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1 year agoIt is a Vulcan salute: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vulcan_salute
I don’t recall why Riker would have been using one in that context, though, unless TNG was trying to establish the gesture had expanded in use across the Federation.
EDIT: also, this is in S01E15 “11001001”, not E14.
That’s a valid point about the thumb, but the pic does look palm out? The positioning is awkward since he’s walking along in the same direction and talking over his shoulder.
Season 1 TNG was a bit rough - I’d agree with other posters here that it’s either a mistake or Jonathan Frames having trouble making the gesture.