I just accept certain things in Star Trek. Sometimes it gets extra big and super cosmic and how does a mere sentient being grapple with that?
Sometimes you bridge that cosmic divide by teaching them about baseball. Sometimes a naked dude appears out of nowhere and you give him ice cream. Sometimes you help an immensely immature scared dodecagenarian come out of his shell with a home cooked meal.
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I don't think he's influencing anyone. I think's he asking them and they're agreeing to help.