cross-purposes, IMO. In Guinan and Q's previous encounters, Guinan may have spoiled whatever mischief he was up to during those occasions, so naturally he wouldn't like her very much. As Guinan was an admitted traveler, she could have left her mark on quite a few worlds and civilizations...

And, as noted before, she takes a physically defensive stance against him - as if she has some method of physical defence against a Q.

It may very well have been that the original intent in that scene was to suggest that Guinan--or her then-unnamed people at the time--had secret powers and abilities strong enough to keep Q at bay (a "battle of sorcerers" might have broken out in Ten-Forward if cooler heads hadn't prevailed).

But by the time Generations rolled around, the El-Aurians were generally just a very long-lived race though. In hindsight, though, it's possible that Guinan's special knowledge of future events may have been a manifestation of a part of her still residing in the Nexus...

[kevin]

Originally Posted by Commodore

That's exactly what I'm suggesting. One thing a meddler simply can't stand is another meddler because they'll inevitably work at cross-purposes, IMO. In Guinan and Q's previous encounters, Guinan may have spoiled whatever mischief he was up to during those occasions, so naturally he wouldn't like her very much. As Guinan was an admitted traveler, she could have left her mark on quite a few worlds and civilizations...

My apologies, I read it as you implying the reverse.

It may very well have been that the original intent in that scene was to suggest that Guinan--or her then-unnamed people at the time--had secret powers and abilities strong enough to keep Q at bay (a "battle of sorcerers" might have broken out in Ten-Forward if cooler heads hadn't prevailed).

But by the time Generations rolled around, the El-Aurians were generally just a very long-lived race though. In hindsight, though, it's possible that Guinan's special knowledge of future events may have been a manifestation of a part of her still residing in the Nexus...

That's quite possible a theory.

[Commodore]

Originally Posted by kevin

My apologies, I read it as you implying the reverse.

No apologies necessary. We were both on the same page.