Star Trek

Was it EVER explained why Q and Guinan hated each other so much? And in the episode "Q-Who?", what was that wacky thing Guinan did bringing her arms up and fingers all spread out? Does she shoot energy beams from her hands? A type of Karate pose? It was all very weird.

I always assumed that weird finger pose Guinan made was a method she had of blocking Q's power from being used against her directly.

I don't think it was ever explained on TNG why Guinan and Q were enemies. If I remember correctly they only met face-to-face twice during the series in the 2nd and 3rd season episodes featuring Q.

I ,too, have wondered the same thing. Does anyone know whether or not any more light is shed on Guinan's past in any of the TNG novels? Maybe the finger thing was just carpal tunnel syndrome? After all, she was pretty old. She partied with Mark Twain!

Perhaps Q introduced the Borg to the El-Aurians the same way he introduced the Borg to the Federation.

Both Q and Guinan are fine characters.
I have no problem(s) with either one.

However, this business with Q's fear
regarding Guinan, just to make HER
seem like she's more interesting, was
a misstep, I felt. There's nothing about
either her or her RACE of LISTENERS to
suggest there is any real cause for this.
At least, losing his fight with Sisko was
played for laughs and more entertaining.

This is going to sound out there but....

Guinan once said "not all Q are the same. Some are almost decent."

Maybe she has a Q ally our Q is afraid of. Or maybe Q was forbidden to mess with El-Aurians by the other Q.

That is wierd, maybe we are not supposed to know or they never got to tell us why.

I think you're right. They wanted to keep her mysterious and never got around to explaining stuff like why she and Picard had "a relaionship that went above family or love". Or, they just kept it vague on purpose.

Thanks for all the input, guys/gals!

I always assumed that it has to do with Guinan making some deals with the Q Continuum. Q (the individual) isn't thought of very highly in the Continuum. I suppose she just had some friendly/business relationships with those that weren't so fond of the Q that we know. As much as I like Guinan, I think Q knows some things about her she doesn't want anyone else knowing. 

The answer, plain and simple, is that
Whoopie Goldberg was starring as her.
That's all. Heaven forbid that this Oscar
-Winning actress play anything resembling
an ordinary crewman! I think they all knew
it was stupid to have Q fearing Guinan at all,
so,  they let that storyline go, pretty much,
when Guinan's close friendship with Picard
became more defined and palpable ...